Israeli strike on Gaza hospital kills six, injures more than a dozen
The military says it targeted a senior Hamas operative, while health officials report damage to the surgery wing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
By Mei Lin ·
The health ministry in the Gaza Strip reported that an Israeli air attack on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed six people and injured at least 12 others on Thursday morning.
The Israeli military stated it struck a senior Hamas terrorist and other insurgents at the facility. It did not provide evidence to support that claim. The ministry said the strike hit the hospital's surgery department. Among the dead was a doctor. An Associated Press reporter at the scene described the second floor of the building as partially destroyed.
Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis remains one of the few functioning medical facilities in the territory. The region's health infrastructure has been reduced by years of war. Israel has accused Hamas and its allies of using hospitals as cover for military operations. In a statement, the military said the insurgent group established a presence inside the hospital complex. It described the site as a command center for military and terrorist activities.
Israeli forces have attacked and entered Nasser Hospital before. In 2025, the military killed five journalists when it struck a local reporter meeting point inside the complex. One of the victims was Mariam Dagga, a contributor to the Associated Press.
The conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led insurgents attacked southern Israel. That attack killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Since then, the Israeli counteroffensive has killed more than 74,600 people according to the Gaza health ministry. The ministry is part of the Hamas-led government, but its figures are generally viewed as reliable by the international community.
Israel continues to strike the enclave despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire. It controls at least 60% of the territory. Since the truce took effect in October of last year, Israeli attacks and fire have killed 1,622 people, according to health authorities. Five Israeli soldiers have also died during that period.
