Gaza: Five journalists killed in attack on hospital

Nasser Hospital after the attack

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) renewed his call for a ceasefire in Gaza following a deadly attack on the Nasser Hospital in the southern Strip on Monday.

At least 20 people were killed in the two airstrikes, including four health workers and five journalists, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus said. The hospital's main building, which houses the emergency department, inpatient ward, and surgical unit, was hit. The strikes also damaged the emergency staircase.

The journalists killed were Mariam Dagga, 33, who freelanced for AP as well as other news outlets, A mother of a 12-year-old son who was evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war, she frequently based herself at Nasser, AP said. Most recently, she reported on the hospital's doctors struggling to save starving and malnourished children.

The other journalists killed were cameramen Mohammed Salama and Hussam al Masri freelancing for Al Jazeera, Ahmed Abu Aziz, who worked as a freelance reporter, and Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist working for Reuters. Photographer Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor, was wounded.

Fifty other people were injured, including critically ill patients who were already receiving care.

The UN recently noted that more than 240 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began nearly two years ago.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said the attack was a "tragic mishap."

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus said: "While people in Gaza are being starved, their already limited access to healthcare is being further crippled by repeated attacks.

"We cannot say it loudly enough: STOP attacks on healthcare. Ceasefire now."

Journalists and media workers will be taking part in a vigil outside Downing Street on Wednesday, 27 August at 5.30pm. Participants will read out the names of those killed and hear from Al Jazeera journalist Wael Dahdouh and Ahmed Anaouq, co-founder of We Are Not Numbers.