GAZA CITY / ISTANBUL - At least two Palestinians, including a teenage boy, were killed in an Israeli military airstrike targeting Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on the night of March 23, 2025. The strike has drawn international condemnation and raised pressing concerns over the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that their forces had shelled the hospital, claiming the strike was aimed at eliminating a senior member of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Barhoum, who was reportedly receiving medical treatment at the facility. Witnesses noted that the surgical ward, located on the second floor, caught fire and sustained substantial damage, underscoring the immediate dangers faced by civilians and healthcare workers in the besieged enclave.
In a statement, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported, “The targeting of the surgical ward in Nasser Medical Complex led to the martyrdom of two Palestinians, one aged 16, and [further] injured numerous wounded individuals and medical teams.” The teenage victim had undergone surgery just two days prior to the airstrike.
This tragic incident occurred amid a resurgence of violence following a tumultuous ceasefire that was intended to ease hostilities between Hamas and Israel. Since the commencement of renewed military actions last week, the Israeli military has killed at least 700 Palestinians and injured over 1,000. The recent outcomes bring the total death toll in Gaza to over 50,000 since October 2023, a figure widely considered to be an underestimation according to various humanitarian observers.
The devastation at Nasser Hospital further exemplifies the alarming trend of targeting medical facilities amid the ongoing conflict. Reports indicate that 34 hospitals have been either partially or completely destroyed by Israeli forces since hostilities erupted. Healthcare professionals have expressed dire concerns about the state of medical care and the ability to serve civilians amid their infrastructure being attacked.
After the bombing, Hamas released a statement mourning the loss of Barhoum, describing the strike as "a cowardly Zionist assassination that targeted him in a bombing at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis while he was receiving treatment." They condemned the attack as a violation of medical sanctities and called for international scrutiny of Israel’s military tactics in civilian areas.
Israeli officials have repeatedly justified military actions by alleging that Hamas deliberately operates within densely populated regions, thereby risking civilian lives. This justification has come under intense scrutiny as the humanitarian consequences continue to rise, with hospitals overwhelmed and vital medical care hampered.
In response to the airstrike, Atef al-Hout, head of Nasser Hospital, reported that the men’s surgical unit had been rendered inoperable due to the destruction. As medical staff worked to evacuate patients amidst the chaos, another tragedy unfolded in several other regions of Gaza, with at least 25 additional Palestinian lives claimed by Israeli forces just hours after the Nasser Hospital strike.
As the region continues to grapple with escalating tensions, the ceasefire agreements that had taken hold earlier this year appear increasingly fragile. Negotiations aimed at extending peace talks between Israel and Hamas have faltered, with each side accusing the other of failing to fulfill commitments made during prior treaties.
Following the early January respite, hopes of establishing a more permanent ceasefire now appear dim. In this recent wave of violence, humanitarian organizations have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to protect the civilian population, which has already endured unspeakable levels of trauma and loss.
The depth of suffering in Gaza has captured the attention of international bodies, with the International Criminal Court having issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, for war crimes based on the actions that have unfolded throughout the conflict.
For now, the situation remains precarious. As the strikes continue and the reported number of deaths increases, the international community watches closely, hoping for an urgent resolution that prioritizes the safety and rights of civilians and seeks accountability for the actions taken in the ongoing conflict.
Only time will tell if this latest tragedy at Nasser Hospital will spur the necessary dialogue and actions needed to halt further bloodshed and bring peace to the conflicted region.
