Gaza Medical Strike: Six Killed at Nasser Hospital
Israeli forces targeted a surgical wing in Khan Younis, leaving at least twelve injured and damaging one of the enclave's last functioning hospitals.
By Sakura Ellis ·
Six people lost their lives and at least twelve others were injured when an Israeli airstrike hit the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis early Thursday. Gaza's Health Ministry reported that the impact occurred in the hospital's surgical wing, leaving medical staff and patients in a facility that remains one of the few operational medical centers in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a Hamas commander and other militants within the complex. In a statement released on Thursday, the military said Hamas had established a presence inside the hospital and that the commander had turned it into a headquarters. The military did not provide visual evidence of the target's location within the building.
Gaza health officials described the physical damage inside the hospital. Parts of several floors were severely damaged or destroyed, with debris scattered across hospital beds and medical equipment. Reinforced bars from the structure hung from the ceiling where the munition penetrated the building. Among those killed was Rizk Abu Shaira, a general surgeon at the facility.
Nasser Hospital is located in the southern city of Khan Younis, a region where healthcare infrastructure has suffered extensive damage during the ongoing conflict. The Israeli military has previously raided or besieged hospitals across Gaza, accusing Hamas of using them as command centers or hiding spots for fighters. The military has also destroyed medical supplies and killed or detained hundreds of healthcare workers since the war began.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals and their staff are protected during armed conflict unless the facility is used for military purposes. The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since that date, Israel's offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 74,600 people, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry.
Israeli forces have continued operations in Gaza despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. The military currently controls at least 60% of the enclave. Since the truce began, health authorities say Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed 1,622 people in Gaza and five Israeli soldiers.
This is not the first time Nasser Hospital has been hit. In 2025, Israeli forces struck a gathering point for local reporters at the complex, killing five journalists, including Mariam Dagga. The current strike adds to a pattern of attacks on medical infrastructure in the southern part of the territory.
