An Israeli airstrike targeting Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis resulted in at least six deaths and left over a dozen others wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Among those killed in the Thursday morning attack was general surgeon Rizk Abu Shaira.
The strike caused extensive damage to the hospital's surgical wing, with multiple floors destroyed or severely compromised. Inside the facility, debris covered hospital beds and medical equipment, while rebar dangled from the ceiling where the munition had penetrated the structure. Nasser Hospital remains one of the few medical facilities still operating in Gaza, a region where healthcare infrastructure has faced significant destruction during the ongoing war.
The Israeli military stated that the operation was intended to target a Hamas commander and other militants, claiming that Hamas had established a presence within the hospital complex and converted it into a headquarters. The military did not provide evidence to support these assertions. In previous instances, Israeli forces have raided or besieged hospitals throughout the enclave, accusing Hamas of utilizing medical centers as command hubs and to conceal fighters, which has led to the death or detention of hundreds of healthcare workers and the destruction of medical supplies.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals and medical staff are granted protected status during armed conflicts. This protection can be forfeited if a medical facility is utilized for military purposes. This is not the first time Nasser Hospital has been affected by the conflict; in 2025, an Israeli strike on a gathering of local reporters at the complex killed five journalists, including AP contributor Mariam Dagga.
The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, following an attack by Hamas-led militants in southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military offensive has claimed more than 74,600 lives, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry. Despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire and Israel maintaining control over 60% of the enclave, violence persists. Since the truce began in October 2025, health authorities report that 1,622 people and five Israeli soldiers have been killed in ongoing strikes and gunfire.
