Israel struck Nasser Hospital at least four times during its deadly attack in southern Gaza on Monday, an analysis of new video footage by BBC Verify has found.
The attack, which has attracted international condemnation and widespread anger, reportedly killed at least 20 people, including five journalists.
Initial reports from Gaza indicated that the hospital was hit twice, with the first blast followed nine minutes later by a second that targeted first responders and journalists who had arrived at the scene.
However, new analysis suggests the hospital was struck four times in total. BBC Verify and expert analysis revealed that two staircases were hit almost simultaneously in the first wave, and a later attack was actually two separate strikes hitting the same location within a fraction of a second.
Israel does not grant independent access to international journalists within Gaza. BBC Verify identified the additional strikes through analysis of numerous videos shared by a local freelancer and various eyewitnesses.
In the first incident, an Israeli strike hit the exterior staircase on the hospital's eastern side at 10:08 local time (07:08 GMT), killing journalist Hussam Al-Masri, who was conducting a live TV broadcast for Reuters. Further investigation uncovered an unreported blast at a staircase in the northern wing occurring concurrently, overshadowed by the "double-tap" on the eastern staircase.
Both incidents resulted in visible damage and contributed to the chaos as emergency workers reported that the hospital's operating department was also struck.
Newly emerged footage shows smoke rising and significant destruction at both stairwells, while other videos document the immediate impact on hospital personnel, including an injured individual being evacuated.
N. R. Jenzen-Jones, director of Armament Research Services, noted that the footage appears to show damage consistent with a small munition, including entry points indicative of a relatively flat trajectory.
Roughly nine minutes after the first strike, the hospital was struck again while emergency responders and journalists were present. Frame-by-frame analysis indicates that two separate projectiles struck the site milliseconds apart.
Experts debated the type of munitions used in these latter strikes, with some suggesting that they were Lahat missiles—guided munitions that can be fired from various military platforms. Other analysts indicated that the rapid succession of the strikes suggests involvement from multiple tanks.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has remained reticent regarding the identification of multiple strikes on the hospital, despite escalating allegations that the attack violated international humanitarian law.
Legal experts argue that attacks conducted against civilians that are disproportionate to military advantage sought are prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Such attacks must consider the presence of protected individuals within facilities like hospitals.
Following the series of strikes, Israeli officials expressed regret over the civilian casualties but have positioned the attack within the context of military operations against Hamas amid ongoing unrest in Gaza.
