An Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis has resulted in the deaths of at least two people, including senior Hamas official Ismail Barhoum and a 16-year-old boy, according to Hamas and health officials.
Hamas confirmed that Barhoum, a member of its political bureau, was undergoing treatment at the hospital when the attack took place late on Sunday. The group condemned the strike, calling it a violation of international laws and accusing Israel of systematically targeting Palestinian civilians and leaders.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Barhoum was the intended target of the strike. The Israeli military defended the operation, claiming it was carried out with “precise munitions” after an intelligence-gathering process. The military argued that Hamas uses civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, to plan and execute terrorist attacks, in violation of international law.
Extensive Damage to Medical Infrastructure
The attack caused significant damage to Nasser Hospital’s surgical ward for male patients. Trauma surgeon Feroze Sidhwa, who was volunteering at the hospital, confirmed that the 16-year-old boy killed in the attack had been his patient. Sidhwa shared that the boy had been operated on just days earlier and was expected to be discharged soon.
The strike also rendered the hospital’s surgical ward unusable, with its electrical systems destroyed, windows shattered, and ceilings collapsed. Medical staff spent hours extinguishing fires caused by the attack. Health officials warned that Gaza’s medical facilities are overwhelmed and struggling with shortages due to the ongoing blockade, which has kept border crossings closed for over three weeks.
Escalating Violence in Gaza
Barhoum’s death came shortly after Hamas confirmed the killing of another senior leader, Salah al-Bardawil, in an Israeli strike on a tent shelter in Khan Younis. Since resuming large-scale military operations, Israel has killed four members of Hamas’s political bureau.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with over 600 people reported dead since Israel resumed its assault. Intense Israeli strikes have been reported in Beit Lahia in the north and Rafah in the south, while footage from outside Nasser Hospital showed a fireball erupting from the upper floors.
The escalating violence has left many civilians trapped and at risk as the conflict continues.
