Six dead in Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis hospital
Gaza health officials report at least six fatalities and 28 injuries after an Israeli strike targeted Nasser Hospital, which the military says housed senior Hamas militants.
By Ricardo Brooks ·
An Israeli airstrike on a major hospital in the Gaza Strip has killed at least six people and wounded 28, according to the territory's Health Ministry. The attack took place on Thursday in the southern city of Khan Younis, targeting Nasser Hospital, which remains one of the primary medical facilities still operational in the region.
Gaza health officials stated that a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy were among those killed. The Hamas-run ministry identified the surgeon as Dr. Rezik Abushira and confirmed that at least two other patients lost their lives in the strike. The hospital's surgical wing was the specific target of the bombardment, suffering extensive structural damage.
The Israeli military announced that its forces targeted a senior Hamas militant and other members of the group's armed wing. Officials said these fighters were operating inside the hospital complex. The military also accused Hamas of utilizing the facility as a command center for military operations. This alleged use included storing weapons, maintaining command and control rooms, and using hospital spaces as observation posts and shelters for combatants.
Video footage from the scene revealed severe destruction across several wards and operating rooms. Rubble and furniture were strewn throughout the damaged areas, with wires hanging from broken ceilings. Injured patients were seen being transported on stretchers through corridors covered in debris, while others assisted the wounded in navigating the wreckage. Firefighters were observed working outside the building as several bodies were carried away.
Mahmoud Basal, the spokesperson for Gaza's civil defense, confirmed that the airstrike hit the surgery department, causing significant damage to the infrastructure. In response to the incident, a Hamas spokesperson described the strike as a fully-fledged war crime. The group stated it remains committed to a ceasefire agreement that has been in place for one year and accused Israel of attempting to undermine the accord.
Israel, which has recently intensified its military operations in the enclave, maintains that Hamas is attempting to regroup and rebuild its military arsenal. This latest incident adds to a pattern of conflict, as Israeli forces previously attacked Nasser Hospital in 2025. During that earlier strike on a gathering point for reporters, 22 people were killed, including five journalists.
According to health officials in the territory, at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the recent ceasefire deal was agreed upon. Israel has acknowledged the death of four of its soldiers during this period. The broader conflict has taken a significant toll on the population since Israel launched its offensive in October 2023.
Gaza health authorities report that more than 74,000 people have been killed since the start of the assault in 2023. Israel initiated the offensive following an attack by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel, which the Israeli side stated resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people.
