Air Strike on Southern Gaza's Largest Hospital Leaves Six Dead
A medical worker inspects the heavy damage inside a surgical ward at Nasser Hospital following the overnight air strike.
An overnight military strike hit the surgical building at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killing at least six people and injuring about thirty others. Medical staff, patients, and a 13-year-old boy were among the victims, including surgeon Dr. Rizq Abu Shaira. While the military stated it targeted a Hamas commander and fighters using the complex as a headquarters, health officials and international doctors at the site denied any militant presence or prior warning.
- WhenOvernight leading into Thursday
- WhereNasser Hospital, Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip
- CasualtiesAt least 6 killed, about 30 injured
- Key VictimsDr. Rizq Abu Shaira, 13-year-old Jihad Naeem Muhammad Abu Tilikh, and patient Khaled Abu Anza
- TargetingIsraeli military stated it targeted Hamas commander Muhammad Abu Ismail; hospital officials denied any militant presence
- StatusInvestigated by military while condemnation continues
Photos
18 photosWhat happened
Two missiles struck a five-storey building containing surgical wards and intensive care units at the Nasser Medical Complex overnight. Officials reported that one of the missiles failed to explode, while the other penetrated the structure and caused extensive damage to the second floor, shattering ceilings and scattering medical equipment and beds.
Local health authorities stated that at least six people were killed and roughly 30 others were injured in the strike. The casualties included medical staff, patients, and companions who were resting after completing their shifts or receiving treatment in the facility.
An unexploded missile and debris displayed at the hospital site after the attack.
How it unfolded
Medical staff working inside the hospital reported finishing their work around 00:30 and preparing to sleep just before the explosion shook the entire building. Doctors described sudden fire, shelling, and immediate darkness as walls collapsed and debris filled the corridors of the surgical department.
International physicians volunteering at the facility through charities noted hearing a powerful impact and smelling smoke and dust within seconds. Munitions experts later examined debris shown to media outlets, identifying components that appeared to match a U.S.-supplied GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, though official confirmation of the exact ordnance remains pending.
Mourners and medical staff gather for prayers around the shrouded body of Dr. Rizq Abu Shaira outside the hospital.
The people involved
Among those killed was surgeon Dr. Rizq Abu Shaira, described by colleagues as one of the best and kindest doctors in the department who had stayed at the hospital throughout the war. Another victim identified by the hospital was a 13-year-old boy named Jihad Naeem Muhammad Abu Tilikh.
Other casualties included a patient named Khaled Abu Anza, who was receiving physical therapy at the facility after undergoing surgery. Several medical personnel sustained injuries, including a general surgery specialist wounded in the head and another colleague who suffered a broken leg.
Response and aftermath
The Israeli military stated that the precise strike targeted Muhammad Abu Ismail, the commander of Hamas's Khan Younis Brigade, along with other fighters allegedly using the hospital as a headquarters and command center. The military added that advance warnings had been issued and precision munitions used to minimize civilian harm.
Hospital directors and international medical staff strongly disputed the military's claims, stating they received no warning before the attack and observed no militant activity inside the medical complex. Hamas condemned the incident as a war crime and rejected the allegations of military usage as false narratives.
What we still don't know
It has not been reported yet whether the military's specific target, commander Muhammad Abu Ismail, was killed in the strike, as officials continued to review conflicting reports regarding his status. Additionally, authorities have not definitively confirmed the exact type of munitions used or verified whether advance warnings were successfully transmitted to hospital administration prior to the attack.