by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday released preliminary findings into Monday’s deadly strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, acknowledging that at least six of the roughly 20 Palestinians killed were terrorists while also admitting serious mistakes in the operation.
According to the IDF, four of the identified terrorists were members of Hamas, one belonged to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and another was identified as a terrorist without a clear affiliation. One of those killed had reportedly taken part in the October 7 massacre, though video evidence only shows him carrying a flag into Israel.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir emphasized that the disclosure was not intended to absolve the army of responsibility, but rather to clarify the evolving picture. He stressed that the probe must further examine why tank shells were authorized for the mission and who signed off on the orders. Zamir also highlighted the distinction between potential field-level errors and those at the Southern Command headquarters in Beersheba, led by Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor.
Military officials say Golani Brigade troops operating in Khan Yunis identified a video surveillance camera on the hospital grounds, believed to be part of Hamas’s intelligence network monitoring IDF positions. The decision to target the device with tank fire, however, has drawn sharp criticism within the army itself. Critics questioned why a hospital — a highly sensitive site — was struck with tank shells rather than a more precise method.
The IDF admitted early Monday that the outcome of the strike was a mistake, particularly given that among the dead were several journalists, including Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri and freelance journalist Mariam Abu Dagga, as well as civilians and medical staff. A second round of shelling, which hit rescuers and additional media personnel who had rushed to the site after the first strike, has drawn even greater international condemnation.
The European Union labeled the strike “totally unacceptable” and called on Israel to ensure full protection of civilians and journalists under international law. The EU urged a thorough investigation, noting that the conflict has already produced “too many victims.”
The Nasser Hospital, which was operating at full capacity with over 1,000 patients at the time, saw more than 50 wounded in the attack, according to hospital director Atef al-Hout. The IDF maintains that Hamas has systematically used medical facilities, including Nasser, to shield its operations and gather intelligence, but Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin, IDF spokesperson, provided no specific details of Hamas assets struck in this instance.
The incident highlights growing concerns over Israel’s civilian-to-terrorist casualty ratio. While earlier in the war the IDF maintained roughly a 60:40 civilian-to-terrorist ratio, recent figures suggest worsening proportions. Since March, critics inside the IDF have accused Maj.-Gen. Asor of being less careful in avoiding civilian casualties compared to his predecessor, Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman.
Lt.-Gen. Zamir has ordered the inquiry to continue, focusing on authorization processes, ammunition choice, and command decisions. He reiterated that IDF strikes are aimed solely at military targets, even as Hamas exploits civilian sites for warfare.
The incident is now the subject of heightened scrutiny both within Israel and abroad, as the IDF navigates the challenge of targeting militants embedded in civilian infrastructure while minimizing harm to innocents.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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