DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza resulted in the deaths of four journalists on Monday, including Mariam Dagga, a 33-year-old freelancer for The Associated Press, according to health officials. The attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis also left 19 others dead, as reported by Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records department.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has proven deadly for media workers, with at least 192 journalists killed in Gaza over the past 22 months, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In comparison, 18 journalists have died in the war in Ukraine during the same period.

Dagga, who had a 12-year-old son evacuated from Gaza earlier in the conflict, was known for her reporting on the challenges faced by doctors at Nasser Hospital, particularly their efforts to treat malnourished children. The AP expressed its shock and sorrow over Dagga's death, stating, "We are doing everything we can to keep our journalists in Gaza safe as they continue to provide crucial eyewitness reporting in difficult and dangerous conditions."

Al Jazeera confirmed that its journalist Mohammed Salam was also killed in the strike. Additionally, Reuters reported that its contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri was killed and contractor photographer Hatem Khaled was wounded. The identity of the fourth journalist killed remains unclear.

The Israeli military stated that it conducted a strike in the vicinity of Nasser Hospital and announced plans to investigate the incident. They expressed regret for any harm caused to uninvolved individuals, asserting that they do not target journalists specifically.

Thibaut Bruttin, director general of Reporters Without Borders, criticized the situation, saying, "Press freedom advocates have never seen such a severe step backward for reporters’ safety." He highlighted that journalists have been killed in both indiscriminate strikes and targeted attacks acknowledged by the Israeli military. Bruttin added, "They are doing everything they can to silence independent voices that are trying to report on Gaza."

In some instances, such as the case of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who was killed earlier this month, Israel has accused journalists of being affiliated with militant groups. The military claimed al-Sharif led a Hamas cell, an allegation that both Al Jazeera and al-Sharif have denied.

International media access to Gaza has been severely restricted, with Israel allowing only rare guided tours. As a result, news organizations have relied heavily on Palestinian journalists and local residents to report on the situation. Many journalists in Gaza are facing the same dire conditions as the civilians they cover, struggling to secure food and basic necessities.

In one of her last social media posts, Dagga shared a selfie of herself leaning against a wall, reflecting the challenging environment in which she worked.