Netanyahu says Israel regrets 'mishap' at Gaza hospital

CAIRO (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel deeply regretted what he described as the "tragic mishap" that occurred at the Nasser hospital in the south of the Gaza Strip on Monday.

An Israeli strike on Nasser hospital killed at least 20 people, including five journalists who worked for agencies including Reuters, the Associated Press and Al Jazeera.

Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed in the first strike, according to the officials. Photographer Hatem Khaled, who was also a Reuters contractor, was wounded in a second strike, the officials said.

Witnesses said the second strike took place after rescue workers, journalists and other people had rushed to the site of the initial attack. The Reuters live video feed from the hospital, which was operated by Masri, suddenly shut down at the moment of the initial strike, Reuters footage showed.

Health officials in Gaza named the three other journalists as Mariam Abu Dagga, Mohammed Salama and Moaz Abu Taha. A rescue worker was also among those killed, they added.

"Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just goals are defeating Hamas and bringing our hostages home," Netanyahu said.

More than 240 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the war started on October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate.