KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the surgical wing of Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza early Thursday, killing six people and wounding 20 others, according to Gaza’s civil defense service. A surgeon was among those killed.
The strike damaged rooms and corridors inside one of the few hospitals still operating in the Gaza Strip. Reuters reported that its video from the scene showed extensive damage inside the building. An Associated Press journalist at the hospital said part of the second floor had been destroyed.
What authorities say happened
Gaza civil defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said the strike hit Nasser Hospital’s surgery department and caused major damage. Medical workers identified the surgeon who died as Rezik Abushira. AP, citing Gaza’s Health Ministry, also reported six deaths and said at least a dozen people were wounded; Reuters put the wounded count at 20.
The Israeli military and Shin Bet said the operation targeted a senior Hamas commander and other members of the group’s armed wing who were inside the hospital complex. A security source told The Times of Israel that the principal target was the current commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade.
Israel alleged that Hamas used the complex for command-and-control activity, weapons storage, observation posts and shelter for fighters. Reuters said it could not independently verify those allegations. AP reported that the Israeli military did not provide evidence with its initial statement. The military said the results of the strike were still under review.
Why Nasser Hospital matters
Nasser Hospital, in Khan Younis, is among the small number of major medical facilities that remain operational after years of war. Damage to a surgical department can affect far more than the immediate casualties, limiting the hospital’s ability to perform operations and treat emergency patients.
Hospitals have repeatedly become flashpoints in the conflict. Israel says Hamas embeds fighters and military infrastructure in civilian sites, while Palestinian officials and international aid organizations have warned that attacks on medical facilities further weaken an already overwhelmed health system. Under international humanitarian law, hospitals receive special protection, though that protection can be lost if they are used for acts harmful to an enemy outside their humanitarian function; even then, strict requirements govern warnings, proportionality and precautions.
Ceasefire under strain
The strike comes more than a year after a U.S.-backed ceasefire took effect in October 2025. Both sides have accused the other of violating the agreement. Gaza health authorities say Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed more than 1,600 Palestinians since the truce began. Israel says several of its soldiers have also been killed during that period.
The wider war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, according to Israeli authorities. Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing Israeli campaign. The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government; international organizations have generally treated its overall figures as reliable while noting that immediate wartime casualty reports can change.
What to watch next
- Whether the Israeli military identifies the commander it says was targeted and releases evidence supporting its claims.
- Whether the death and injury totals change as hospital officials complete their assessments.
- How much the damaged surgical wing reduces Nasser Hospital’s capacity.
- Whether the strike prompts new ceasefire negotiations or international calls for an investigation.
This is a developing story. Meeko News will update it as additional independently verified information becomes available.
