Israel strikes hit Gaza hospital,5 journalists among 20 dead

Two Israeli strikes hit a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, killing five Palestinian journalists and at least 15 more people, according to local health officials, in one of the deadliest attacks for journalists covering the nearly two-year war in the enclave.

The Gaza health ministry put the death toll at 20, also including medical staff, rescue workers and patients, and said dozens more had been injured. The five journalists had worked for media outlets including Reuters, The Associated Press and Al Jazeera, according to their employers.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the strike was a "tragic mishap." He said in a statement that Israel "values the work of journalists, medical staff and all civilians," and that military is probing.

The Israeli military said it had carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital, without saying what the target was. The military in a statement said it regretted "any harm to uninvolved individuals."

The Israeli govt has barred international journalists from entering Gaza to freely report throughout the war. That has left much of the world relying on Palestinian journalists - reporting amid bombardment and hunger - to understand the situation in Gaza. The Gaza health ministry and hospital officials said the first Israeli strike hit the fourth floor of Nasser Hospital. It was followed by a second attack as ambulance crews arrived to retrieve the injured, the ministry said.

While US President said he was not aware of the attack but added, "Well, I'm not happy about it. I don't want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare."

French President Emmanuel Macron said, "This is intolerable: civilians and journalists must be protected. The media must be able to carry out their mission freely and independently to cover the reality of the conflict." Germany called for investigation into the attack.

UK foreign minister David Lammy said he was "horrified" by the hospital strike. "Civilians, healthcare workers and journalists must be protected. We need a ceasefire," Lammy said.

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