The publicly released findings of an Israeli military investigation into an attack on a southern Gaza hospital says troops targeted a news camera believing it was put in place by Hamas, but provided no evidence for how that conclusion was reached.
The report details the outcome of the Israel Defense Forces's (IDF) initial inquiry, and fails to acknowledge a second strike which hit the same location killing emergency workers and journalists who had rushed to the scene.
It followed earlier warnings from the United Nations about whether such an internal investigation would deliver answers to how the attack occurred and who was responsible.
On Monday, 20 Palestinians were killed in the two attacks on a stairwell outside the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Five journalists were among the dead.
The incident sparked outrage around the world — not only because it targeted a hospital and Palestinian media were killed, but because it appeared to be a so-called 'double tap' attack.
That is a term used to describe an incredibly dangerous and deadly practice where one strike is launched, drawing in first responders, who are then targeted in a second strike moments later.
The first strike killed journalist Hussam al-Masri, who had been working as a contract camera operator for international news agency Reuters and had been operating a camera at the top of the stairwell.
"It appears that Golani Brigade troops … identified a camera that was positioned by Hamas in the area of the Nasser Hospital that was being used to observe the activity of IDF troops, in order to direct terrorist activities against them," the statement released by the IDF said.
"This conclusion was further supported, among other reasons, by the documented military use of hospitals by the terrorist organisations throughout the war, and by intelligence confirming Hamas' use of the Nasser Hospital to carry out terrorist activities since the start of the war.
"In light of this, the troops operated to remove the threat by striking and dismantling the camera and the inquiry showed that the troops operated to remove the threat."
The IDF regularly releases what it claims is evidence to justify its attacks against specific journalists in Gaza, as it did earlier this month after the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif.
Al-Sharif had repeatedly been accused of having ties to Hamas, and had repeatedly rejected the allegations.
In this instance, the IDF did not provide any evidence to back up its justification for opening fire on al-Masri — but it did insist "six of the individuals killed were terrorists, one of whom took part in the infiltration into Israeli territory on October 7th."
"At the same time, the Chief of the General Staff regrets any harm caused to civilians."
It also ignored the second strike on the Nasser Hospital site, which was broadcast live to air by television networks covering the initial attack and killed rescue workers and journalists.
The military said the broader inquiry into the incident was still to be completed, and that the IDF chief Eyal Zamir had asked for further information on "several gaps".
"Firstly, a further examination of the authorization process prior to the strike, including the ammunition approved for the strike and the timing of the authorization," it said.
"Secondly, an examination of the decision making process in the field."
Before the findings were released, the United Nations repeated its condemnation of the attacks.
"The killing of journalists in Gaza should shock the world, not into stunned silence, but into action demanding accountability and justice," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said.
"In the case of yesterday's strike, we can say that the Israeli military reportedly launched multiple airstrikes on the Nasser medical complex, and there was two airstrikes in a short period of time.
"Targeting journalists is forbidden, but also targeting hospitals is forbidden.
"The Israeli authorities have in the past announced investigations in such killings — it's, of course, the responsibility of Israel as the occupying power to investigate, but these investigations need to yield results.
He added "there needs to be justice" and that there had not been any "results or accountability measures yet."
