MPs have urged the government to “take the strongest measures” against Israel in the wake of an investigation by The Independent into the killing of journalists, first responders and medics in a “double-tap” attack on one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza.

They want Downing Street to increase sanctions and cease all trade with Israel rather than “accept weak justifications” for apparent war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law.

It follows revelations by this publication along with Independent Arabia about the 25 August, 2025 incident that killed Gaza correspondent Mariam Abu Dagga and at least 19 others.

The investigation and reconstruction was based on 17 eyewitness accounts as well as the testimony of two Israeli whistleblowers, three weapons experts and international law experts.

Mariam was one of more than 20 people, including five journalists, killed by Israeli tank fire as she rushed to report on an earlier strike. The initial attack had taken place just eight minutes beforehand, killing Reuters cameraman Hussam al-Masri as he manned his live position at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.

The Independent and Independent Arabia’s investigation and reconstruction uncovered evidence that, according to international law experts, would point to the war crimes of intentionally attacking civilians and of launching a disproportionate attack, particularly with regard to the second attack.

The Israeli military said at the time it “regrets any harm to uninvolved individuals” and that it “does not target journalists as such”.

It later claimed the Golani Brigade, one of Israel’s elite infantry brigades, identified a camera “that was positioned by Hamas” to observe troops and identified six “terrorists” who were killed in the attack. The Israeli military has repeatedly denied committing any war crimes in Gaza.

But the investigation shows the camera in question was the Reuters live feed, placed on the fourth floor of an external stairwell that hundreds of journalists, including Mariam, regularly used to take videos, report live and access internet and mobile phone connections.

Mariam herself took a photo of the camera in the weeks before the attack, with Hussam al-Masri, and appeared in apparent Israeli military surveillance footage three days before.

The investigation found the military did not contact the hospital about the issue they had with the camera, despite having staffers’ phone numbers, or warn them of impending strikes, which they are obliged to do, according to international law experts spoken to by The Independent.

The investigation further found that in the first round of strikes there were likely two tank projectiles, one of which killed Hussam al-Masri, and destroyed his camera on the eastern stairwell.

Another hit an entirely different area within the hospital, near the operating theatre, called the “Titanic”, where medics would rest.

Eight minutes later as journalists, medics, first responders and displaced civilians gathered on the stairwell to help and report – in full view of live-streamed cameras – two more tank projectiles were fired, killing more than 20 people.

Seven eyewitnesses we spoke to also reported seeing Israeli surveillance drones closely monitoring that stairwell and the activity of first responders between the attacks.

The Independent identified two of the six people labelled as “terrorists” killed in the attack as actually being a hospital worker and a member of the civil defence assisting in the rescue operation.

At the time, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who has an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant out against him – called it a “tragic mishap”.

But whistleblowers said that an attack of this size on a hospital – a protected building under international law – would have required sign-off from at least battalion level and planning.

Kevin Jon Heller, a professor of international law at the University of Copenhagen’s Centre for Military Studies, told The Independent after examining all the evidence, a prosecutor could “reasonably conclude” that the perpetrators had committed the war crimes “of intentionally attacking civilians and of launching a disproportionate attack, particularly with regard to the second attack”.

The Independent shared all its findings with the Israeli military and asked for comments on each point. The military declined to respond, adding only “the review is still ongoing under the General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism”.

In response to the investigation, International Development Committee chair and Labour MP Sarah Champion called on the British government to ensure the Geneva Convention is upheld.

“Where is our outrage over journalists seemingly becoming a legitimate target? Is this the new reality; that killing civilians, medics, and humanitarian workers no longer has consequences?” she told The Independent.

“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.

“Sadly, in the case of Gaza, it seems we are choosing to accept weak justifications rather than uphold international humanitarian law.”

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said the investigation marked “yet another example of the reasons why we need the criminal case against Netanyahu and his ministers to go ahead at the International Criminal Court”.

“The targeting of the hospitals, but also the targeting of journalists has unfortunately become all too common. The lack of proportionality in the actions of the IDF is now well documented,” she said.

“This investigation is yet another example of the reasons why we need the criminal case against Netanyahu and his ministers to go ahead at the International Criminal Court, and for the International Court of Justice to move forward with its investigation into war crimes and genocide,” she continued. “It is right that it is ultimately decided in international courts.

“The moral case to end this war has never been clearer. And while there is a so-called ceasefire in place, we know attacks still continue to this day.”

Ms Moran added she was concerned Britain could be “sitting on evidence that they haven’t put forward”, and called for reassurance from foreign secretary Ed Miliband and defence secretary Wes Streeting that there be “a no-questions-asked threshold if information is requested”.

“They should hand it over willingly and be proactive in making sure that that information gets to the right people so that it can be properly considered at the right level,” she said.

Baroness Helena Kennedy KC said there is “serious alarm” about the “failure to protect journalists” around the world and in the Middle East.

The Labour peer and chair of the High Level Legal Panel of the Media Freedom Coalition told The Independent there should be an international inquiry into the deaths of journalists in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.

“What had happened in the Middle East is seriously alarming,” she said. “I firmly take the view that there should be an international inquiry into the huge numbers of deaths of journalists in Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.

“The closure of Gaza to international news agencies was unconscionable. The world needs to be able to see and judge the conduct of a war. I support all steps to investigate what has taken place.”

Labour MP Rachael Maskell said the IDF must be held accountable through the international courts, and the UK government “must take the strongest measures” against the Israeli government.

“Having spoken to medics working in Gaza, they have reported to MPs that they have identified targeted war crimes, with precision targeting humanitarian workers including with sniper fire and drone use,” she said.

“The UK government must take the strongest measures, including ceasing all trade and increasing sanctions against the Israeli government to hold it to account for the actions of the IDF.

“The evidence continues to mount of the war crimes that have been committed, and justice must be served through the international courts.”

A government spokesperson said: “Israel’s attack on Nasser hospital a year ago was horrific. It is vital that civilians are protected, and that journalists and humanitarian workers be able to carry out their essential work in safety.

“The government of Israel must uphold its obligations under international law and ensure that it investigates any potential breaches when such incidents occur and ensure that those who are responsible are held to account.

“This government’s record on Gaza is clear. We have recognised the state of Palestine, suspended the negotiations on a trade deal with Israel, and the foreign secretary raised concerns over the humanitarian situation last week in a call with the Israeli foreign minister.”