NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Two major news agencies demanded that Israel explain what happened during a strike on a hospital in Gaza last month that killed five journalists, calling for concrete actions and accountability to ensure it doesn\u2019t happen again.<\/p>\n
Reuters and The Associated Press \u2014 through their top editors, Alessandra Galloni and Julie Pace \u2014 urged the Israeli government to \u201cexplain the deaths of these journalists and to take every step to protect those who continue to cover this conflict.\u201d Their statement came on the one-month anniversary of the strike. <\/p>\n
Killed in the strikes were five journalists, including visual journalist Mariam Dagga,<\/a> who worked for AP and other news organizations; Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri; and Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist whose work had been published by Reuters. Seventeen others were killed in the strike. <\/p>\n \u201cWe renew our demand for a clear account from the Israeli authorities and urge the government to uphold its obligations to ensure press freedom and protection,\u201d the statement from the AP and Reuters said. \u201cWe remain devastated and outraged by their deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n The journalists died at the Nasser Hospital, which the agencies pointed out is a location protected under international law and \u201cwidely known to be crucial for news coverage out of Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn incident of this gravity requires a prompt and clear explanation, followed by accountability and concrete actions to ensure such attacks are never repeated,\u201d the statement said. <\/p>\n The two agencies wrote a joint letter immediately after the attack, but that Israel has not responded. The Israeli military said it launched an investigation into the incident.<\/p>\n The Gaza war has been deadly for those covering it. Nearly 200 journalists and media workers have been killed in the region since the attacks by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Comparatively, 18 journalists have been killed so far in Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine, according to the CPJ.<\/p>\n