Israeli Air Strike on Nasser Hospital in Southern Gaza Kills Six People

An Israeli air strike on the Nasser hospital in the southern Gaza Strip has killed at least six people and injured about 20 others. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that a single missile fired by a warplane hit a building containing the surgical wards and intensive care units overnight. The victims included medical staff, patients and companions, among them surgeon Dr Rizk Abu Shaira.

Official Reactions

The Hamas-run health ministry condemned the attack as a flagrant violation of international laws. In response, the Israeli military stated that it targeted a commander of the armed wing of Hamas and other fighters who used the hospital as a headquarters. Hamas rejected this explanation, accusing Israel of spreading false narratives to cover up a war crime.

Context

Hospitals hold protected status under international law, but they have faced repeated attacks throughout the ongoing conflict in Gaza. International news organisations are not permitted to enter the territory by Israel, making independent verification difficult. More than 1,620 people have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire agreement collapsed last October, adding to a total death toll exceeding 74,650 since the war began in October 2023.