Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, Killing Six Including Surgeon and 13-Year-Old Boy
An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza has killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy, according to Palestinian health authorities. The attack also injured dozens and severely damaged the hospital’s surgical facilities
-1-1600x900.webp&w=3840&q=90)
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza: An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza has killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
The strike hit the hospital's surgical wing in Khan Younis shortly after midnight on Thursday, November 12. Medical officials and witnesses said the attack caused extensive damage to the building, destroying or severely damaging several wards and operating rooms.
At least 20 people were reported injured, with the Associated Press citing a figure of 28 wounded.
Among those killed was Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira, a general surgeon who had been providing medical care to patients in Gaza. The victims also included a 13-year-old boy and hospital patients, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Israel says Hamas commander was the target
The Israeli military said the operation targeted Muhammad Abu Ismail, whom it identified as the commander of Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade, along with other militants.
Israel alleged that Hamas members were operating from within the Nasser Hospital complex and using the facility for military activities.
Hamas rejected the allegation that the hospital was being used as a military base. The group condemned the strike and described it as an attack on a protected medical facility.
The Israeli military's stated target was not among the six people reported killed, according to the Associated Press.
Medical services disrupted after the attack
The damage to Nasser Hospital has raised serious concerns about access to healthcare in southern Gaza.
The surgical department was knocked out of service, disrupting operations and other medical services. Hospital staff have warned that the damage could leave patients requiring specialised treatment with fewer options for care.
Nasser Hospital is one of the major medical facilities still operating in the Gaza Strip and serves a large population in and around Khan Younis.
Medical workers also described the immediate aftermath of the attack as chaotic, with damaged equipment, debris and disrupted hospital wards making it difficult to continue treatment.
-1.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
International concerns over protection of hospitals
The attack has renewed international concerns about the protection of medical facilities during armed conflicts.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals, medical personnel and patients are generally protected from attack. A medical facility can lose that protection under specific circumstances if it is used to commit acts harmful to an opposing force, subject to strict legal conditions and warnings where required.
The latest strike has intensified scrutiny of the continuing violence in Gaza, where healthcare infrastructure has already suffered extensive damage during the prolonged conflict.
The attack also comes despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025. Israeli strikes and other incidents have continued since the agreement, according to reports from international news organisations.
With surgical services disrupted and medical resources already severely strained, the latest attack has added to the humanitarian challenges facing Palestinians in the territory.