KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip, Nov 12 – An Israeli airstrike targeting Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed six people, including a general surgeon, and wounded at least 12 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, raising further concerns about the safety of medical facilities operating amid the continuing conflict.
The strike hit the hospital in Khan Younis early Thursday, damaging parts of its surgical wing and leaving sections of the building severely damaged or destroyed. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out an operation in the area, saying its forces had targeted a Hamas commander and other militants inside the hospital complex. However, the military did not provide evidence supporting its claims.
Gaza’s Health Ministry identified one of those killed as Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira, a general surgeon working at the facility. The deaths included people inside the hospital when the strike occurred, while at least a dozen others sustained injuries, according to the ministry.
The extent of the destruction was visible inside the affected sections of the building. Several floors suffered substantial damage, with debris spread across hospital beds, medical equipment and other areas used for patient care. Photographs and descriptions from inside the facility showed exposed reinforcing steel hanging from damaged ceilings where the munition had penetrated the structure.
The damage has placed additional pressure on an already severely weakened healthcare system in Gaza. Nasser Hospital is among the relatively few medical facilities still providing services in the territory, where years of fighting have destroyed or damaged hospitals, clinics and essential medical infrastructure.
The facility serves patients from Khan Younis and surrounding communities, making its continued operation particularly important for residents who have limited alternatives for emergency treatment and specialized medical care. Damage to its surgical facilities could further restrict the hospital’s ability to treat patients, particularly those requiring urgent operations.
The Israeli military defended the latest strike, saying Hamas had established a presence inside the hospital complex. In a statement issued Thursday, the military alleged that a Hamas commander had turned the facility into a headquarters and that other militants were also operating there.
The military did not release supporting evidence alongside its statement. The allegations also come against the backdrop of repeated Israeli operations targeting medical facilities across Gaza, with Israel maintaining that Hamas has used hospitals and other civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
Israeli forces have previously raided, surrounded or attacked hospitals throughout the territory. The military has repeatedly accused Hamas of using medical facilities as command centers, shelters for fighters and locations for military operations. Hamas has denied using civilian infrastructure for military purposes.
These operations have had serious consequences for Gaza’s healthcare system. Medical facilities have experienced destruction of buildings, medical equipment and supplies, while healthcare workers have been among those killed or detained during the war. The loss of medical personnel has further complicated efforts to maintain essential services as hospitals struggle with shortages of staff, medicines and functioning equipment.
International humanitarian law provides special protection to hospitals, medical personnel and patients during armed conflicts. Medical facilities must be respected and protected by parties to a conflict, and attacks against them are generally prohibited.
However, international humanitarian law recognizes limited circumstances in which a hospital can lose its special protection. This can happen if a facility is used outside its humanitarian function to carry out acts harmful to an enemy. Even in such circumstances, the rules governing warnings, proportionality and precautions remain relevant before an attack can be carried out.
The latest incident has renewed scrutiny of the military operations conducted around Gaza’s remaining hospitals, particularly because facilities that continue operating are essential for treating civilians affected by the conflict.
Nasser Hospital has also been struck in previous Israeli military operations. In 2025, an Israeli attack on the hospital complex killed five journalists who were gathered at a location used by local reporters. Those killed included Mariam Dagga, an Associated Press contributor who had reported from Gaza.
The journalists had been using the hospital complex as a gathering point while covering the conflict. Their deaths drew international attention to the risks faced by media workers reporting from Gaza, where journalists have frequently operated under dangerous conditions and with limited access to secure working facilities.
The latest strike comes as Gaza remains under the impact of a war that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack in southern Israel. Approximately 1,200 people were killed during the assault, while 251 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.
Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive across Gaza, involving airstrikes, ground operations and extensive destruction of residential areas and public infrastructure. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, more than 74,600 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war.
Although the ministry is part of the Hamas-run administration, its casualty figures have generally been regarded as reliable by the international community. The figures cover deaths reported across the territory during the prolonged conflict, although the circumstances surrounding individual fatalities are not always independently established.
The situation has remained volatile despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025. Israeli military operations and restrictions on movement have continued, while Israeli forces maintain control over at least 60% of Gaza, according to the information provided.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed 1,622 people since the ceasefire began. Five Israeli soldiers have also been killed during the same period, according to the reported figures.
The continued violence has raised questions about the effectiveness of the truce and the prospects for preventing further civilian casualties. While the ceasefire was intended to reduce hostilities and create conditions for humanitarian relief, deadly incidents have continued across the enclave.
For Gaza’s medical facilities, the repeated attacks and ongoing security conditions have made it increasingly difficult to provide consistent treatment. Hospitals that remain operational must accommodate patients injured in military operations while also dealing with shortages of medical supplies, damaged infrastructure and limited access to essential services.
The latest strike at Nasser Hospital adds to those challenges, with the death of a surgeon representing another loss for a healthcare system already struggling to maintain its capacity. As medical workers assess the damage and attempt to continue treating patients, the incident highlights the continuing vulnerability of Gaza’s remaining hospitals despite the ceasefire.