An Israeli strike hit the surgical department of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, killing at least six people, according to Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza Civil Defence, who told the AFP news agency. The official from the Civil Defence agency, which is run by Hamas, told the BBC that at least five Palestinians were killed, while the Civil Defence spokesperson stated that 20 others were injured.
One surgeon was among those killed, according to reports. The attack occurred early on Thursday, and witnesses said that a projectile fired from a military aircraft, which briefly flew over the area, hit the building housing the hospital's surgical departments and intensive care units. The Israeli military did not immediately respond, and the BBC contacted the Israel Defence Forces for a comment. Israel has prevented independent reporting from the Gaza Strip and is unable to verify the details of the incident.
Recovery work is being carried out by the Civil Defence in Gaza, which operates under the interior ministry led by Hamas, and the efforts of the Civil Defence have been supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Videos shared by activists show thick smoke inside the building and significant destruction on the second floor, where medical equipment and beds were scattered by the explosion. Local activists spread claims that the strike may have targeted a senior Hamas security official who was hiding in the building. Israel frequently accuses Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes, which Hamas denies.
The director of the Nasser Medical Complex said that the building was hit by a vertical strike, causing major damage to the intensive care and surgical departments for men and women. Nasser hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, was hit by a double Israeli strike in August 2025, in which at least 20 people were killed, including journalists and health workers.
Israeli strikes on Gaza have continued despite a ceasefire agreement from last October. More than 1,600 people have been killed since then, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, whose figures are considered reliable by the UN. Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been further exacerbated by recent heavy rains, which reportedly flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced families.
The war in Gaza was triggered by an attack led by Hamas on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage. More than 74,645 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Ministry of Health.
