Israeli Strike on Nasser Hospital Kills Five: Ceasefire Strain
An Israeli airstrike hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, killing at least five including a surgeon and wounding 20, as Gaza's fragile ceasefire frays.
Image: The Apex Wire
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza, Nov. 12 — An Israeli airstrike hit a building at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis early on Thursday, killing at least five people, including a surgeon, and wounding about 20 others, according to Gaza's civil defence service.
The strike hit the surgery department on the second floor of the hospital's Al-Yassin building, causing extensive damage, the service's spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, said. Medics at the hospital identified the dead surgeon as Rezik Abushira.
- At least five people were killed and about 20 wounded when an Israeli airstrike hit the surgery wing of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis early on Thursday.
- Medics identified one of the dead as surgeon Rezik Abushira; the strike hit the second floor of the hospital's Al-Yassin building.
- At least nine Palestinians were killed across Gaza on Thursday, according to Gaza health officials.
- More than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, health officials said.
What Happened in the Nasser Hospital Strike in Khan Younis?
The strike hit in the early hours of Thursday, Basal said. The blast caused extensive damage to the building, and rescue teams worked through the damaged wing to reach the wounded. At least nine Palestinians were killed across Gaza during the day, according to Gaza health officials.
Israel has stepped up its attacks on Gaza in recent days, saying Hamas is trying to regroup and refill its arsenal. The day before the hospital strike, five Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza City and the Bureij refugee camp.
The Israeli military has not said what it was aiming at in Khan Younis. Hospitals are protected sites under the laws of war, and strikes on medical facilities draw close scrutiny from the United Nations and aid groups.
How Many People Have Been Killed in Gaza Since the Ceasefire?
More than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, according to Gaza health officials. Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed in the same period.
The ceasefire has been in place for more than a year, but attacks have continued across the territory.
The United Nations has made an emergency appeal for waterproof tents for hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza exposed to flooding after heavy rains, with families living in tents after their homes were destroyed.
Is the Gaza Ceasefire Still Holding?
The ceasefire remains formally in place, but each new attack tests the agreement, and each side has accused the other of breaking its terms.
Mediators have continued to press both sides to stick to the deal. Qatar's prime minister met President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss ceasefire mediation.
The strike comes as the United States reassesses its military aid to Israel. President Donald Trump has said American military aid to Israel will end by the close of the year, a position Israel's prime minister has publicly disputed.
| Figure | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Killed in the Nasser Hospital strike | At least 5 | Gaza civil defence |
| Wounded in the strike | About 20 | Gaza civil defence |
| Palestinians killed across Gaza on Thursday | At least 9 | Gaza health officials |
| Palestinians killed since the ceasefire began (Oct. 10, 2025) | More than 1,600 | Gaza health officials |
| Israeli soldiers killed since the ceasefire began | 4 | Israeli officials |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were killed in the Nasser Hospital strike?
At least five people were killed, including a surgeon, and about 20 others were wounded, according to Gaza's civil defence service.
Who was the surgeon killed in the Nasser Hospital strike?
Medics at the hospital identified the dead surgeon as Rezik Abushira, killed when the strike hit the surgery department on the second floor of the Al-Yassin building.
How many Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began?
More than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, according to Gaza health officials. Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed in the same period.
What has Israel said about the Nasser Hospital strike?
The Israeli military had not commented on the strike by early Thursday. Israeli officials have said recent strikes in Gaza target Hamas fighters who are regrouping and rebuilding their arsenal.
Gaza health officials said the casualty figures could rise as rescue teams reached the damaged surgery wing.
