Israel calls deadly Gaza hospital strike 'tragic mishap' as Arab League, Egypt condemn

The Arab League and Egypt on Monday condemned an Israeli strike on Gaza's Nasser hospital that killed at least 20 people, an incident Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a "tragic mishap."

Gaza health authorities said the strike on the hospital in Khan Younis, the last one operational in southern Gaza, killed five journalists and four medical staff.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit called the attack "just one episode in a relentless series of massacres deliberately targeting civilians." The Egyptian Foreign Ministry labelled it a "new episode in a long series of blatant Israeli violations of international humanitarian law."

In a statement, Netanyahu said Israeli military authorities were conducting a thorough investigation. "Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians," he said.

An Israeli military spokesman, Effie Defrin, told reporters the army "does not intentionally target civilians" and blamed Hamas for creating "impossible conditions" in the territory.

According to Gaza's health authorities, an initial strike hit the fourth floor of the complex, and a second strike targeted medical teams as they responded to the casualties.

Citing Israeli military officials, Israel's Kan TV reported the strike was carried out by a tank, not an aircraft. The report said the tank targeted a camera on the hospital that troops believed Hamas was using to monitor their movements.

The war, which began in October 2023, has devastated the coastal enclave. Israel does not permit foreign journalists into Gaza, but local reporters continue to provide coverage. According to Gaza health officials, at least 273 journalists and a total of 62,744 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the conflict began.