Gaza Hospital Strike: Israeli Attack Kills Surgeon and Child

An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza killed at least six people, including medical personnel and patients, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The overnight attack struck a surgery building at one of the few medical facilities still functioning in the enclave, causing damage to hospital wards and raising renewed concerns about the safety of healthcare workers and civilians during the ongoing ceasefire.

Among those killed were Palestinian surgeon Dr Rizk Abu Shaira and a 13-year-old boy identified by the hospital as Jihad Naeem Muhammad Abu Tilikh. The Israeli military said it had targeted a senior Hamas commander and other militants whom it accused of operating from within the hospital complex.

The strike has intensified scrutiny of the October ceasefire agreement, which has not stopped deadly attacks in Gaza. It has also renewed questions about the protection of medical facilities under international humanitarian law, particularly as the territory’s healthcare system continues to struggle after years of conflict.

What Happened at Nasser Hospital in Gaza?

The Israeli strike hit a surgery building at Nasser Hospital shortly after midnight. According to Palestinian health officials, at least six people were killed, with both patients and medical workers among the victims.

The attack damaged parts of the hospital, leaving debris across wards and causing destruction to ceilings and internal structures. Nasser Hospital is one of the few medical facilities in Gaza that continue to provide healthcare services despite extensive damage to the enclave’s medical infrastructure.

Dr Ayman Abu Obeid, head of the hospital’s surgery department, said there had been no warning before the attack. He described a sudden explosion that brought down walls and filled the area with fire and smoke.

Abu Obeid said he was not aware of any Hamas fighters or other combatants inside the hospital at the time, describing those present as medical personnel treating patients.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said the deaths included medical staff and patients. The Israeli military subsequently said it was examining reports that healthcare workers and patients had been killed in the operation.

Surgeon Dr Rizk Abu Shaira Among Those Killed

Palestinian surgeon Dr Rizk Abu Shaira was among the victims, according to the Health Ministry. His death prompted tributes from colleagues and healthcare officials who described his continued work at the hospital during the conflict.

Abu Shaira had featured in the 2026 documentary American Doctor, which followed three American doctors providing medical assistance in Gaza. His work at Nasser Hospital placed him among the medical professionals who continued treating patients despite the dangerous conditions.

Dr Goher Rahbour, a consultant general and colorectal surgeon who had travelled from the United Kingdom to assist with medical care, said he had worked alongside Abu Shaira earlier on the day of the attack. Rahbour recalled spending time with him on Wednesday evening, describing their interaction as friendly and positive.

Dr Mohammed Zaqout, director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, also paid tribute to the surgeon. At a gathering of mourners, he said Abu Shaira had remained at the hospital throughout the war and had not abandoned his responsibilities.

The death of another medical professional has added to concerns about the risks faced by doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers attempting to maintain medical services in Gaza.

13-Year-Old Boy and Other Civilians Also Killed

Nasser Hospital confirmed that 13-year-old Jihad Naeem Muhammad Abu Tilikh was among those killed in the strike. His death highlights the civilian toll of the attack on a facility where patients were receiving treatment.

Another victim was identified as Khaled Abu Anza, 53. His sister, Tahani Ibrahim Abu Anza, said he had been at the hospital to receive physical therapy following surgery.

She said she believed her brother had been targeted but rejected the suggestion that he was at the hospital for any military purpose. According to her account, he had gone there for medical treatment.

The Palestinian accounts of the victims contrast with the Israeli military’s explanation that the operation targeted Hamas personnel allegedly using the hospital complex. The circumstances surrounding the presence of the alleged militants and the deaths of patients and medical staff remain disputed.

Why Did Israel Strike Nasser Hospital?

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) said the operation targeted a senior Hamas member and other militants who they alleged had advanced attacks from the hospital complex in southern Gaza.

In a subsequent statement, the Israeli authorities identified the senior target as Muhammad Abu Ismail. They described him as the commander of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade and alleged that he had also been responsible for holding hostages in Gaza.

The IDF and ISA further alleged that Hamas had established a presence inside the hospital complex and used it as a command centre. According to their statement, weapons were stored there, and the facility was allegedly used for interrogations and torture.

The Israeli military specifically claimed that the hospital’s second floor functioned as a Hamas military headquarters where civilians were not permitted to enter. It also alleged that dozens of hostages had previously been held there during the war.

To support its claims, the Israeli military shared undated photographs of weapons it said had been found within the hospital complex and other locations. It said the operation involved measures intended to reduce civilian casualties, including precision munitions and aerial surveillance.

The IDF later said advance warnings had been issued to the population. However, medical personnel interviewed after the strike said they were not aware of any warning before the attack. The conflicting accounts have not been independently resolved.

Doctors Say They Received No Warning Before the Attack

Medical workers who were inside Nasser Hospital during the strike described the sudden impact and the damage caused by the explosion.

Dr Stephan Verborg, a limb reconstruction surgeon who travelled to Gaza from the UK, said he was approximately 15 to 20 metres from the point of impact. He recalled hearing the explosion and feeling the entire hospital shake.

Verborg described the immediate aftermath, saying smoke and dust filled the area. His account illustrated how close medical personnel were to the impact while continuing their work inside the hospital.

Rahbour also said he had not received any indication of an impending strike. Both doctors had travelled to Gaza earlier in November through IDEALS, a UK charity that provides humanitarian assistance in areas affected by conflict and natural disasters.

The two surgeons said they had not seen any indication of a Hamas presence inside the hospital. Their accounts differ from the Israeli military’s claims about the facility’s alleged military use.

Possible US-Made Bomb Debris Found at the Hospital

The attack has also attracted attention because of debris photographed at the hospital after the strike. Two munitions experts who examined an image supplied to NBC News said it appeared to show components associated with a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb.

The GBU-39 is a precision-guided munition manufactured by Boeing in the United States. The US is known to supply these weapons to Israel, although the presence of similar debris at the hospital does not by itself establish that this particular munition was used in the attack.

Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow specialising in airpower and technology at the Royal United Services Institute, said the visible wing section suggested the debris could belong to a GBU-39.

Brian Castner, a crisis researcher at Amnesty International, also identified the components as belonging to a GBU-39, noting that Israel had used the weapon in previous strikes in Gaza.

However, Sam Lair, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute who investigates nuclear and missile programmes, said the available imagery was not conclusive. He noted that several visible components appeared consistent with a GBU-39 series bomb but said the evidence did not establish the weapon’s identity with certainty.

NBC News reported that it could not independently confirm whether the photographed debris came from the weapon used in the strike or how it came to be displayed at the hospital. The IDF and Pentagon had not immediately responded to requests for comment about whether US-manufactured munitions were used.

Consequently, the identification remains an expert assessment based on photographs rather than a confirmed determination of the weapon used in the attack.

Hamas Rejects Israeli Allegations About Hospital’s Military Use

Hamas condemned Israel’s claims that the hospital was being used for military operations, describing them as false allegations and calling the attack a war crime.

The militant group has repeatedly denied accusations that it uses medical facilities for military purposes. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly alleged that Hamas operates from within hospitals and other civilian infrastructure during the Gaza conflict.

These competing claims are particularly significant because hospitals receive special protection under international humanitarian law. Medical facilities, healthcare personnel and patients must be protected during armed conflict.

That protection can be affected under specific circumstances if a hospital is used to commit acts harmful to an enemy outside its humanitarian function. However, the legal conditions are strict. A warning must generally be issued, allowing a reasonable period for compliance where appropriate, before protection can cease. Even when a military objective is present, parties must continue to follow the rules of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack.

Determining whether the strike complied with international law requires examining the evidence surrounding the alleged military presence, the military objective, warnings, expected civilian harm and the precautions taken. The available accounts do not independently settle those questions.

Nasser Hospital Was Previously Hit in a Deadly Israeli Strike

The latest attack was not the first time Nasser Hospital has been struck during the conflict. In August 2025, an Israeli double-tap strike on the facility killed at least 20 people, including journalists and healthcare workers.

That attack triggered international condemnation and renewed debate over the safety of medical facilities and media personnel in Gaza.

The repeated attacks have placed additional pressure on a healthcare system already weakened by damaged buildings, shortages of medical supplies and the displacement of medical personnel.

Nasser Hospital remains particularly important because relatively few medical facilities in Gaza are still capable of providing healthcare. Damage to such hospitals can affect not only the people directly injured in an attack but also patients who depend on them for surgery, emergency treatment and ongoing medical care.

Gaza’s Healthcare System Continues to Face a Severe Crisis

The World Health Organization’s assessment of Gaza’s hospitals illustrates the scale of the damage to the territory’s medical infrastructure. According to the figures cited in the report, only two of Gaza’s 37 hospitals were considered fully functioning, while 18 were partially functioning and 17 were classified as nonfunctioning.

This leaves a limited number of facilities responsible for treating a population facing extensive medical needs. Hospitals that remain operational must manage patients despite damaged infrastructure, shortages and continuing security risks.

The destruction of medical facilities has consequences beyond immediate casualties. When hospitals lose operating capacity, patients requiring surgery, rehabilitation, maternity care and treatment for chronic conditions may struggle to find alternative services.

Medical Aid for Palestinians, which supports several departments at Nasser Hospital, condemned the latest attack. The organisation said the incident demonstrated that the ceasefire had not brought safety or an end to attacks affecting Gaza’s healthcare system.

Israeli Strikes Continue Despite the Gaza Ceasefire

The attack took place despite a ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025 with US backing. Although the agreement was intended to reduce hostilities, Israel and Hamas have continued to accuse each other of violating its terms.

According to figures from Gaza’s Palestinian Health Ministry cited in the report, more than 1,600 people had been killed in the enclave since the ceasefire came into effect. Israel has reported that four of its soldiers were killed during the same period.

The wider conflict began after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage. Israel subsequently launched a military offensive in Gaza.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that more than 74,600 people had been killed in Gaza overall since the start of the offensive, including thousands of children. The figures reflect the enormous human cost of the conflict, although casualty reporting and the classification of victims remain subjects of dispute.

The continued violence has raised questions about the effectiveness of the ceasefire arrangements and the progress of efforts to secure a more durable political settlement.

Humanitarian Conditions Worsen as Colder Weather Arrives

The latest hospital strike comes as Palestinians in Gaza face additional humanitarian difficulties caused by heavy rainfall and the arrival of colder weather.

Many displaced families are living in difficult conditions, with damaged infrastructure and inadequate shelter making it harder to cope with the changing weather. Heavy rain can worsen living conditions in temporary shelters and create additional health risks for people already facing shortages of essential supplies.

The combination of continued military strikes, limited healthcare capacity and deteriorating living conditions has intensified calls for progress on the ceasefire agreement and humanitarian assistance.

What Happens Next After the Nasser Hospital Strike?

The immediate questions concern the circumstances of the attack, the identity and role of the alleged Hamas commander, the reported civilian and medical casualties, and whether the Israeli military’s claims about the hospital’s use can be independently substantiated.

The Israeli military has said it is examining reports that medical workers and patients were killed. The conflicting accounts from medical personnel and Israeli authorities, along with the uncertainty surrounding the munition debris, leave important questions unresolved.

The incident also places renewed focus on the protection of hospitals during armed conflict. With Gaza’s healthcare system operating with severely limited capacity, further damage to medical facilities could have consequences for thousands of people who depend on them.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the attack is another reminder that the ceasefire has not ended the danger facing civilians and healthcare workers. For international observers, it raises renewed questions about compliance with humanitarian protections, accountability for civilian casualties and the prospects of a lasting end to the conflict.