An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Wednesday evening killed six people, including Dr. Rizk Abu Shaaira, a Palestinian surgeon featured in the documentary American Doctor. The strike also wounded at least 28 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, with Médecins Sans Frontières reporting 52 wounded. The attack damaged multiple departments, including emergency, surgery, radiology, and laboratory units, forcing their closure.
Israel’s military stated the strike targeted Muhammad Abu Ismail, a commander in Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade, alleging he was using the hospital as a military command center. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the second floor of the hospital served as a Hamas military headquarters, where civilians were barred from entering and where hostages were held captive. Israel said it used a precision-guided missile to minimize civilian harm.
Gaza health officials and medical workers reported the strike occurred without prior warning, with one paramedic describing the scene as a collapsed surgery building filled with debris and broken medical equipment. The attack marked at least the seventh strike on Nasser Hospital since 2023, according to doctors who had worked there. A video shared by medical staff showed unexploded ordnance bearing the label GBU-39/B, a U.S.-made munition.
International condemnation followed, with the documentary’s distributor, Watermelon Pictures, calling the strike an attack on Gaza’s medical community. Co-founder Hamza Ali stated, “Hospitals are places of healing, not targets of war.” Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a colleague of Abu Shaaira’s and a subject of American Doctor, described the killing as “barbarism” and criticized U.S. support for Israel, noting the use of American-made bombs and aircraft.
Hamas and Gaza officials condemned the strike as a war crime, with Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem holding the U.S.-backed Board of Peace responsible for failing to prevent the attack. The Board of Peace, overseeing a 2025 ceasefire plan, lamented the “tragic loss of life” and urged immediate implementation of the plan. Gaza’s Health Ministry, operating under Hamas authority, reported over 1,600 Palestinian deaths since the ceasefire began, while Israel reported seven soldiers and one civilian contractor killed during the same period.
Israel’s broader military operations in Gaza continued this week, with the IDF and Shin Bet announcing the killing of over 10 terrorists, including members of Hamas’ Nukhba force involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks. The military also dismantled a Hamas weapons workshop in Gaza, alleging it produced arms intended for attacks on Israeli civilians and military personnel. Israel stated it took precautionary measures to mitigate civilian harm, including the use of precision munitions.
Medical and humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned of the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system, with flooding exacerbating conditions for displaced civilians. Dr. Sidhwa highlighted the risk of hypothermia-related deaths among infants due to blocked aid deliveries. The strike on Nasser Hospital occurred as international volunteers, including those featured in American Doctor, were en route to a screening of the film in New York.
Background: Nasser Hospital and the Gaza Conflict
Nasser Hospital, one of Gaza’s largest medical facilities, has been a frequent target in the Israel-Hamas war, which escalated after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks. Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian infrastructure for military purposes, a claim denied by Palestinian officials. The 2025 ceasefire, brokered with U.S. backing, has reduced large-scale fighting but not halted Israeli strikes or Hamas rocket fire. Both sides have accused the other of violating the truce, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting over 1,600 Palestinian deaths since October 2025, while Israel reported minimal military losses.
Casualties and Impact
- Six killed: Including Dr. Rizk Abu Shaaira (52), a surgeon, and a 13-year-old boy.
- 52 wounded: According to Médecins Sans Frontières.
- Hospital operations disrupted: Emergency, surgery, radiology, and laboratory departments closed.
- Unverified claims: Israel alleges Hamas held hostages and operated a command center in the hospital; Hamas denies these claims.
International Reactions
- Condemnation: Documentary team, medical groups, and human rights advocates criticized the strike.
- Defense: Israel reiterated its right to target Hamas operatives and accused Hamas of exploiting civilian infrastructure.
- Calls for accountability: Demands for investigations into the strike and broader attacks on medical facilities in Gaza.
Ongoing Developments
The strike on Nasser Hospital follows a pattern of repeated Israeli attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system, which has been described as systematic by some observers and necessary for self-defense by Israel. The incident has renewed debates over the use of hospitals for military purposes, the effectiveness of ceasefire agreements, and the role of international actors in mediating the conflict.