An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killed at least six people and wounded more than 20 others overnight, according to Palestinian health officials. The attack struck the hospital’s surgical wing, with medical staff and patients among the casualties, making it one of the deadliest incidents at a medical facility in Gaza since the start of the war.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the strike caused significant damage to the hospital, which is one of the few remaining functional medical centers in the enclave. Among the dead were a doctor and a child, according to officials cited by multiple international news outlets. Hospital staff described scenes of devastation, with ceilings shattered and debris scattered throughout the facility.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that it targeted what it described as a command center for Hamas militants operating within the hospital complex. In statements released Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were aiming at the commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade and additional militants allegedly hiding inside the hospital. The military did not provide evidence to support its claims that Hamas was using the hospital for military purposes.
Hamas and the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run administration but whose casualty figures are widely considered reliable by international agencies, rejected the Israeli justification. Hamas called the strike a “blatant attempt to justify a heinous crime targeting a civilian medical facility.” The Gaza Health Ministry said the attack was part of a broader pattern of strikes on healthcare infrastructure in the territory.
The incident occurred despite an ongoing U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement that was reached in October of last year. Since the truce went into effect, Palestinian health authorities say Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed more than 1,600 people in Gaza. The United Nations has reported that there is currently no fully functioning hospital left in the enclave, as repeated attacks have devastated the healthcare system.
International humanitarian organizations and medical groups have repeatedly warned about the dire consequences of attacks on hospitals in Gaza, where more than two million residents face acute shortages of medical supplies, clean water, and electricity. Nasser Hospital had been serving as a critical facility for trauma and surgical cases, especially after other hospitals in the north and center of Gaza were rendered inoperable by earlier strikes.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the overall death toll from Israel’s offensive on Gaza has surpassed 74,600 people since the conflict escalated, with the majority of casualties being civilians. The ministry’s figures are generally regarded as credible by the United Nations and other international bodies, though Israel disputes the numbers.
The Israeli military maintains that Hamas has systematically embedded its operations within civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings, a claim that has been the subject of ongoing international scrutiny and debate. Human rights groups have called for independent investigations into attacks on medical facilities, citing potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Why it matters
The strike on Nasser Hospital highlights the continuing vulnerability of Gaza’s healthcare system, which has been repeatedly targeted during the conflict. With the hospital serving as one of the last major medical centers in the territory, its partial destruction further limits access to essential care for thousands of wounded and sick residents. The Gaza Health Ministry and United Nations have both warned that the collapse of medical infrastructure could lead to even higher civilian casualties and suffering.
This incident also underscores the fragility of the current ceasefire agreement, which has not halted Israeli military operations in Gaza. According to the United Nations and Palestinian officials, more than 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza since the truce began, raising questions about the effectiveness of international mediation efforts and the prospects for a lasting peace.
The Israeli military’s assertion that Hamas uses hospitals for military purposes remains a central point of contention, with the IDF naming the commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade as a target in this latest strike. The lack of independently verified evidence for these claims continues to fuel international concern over the proportionality and legality of such attacks, and will likely intensify calls for greater accountability and protection of civilian infrastructure in conflict zones.
The image accompanying this article is an AI-generated illustrative depiction inspired by the actual scene of the event.
