UN officials express deep alarm after an Israeli airstrike damages the surgical department of Nasser Hospital in Gaza, killing patients and a medical worker
NEW YORK: United Nations officials have expressed deep alarm over an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Gaza. The attack killed six people, injured 27 others and caused extensive damage to the medical facility.
The strike hit the hospital’s surgical department in Khan Younis early on Thursday, November 12. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), those killed included a medical worker, patients and their companions.
UN warns of threats to Gaza ceasefire
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process ad interim, raised concerns over the attack. He warned that continued violence and increased military operations were worsening humanitarian suffering in Gaza. He also said the escalation threatened the fragile ceasefire.
Alakbarov urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law. He stressed that hospitals and medical personnel must receive protection. He also called for safe and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.
WHO calls for protection of hospitals
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged all parties to protect Gaza’s healthcare facilities. The WHO has documented more than 1,000 attacks on healthcare facilities and services in Gaza since October 2023.
The latest strike caused serious damage to Nasser Hospital, which provides critical medical services in southern Gaza. Israel’s military said it targeted a senior Hamas commander and other militants allegedly operating inside the hospital. It did not provide publicly verifiable evidence supporting the claim.
Impact to Expect
The attack could further weaken Gaza’s healthcare system as hospitals struggle with shortages of medical supplies and equipment. The violence also raises concerns about the stability of the ceasefire and the safety of civilians. UN officials continue to call for humanitarian access and stronger protection for hospitals, patients and healthcare workers.
