Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital kills at least six, Gaza civil defence says

At least six individuals have died following an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, according to an official from the Hamas-run civil defence agency. The attack struck the surgery department of the medical facility in Khan Younis, resulting in injuries to at least 20 people and causing significant damage, spokesperson Mahmoud Basal stated to news agency AFP.

A surgeon is reportedly among those killed during the incident, which occurred early on Thursday. The Israeli military has provided no immediate response, and the Israel Defense Forces have been contacted for comment.

The Civil Defence in Gaza, which operates under the Hamas-run interior ministry, is conducting recovery work, with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross. Nasser Hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, was previously hit by a double Israeli strike in August 2025, an event that left at least 20 people dead, including health workers and journalists.

Israeli strikes on Gaza have persisted despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October last year, with both Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations. According to figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN considers reliable, more than 1,600 people have died since that agreement. Furthermore, the humanitarian crisis has been exacerbated by recent heavy rains that flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced families.

The ongoing war in Gaza was initiated by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. Since the conflict began, more than 74,645 people have been killed in Gaza, as reported by the health ministry.