The deadly Israeli strike on one of Gaza’s main hospitals killed six Hamas terrorists and took out a surveillance camera that had been tracking troops, the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday.

Israeli missiles hit the Nasser Hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, on Monday, killing 20 people, including five journalists — in a strike that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially described as a “tragic mishap.”

The IDF said a preliminary investigation had since determined a Hamas-installed camera had been detected at the site of the strike.

“In light of this, the troops operated to remove the threat by striking and dismantling the camera and the inquiry showed that the troops operated to remove the threat,” the military said in a post on X.

“At the outset, the Chief of the General Staff emphasized that the enemy conducts extensive and covert visual-intelligence gathering while cynically exploiting sensitive sites and civilian infrastructure, such as the Nasser Hospital, from which it carries out terrorist activities against IDF troops.”

Of the six terrorists killed in the strikes, one of them had been involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, the IDF said.

“At the same time, the Chief of the General Staff regrets any harm caused to civilians,” the military added.

Still, Israel’s Chief of the General Staff Eyal Zamir had identified “several gaps” that still needed to be probed further, including the authorization process prior to the strike and the decision making process in the field.

“The Chief of the General Staff emphasized that the IDF directs its activities solely toward military targets,” the IDF said.

The response came soon after Netanyahu expressed “regret” after the deadly strikes sparked condemnation.

“Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“Israel values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians.”

Hamas-tied Palestinian health officials said nearly two dozen people were killed in the blasts — including journalists who worked for Reuters, the Associated Press and Al Jazeera.

Cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a Reuters contractor, was killed when the first strike hit one of the hospital’s top floors, the news wire said.

Witnesses said a second strike unfolded just minutes after as rescue workers, journalists and others rushed to the site of the initial attack.

The other journalists killed were identified as Mariam Abu Dagga, who freelanced for the Associated Press and other outlets; Mohammed Salama, who worked for Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera; Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist who worked with several news organizations; and Ahmed Abu Aziz.

With Post wires