Israeli Strike on Nasser Hospital Kills at Least Six, Officials Say

Nasser Hospital sustained a deadly strike on Thursday that killed at least six Palestinians and wounded 25 others in Khan Yunis, according to Gaza-linked media reports and civil defence officials.

Heavy rainfall caused severe flooding that submerged approximately 70,000 tents across the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet confirmed they carried out the nighttime operation, stating that the target was Muhammad Abu Ismail, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade. The military said Abu Ismail and a terror cell were operating a command center from within the hospital complex to plan attacks against troops.

The strike caused severe damage to the medical facility, which serves roughly one million residents in southern Gaza. The director of Nasser Hospital told Al Jazeera that the entire facility has been rendered unusable, noting it was the only medical center that performs surgeries.

Hospital Strike Causes Fatalities Amid Military Claims

The Gaza civil defence agency reported six fatalities from the hospital strike, while Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence, reported that four individuals died specifically at the Nasser Medical Complex amid a wider toll of at least nine deaths across Gaza.

The military said that the hospital compound had been exploited for military purposes, including storing weapons, holding hostages, and conducting interrogations. The IDF maintained that it took steps to mitigate civilian harm before launching the strike against the Hamas commander.

Humanitarian Crisis and Relief Efforts

Winter storms and heavy rains have worsened conditions for displaced civilians, flooding roughly 70,000 tents across the territory, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. UNICEF estimated that 106,000 people have been directly affected by the rising waters and overflowing sanitation facilities.

The United Nations has pressed for urgent aid deliveries, but restrictions from Israeli authorities have slowed the transport of winter supplies. “What we need is for the Israeli authorities to collaborate with us in providing the necessary permissions to transport these essential tents into Gaza.” UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said

Italy responded to the flooding by announcing an emergency initiative of five million euros, approximately $5.5 million, aimed at immediate relief. Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said that wider international winter supplies face delays pending political stability.