An Israeli airstrike targeting a surgery building at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed at least six people overnight, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The attack, which occurred on Thursday, struck one of the few functioning medical facilities remaining in the enclave after years of military operations. Medical staff and patients were among the casualties, including a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy.
The Israeli military stated that it was targeting a senior Hamas commander and other militants who were allegedly operating from within the hospital complex. Officials identified the targeted commander as Muhammad Abu Ismail, who served as the head of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade and was responsible for holding hostages. The military and the Israel Security Agency claimed that Hamas had established a command center inside the hospital, where weapons were stored and interrogations were conducted.
Among those killed was Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira, a Palestinian surgeon who was featured in the 2026 documentary American Doctor. The film followed three American doctors providing care in Gaza. Watermelon Pictures, which distributed the film, expressed devastation over his death and condemned the attack. Dr. Mohammed Zaqout, the director general of the Health Ministry in Gaza, told mourners in a video that Abu Shaira had never abandoned his duties during the war. He described the doctor as one of the best, noting that he was always proud to save lives.
Nasser Hospital also confirmed the death of a 13-year-old patient named Jihad Naeem Muhammad Abu Tilikh. Additionally, a 53-year-old man named Khaled Abu Anza was killed in the strike. His sister, Tahani Ibrahim Abu Anza, said he was at the hospital for physical therapy after surgery and believed he was targeted. She emphasized that he came for medical treatment, not combat. Israeli media reported that a Hamas commander with the same surname was killed, and the Israeli Defense Forces said they were investigating the matter.
Hamas rejected the military’s allegations as lies and labeled the attack a war crime. The militant group stated that the hospital was not being used for military operations. In response, the Israeli military said it used precision munitions and aerial surveillance to mitigate harm to civilians. It confirmed that an investigation is underway regarding the deaths of medical workers and patients.
This incident marks another escalation despite an ongoing U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement reached in October of last year. More than 1,600 people have been killed in Gaza since the truce took effect, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Israel reported that four of its soldiers have died during the same period. Both sides have accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms.
Since Israel launched its offensive following the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, more than 74,600 people have been killed in Gaza. That initial attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of around 250 hostages. The current hospital strike is not the first to hit Nasser Hospital. In August 2025, a double tap strike on the same facility killed at least 20 people, including journalists and health workers, sparking international outrage.
The World Health Organization reports that only two of Gaza’s 37 hospitals are fully functioning, with 18 partially functioning and 17 nonfunctioning. Medical Aid for Palestinians, which supports departments at Nasser Hospital, stated that the attack shows the ceasefire has not brought safety to the healthcare system. The strikes occur as Palestinians face heavy rains and colder weather, prompting renewed calls for progress in the peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
