Netanyahu says Israel ‘deeply regrets tragic mishap’ at Nasser Hospital after international outrage

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Monday evening following the IDF strike on Gaza's Nasser Hospital in which several people were killed, including some journalists.

“Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza,” Netanyahu said in the statement. He also repeated the statement of the IDF that military officials are investigating the situation.

“Our war is with Hamas terrorists,” Netanyahu concluded.

Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza.

Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians. The military authorities are conducting a thorough investigation.

Our war is with Hamas terrorists. Our just…
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) August 25, 2025

On Monday evening, the IDF released a statement by Spokesman Effie Defrin admitting that the strike was carried out by Israeli forces. The statement added that the incident was under investigation following reports of civilian casualties, including journalists.

“Earlier today, IDF troops carried out a strike in the area of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis,” the statement read. “We are aware of reports that harm was caused to civilians, including journalists.”

Defrin clarified that “the IDF does not intentionally target civilians.”

However, Defrin also reminded the media that “Hamas terrorists deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, as shields,” saying, “They have even operated from the Nasser hospital itself.”

While Defrin acknowledged that the IDF is carrying out an inquiry into the strikes, Channel 14 News ran a report in which soldiers involved in the strike told the news agency that the strike was approved by IDF commanders based on intelligence indicating the presence of a Hamas spotter working from the balcony which was targeted by the IDF.

PM Netanyahu calls the Nasser Hospital strike a ‘MISHAP’ and expresses ‘regret’,

Israeli media and soldiers say it was APPROVED by top brass — Channel 14 pic.twitter.com/zOqagy6Zjf
— Vitamvivere_1 (@Vitamvivere_1) August 26, 2025

The claim about the spotter was also reported by Channel 12 News, which cited an Israeli who uses open source intelligence methods to keep track of Hamas activities in the Gaza Strip.

Sources in the security establishment confirmed to Channel 12 that the attack at the hospital in Khan Younis targeted a spotter who had been observing IDF forces in the area for several days. A photo in the report showed a camera, hidden under a towel, on the fourth floor balcony of Nasser Hospital - filmed by the IDF before the strike.

Israel's News Channel 12 reported that security officials confirmed that Monday’s strike on Khan Yunis’ Nasser Hospital targeted a man who had been monitoring IDF forces in the area for several days.

Newly obtained N12 footage shows a hidden camera on the hospital’s fourth… pic.twitter.com/aJJceIQjUf
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) August 25, 2025

Hamas has a documented history of operating from inside the Nasser Hospital compound, including within the main hospital building.

In March, the IDF struck a Hamas operative inside the hospital compound, while the strike in May, which killed Hamas’ Gaza commander Mohammed Sinwar, also took place in the Nasser compound.

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⭕️A key Hamas terrorist who was operating from within the Nasser Hospital compound in Gaza was precisely struck.

The strike was conducted following an extensive intelligence-gathering process and with precise munitions in order to mitigate harm to the surrounding environment as… pic.twitter.com/C3pZqlC6NO
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 23, 2025

In the strike which killed Sinwar, another journalist, Hassan Aslih, was killed. Aslih had known links to Hamas, and often met with top Hamas leaders both before and after the start of the Oct. 7 war. He also accompanied Hamas terrorists during their attacks on Oct. 7.

After the strikes were reported on Monday, open source intelligence accounts on 𝕏 uncovered evidence that at least two of the journalists killed in the strike were active members of the Hamas terror organization.

JUST IN 🔴

Palestinians report that at least two of the casualties at Nassar Hospital were part of Hamas.

This is Hamas member Ahmed Hazem Shahin. What was he doing at the hospital? @Philipp27960841 https://t.co/lvUkiRUQgr pic.twitter.com/FTYsuhoEiV
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) August 25, 2025

Several other journalists killed in the strikes had posted comments praising Hamas’ massacres on Oct. 7 and in the days shortly after.

Info collected so far on the "journalists" killed in Gaza today 🧵 pic.twitter.com/7aUtRTbPG7
— Eitan Fischberger (@EFischberger) August 25, 2025

A Palestinian account on social media even posted a question, asking why Hamas’ Qassam Brigades had established a position inside the hospital.

Mohamed Hadayed a Palestinian In Gaza writes about Nassar Hospital:

“Everyone is outraged that the occupation is bombing hospitals. But has anyone asked why Qassam (Hamas) leadership turned Nasser Hospital into a military base in the first place?

The [Hamas] Internal Security… pic.twitter.com/IFx30Egkmk
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) August 25, 2025

In April, a Palestinian account posted a picture of a summons notice, delivered to someone suspected of activities against Hamas, requiring him to present himself at the Nasser Hospital for interrogation.

Absolute proof of Hamas military activity inside Gaza hospitals

Palestinian sources published today a summons for questioning received by a Gazan resident from the Hamas Ministry of Interior, requiring the Gazan to come for questioning inside Nasser Hospital

The Hamas… pic.twitter.com/byrzvjO9Fy
— Adin - عدین - עדין (@AdinHaykin1) April 28, 2025

While it appears that Netanyahu’s statement was a response to the outrage being expressed by many world leaders and by media outlets, Hamas’ known presence at the hospital, and its history of using civilian institutions as a shield for its terror infrastructure and activities complicate attempts to understand the events around the IDF strike.

IDF Spokesman Defrin promised that the IDF would release its findings from its investigation “as transparently as possible.”

“As always, we will present our findings as transparently as possible,” Defrin said on Monday.