German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that he did not believe at this time that an Israeli attack on a hospital in Gaza that killed at least 20 people was targeting journalists.
"But the Israeli army and the Israeli government have both promised to launch a comprehensive investigation into this incident," said Merz at a press conference in Berlin.
"And I would like to wait for the results of this investigation before making a final judgment," he added.
Israel struck Nasser hospital in the south of the Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists who worked for Reuters, the Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and others.
Who were the journalists killed?
Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, one of the journalists killed in the strikes, was a contractor for Reuters. Photographer Hatem Khaled, also a Reuters contractor, was wounded.
The officials in Gaza named the three other journalists as Mariam Abu Dagga, who the Associated Press said freelanced for the AP and other outlets since the start of the Gaza conflict; Mohammed Salama, who Qatar-based Al Jazeera said worked for the broadcaster; and Moaz Abu Taha. A rescue worker was also among those killed, the health officials added.