FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Monday began with a bang at 10:00 a.m., when an Israeli tank shell hit the facade of Nasser Hospital, one of the few clinics still functioning in Gaza. The Israeli military said it had identified a “Hamas camera” used to track troop movements and therefore authorized the use of a drone. But instead, the tank opened fire on the facility.
The target hit was not a Hamas device, but a Reuters camera, which was broadcasting live images of the fighting to the world. Its cameraman, Hussam Al Masri, was killed on the spot. The live broadcast was cut off instantly, with a cloud of dust covering the screen as the final image.
A few minutes later, as journalists and aid teams entered the hospital to rescue the wounded, another tank shell hit the crowd directly. The hit was again recorded live by another camera.
Panic reigned at the scene. Witnesses said the second shell was fired deliberately to prevent the arrival of ambulances and hit rescuers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a “tragic mistake” and issued a public apology. The Israeli military (IDF) said it had opened an investigation, but did not say whether the soldiers used the tactic known as a “double tap” – two consecutive shots, the first on the target and the second on those rushing to help.
“Double tap”: a tactic prohibited by international law
According to testimonies published by the Israeli portal +972, officers involved in the offensive have admitted to using this method to ensure that the target does not survive. Others have said that it is used to prevent the arrival of ambulances.
This practice is prohibited by international humanitarian law, as it targets civilians and rescue workers. However, it has also been used by the US military during drone strikes against Al Qaeda in Pakistan, by the Russians in Syria and Ukraine, and even by Hamas itself in twin bombings.
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