Six people died and 28 others were wounded in an early Thursday airstrike on Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, according to the hospital director. The attack targeted a building housing surgical wards and intensive care units, leaving extensive damage across multiple floors. Dr Ahmed al-Fara confirmed that services were suspended in radiology, laboratories, surgical operations, and inpatient surgical wards after the blast. The health ministry reported that medical staff, patients, and companions were among the dead, including general surgeon Dr Rizq Abu Shaira.
Casualties and Immediate Aftermath
Dr Mohammed Qdeih, a general surgery specialist who suffered a head wound, described the chaos of the strike. He stated that he and other staff had finished work around 00:30 and were preparing for sleep when the explosion occurred. "My whole body was trapped under the rubble. For a moment, I felt as if I was about to lose consciousness, or that I was about to die," he said. He struggled to free himself from the debris while calling out to colleagues in the dark. Dr Ayman Abu Ubaid, another surgical specialist, noted that thick smoke filled the rooms and fires broke out amid screams. He added that most injured staff sustained limb injuries and shrapnel wounds.
Among the victims was Seif Ghazi Abu Hatab, 29, who was admitted on Monday after debris fell on his back while clearing rubble from a friend’s home. He was scheduled for surgery at 10am on Thursday but was killed before the procedure could take place. His cousin Tareq Abu Hatab said Seif wanted to rebuild his home and start a normal life. Abu Hatab had already lost two brothers and his father, meaning his mother has now lost three sons. Dr Rizq Abu Shaira, 52, was also killed alongside one of his patients whom he had recently operated on. He featured in the American Doctor documentary, where he was shown serving his community. Dr Thaer Ahmad, who also appeared in the film, posted that Abu Shaira lost his life because he was doing that work.
The physical destruction was severe, with the ceiling of one ward caving in and beds lying next to twisted medical instruments. A hole remained in the floor where the missile penetrated the five-storey structure. Footage showed piles of rubble and shattered concrete cluttering the ground. The hospital lacks about 80% of its essential medicines and supplies, making the loss of infrastructure even more critical.
Military Claims and Context
The Israeli military claimed it struck a Hamas commander and other fighters hiding inside the hospital. It named Mohammed Abu Ismail, alleged commander of the Khan Younis Brigade, as the target. The military stated that the group used the facility as a headquarters to plan attacks against its forces. It asserted that it issued advance warnings before the strike and released an audio recording of one given to a senior health official. However, Dr Fara insisted the hospital received no warning of an attack.
Hamas rejected these accusations, calling them a "blatant attempt to justify a documented crime targeting a civilian medical facility." The group said the nature of the casualties exposed the falsity of the Israeli narrative. Local activists circulated claims overnight that the strike may have targeted a senior Hamas security figure instead. Under international law, hospitals have protected status unless used for military purposes, which Israel alleges Hamas does by storing weapons in such facilities. This is the seventh time Nasser hospital has been struck during the war. In August 2025, a double strike killed 22 Palestinians, including journalists. More than 1,620 people have been killed in Gaza since the October 2025 ceasefire agreement, according to the territory’s health ministry. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with heavy rains flooding tens of thousands of tents housing displaced families.
