The key facts

  • The November 11 strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis killed six Palestinians, including a child and a doctor, and injured around 30 people.
  • Only one of the three missiles used detonated; the unexploded ordnance poses an additional threat to patients and medical staff.
  • The UN states that the Israeli army has not provided sufficient evidence to verify claims that hospitals lost their protected status under international law.

Strike on Nasser Hospital and UN Warning

The healthcare system in the Gaza Strip has been pushed to the brink of collapse by years of Israeli attacks, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Palestine stated on Friday, according to Anadolu Agency. According to the office, an Israeli airstrike on November 11 hit the building housing the surgical wing of the Nasser complex in Khan Younis: six Palestinians, including a child and a doctor, were killed, and around 30 others were injured.

Unexploded Missile and History of Attacks on the Complex

The office noted that three missiles were used in the attack, but only one detonated: the unexploded ordnance, according to the office, poses an additional threat to patients, medical staff, and civilians. The Nasser complex is named as one of the few hospitals still attempting to provide medical care in the besieged enclave. The statement also recalled Israeli attacks on the same complex in August 2025, when three airstrikes killed 22 Palestinians, including five journalists. Citing a 2024 report on repeated attacks on Gaza hospitals, the office indicated that by that time, most hospitals in the enclave had already been destroyed.

Dispute Over Hospital Protection Under International Law

According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Israeli army has not provided sufficient information to independently verify its claims that the attacked hospitals, ambulances, and medical personnel lost their special protection under international law and became legitimate military targets. 'Under international humanitarian law, all parties are obliged to protect and respect medical personnel and facilities, including hospitals, which must not become targets or be used for military purposes,' the statement said. The strike on Nasser Hospital occurred amid ongoing violations by Israel of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which entered into force on October 10, 2025, according to the office. Since October 2023, as reported by Anadolu, the war in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 74,000 Palestinians, over 175,000 have been injured, and approximately 90% of the enclave's infrastructure has been destroyed.