An Israeli airstrike hit Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza early Thursday, killing at least six people including a surgeon and wounding at least a dozen, according to Gaza health authorities.
An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed at least six people early Thursday, Gaza health authorities said. The strike hit the hospital's surgery building, and medical staff and patients were among those killed, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
The Israeli military said it struck a senior Hamas member and other militants who were operating inside the hospital complex. The military accused Hamas of using the facility as a command center for military and terrorist activities. Reuters could not independently verify the Israeli military's allegations.
Hamas condemned the allegations as "lies of the criminal enemy" and called the attack a "war crime."
The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency said steps had been taken to "mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance." The IDF said it was looking into reports that medical workers and patients were killed.
Palestinian surgeon Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira was among those killed, the health ministry said. He was featured in the 2026 documentary "American Doctor." Watermelon Pictures, which distributed the film, said it was "devastating by the killing" of the surgeon and condemned the attack "and the continued assault on Gaza's healthcare system."
The strike wounded at least a dozen more people, according to CBS News and WTOP. Daily Sabah reported at least 20 others were wounded and that the hospital's surgical wing was severely damaged. Parts of the building's second floor were destroyed, witnesses said.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis is one of the few functioning medical facilities left in Gaza. Israeli forces have previously attacked the hospital, including an attack in 2025 that killed five journalists, including AP contributor Mariam Dagga.
Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement reached in October of last year. More than 1,600 people have been killed since the truce came into effect, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed in that time.
More than 74,600 people, including thousands of children, have been killed overall in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, in which some 1,200 people were killed and around 250 taken hostage.
The strike hit one of the few remaining functioning hospitals in Gaza, further straining the enclave's devastated healthcare system. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, and hospitals have protected status under international law despite being repeatedly targeted during the conflict.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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