The Associated Press called into question on Friday the rationale behind Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Gaza last month which killed at least 22 Palestinians including 5 journalists, one of whom was its contributor.
AP said that the top of the building struck by the Israeli military was “well known as a journalists’ gathering point” and that witnesses described Israel “frequently” observing the area by drone, “including about 40 minutes before the attack”.
The news agency quoted a military official as saying a rooftop camera was believed to be used by Hamas due to “suspicious behavior”.
It said the only detail given was the fact there was a towel over the camera and the operator – which it interpreted as an attempt to avoid identification.
AP reported that the camera in fact belonged to video journalist Hussam Al-Masri – who worked with Reuters news agency and who “routinely covered his equipment with a white cloth to protect it from the scorching sun and dust”.
AP said Al-Masri, who was killed in the first strike on the hospital, regularly recorded livestreams from the location and should have been identified by the Israeli drone that flew over just before the strike.
The US news agency also reported that “there has been no evidence of a second camera at the site where Al-Masri was killed”.
AP said it had uncovered other “troubling decisions” by Israel regarding the late August strikes.
“Soon after the first strike, Israeli forces hit the same position again, after medical and emergency workers had reached the scene to treat the injured, and as journalists… had rushed to cover the news,” it said.
The news agency said this exposed Israel to accusations of a “double-tap” strike – a widely condemned practice aimed at maximizing casualties and which may constitute a war crime.
AP said its findings revealed the army had used “high-explosive tank shells” to strike the hospital.
“In all, Israel struck the hospital four times, the AP found, each time without warning,” the news agency said.
Earlier late August, the BBC reported that the Israeli occupation struck Nasser Hospital at least four times, citing analysis of a video footage by BBC Verify.
Source: AP (edited by Al-Manar)
