Israeli air strike on Nasser Hospital kills six people in Gaza

An Israeli air strike targeting the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza killed six people and wounded at least 28 others, according to the Morning Star. The attack, which hit the hospital’s surgical wing in Khan Younis, included the death of a general surgeon, Rizk Abu Shaira, the Gaza Health Ministry reported. This strike represents a continued assault on one of the few remaining functioning medical facilities in the enclave.

Targeted medical infrastructure

The Morning Star reports that parts of several floors within the hospital were severely damaged or destroyed, leaving debris scattered across medical equipment and hospital beds. Dr Ahmed al-Farra, the director of the Nasser Medical Complex, held a news conference in Khan Younis stating that patients and staff are in immediate danger. Al Jazeera reported that al-Farra noted this is the seventh time the complex has been targeted by Israeli forces.

"This is the seventh time that this has happened against Nasser Medical Complex, and I think this will not stop; they [Israeli forces] will continue their targeting," al-Farra said, according to Middle East Eye. He emphasised the scale of the facility's responsibility, noting that the complex serves nearly one million people and performs thousands of operations.

Claims and legal protections

The Israeli military claimed the strike hit a Hamas commander and other militants, alleging that Hamas had "established a presence within the hospital complex" and turned it "into a headquarters." However, the Morning Star notes that no evidence was provided to support these claims.

Under international humanitarian law, hospitals and medical staff are protected during armed conflict. While a hospital can lose this protected status if used for military purposes, the Israeli military has a documented history of raiding or laying siege to numerous hospitals, accusing Hamas of using them as command centres. The Morning Star reports that the military has also destroyed medical supplies and equipment, and has killed or detained hundreds of healthcare workers.

A pattern of destruction

The destruction of Gaza's healthcare infrastructure is part of a broader pattern of military action. The Morning Star reports that Israel continues to strike Gaza despite a US-backed ceasefire and currently controls at least 60 per cent of the Palestinian enclave. Since a truce took effect in October 2025, Israeli military action has killed 1,622 people, according to health authorities.

In our assessment, the repeated targeting of a facility serving nearly a million people suggests a systemic pattern of violence against the essential infrastructure required for civilian survival. The destruction of surgical wings and the killing of medical professionals like Dr Abu Shaira directly undermines the ability of the population to access life-saving care.

The situation at Nasser Medical Complex remains critical as the facility's director warns of ongoing threats to the thousands of patients currently receiving care.

This piece was generated automatically by an AI model from the sources listed below. It has not been reviewed by a human editor.

Sources

• Nasser hospital chief worries Israeli attacks will continue, report says — Middle East Eye
• Israeli attack on Gaza hospital leaves six dead — Morning Star