November 12, 2026

An Israeli airstrike targeting Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, has killed at least six Palestinians and injured more than 20 others, according to Gaza’s medical and security authorities. The attack struck a building housing surgical facilities, causing extensive damage to hospital departments and triggering an emergency rescue operation.

The incident has renewed international attention on the protection of medical facilities during armed conflicts, particularly as hospitals in Gaza continue operating under difficult humanitarian and security conditions.

Hospital Surgery Department Hit in Airstrike

The strike took place early Thursday, November 12, at Nasser Medical Complex in western Khan Younis.

According to Palestinian security sources cited by Xinhua, an Israeli aircraft fired at least one missile at the second floor of the hospital building where the surgery department was located.

The hospital’s director, Atef al-Hout, said the attack caused significant damage to surgical wards and intensive care facilities.

Medical personnel and civil defence teams rushed to the affected area to evacuate casualties, extinguish fires and assist patients trapped inside damaged sections of the complex.

Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal confirmed that rescue teams had recovered six bodies and evacuated more than 20 injured people, some of whom were reported to be in critical condition.

Medical Personnel and Patients Among the Victims

Gaza’s health authorities said the casualties included medical workers, patients and people accompanying individuals receiving treatment.

The presence of medical personnel among the reported victims has intensified concerns about the safety of healthcare workers operating in conflict zones.

Hospitals are particularly important during periods of intense fighting because they provide emergency treatment, surgery, intensive care and essential medical support to civilians.

Damage to these facilities can affect not only people directly injured in an attack but also patients who depend on ongoing treatment for other medical conditions.

The latest incident has therefore raised further questions about the protection of healthcare infrastructure in southern Gaza.

Israel Says Hamas Operatives Were Targeted

The Israeli military acknowledged carrying out the strike and said its operation targeted a senior Hamas militant and additional members of the group’s military wing.

In its statement, the military alleged that Hamas had established a presence inside the hospital complex and was using the location as a command centre for military activities against Israeli forces.

The Israeli military maintained that its operation was directed against individuals it considered security threats.

However, Hamas rejected the allegations and described the attack as an attempt to justify an assault on a civilian medical facility.

The competing accounts highlight the continuing dispute over military activity in and around Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.

The claims about the alleged military use of the hospital have not been independently established in the available reporting.

Rescue Operations Continue Amid Hospital Damage

Following the strike, emergency responders and hospital workers worked to remove injured people and recover victims from the affected sections.

The damage to intensive care and surgical departments created additional difficulties for medical personnel already dealing with limited resources and a high demand for emergency treatment.

Hospitals in Gaza have faced repeated operational challenges involving damaged infrastructure, shortages of medical supplies, limited electricity and difficulties transporting patients.

The latest strike has added pressure to an already strained healthcare system.

International Humanitarian Law Raises Important Questions

Hospitals and medical personnel receive special protection under international humanitarian law.

The Geneva Conventions establish safeguards for medical facilities, healthcare workers and wounded civilians during armed conflicts.

Medical facilities generally cannot be attacked simply because they are located in a conflict area. Their protection can be affected under specific circumstances if they are used outside their humanitarian functions to commit acts harmful to an adversary, subject to applicable legal requirements and safeguards.

Even when such circumstances are alleged, parties to a conflict remain bound by rules concerning distinction, proportionality and precautions in attacks.

The circumstances surrounding the Nasser Medical Complex strike therefore raise important questions that require independent investigation, including the nature of the alleged military activity, the information available before the attack and the precautions taken to protect patients and medical personnel.

Gaza’s Healthcare System Faces Continued Pressure

The attack comes as medical facilities across Gaza continue facing serious humanitarian challenges.

The destruction of medical infrastructure has reduced the availability of treatment in several areas, while displacement and continuing insecurity make it difficult for patients to access healthcare.

Emergency departments must frequently manage large numbers of casualties while working with limited equipment, medicines and personnel.

International humanitarian organisations have repeatedly stressed the need to protect medical services and ensure that healthcare facilities can operate without unnecessary interference.

Further damage to major hospitals could have consequences extending well beyond the immediate victims of individual attacks.

International Community Faces Renewed Pressure to Act

The latest incident is likely to increase calls for stronger international efforts to protect hospitals and medical personnel.

United Nations agencies, humanitarian organisations and governments face renewed pressure to demand respect for international humanitarian law and support access to emergency medical assistance.

Independent investigations may also be necessary to establish the circumstances of the strike and assess whether the applicable laws of armed conflict were respected.

Protecting civilians and maintaining access to essential medical services remain central humanitarian concerns.

Conclusion

The airstrike on Nasser Medical Complex has resulted in significant reported casualties and damage to critical hospital facilities in southern Gaza.

While Israel says it targeted Hamas operatives allegedly operating inside the hospital complex, Hamas has rejected that account. The available reporting does not independently establish the competing claims.

Beyond the military and political dispute, the incident highlights the vulnerability of patients, medical workers and essential healthcare infrastructure during armed conflict.

Ensuring the protection of civilians, investigating attacks on medical facilities and maintaining access to emergency treatment remain urgent priorities for the international community.