Israeli Strike on Gaza Hospital Kills at Least Six, Injures More Than 20
Thursday 12/November/2026 - 01:53 PM
Ahmed Seif El-din
An Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital killed at least six people and injured more than 20 overnight Wednesday, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense rescue service. The attack targeted a building within Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, raising renewed concerns about civilian safety and the protection of medical facilities amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Gaza Hospital Strike Kills Surgeon, Official and Patient
Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defense, confirmed the casualties in a statement early Thursday, November 12, 2026.
According to Naseem Hassan, a paramedic and ambulance driver at Nasser Hospital, at least two missiles struck the roof of a four-story hospital building shortly after midnight. The missiles penetrated the third floor and exploded in the second-floor surgical department.
Among those killed were surgeon Dr. Rezeq Abu Shaira, Khan Younis Governor Khaled Abu Anzeh, some of his guards and a patient with a disability. Doctors, nurses and patients were among those injured, Hassan said.
Israel Says Strike Targeted Senior Hamas Operative
Hours after the Gaza hospital strike, Israel’s military and security agency issued a joint statement saying the operation targeted a “senior Hamas terrorist” and other members of Hamas’s military wing.
Israeli authorities alleged that Hamas had established a command center, stored weapons and conducted military activities within the hospital complex.
They said the airstrike was intended to eliminate a security threat and that measures had been taken to minimize civilian harm.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry condemned the attack as a violation of international law but did not directly address Israel’s allegations. The competing claims were not independently verified in the original report.
Gaza Hospital Attack Raises Concerns Over Fragile Ceasefire
The latest Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital occurred more than a year after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire took effect in October 2025.
Despite the agreement, Israeli military operations have continued in Gaza, where approximately two million residents face severe humanitarian conditions.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 1,600 people have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
The latest attack was the first reported strike on Nasser Hospital since the ceasefire took effect.
Nasser Hospital Previously Targeted During Gaza War
Nasser Hospital has experienced multiple Israeli military strikes since the war began following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 74,000 people have been killed during the conflict.
In August 2025, an Israeli strike on the same hospital killed 20 people, including medical personnel, rescue workers, patients and journalists.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently acknowledged that incident as a “tragic mishap,” an unusual admission following an Israeli military operation.
Renewed Concerns Over Civilian Protection in Gaza
The latest Gaza hospital strike highlights continuing threats to healthcare facilities and civilians despite the ceasefire.
While Israeli authorities maintain that the operation targeted Hamas military activity, Palestinian health officials have condemned the attack, emphasizing its impact on medical workers and patients.
The incident adds to concerns about the durability of the ceasefire and the safety of Gaza’s remaining healthcare infrastructure.
