An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza has killed at least six people and injured about 20 others, according to a Gaza Civil Defence official.

The attack occurred early Thursday at the medical complex in western Khan Younis, with the bodies of the victims and more than 20 injured people recovered from the affected building.

Civil Defence spokesperson, Mahmoud Bassal, confirmed the death toll to the Agence France-Presse, saying six people had been killed in the strike. Nasser Hospital also confirmed the deaths in a statement.

Israel confirms strike

The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the airstrike, saying it targeted a senior Hamas member and other operatives belonging to the group’s military wing who were allegedly operating from within the hospital.

The military said it launched the attack to eliminate what it described as a security threat, accusing Hamas of establishing a presence inside the hospital complex and using it as a command centre.

The Israeli army maintained that the operation was directed at individuals it considered a threat.

Ceasefire tensions persist

The latest attack comes amid continued accusations by Israel and Hamas that each side is violating the ceasefire agreement, which took effect in October 2025.

The truce followed two years of war triggered by the 7 October 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas-led Palestinian militants.

On Tuesday, Israeli forces reportedly killed seven people, including a 13-year-old boy, in the Gaza Strip. Local emergency services reported the deaths, while the Israeli military said it had targeted what it described as military operatives.

According to figures from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, more than 1,590 Palestinians had been killed since the ceasefire began. The ministry operates under Hamas authority, but the United Nations has considered its casualty figures reliable.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has reported the deaths of seven soldiers and one civilian contractor during the same period.