Israeli strike on Gaza surgery wing kills six

Israel bombed a surgery wing at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza early Thursday morning. The strike killed at least six people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The facility is one of the few remaining operational hospitals in the enclave. Casualties included medical staff and patients. Among the dead were a surgeon and a 13-year-old boy.

The Israeli military said it targeted a senior Hamas commander named Muhammad Abu Ismail. He led the Khan Younis Brigade and managed hostage negotiations. The Defense Forces claimed militants operated from inside the hospital complex. They stated that a command center housed weapons and conducted interrogations there. The Israel Security Agency supported these claims. Israel said it used precision munitions and aerial surveillance to limit civilian harm.

Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira was among those killed. He appeared in the 2026 documentary American Doctor. The film followed three American physicians working in Gaza. Watermelon Pictures, the film’s distributor, called the attack devastating. Dr. Mohammed Zaqout, the director general of the Health Ministry, spoke to mourners in a video. He said Abu Shaira never abandoned his duties during the war. Zaqout noted that the doctor was proud to save lives.

Nasser Hospital also confirmed the death of 13-year-old patient Jihad Naeem Muhammad Abu Tilikh. Khaled Abu Anza, a 53-year-old man, was also killed. His sister, Tahani Ibrahim Abu Anza, said he was receiving physical therapy after surgery. She believed he was a target. Israeli media reported that a Hamas commander with the same surname died. The Defense Forces said they are investigating the matter. Hamas rejected the military’s allegations as lies. The group called the attack a war crime and said the hospital was not used for military operations.

The strike occurred under a U.S.-backed ceasefire that began in October of last year. The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 1,600 people have died in Gaza since the truce started. Israel reported four soldier deaths in the same period. Both sides accuse each other of violating terms. Since the offensive began following the October 7, 2023 attacks, more than 74,600 people have been killed in Gaza. That initial attack killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of around 250 hostages.

This is not the first strike on Nasser Hospital. In August 2025, a double tap strike killed at least 20 people, including journalists and health workers. The World Health Organization reports that only two of Gaza’s 37 hospitals are fully functioning. Eighteen are partially functioning and 17 are nonfunctioning. Medical Aid for Palestinians said the attack shows the ceasefire has not secured the healthcare system. The strikes coincide with heavy rains and colder weather in the region.

The Israeli military confirmed an investigation into the deaths of medical workers and patients is underway. The hospital remains open to the public despite the damage.