At least six people have been killed and another 20 have been injured by an Israeli air strike at a Nasser hospital building south of Gaza’s Belt on Thursday in the early morning hours.

Civil Protection spokesman in Gaza, Mahmoud Basal, told Reuters news agency that the attack hit the hospital’s surgery department, causing serious damage. Among those killed is a surgeon identified by medical personnel such as Resik Abushira.

The Israeli Army later stated that the target of the attack was a senior member of Hamas and other armed members of this organisation, who claimed they were operating within the hospital at Khan Yunis, Reuters reports.

In a statement, the Israeli Army accused Hamas of using the hospital complex as a command centre for military operations, including gun storage, the functioning of control and control rooms, as well as the use of hospital facilities as surveillance points and shelters for fighters.

Reuters stressed that it could not independently verify Israeli Army claims.

The images published by Reuters within the hospital show huge damage, garbage and furniture scattered across rooms, as well as cables hanging from damaged ceilings.

People are also seen carrying railed patients in ruins – covered corridors, while others helped the injured to walk through the damage. Some lifeless bodies were seen leaving the building while firefighters were working outside.

A Hamas spokesman condemned the attack, calling it a full war crime.

Israel, which has stepped up attacks on the Gaza Strip, says Hamas is trying to reshuffle and rebuild its military arsenal. Meanwhile, Hamas claims he remains committed to the ceasefire achieved a year ago and accuses Israel of trying to undermine the deal.

According to the health authorities in Gaza, at least a thousand and 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since reaching the ceasefire agreement. Israel, meanwhile, says that four of its soldiers were killed during this period.

The health authorities in Gaza report that more than 74 thousand people have been killed since the beginning of the Israeli offensive in October 2023.

Israel began offensive following the attack led by Hamas in southern Israel, in which, according to Israeli authorities, about 1,000 and 200 people were killed.

Source Layer: Dukeagini