An Israeli strike on one of Gaza’s last functioning hospitals has brought the war’s competing claims into sharp focus, as medical staff confront casualties and damaged facilities.

The strike on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis killed six people, including a surgeon and a patient, and wounded 28 others, according to hospital director Dr Ahmed al-Fara. He said damage forced the suspension of radiology, laboratory, surgical and inpatient surgical services.¹

Dr Ayman Abu Ubaid, a surgical specialist who was wounded, described smoke and fires inside the hospital. “There were many casualties and blood everywhere,” he said, adding that the strike came without warning while patients were awaiting operations.¹

Israel’s military said it had struck a senior Hamas figure and other operatives, alleging that they were using the hospital as “a command centre for military and terrorist activities.” Hamas accused Israel of killing patients and medical staff and called the strike “a full-fledged war crime.”²

The BBC reported that Hamas did not specifically address the military’s claim about this strike. The group denies Israel’s broader allegations that it uses hospitals to store weapons and run command centres. Restrictions on international news organisations entering Gaza make claims difficult to verify independently.²

Hospitals are protected under international humanitarian law, though they can lose that protection if used for military purposes. The strike comes as Gaza’s health system faces severe shortages; al-Fara said Nasser lacked about 80% of its essential medicines and supplies.¹