An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killed six Palestinians, including a surgeon, and wounded at least 20 others early Thursday, November 12.
The strike hit the hospital’s surgical department, located in the Al-Yasin building, causing extensive damage to medical facilities and disrupting healthcare services at one of Gaza’s major hospitals.
The surgeon killed in the attack was identified as Dr Rezik Abushira. A 13-year-old patient was also among those killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Gaza Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said the strike caused significant destruction inside the hospital complex. Footage from the scene showed collapsed ceilings, damaged furniture, rubble and electrical wires hanging from damaged sections of the building.
Medical personnel and emergency workers were seen carrying injured patients through debris-filled corridors following the attack.
The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike, saying it targeted a senior Hamas commander and other members of the group’s armed wing who were allegedly operating from inside the hospital complex.
The Israeli military later identified the intended target as Muhammad Abu Ismail, whom it described as the commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade. It said the results of the operation were still under review, leaving his fate unclear.
Israel accused Hamas of using the hospital as a military command centre, claiming weapons were stored there and that the facility was being used for military operations. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Hospital staff said the attack occurred without prior warning. The damage forced the suspension of several medical services, including surgical operations, radiology and laboratory work, further disrupting healthcare in a territory where medical facilities have already suffered extensive destruction.
The attack comes amid continued Israeli military operations in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025.
According to figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on November 12, at least 1,622 Palestinians have been killed and another 5,878 injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire began.
The cumulative death toll from Israel’s military offensive since October 2023 has exceeded 74,600 Palestinians, while the number of injured has approached 176,000, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Israel has also reported the deaths of four of its soldiers during the period since the ceasefire, according to figures cited by Reuters.
The continued attacks have raised concerns over the durability of the ceasefire, with Israel accusing Hamas of attempting to rebuild its military capabilities, while Hamas maintains that it remains committed to the agreement and accuses Israel of undermining it.
Nasser Medical Complex has been struck previously during the war. In August 2025, an Israeli double-tap attack on the hospital killed 22 people, including five journalists, after a second strike hit the site as rescue workers and journalists were responding to an earlier attack.
