Israeli forces strike Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, killing six
The attack targeted a senior Hamas official, though Gaza authorities report a surgeon among the dead and extensive damage to the surgery department.
By Nia Foster ·
The Israeli Defense Forces launched an airstrike on the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis on Thursday, killing at least six people. Local authorities confirmed the casualties, which included a surgeon, while more than 20 others were wounded in the overnight attack.
The military stated that the primary target was Muhammad Abu Ismail, a senior Hamas member. Israeli officials claimed Abu Ismail was using the hospital complex as a command center to direct attacks and hold hostages. They further alleged that Hamas forces used the site to store weapons, conduct interrogations, and house militants, although the initial statement did not include specific evidence to support these claims.
Gaza's Health Ministry identified the strike as hitting the surgery department of the facility. The ministry named Rizk Abu Sharia, a surgeon, as one of the individuals killed. Footage from inside the hospital showed debris scattered across rooms and damaged medical equipment. Firefighters worked to clear the scene while wounded patients received treatment amid the wreckage. The civil defense service reported that several floors suffered severe damage, with parts of the structure destroyed or heavily compromised.
Hamas condemned the strike, labeling it a war crime. The group maintained that hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law. Israeli military officials countered that this protection can be lost if a facility is used for military purposes. The incident follows a pattern of attacks on medical facilities in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.
The conflict started after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, more than 74,000 people in Gaza have died, according to figures from the Health Ministry that are generally considered reliable by the international community. A ceasefire was agreed upon in October 2025, but hostilities have continued. Israel argues that Hamas is using the lull to regroup, while Hamas claims it is committed to the agreement and accuses Israel of undermining it.
More than 1.6 million residents in Gaza, out of a total population of 2.1 million, now live in tents or makeshift shelters. The recent strike on the Nasser hospital adds to the complexity of ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, and several Arab states.
