Israel’s military said Tuesday that its strikes on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, that killed at least 20 people, including five journalists, targeted a Hamas surveillance camera used to track Israeli forces.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops identified the device and ordered consecutive strikes to neutralize the threat, adding that six militants were among those killed.

The IDF did not provide evidence to support this claim, noting only that its conclusion was based, in part, on “the documented military use of hospitals by the terrorist organizations throughout the war, and by intelligence confirming Hamas’ use of the Nasser Hospital to carry out terrorist activities since the start of the war.” 

Among the six people Israel claimed were militants killed in the strike were Jumaa al-Najjar and Imad al-Shaar.

An initial inquiry regarding the strike on the observation camera at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, which occurred yesterday (Monday), August 25th, 2025, was presented to the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, by the Commander of the Southern Command, MG Yaniv Asor,… pic.twitter.com/CEf7fmaB2r

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 26, 2025

Hamas denied that any of its fighters were present at the hospital. Witnesses and media organizations also disputed the Israeli military’s account, saying those killed were medical staff and journalists covering the aftermath of the initial blast.

Casualty lists from Nasser Hospital identified al-Najjar as a health care worker and al-Shaar as a driver with Gaza’s civil defense agency, which operates under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.

Israel’s statement was issued after an initial inquiry into the attack, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a “tragic mishap.” In his statement, he stressed that Israel “deeply regrets” the incident and said its fight is against Hamas, not civilians.

On Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has ordered the investigation expanded to review the approval process for the strike, including the type of munition used.