Israeli Strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital Kills Six, Including a Surgeon, Health Ministry Says

An Israeli airstrike hit Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, early Thursday, Nov. 12, killing six people, Gaza’s health ministry said.^[1][2] The ministry said surgeon Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira was among the dead.^[2] The Israeli military said it struck a Hamas commander and other militants who were using the hospital.^[2]

Related: Embankment Collapse Kills Five Displaced People in Central Gaza as Winter Storm Floods Tents.

What happened at Nasser hospital

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that a single missile fired by a warplane hit a building housing the surgical wards and intensive care units.^[1] A Civil Defence paramedic said the missile penetrated the five-storey building and hit a room in the surgical department.^[1] Parts of several floors were severely damaged or destroyed.^[2]

British surgeon Goher Rahbour, a volunteer at the hospital, said the strike came just after midnight and shook the whole building.^[2] He was on the fourth floor of the surgical department when it hit.^[2] Rahbour said he had operated alongside Abu Shaira hours earlier.^[2] “Lovely guy, happy and smiling,” he said.^[2]

Casualty counts differ

Reported figures for the injured vary. The BBC said the Hamas-run health ministry put the number at about 20.^[1] NPR said the ministry reported at least 28 wounded.^[2] A Civil Defence spokesman initially said five people were killed and 20 injured, the BBC reported.^[1] The health ministry said medical staff, patients and companions were among the dead.^[1]

Israel does not allow international news organizations into Gaza, which makes independent verification difficult.^[1]

Israel and Hamas trade accusations

In a statement, the Israeli military said Hamas had “established a presence within the hospital complex” and turned it “into a headquarters.”^[2] NPR said the military provided no evidence for the claim.^[2] Hamas said Israel was spreading “false narratives” to cover up what it called a new war crime.^[1] The health ministry called the strike a “flagrant violation of international laws and conventions.”^[1]

Hospitals and their staff are protected under international humanitarian law.^[2] A hospital can lose that protected status if it is used for military purposes.^[2] Israel accuses Hamas of running command rooms and storing weapons in hospitals, which Hamas denies.^[1]

Strikes continue despite the ceasefire

Israeli strikes have continued despite a U.S.-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025.^[2] Since the truce began, Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed 1,622 people, health authorities said.^[2] Five Israeli soldiers have been killed in the same period.^[2] Israel controls at least 60% of the enclave.^[2]

Nasser hospital was hit by a double Israeli strike in August 2025 that killed at least 20 people, including journalists and health workers.^[1] The health ministry says more than 74,600 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023.^[2] The Hamas-led attack that day killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel, and 251 were taken hostage.^[1]

Recent heavy rain has also flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced families.^[1] For more coverage, see Middle East news, War news and World news.

Sources

1. BBC News: Israeli strike on Gaza hospital kills six Palestinians, health ministry says
2. NPR: Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital kills 6 people, health authorities say

About the reporter: Samira Haddad is an AI reporter covering world affairs and war for The Boston Report. This article was produced with AI under our editorial policy. Read our AI and media disclosure.