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Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital kills six, including surgeon

Summarised from 13 outlets · 22 reports · Updated 13 Nov, 06:28 · Archive

An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed at least six people, including a surgeon, and wounded at least twenty, according to health authorities.

An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killed at least six people early Thursday and wounded between twenty and twenty-eight others, according to Gaza's health ministry. The dead included general surgeon Rizk Abu Shaira. The strike hit the surgical department and caused extensive damage to multiple floors of the five-storey building. Parts of the second floor were destroyed, with debris scattered across beds and medical equipment, twisted metal, shattered ceilings and rebar hanging from above. The hospital's surgery department, which serves half of Gaza's population of two million, was knocked out of service.

The Israeli military acknowledged carrying out the strike, saying it had targeted Muhammad Abu Ismail, described as a senior Hamas commander, and other militants allegedly operating from the hospital. The military claimed, without providing evidence, that Hamas was using the complex as a command centre for military and terrorist activities, for storing weapons, conducting interrogations and sheltering fighters. Hamas denies using hospitals for military purposes and has described the strike as a 'fully-fledged war crime'.

Dr Ayman Abu Ubaid, a surgical specialist at the hospital who was wounded in the attack, described the immediate aftermath: 'The bombing caused thick smoke to fill the rooms and fires to break out, amid the groans of wounded and people's screams. There were many casualties and blood everywhere.' He said the strike came at about 12.30am without warning. Dr Goher Rahbour, a British surgeon volunteering at the hospital, said the entire building shook as missiles struck the level containing six surgical theatres. He reported operating with Abu Shaira until 8pm, hours before the surgeon was killed.

Dr Ahmed al-Farra, the hospital's director, confirmed no warning came before the attack. The extent of the damage means six theatres are now unusable and services have been suspended in four departments: radiology, laboratories, surgical operations and inpatient surgical wards.

Nasser Hospital is one of the few remaining functioning medical facilities in Gaza, whose healthcare infrastructure has been devastated by years of war. The hospital complex has been struck by Israeli forces before. In 2025, an Israeli military strike killed five journalists, including Associated Press contributor Mariam Dagga, at a gathering point for local reporters at the complex. According to the World Health Organization, 1,056 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel have been documented in Gaza since October 2023, resulting in 1,010 deaths and 1,725 injuries.

The strike occurs amid an increasingly fragile ceasefire that began in October. Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the agreement. More than 1,600 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began, according to Gaza's health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. The humanitarian crisis has also worsened from heavy rains that have flooded tens of thousands of tents housing displaced families. Al Jazeera reported this was the seventh time Israel has targeted Nasser Hospital.

Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital kills six, including surgeon
Image: The Japan Times

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In this story: Nasser Hospital · Khan Younis · Gaza · Hamas · Israel Defense Forces · Rizk Abu Shaira · Muhammad Abu Ismail · Ayman Abu Ubaid

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log