Palestinian photojournalist Hassan Aslih was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the surgical wing of Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, where he had been receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a previous strike on the same facility.

Eyewitnesses and medical staff reported that the hospital’s emergency department was hit by a drone, resulting in the death of Aslih, who had been hospitalized for nearly a month after surviving an Israeli airstrike in April. That earlier attack had claimed the life of fellow journalist Helmi al-Faqawi and injured several others.

The Israeli military had previously accused Aslih of participating in the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel, though these allegations have been strongly denied by Palestinian officials. Ismail al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas-run government media office, labeled the accusations as “false,” asserting that Aslih had no political affiliations.

“The occupation’s claim that Aslih took part in the October 7 events is part of a broader disinformation strategy aimed at justifying violence against journalists,” Thawabta told Reuters in April.

Aslih had become widely known for his extensive photo and video coverage of the October 7 attack, including images from inside Israeli territory. A respected figure in Gaza, he had worked for both international and local outlets and built a significant social media following, with over 500,000 followers on Instagram, where he frequently shared frontline coverage of the war.

In a statement following the hospital strike, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation was a "targeted attack on key terrorists," but did not mention Aslih by name. The IDF claimed Nasser Hospital was being used by Hamas operatives to coordinate attacks, a charge Hamas has consistently denied.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of Israeli strikes on hospitals across Gaza, which Israel claims are being used as military sites. The United Nations’ human rights office has condemned these actions, warning they could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

According to the Watson Institute at Brown University, the Israel-Gaza war has become the deadliest conflict for media workers in history, with over 232 journalists killed since October 7.

Aslih’s death underscores the peril faced by journalists covering the war, especially those reporting from within Gaza.