Israeli Strike Hits Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Killing Six
The attack on the surgical wing damaged operating rooms and revived debates over military use of medical facilities in Gaza.
By Neha Kapoor ·
Khan Younis, Gaza. An Israeli airstrike hit the surgical wing of Nasser Hospital on Thursday, killing six people and causing severe damage to the facility. The casualties included a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy. The blast smashed through a patient recovery area and wrecked operating rooms as well as a rest area for doctors.
The Israeli military stated that it targeted Muhammad Abu Ismail, whom it identified as the head of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade. The military claimed Abu Ismail was using the hospital as a headquarters to plan attacks. It did not provide evidence for this assertion or explain why the surgical unit was specifically targeted. Abu Ismail was not on the hospital’s list of those killed, and the military did not confirm whether the commander survived the strike.
This attack occurred despite a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that took effect in October 2025. While direct attacks on hospitals have become less frequent during the truce, Israel has continued to carry out near daily strikes in Gaza. The military says it is targeting militants in retaliation for the deadly attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023. Nasser Hospital has been struck repeatedly during the conflict. In 2025, Israeli forces shelled a vantage point on the hospital roof used by reporters, killing 22 people, including five journalists. Among those killed was Mariam Dagga, a reporter working with The Associated Press.
The World Health Organization has documented more than 1,050 attacks on health facilities in Gaza, which resulted in more than 1,000 deaths. The United Nations reports that more than 1,700 medical personnel were killed in the war. At least six medical staffers from Gaza, including three prominent doctors, have died in Israeli prisons, according to rights groups. During the worst months of the conflict, as few as 14 of Gaza’s 36 prewar hospitals were functioning. Shortages of medicine left patients in pain without painkillers, and deadly infections spread among patients.
Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals as command-and-control centers to justify its assaults. Palestinian and hospital officials have generally denied these claims, though Hamas security men have been seen controlling access to certain areas within medical facilities. Doctors Without Borders suspended most operations at Nasser Hospital in January due to the presence of masked armed men and incidents where patients were arrested or intimidated. The group resumed operations a few months later, citing concrete improvements after talks with Gaza authorities that included restrictions on the entry of armed individuals.
International humanitarian law protects hospitals, making attacks on them a war crime unless they are used for military purposes that commit acts harmful to the enemy. The Geneva Conventions require a warning with a reasonable period of time before any attack and state that the attack must be proportional to the military threat. The Israeli military said it held warning conversations with Gaza health officials before Thursday’s strike. It stated that if the military activity was not halted, it would act to remove the threats posed by it.
Gaza’s healthcare system remains in a fragile state. Twenty of the 36 pre-war hospitals are currently functioning, though none is fully operational. The sector continues to suffer from restrictions on the entry of medicines, supplies, and equipment. A World Health Organization report dated September 30 stated that 47% of essential medicines were out of stock. Shortages in lab supplies, medical equipment, spare parts, and fuel have hampered health work. Hospitals and clinics are struggling to treat a population where more than 1.6 million people live in tents or other temporary shelters. Communicable diseases and infections are widespread, and thousands of residents have life-changing wounds from the war.
The Israeli military has also faced criticism for restricting medical aid and equipment entering Gaza. The military says it allows aid to enter but bars some dual-use items it asserts could be used for military purposes. Medical organizations and rights groups have labeled these restrictions a violation of international law.
