An analysis of new video footage conducted by BBC Verify has confirmed that Israel struck the Nasser Hospital in Gaza at least four times during its recent military offensive, escalating condemnation from the international community.
The attack reportedly resulted in at least 20 fatalities, including five members of the press, and has prompted widespread outrage. Initial reports suggested that the hospital was hit twice, but subsequent analysis has indicated there were additional strikes, further complicating the narrative around the incident.
Footage analyzed by experts indicates two staircases were hit nearly at the same time during the first wave of strikes. Moreover, what was originally perceived as a single follow-up attack on first responders and journalists was actually two separate strikes that occurred in swift succession.
The covert nature of the analysis was facilitated through the utilization of video material sourced from local freelancers and witness accounts circulating online, as independent journalistic access to Gaza remains heavily restricted by Israeli authorities.
During the initial attack at 10:08 AM local time, one strike targeted the exterior staircase on the hospital's eastern flank, killing journalist Hussam Al-Masri, who was covering the event live for Reuters. An unreported strike targeted the northern wing staircase simultaneously, leading to greater devastation than initially acknowledged.
Emerging visuals show extensive smoke and damage effects from the attacks, corroborated by eyewitness accounts of damage sustained in the hospital's operating department.
Experts in military munitions have debated the type of projectiles used in the attack, with some indicating they may have been Lahat missiles, typically launched from tanks or drones, while others have also noted that a rapid sequence of impacts could imply multiple tanks were involved, given the impossibility of reloading a single tank in such short intervals.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) initially acknowledged a strike in the vicinity of the hospital but have since refrained from commenting on the confirmed multiple hits, despite significant media scrutiny and calls for accountability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the incident but failed to provide clarity on the operational decision-making that led to the attack on a civilian facility.
International law experts and human rights advocates have raised alarms regarding the legality of the strikes, emphasizing that attacks that disproportionately affect civilians, especially in protected spaces like hospitals, may constitute violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the ramifications of this attack are likely to resonate throughout international diplomatic circles, with calls for comprehensive investigations into alleged war crimes and humanitarian violations intensifying.
