Six killed in airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza
The attack hit the surgical wing, killing a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy, while at least 28 others were wounded.
By Ella Cox ·
Six people died when an Israeli airstrike hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Thursday. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the casualties included a general surgeon and a 13-year-old boy. At least 28 other people were wounded in the attack.
The strike targeted the hospital’s surgical wing. Witnesses described severe structural damage to multiple wards and operating rooms. Debris was scattered across medical equipment and beds, with rebar hanging from holes in the ceiling. The Health Ministry said surgeries, radiology, and laboratory work have been halted due to the damage.
Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira, a general surgeon, was among those killed. The ministry also confirmed the death of at least two patients, one of whom was the 13-year-old boy. Goher Rahbour, a British surgeon volunteering at the facility, was on the fourth floor of the surgical department when the explosion occurred just after midnight. He stated that the recovery area on that floor was reduced to rubble and the building was filled with smoke. Rahbour said he had operated alongside Abu Shaira hours before the strike.
Ahmed al-Farra, the hospital’s general director, said no warning was issued before the attack. He noted that medical staff were already facing supply shortages and difficult conditions. Al-Farra stated that other nearby facilities are not equipped to perform the specialized surgeries that Nasser Hospital provides. He said patients in need of those procedures now face an unknown fate. The director called for a strong response from the international community, asking if the world would remain silent if a similar event occurred elsewhere.
The Israeli military said the strike aimed to target a Hamas commander and other militants. It did not provide evidence for this claim. The identified commander was not among the dead. In a statement, the military said Hamas had established a presence within the complex and turned it into a headquarters. The military noted that hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law unless used for military purposes.
A report from the United Nations, World Bank, and European Union stated in April that more than 1,800 medical facilities in Gaza have been partially or completely destroyed since the conflict began in October 2023. Israeli forces previously attacked Nasser Hospital in 2025, killing 22 people, including five journalists, at a gathering point for local reporters. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel. Since then, more than 74,600 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry. A U.S.-backed ceasefire took effect in October 2025, but 1,622 people have been killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire since the truce began.
