Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Israel Says Gaza Hospital Strike Targeted Hamas Commander
Israel says its military attacked a Hamas commander near a hospital in central Gaza.
Israel said the commander was hiding in a structure next to the hospital buildings.
The hospital director said a small storage building was hit.
He said four people had minor injuries and that the hospital suffered major damage.
Gaza officials said separate attacks in other parts of Gaza killed four people.
Israel said it was checking some of those reports and described one target as a military operative.
Doctors Without Borders said hospitals should be safe places for patients and medical workers.
The fighting has continued even though a ceasefire began in October 2025.
Israel said it struck an unnamed Hamas commander near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
The hospital director said a storage facility was damaged, causing extensive material damage and four minor injuries.
Gaza's civil defense agency said separate Israeli strikes killed four people across the territory.
Doctors Without Borders condemned the reported hospital-compound strike and called for medical facilities to be protected.
Since the October 2025 ceasefire began, Gaza's health ministry reports 1,313 deaths, while Israel reports five military deaths and one civilian-contractor death.
- Who
- The Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Gaza health and civil defense officials, and Doctors Without Borders.
- What
- The Israel Defense Forces said it struck a Hamas commander near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital; Gaza officials reported four deaths in separate strikes.
- When
- Saturday; the reports also refer to a ceasefire that began in October 2025.
- Where
- Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah and other locations in Gaza, including Gaza City and Khan Yunis.
- Why
- Israel said the targeted Hamas commander was advancing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.
Israeli military account
Palestinian and humanitarian concerns
Reason for the hospital-area strike
Israeli military account
Israel said it targeted a Hamas commander who was using the hospital compound area and had advanced attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.
Palestinian and humanitarian concerns
Doctors Without Borders said hospitals must remain safe and protected places for patients and health workers, and condemned reports of an airstrike within the compound.
Civilian protection
Israeli military account
The Israel Defense Forces said it took steps to reduce risks to civilians and had warned Gaza medical authorities two days earlier against using medical facilities for militant purposes.
Palestinian and humanitarian concerns
The hospital director said the strike caused extensive damage, while Doctors Without Borders said medical-facility neutrality must be respected.
Deaths in separate strikes
Israeli military account
The Israeli military described one person targeted in Gaza City as a military operative and said it was checking reports about other casualties.
Palestinian and humanitarian concerns
Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli strikes elsewhere killed four people, including one east of Deir al-Balah, two in Tel al-Hawa, and one in Khan Yunis.
- Hospital location
- Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza
- Israeli target
- An unnamed Hamas commander whom Israel said was hiding in a structure adjacent to hospital buildings
- Hospital impact
- A small storage facility was hit; the hospital director reported extensive material damage and four minor injuries
- Reported deaths
- Gaza's civil defense agency said four people were killed in separate strikes across Gaza
- Ceasefire
- A US-backed ceasefire took effect in October 2025, according to the report
- Reported Gaza deaths since ceasefire
- At least 1,313 people, according to Gaza's health ministry
- Reported Israeli losses since ceasefire
- Five soldiers and one civilian contractor, according to the Israeli army