Israel targets senior Hamas member in Gaza hospital strike

Israel said it had targeted a senior Hamas member in a Gaza hospital in an overnight airstrike which reportedly killed six people.

According to the Israeli military, Muhammad Abu Ismail and other militants from the Islamist group had been operating a command center inside the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.

Gaza's civil defense service said at least six people were killed, including a surgeon and more than 20 were wounded. It said that parts of several floors were severely damaged or destroyed.

During war, hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law, although they can lose that protection if they are used for military purposes.

Israel says hospital used for terrorist activities

In a statement on Thursday, the Israeli military (IDF) said, without providing evidence, that Hamas was"operating within Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis" and were using the complex "as a hub for military and terrorist activities against IDF troops and Israel."

The IDF identified the targeted senior Hamas member as Abu Ismail, adding he "was responsible for directing terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians & IDF troops and for holding numerous hostages captive throughout the war."

The IDF said the hospital was used for storing weapons, to conduct interrogation, operate command-and-control rooms as well as to shelter terrorists.

What happened at the hospital?

The Gaza Health Ministry said the Israeli airstrike hit the surgery department, killing six people including surgeon Rizk Abu Sharia.

News agency Reuters reported seeing footage from inside the hospital showing extensive damage with debris scattered around rooms and equipment.

Wounded people were also seen in the wreckage while several bodies were being carried away as firefighters worked to clear the scene.

Hamas has described the strike as a "fully-fledged war crime."

Since the beginning of the war in 2023, Israeli forces have attacked several hospitals in the Gaza strip.

Fragile ceasefire

The war on Hamas in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

Since then, more than 74,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose figures are generally considered reliable by the international community.

More than 1.6 million residents of Gaza's 2.1-million population now live in tents or other makeshift shelters due to Israel's war in the enclave.

A ceasefire came into effect in October 2025, but attacks have continued since then. While Israel says Hamas is trying to regroup, the Palestinian militant group says it's committed to the ceasefire and that Israel is trying to undermine the agreement.

Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the EU, the US and several Arab states.