At least five Palestinians were reported killed and about 20 injured when an Israeli airstrike hit a building at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, early Thursday, according to the Gaza Civil Defence agency. The facility contains surgical wards and intensive care units.
Gaza Civil Defence officials gave differing initial death tolls: an official told the BBC that at least five people had died, while spokesperson Mahmoud Basal earlier told AFP that six were killed. The Associated Press later reported six deaths, citing Gaza’s Health Ministry. The figures have not been independently confirmed.
Witnesses said a missile struck the building after a warplane briefly passed overhead. The director of Nasser Medical Complex said the impact caused extensive damage to the intensive care and surgical departments serving men and women. A surgeon was reported among those killed.
Israel says Hamas members were targeted
The Israeli military said it had targeted a senior Hamas member and other militants who, it alleged, were using the hospital as a command center for military and terrorist activity. In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency said they condemned the use of civilian and medical infrastructure for military purposes and had taken steps to reduce harm, including precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
Hamas denies using hospitals for military purposes. The BBC reported that it could not independently verify details of the strike from inside Gaza. The Associated Press also reported a toll of six, citing Gaza health authorities.
Hospitals are protected under international law, although that protection can be affected if they are used for acts harmful to an adversary, subject to legal conditions. Nasser Hospital, the largest in southern Gaza, was hit in a strike in August 2025 that killed at least 20 people, including journalists and health workers.