Israeli airstrike hits Nasser hospital in Gaza, killing six

An Israeli airstrike struck Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, early on Thursday, killing six people and wounding more than 20 others, according to The Guardian. Among those killed was general surgeon Rizk Abu Shaira.

Surgical specialist Dr Ayman Abu Ubaid said the strike happened at about 12:30am, without warning, and that he was wounded in the attack. The strike destroyed part of the hospital's surgery department and caused extensive damage to several floors.

Abu Shaira had been featured in American Doctor, a documentary about doctors working in Gaza. Another of the dead, 29-year-old Seif Ghazi Abu Hatab, had been admitted to the hospital on Monday and was scheduled for surgery at 10am on Thursday.

The Israeli military said it had struck a Hamas commander and other fighters at Nasser hospital.

Nasser hospital is one of the last functioning healthcare facilities in Gaza. Israel had struck the same hospital last year, killing five journalists in what is known as a double-tap strike, in which a second attack follows the first.