Jan Shaheen, the top Democrat on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza must stop following an airstrike targeting Nasser Medical Hospital that killed five journalists. Senator Shaheen expressed her disgust with the bombing in Gaza and the killing of journalists during a call from Beirut. She is currently touring the Middle East as part of a US delegation visiting the region to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara. This stance comes as Democrats in Congress have become more openly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Gaza war, despite historically being strong supporters of Israel. The number of journalists killed in Gaza since the war began has risen to 246, including 10 from Al Jazeera.

The Israeli strike on the Nasser Medical Complex on Monday resulted in 20 deaths, including five journalists: Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammed Salama, Reuters photographer Hussam al-Masri, Associated Press photographer Mariam Abu Daqa, Muath Abu Taha, and journalist Hassan Douhan.