Israel's prime minister says his country "deeply regrets" attacks by Israeli forces on the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which killed at least 20 Palestinians including five journalists.
The statement came amid growing condemnation of the incident, with leaders around the world expressing shock at the strikes.
In a statement released by his office, Benjamin Netanyahu described the strikes as a "tragic mishap".
He said Israel "values the work of journalists, medical staff and all civilians".
It is some of the most conciliatory language he has offered regarding attacks on hospitals and the killing of journalists since the war in Gaza began almost two years ago.
On Monday, the Nasser Hospital was hit twice by Israeli tanks – the first strike killing Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, and the second hitting as emergency crews and journalists were scouring the scene.
The Israeli military later said it would investigate the strikes at the Nasser Hospital.
One of the deadliest attacks on journalists in Gaza
The second strike on the fourth floor of the facility in Khan Younis was broadcast live on television, as rescue crews scoured the building to evacuate people killed and injured by the first strike minutes earlier.
Reuters said its live video feed from the hospital, which was operated by contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri, suddenly shut down at the time of the initial strike.
Mariam Abu Dagga, who the Associated Press said freelanced for the AP, and journalist Moaz Abu Taha were killed in the second strike while inspecting the scene.
Mohammed Salama, who was a photojournalist with Al Jazeera, was also killed and Ahmad Abu Aziz later died from injuries sustained in the attack.
Photographer Hatem Khaled, who is also a Reuters contractor and could be seen in the live broadcast footage wearing a red shirt and taking photos of the damage when the second strike hit, was wounded.
The Foreign Press Association said it was "outraged and in shock" at the killings of "journalists from several major international news outlets".
"This is among the deadliest Israeli attacks on journalists working for international media since the Gaza war began," it said in a statement.
Trump 'not happy'
Leaders from across the globe have condemned the strike on a hospital in Gaza.
Canada said Israel had an obligation to protect civilians in the combat zone and such attacks were "unacceptable".
"Canada is horrified by the Israeli military strike at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza, which killed five journalists and many civilians, including rescuers and health officials," its foreign ministry said in a statement.
Questioned by reporters at the White House, US President Donald Trump said he had not yet received news of the strike but added: "I'm not happy about it. I don't want to see it."
He said, "at the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare" in Gaza, where militant group Hamas is holding hostages seized in Israel.
UN rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement that journalists and hospitals should never be targeted.
"The killing of journalists in Gaza should shock the world -- not into stunned silence but into action, demanding accountability and justice."
The head of the UN's agency for Palestinian affairs UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, described the strike as "silencing the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently amid famine", in a post on X.
European leaders express shock, horror
In Israel's staunch European ally Germany, the foreign ministry said it was "shocked by the killing of several journalists, rescue workers, and other civilians" in the Nasser Hospital strike.
"This attack must be investigated," the ministry said on X.
The department also called on Israel to "allow immediate independent foreign media access and afford protection for journalists operating in Gaza".
UK foreign minister David Lammy said he was "horrified" by the hospital strike.
"Civilians, healthcare workers and journalists must be protected. We need an immediate ceasefire," Lammy wrote on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the strikes were "intolerable" and that journalists and civilians must be afforded protection in war.
Press body demands 'immediate explanation'
Medical aid charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was "heartbroken" by the death in the strike of a freelance photographer who had previously worked for it, Mariam Abu Dagga.
"As Israel continues to shun international law, the only witnesses of their genocidal campaign are deliberately being targeted. It must stop now," it said.
The Foreign Press Association called for an "immediate explanation" from the Israeli military and prime minister's office.
"We call on Israel once and for all to halt its abhorrent practice of targeting journalists," the group said in a statement.ABC with wires
