An Israeli airstrike struck the surgical wing of Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza on Thursday night, killing six people, including Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira, a general surgeon, and a 13‑year‑old boy. The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 28 additional injuries.
Israeli military says target was a Hamas commander
The Israeli Defense Forces said the strike was aimed at a Hamas commander and other militants believed to be operating inside the hospital complex. The commander identified by the military was not among those killed, and the IDF provided no further evidence of the target’s presence.
Damage to the hospital’s surgical facilities
Witnesses and ministry officials described extensive damage to the hospital’s surgical wing. Video footage showed shattered wards, operating rooms reduced to rubble, and rebar dangling from holes in the ceiling. The recovery area on the fourth floor was completely destroyed.
British volunteer surgeon Dr. Goher Rahbour, who was on the fourth floor at the time, said the blast shook the entire building and filled the area with thick smoke. He had been operating alongside Dr. Abu Shaira just hours before the strike.
Hospital director calls for international response
Ahmed al‑Farra, the general director of Nasser Hospital, said the attack came without warning and forced the suspension of surgeries, radiology, and laboratory work. He warned that nearby facilities lack the capacity to perform the specialized surgeries Nasser provided, leaving patients with an “unknown fate.” Al‑Farra urged the international community to respond forcefully, stating, “Imagine if this event happened in another country in the world. Would the world fall silent about it? No, by God, no.”
Broader context of attacks on Gaza’s health system
The strike adds to a pattern of attacks on Gaza’s health infrastructure. A joint United Nations, World Bank, and European Union report in April documented that more than 1,800 medical facilities have been partially or completely destroyed since the conflict began in October 2023.
Israel has previously targeted Nasser Hospital. In 2025, an Israeli strike on a gathering point for local reporters at the complex killed 22 people, including five journalists.
International humanitarian law protects hospitals and medical personnel, but a facility can lose its protected status if used for military purposes. Israeli officials have claimed that Hamas has established a presence within Nasser Hospital, turning parts of the complex into a headquarters.
Casualties in the wider Gaza conflict
Since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas‑run administration, reports more than 74,600 deaths and says women and children comprise roughly half of the toll. The ministry’s figures are generally regarded as reliable by UN agencies and independent experts.
Despite a U.S.‑backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, Israeli strikes and gunfire have continued, killing 1,622 people between October 2025 and the present, according to health authorities. Five Israeli soldiers have also been killed during that period.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
