Israeli Strike Hits Gaza Hospital, Killing Six, Health Officials Say

Strike hits hospital in Khan Younis

November 12, 2026, 3:48 a.m. Central time.

An Israeli airstrike hit a building at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza early Thursday, killing six people, including a surgeon, and wounding at least a dozen more, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

The strike damaged the hospital’s surgical wing in Khan Younis, and parts of the second floor were destroyed, an Associated Press journalist at the scene reported. Gaza’s civil defense service told Reuters that 20 people were wounded. Casualty counts can change.

Israel says it targeted militants

The Israeli military said the strike targeted a senior Hamas militant and other operatives and alleged that Hamas had established a military presence at the hospital. AP reported that the military did not provide evidence for its claim about the targets.

The accounts do not independently establish the identities or affiliations of everyone killed. The available reporting does not establish whether the surgeon was the target.

A hospital under pressure

Nasser Hospital is among the few functioning medical facilities remaining in Gaza, where years of war have severely damaged the health system.

The hospital has been struck before. An Israeli attack there in August 2025 killed five journalists, including AP contributor Mariam Dagga, according to AP. This earlier attack is separate from Thursday’s strike.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to AP. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has devastated Gaza.

Timeline

October 7, 2023: Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel. August 2025: An earlier Israeli strike at Nasser Hospital killed five journalists, AP reported. November 12, 2026: An overnight strike hit the hospital; local authorities reported six deaths. Dates are local to the region.