Palestine: NUJ supports MP calls for accountability after investigation into killing of journalists by Israeli forces
The NUJ and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have welcomed calls from parliamentarians to hold the Israeli government accountable before international courts following a new investigation into the killing of 20 civilians, including five journalists, at Gaza's Nasser hospital.
The joint investigation by The Independent and Independent Arabia into the double tap strikes on 25 August 2025 uncovered evidence that, according to international law experts, would point to “the war crimes of intentionally attacking civilians”.
The evidence shows that while Israel claimed there was a camera “positioned by Hamas” on the hospital’s external stairwells, it was in fact the Reuters live feed - something that was widely known. According to reports published in The Independent, the Israeli military neither contacted the hospital nor issued a warning, despite this being an obligation under international law.
The investigation and reconstruction was based on 17 eyewitness accounts as well as the testimony of two Israeli whistleblowers, three weapons experts and legal experts.
The first Israeli military strike killed Hossam Al-Masri, a photographer working for Reuters news agency. According to eyewitnesses, following the attack, journalists and first responders – including medics and other civilians – rushed to the strike zone under surveillance from Israeli drones. Another Israeli strike then hit the area, killing more than 20 people, including journalists who were reporting on the situation. Following the strikes, the NUJ coordinated 48 hours of solidarity action, amplifying calls for the International Criminal Court to investigate the targeting of journalists.
In response to the investigation, several parliamentarians have called on the UK government to help ensure the Geneva Convention is upheld and to release any relevant evidence it may have in its possession.
Sarah Champion MP, International Development Committee, chair, said: “The Geneva Convention was written 77 years ago to provide some order and agreed responsibilities during the chaos of conflict. It is the international community’s responsibility to make sure those conventions are upheld.” Labour peer Helena Kennedy KC called for an international inquiry into the deaths of journalists in Palestine and Lebanon.
Anthony Bellanger, IFJ general secretary, said:
“Once again, investigations have revealed that Israel must be held accountable for war crimes before the International Criminal Court, and that impunity for the killing of journalists must end. In this regard, we welcome the call by UK MPs for the Israeli government to be held to account, and we invite the international community to consider the findings of this recent investigation in order to bring those responsible for war crimes to justice. We reiterate our call on the UN Secretary-General to report Israel’s failure to respect the principles and responsibilities set out in UN Security Council Resolution 2222.”
Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said:
"The NUJ remains horrified at the killing of more than 20 people - including five journalists - in double strikes by Israeli forces on Nasser hospital on 25 August 2025. The strikes followed the killing of five Al-Jazeera journalists and another media worker in an airstrike on a tent outside al-Shifa hospital. These targeted killings prompted our members across the UK, Ireland and continental Europe to organise vigils in solidarity with colleagues in Gaza, raising donations to the IFJ Safety Fund to provide urgent practical support to journalists in danger and calling for an independent investigation into the Israeli government’s actions.
“At least 240 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli forces since 7 October 2023, with killings continuing despite the October 2025 ceasefire announcement. The Israeli government has, through its repeated actions, shown contempt for press freedom and the Geneva Convention in targeting civilians, including journalists and hospital workers.
"The NUJ supports calls from parliamentarians for the UK government to facilitate investigations at the International Criminal Court and exert pressure on the Israeli government to bring an end to its targeting of journalists. As the government resets its foreign policy agenda, the union is writing to the new Foreign Secretary to highlight the need to uphold existing international law and champion a specific and binding UN Convention that would place a requirement on states to protect journalists in all circumstances, investigate every crime, and prosecute the perpetrators.”