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The Gaza civil defence agency reported that the overnight strike hit the surgery department on the second floor of a building within the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis causing structural damage that affected both surgical and intensive care wards. Spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told AFP that teams recovered six bodies and assisted more than 20 injured individuals some of whom were medical staff and patients preparing for operations the next day. Medics at the scene identified one of those killed as surgeon Rezik Abushira while civil defence operations at the site concluded after a full search of the debris. Nasser Hospital functions as the largest medical facility in southern Gaza serving an estimated 500000 people in the area according to multiple accounts from local authorities.
According to Reuters the incident took place against the backdrop of a ceasefire that began in October 2025 after two years of conflict triggered by the October 7 2023 attack on Israel. Gaza health officials have recorded more than 1600 Palestinian deaths from Israeli actions since that truce took hold while Israeli figures show four soldiers killed in the same timeframe. Both sides have accused each other of undermining the agreement with Israel stating that Hamas seeks to regroup and Hamas insisting on its commitment to the deal. The latest strike adds to a series of incidents that have heightened tensions in recent days.
Nasser Hospital was previously struck in August 2025 in an incident that local officials said killed at least 20 people including health workers and journalists. The facility has endured multiple attacks over the course of the conflict and its civil defence support has included coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross as noted in coverage by the BBC. Civil defence teams described the latest damage as severe with operations shut down in key departments following the strike. Witnesses indicated no prior warning was given before the attack according to reports compiled by Al Jazeera.
The Israeli military offered no immediate comment on the strike with spokespersons telling outlets including AFP and Reuters that they were reviewing available information. In past operations Israeli authorities have alleged that Hamas maintains a presence inside hospital compounds for military purposes including detention and interrogation though Palestinian officials have consistently denied such claims in relation to this event. The civil defence agency which operates under the Hamas-run interior ministry has revised casualty counts in the hours after the strike from an initial four to the current total of six. Separate strikes across Gaza on the previous day killed at least five more people in areas including Gaza City and the Bureij camp according to civil defence updates.
United Nations agencies have meanwhile appealed for emergency aid including waterproof tents to assist hundreds of thousands of displaced residents affected by heavy rains and flooding in Gaza as reported in coverage from Al Jazeera. The Nasser strike marks the seventh reported Israeli action against the complex since the escalation of hostilities. Gaza officials maintain that the hospital was focused solely on medical care at the time with no military activity present. Broader casualty figures from the civil defence reflect cumulative impacts from repeated operations in the enclave since the ceasefire.
Arab News reported that the death toll from the Nasser strike stood at six with around 20 wounded while the Times of Israel cited medics and the civil defence agency in confirming the same range of casualties. Recovery efforts have involved coordination among local teams despite ongoing access challenges for independent verification inside Gaza. The BBC has noted that Israeli restrictions prevent its own reporting from within the territory leaving reliance on statements from involved parties. Hospital administrators confirmed the fatalities in an official statement following the incident.
