Israeli occupation army assassinated Palestinian journalist Hasan Eslih at dawn on Tuesday by launching a direct drone strike on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, where he was receiving treatment for previous injuries.

Local sources confirmed that the targeted attack struck the burns unit of the hospital, killing Eslih instantly and injuring others who were receiving care. The deliberate bombing of a medical facility, particularly to target an injured journalist, has drawn outrage from Palestinian civil society groups and international observers who are condemning Israel’s continued disregard for international law and the safety of journalists.

Eslih had been wounded on April 7, when Israeli warplanes targeted a tent sheltering journalists near the same hospital. That earlier attack claimed the lives of fellow journalist Helmi al-Fuqawi and a young Palestinian man, Yusuf al-Khazindar, while injuring several others. Eslih sustained severe injuries, including a head wound and the amputation of two fingers on his right hand.

At the time, the Israeli military admitted that the airstrike had been intended to kill Eslih, a clear acknowledgment of its policy of targeting Palestinian media workers under the pretext of “security.”

The assassination of Eslih marks yet another tragic loss in a devastating campaign against Palestinian journalists who continue to document the brutal reality of Israel’s war on Gaza. Press freedom advocates have called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and the deliberate targeting of media professionals.

Journalist advocacy groups say Eslih’s murder is part of a broader pattern aimed at silencing Palestinian voices and erasing eyewitness accounts of atrocities unfolding in Gaza. Since the start of Israel’s assault on the besieged enclave, scores of journalists have been killed, many while wearing press vests or working in clearly marked locations.

As the Israeli occupation continues its relentless bombardment of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, the killing of Hasan Eslih inside a hospital—a supposed sanctuary—underscores the urgent need for international intervention and justice. (ILKHA)