Six people have been killed and more than 20 others injured following an Israeli strike at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to a Palestinian civil defense official who spoke to AFP on Thursday.
The strike reportedly hit a building within the hospital complex, adding to the growing concerns over the safety of civilians and medical facilities amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense agency, confirmed that rescue teams had recovered six bodies and more than 20 injured people from the affected building.
“The death toll from the Israeli strike inside Nasser Medical Complex, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, has risen to six,” Bassal told AFP.
Nasser Hospital also confirmed the deaths in an official statement, although the full extent of the damage and the condition of those injured were not immediately clear.
When approached for comment by AFP, an Israeli military spokesperson said the military was checking the available information regarding the incident.
The latest strike comes amid continued tensions and accusations of ceasefire violations between Israel and Hamas. A ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025 was intended to bring an end to two years of devastating conflict, which began following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.
However, violence has continued despite the agreement, with both sides accusing each other of failing to uphold its terms.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli forces reportedly killed seven Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy, according to local emergency services in Gaza. The Israeli military, meanwhile, said it had targeted individuals it described as military operatives.
According to figures released by Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which operates under Hamas authority, more than 1,590 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. The figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
During the same period, the Israeli military has reported the deaths of seven soldiers and one civilian contractor.
The human cost of continued violence
Behind every casualty figure is a family facing loss, uncertainty and a future that may never look the same again. Hospitals, which should remain places of safety, healing and emergency care, are once again at the centre of the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
As violence continues despite ceasefire commitments, concerns over civilian protection, access to medical care and the safety of healthcare facilities remain urgent.
For the people of Gaza, the need for lasting peace goes beyond political agreements. It means being able to live without fear, receive medical treatment without danger and allow children to grow up with hope rather than the constant threat of violence.
The latest deaths at Nasser Hospital are another reminder that a ceasefire must translate into meaningful protection on the ground. Human lives, civilian safety and access to essential medical services must remain at the centre of every effort to end the conflict.
