Bel Trew
The Independent / August 26, 2026
For Mariam: Reconstructing the Israeli double-tap strike which killed her
An Israeli military whistleblower has revealed that the IDF uses a de facto policy of “retrospective incrimination” to deliberately label killed Palestinians as “terrorists” and reframe high-casualty strikes on sensitive locations like hospitals and schools.
VIDEO CLICK HERE
The whistleblower confirmed this policy was deployed following the 25 August 2025 strike on the Nasser medical complex in Gaza, which killed 22 people, including Independent Arabia journalist Mariam Abu Dagga and four other media workers.
According to the testimony, the IDF considers all cameras in Gaza to be legitimate military targets regardless of press involvement, with approval to strike a Reuters camera at Nasser hospital granted by top Southern Command leadership four days prior to the attack.
A year-long investigation by The Independent revealed that the attack involved a double-tap strike, with two additional tank projectiles fired eight minutes after the initial hit as medics, journalists, and first responders gathered to assist the wounded.
Israeli advocacy group Breaking the Silence corroborated the whistleblower’s statements, warning that such procedures allow the military to avoid genuine investigations, amidst reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists that over 200 media personnel have been killed by Israel since October 2023.
Bel Trew is The Independent’s Chief International Correspondent
