Strike on Nasser Hospital in Southern Gaza Kills Six, Health Officials Say

KHAN YOUNIS, November 12, 2026 — An Israeli strike on the Nasser Hospital complex in southern Gaza killed six people, including a surgeon, according to local health officials, and disrupted medical services at a facility already operating under severe pressure.

The strike hit a building housing surgical services early Thursday. Hospital officials reported that people were wounded and that several departments were affected by damage to the building.

Israel's military confirmed that it carried out the operation, saying it targeted a senior Hamas commander and other militants it alleged were operating from within the hospital. It did not provide independently verifiable evidence for that assertion in its initial public statements.

Medical personnel said the damaged facilities had been serving patients in a healthcare system where essential supplies and specialist treatment remain in short supply. The incident adds to wider concerns about the protection of hospitals and the availability of emergency care in the territory.

The competing accounts about the target and circumstances of the attack have not been independently resolved. The reported death toll and operational impact are based on information available on November 12 and may be updated as further evidence emerges.

International humanitarian law places restrictions on attacks affecting medical facilities and civilians. The events at Nasser Hospital are likely to attract renewed scrutiny as the humanitarian situation remains difficult.

Photo: Szabolcs Antal / Unsplash. Illustrative photograph of a hospital corridor outside Gaza; not an image of Nasser Hospital or the November 12 strike. Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/empty-hospital-hallway-with-rows-of-chairs-TcFOSqNi8T0