UN Calls For Justice Over Killings In Gaza War

The UN has demanded that Israel's investigations into unlawful killings in Gaza, including its "double tap" bombing of Nasser hospital that killed 20 people, hold those responsible accountable for the deaths.

- William Christou, Beirut Emma Graham-Harrison, Jerusalem

"There needs to be justice," Thameen Al-Kheetan, the spokesperson for the UN's human rights office, told reporters yesterday in Geneva. He added that the number of journalists killed in Gaza raised many questions about the targeting of media workers.

On Monday, Israel twice struck Nasser hospital, the last functioning public hospital in southern Gaza. Witnesses said the second strike came just as rescue crews and journalists arrived to evacuate the wounded 15 minutes after the first bombing, killing first responders and media workers.

The "double tap" strike killed journalists working for Reuters, Associated Press and Al Jazeera, as well as independent journalists. It drew global condemnation. All three publications urged Israel to investigate the killings.

The office of the Israeli prime minister said it "deeply regrets the tragic mishap" at the hospital and that the Israeli military was conducting an investigation, the initial results of which were released yesterday.

The military claimed that soldiers were aiming to destroy a camera in the Nasser hospital area used by Hamas to surveil the Israeli army. It further claimed that six of those killed in the strike were "terrorists".

The statement, however, failed to address basic questions, primarily why Israel conducted a double-tap strike on medics and journalists and if anyone would be held accountable for the killing of civilians.

The UN spokesperson urged Israel to ensure the outcome of its investigation led to accountability, referring to recent Israeli military investigations that were closed without resolution.

"The Israeli authorities have, in the past, announced investigations in such killings... We haven't seen results or accountability measures yet. We have yet to see the results of these investigations, and we call for accountability and justice," said Kheetan.