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Editorial Faultline AI Desk

Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital kills surgeon and patients

An attack on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis killed at least six people, including a prominent surgeon and a child, hitting surgical and intensive care wards.

By Faultline AI Desk 2 min read

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Symbolbild · Kheel Center / CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

An Israeli airstrike hit the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza in the early hours of Thursday, killing at least six Palestinians and wounding between 20 and 30 others. The attack targeted the hospital's surgical buildings and intensive care wards, striking the al-Yasin building at approximately 1 am local time. This assault represents a direct hit on one of the last major medical facilities serving the population in southern Gaza.

Casualties and hospital damage

The strike killed a prominent surgeon, Dr Rizq Abu Shaeira, as well as a child and several patients, according to reports from Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye, and Novara Media. Many of those killed were patients who had been scheduled to undergo surgery the following day. A nurse on the night shift described the scene as "terrifying," reporting that patients were trapped under rubble and colleagues were injured.

Raed al-Dahshan, the hospital's director, stated that the strike caused extensive damage to the intensive care and surgical wards. The Nasser Medical Complex is one of the largest hospitals in the Gaza Strip and remains the only hospital still standing in Khan Younis, serving at least 500,000 people.

Targeting of medical infrastructure

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Israeli Army Radio claimed the strike was an "assassination operation" targeting a "Hamas brigade commander." However, reports from local media and hospital officials indicate the casualties were primarily medical staff and patients.

This incident marks the seventh time the Nasser Medical Complex has been struck by Israel over the past three years. Novara Media reports that Israel has destroyed or damaged every hospital in Gaza since October 2023 in what is described as a systematic campaign targeting healthcare infrastructure and medical staff.

Context of the humanitarian crisis

The strike occurs despite a US-brokered ceasefire that has been in place since October 2025, yet Israel has continued near-daily attacks, killing at least 1,600 people in the past year, according to Novara Media.

The destruction of medical facilities coincides with a broader collapse of life-sustaining infrastructure. Medical Aid for Palestinians reports that Israel has systematically destroyed Gaza's sewage network and continues to restrict the entry of essential aid. This is compounded by catastrophic winter conditions, where heavy rain has affected more than 106,000 people, causing flooding in tents and makeshift shelters. Approximately 950,000 Palestinians are currently living in areas at medium or high risk of flooding.

In response to the destruction of the healthcare system, Medical Aid for Palestinians is calling on the UK government to sanction Israel and suspend all arms transfers to the state.

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

Sources

Original reporting by Faultline / Kommando 161 — share it freely.