An Israeli airstrike hit the surgical wing of Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing six people. The dead included a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy. The blast heavily damaged patient wards and operating rooms.
The Israeli military stated that it targeted a Hamas commander, Muhammad Abu Ismail. It claimed he headed the Khan Younis Brigade and used the facility as a command base. The military did not state whether Abu Ismail was killed, and his name did not appear on the hospital casualty list. It provided no explanation for why the surgical unit was struck.
Israel launched its campaign in Gaza after the October 2023 attack by Hamas on southern Israel. Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025, Israeli forces have continued near-daily strikes across the territory, though direct attacks on medical facilities have become less frequent.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals enjoy protected status. Medical facilities can lose this protection if used for military purposes, but the Geneva Conventions require a reasonable warning period, proportionality, and precautions to avoid civilian casualties. The Israeli military said it held warning conversations with Gaza health officials prior to the strike.
Hospital officials and Palestinian authorities have denied Israeli accusations that medical sites are used for military operations. Hamas security personnel have occasionally been seen inside hospitals to control access. In January, Doctors Without Borders suspended most operations at Nasser Hospital due to the presence of masked armed men and the intimidation of patients, before resuming work a few months later.
Throughout the conflict, Israeli forces have besieged and raided multiple hospitals across the territory. Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was left in ruins after two major raids. The World Health Organization has documented over 1,050 attacks on health facilities in Gaza, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths. The United Nations reports that over 1,700 medical personnel have been killed during the war.
Nasser Hospital itself has faced repeated strikes. In 2025, shelling killed 22 people on the roof, including five journalists such as Mariam Dagga, who worked with The Associated Press.
Gaza’s health care system is severely degraded. Out of 36 pre-war hospitals, 20 are currently functioning, though none operate at full capacity. International organisations and rights groups have also criticised Israeli restrictions on medical aid and equipment, categorising them as violations of international law. The military maintains that it permits aid while blocking dual-use items.
The World Health Organization reported that 47 percent of essential medicines were out of stock. Medical facilities struggle with severe shortages of fuel, lab supplies, and spare parts while treating a population where more than 1.6 million people live in tents and ramshackle shelters.
