Symbolic imageIsraeli strike on Gaza's Nasser Hospital kills surgeon despite ceasefire
An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis killed at least six people, including a surgeon, early on Thursday, despite the ceasefire.
The IDF and Shin Bet say the target was Muhammad Abu Ismail, commander of Hamas's Khan Younis brigade, whom they accuse of holding hostages during the war. Late on Thursday the IDF said two other senior Hamas officials were killed; it has not confirmed whether Abu Ismail died. Hospital director Ahmed al-Fara said 28 people were wounded, while The National cites about 20. The dead include the surgeon Rizk Abu Shaira, 52, according to the Guardian and the New York Times. Gaza's health ministry counts more than 1,600 people killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began in October 2025.
Damage inside the hospital
The strike destroyed part of the surgery department. Al-Fara said radiology, laboratories, surgery and surgical wards stopped working, and that the hospital already lacked about 80% of its essential medicines.
Military use disputed
The IDF says Hamas ran a command center and stored weapons at the complex. Hamas calls this a "blatant attempt to justify a heinous crime". The Board of Peace said the deaths show why President Trump's peace plan must be implemented immediately.