India Calls Killing of Gaza Journalists 'Shocking', But Reposes Faith in Israeli Probe
New Delhi: Two days after five journalists were killed in Israeli attacks on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, India said today that the killing of journalists was "shocking and deeply regrettable" but reposed faith on an investigation by Israel, the very government under the aegis of which the killings had occurred.
The five journalists were among at least 20 people who were killed in that attack on August 25. As The Wire had noted in its report on the killings, the Gaza government’s media office told Al Jazeera that the journalists had been on assignment at the hospital when the attack occurred.
Among the journalists were Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, freelance journalist Moaz Abu Taha, Al Jazeera photojournalist Mohammed Salama, freelance visual journalist Mariam Abu Dagga and reporter Ahmed Abu Aziz.
Nasser Hospital has been called the last functioning public hospital in southern Gaza.
Earlier in August, five Gaza-based media workers, some of them working with Al Jazeera, were killed in a targeted attack by Israel. Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa had been receiving threats for months, it was reported.
In response to media queries on the loss of lives of journalists in Khan Younis – where the Nasser Hospital was located – official Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The killing of journalists is shocking and deeply regrettable. India has always condemned loss of civilian lives in conflict."
Jaiswal then added, "We understand that the Israeli authorities have already instituted an investigation.”
Reuters quoted an Israeli military spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, on August 26 as having said that the journalists were not the targets, and that a "Hamas camera" was. This spokesperson told Reuters that the Israeli army chief had ordered a further inquiry into how the decision to strike the hospital was made.
This June, when more than three-quarters of UN member states backed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages by Hamas, and unimpeded humanitarian access, India had abstained, arguing that durable peace can only emerge through direct negotiations.
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