The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday described the killing of five journalists in southern Gaza as “shocking and deeply regrettable.” MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has always condemned the loss of civilian lives in conflict and noted that Israeli authorities have already instituted an investigation.

The statement came after an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed at least 21 people, including the journalists, in what has been described as a “double-tap” attack. The incident occurred amid intensifying Israeli offensives in the besieged enclave.

Among those killed were Al Jazeera journalist Mohammad Salama, Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri, and Mariam Abu Daqqa, a freelance journalist working for the Associated Press at the time, highlighting the growing toll on media workers covering the conflict.