{{Short description|Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, Palestine}} {{distinguish|Al Nasr Hospital}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox hospital | name = Nasser Medical Complex | org_group = [[Palestinian Health Ministry]] | logo = | logo_size = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|31.3471|34.2930|type:landmark_region:PS|display=inline,title}} | location = [[Khan Yunis]] | region = [[Gaza Strip]] | state = | country = Palestine | healthcare = public | funding = non-profit {{*}} government | type = Specialist | religious_affiliation = | patron = | network = | standards = Full capacity | emergency = | beds = | speciality = | helipad = | h1-number = | h1-length-f = | h1-length-m = | h1-surface = <!-- up to h12 --> | former_names = | constructed = | opened = 1960<!-- cite in article as well --> | closed = | demolished = | website = | other_links = | module = }} The '''Nasser Hospital'''{{efn|''Note'': "Nasser" ({{langx|ar| ناصر|link=no}}) and "Nasr" ({{langx|ar|نصر|link=no}}) are close, but different words, sometimes confused in press in the names of hospitals, e.g., [https://www.upi.com/News_Photos/view/upi/9863269ba9d035261e4ac68761634dca/Israel-Launched-an-Offensive-Against-Gaza/ here].}} (or '''Nasser Medical Complex''') is one of the largest hospitals in the [[Gaza Strip]].
During the [[Gaza war]], Nasser was one of the final active hospitals in [[Khan Yunis]] in the southern Gaza Strip, and was one of the last functioning hospitals in all of Gaza.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abdulrahim |first1=Raja |title=Israel Orders Evacuation of Southern Gaza Hospital Where Thousands Are Sheltering |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/world/middleeast/nasser-hospital-evacuate-gaza.html |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=13 February 2024}}</ref><ref name=who_feb18>{{cite news |last1=Shankar |first1=Vivek |title=Besieged Nasser Hospital 'Not Functional,' W.H.O. Director Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/18/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=18 February 2024}}</ref>
==History== In 1957, during the [[Egyptian occupation of the Gaza Strip]], the Egyptian authorities built Nasser Hospital on the site of a quarantine and [[febrile]] disease hospital established by the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate]] government in the 1940s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Separate and Cooperate, Cooperate and Separate: The Disengagement of the Palestine Health Care System from Israel and Its Emergence as an Independent System |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7AMWP3oI5IUC&q=Rafiq+Husseini&pg=PR3 |first1=Rafiq |last1=Husseini |first2=Tamara |last2=Barnea |year=2002 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=0-275-97583-5}}</ref> The hospital opened its doors in 1960 and was named after former Egyptian president [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]].
In 1972, the hospital closed for construction to double its capacity from 112 beds. It reopened in February 1974. In December 1984, the Israeli authorities closed down the [[orthopedic]] department due to contamination and transferred its activities to [[Al-Shifa Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web | author=Palestine Red Crescent Society | title=Health Conditions of the Arab Population in the Occupied Arab Territories, including Palestine | website=United Nations | year=1987 | url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-204603/ | access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref>
==Gaza war== {{Main|Nasser Hospital siege}}
The hospital was shelled multiple times throughout the war.<ref name="aa20231219">{{Cite web |title=Nasser Hospital in Gaza hit twice by Israel in past 48 hours: UNICEF |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/nasser-hospital-in-gaza-hit-twice-by-israel-in-past-48-hours-unicef/3086972 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref> The international media reported on the death of a 13-year-old amputee, Donia Abu Mohsen, who had survived a previous [[Israeli airstrikes|Israeli airstrike]] that killed her entire family.<ref name="aa20231219" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Zayara |first1=Sami |last2=Shapiro |first2=Emily |date=December 19, 2023 |title=12-year-old girl killed at Gaza hospital weeks after she said, 'I only want ... the war to end' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/12-year-girl-killed-gaza-hospital-weeks-after-interview/story?id=105750059 |work=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Khaled |first1=Mai |last2=Saleh |first2=Heba |date=November 29, 2023 |title=Gaza's children fight to survive amid wreckage of Israel–Hamas war |url=https://www.ft.com/content/55d74061-49c2-4a57-b67d-9daab07509fa |work=Financial Times}}</ref> A freed Israeli hostage claimed that the hospital was used by Hamas to hide hostages kidnapped during its October 7 attack on Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-freed-israeli-hostage-relives-horrors-of-captivity-and-fears-for-her-husband-still-held-captive-in-gaza|title=A freed Israeli hostage relives horrors of captivity and fears for her husband, still held captive in Gaza|date=January 16, 2024|website=PBS NewsHour}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-hostages-cunio-captivity-869241bb259b00a8f98817edf89b0bc8|title=A freed Israeli hostage relives horrors of captivity and fears for her husband, still held in Gaza|date=January 16, 2024|website=AP News}}</ref>
In early 2024, as Israeli forces advanced, bombing around the hospital intensified, sparking worries that the hospital would have to shut down. According to a report by ''[[The Guardian]]'' on 19 January 2024, fighting had come within metres of Nasser Hospital, which was described as the largest hospital still working in Gaza: "It has been receiving hundreds of wounded patients every day since the fighting shifted to the south last month. There are fears it could be forced to close because of Israeli bombardments and evacuation orders.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Burke |first1=Jason |last2=Livingstone |first2=Helen |date=19 January 2024 |title=Fears grow for largest remaining hospital in Gaza as Israeli forces bombard Khan Younis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/19/israel-gaza-war-largest-remaining-hospital-nasser-khan-younis-attack-fears-strike?embed=true |work=The Guardian}}</ref> The IDF said it had credible intelligence that Hamas militants were hiding in the hospital, some posing as medical staff, and that Israeli hostages or bodies of Israeli hostages were being held there.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-19 |title=Gaza's largest functioning hospital 'completely out of service', say health officials |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/19/gaza-nasser-hospital-out-of-service-who-israel-palestine-raid-hamas |access-date=2024-06-08 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=Emmet |date=2024-02-15 |title=Israeli troops enter Al Nasser Hospital, Gaza's biggest hospital still functioning, amid the war with Hamas |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-idf-nasser-hospital-khan-younis-rafah-offensive/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}}</ref> Israeli soldiers entered the hospital on 15 February 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stancati |first1=Margherita |last2=Ayyoub |first2=Abeer |last3=Lieber |first3=Dov |title=Israeli Forces Enter Gaza Hospital to Search for Hostages |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-enter-gaza-hospital-to-search-for-hostages-061cd039 |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=WSJ}}</ref> Five patients died after Israeli forces cut power to the hospital during the raid.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-16 |title=Five patients die at Nasser hospital after Israeli raid cuts off power and leads to 'deeply alarming' scenes |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/five-patients-die-nasser-hospital-151614503.html |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Victoria |last2=Rasgon |first2=Adam |title=Middle East Crisis: Israeli Forces Search Gaza Hospital; 5 Patients Die as Power Is Lost, Gazan Officials Say |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/16/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |access-date=16 February 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=16 February 2024}}</ref> On 18 February, the [[World Health Organization]] said the hospital could no longer serve its patients, and that the hospital was no longer functional.<ref name=who_feb18/> [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]] attributed the hospital's inability to continue operating to the Israeli siege and raid.<ref name=who_feb18/>
As of 23 February 2024, the hospital no longer had food or water and had no oxygen for patients.<ref name=nyt_patil_2.23.24>{{cite news |last1=Patil |first1=Anushka |title=More patients have died at a hospital under Israeli siege in southern Gaza, officials report. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/22/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news/more-patients-have-died-at-a-hospital-under-israeli-siege-in-southern-gaza-officials-report?smid=url-share |access-date=23 February 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=23 February 2024}}</ref> The [[Gaza Health Ministry]] attributed thirteen patient deaths to the lack of electricity and oxygen at the hospital.<ref name=nyt_patil_2.23.24/> In July 2024, [[Javid Abdelmoneim]], a British doctor with [[Médecins Sans Frontières]], reported conditions at the Nasser Hospital, stating, "I've worked in mass casualties around the world and the smell of blood is the same wherever you are. But here in Gaza, the horror really hits home."<ref>{{cite web |title=A day in the life at the last remaining hospital in southern Gaza |url=https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/day-life-last-remaining-hospital-southern-gaza |website=Doctors Without Borders |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> In an interview, Abdelmoneim stated that hospital staff were required to prioritize urgent surgeries.<ref>{{cite web |title='Dripping in blood': MSF medic describes horrific aftermath of Israeli attack |url=https://www.news-journal.com/dripping-in-blood-msf-medic-describes-horrific-aftermath-of-israeli-attack/video_fb62d7d6-8776-5bfe-8183-22feaf4595b9.html |website=Longview News-Journal |date=17 July 2024 |publisher=Al Jazeera English |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803165225/https://www.news-journal.com/dripping-in-blood-msf-medic-describes-horrific-aftermath-of-israeli-attack/video_fb62d7d6-8776-5bfe-8183-22feaf4595b9.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2024, Doctors Without Borders again warned the Nasser Hospital was at risk as fighting approached.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nasser Hospital must be protected as health facilities cope with a deadly July |url=https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/gaza-nasser-hospital-must-be-protected-health-facilities-cope-deadly-july#:~:text=JERUSALEM%2C%20July%2029%2C%202024%20—,the%20evacuation%20of%20the%20hospital |website=Doctors Without Borders |access-date=17 August 2024}}</ref>
On 27 June 2025, [[Popular Forces]] militants reportedly seized control of the Nasser Hospital after a gunbattle with Hamas forces during the [[Battle of Khan Yunis (2025)|fourth battle of Khan Yunis]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-28 |title=Members of Abu Shabab have taken control of Nasser Hospital |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-859262 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}</ref>
In February 2026, Médecins Sans Frontières stated that its teams observed masked, armed individuals within the Nasser Hospital compound and suspected the movement of weapons, leading the organization to suspend non-critical operations due to severe security breaches. MSF did not specify which organization the individuals belonged to.<ref>Reuters, 14 Feb 2026, ''MSF suspends some Gaza hospital work over presence of gunmen, suspected weapons transfers, group says'', https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/msf-suspends-some-gaza-hospital-work-over-presence-gunmen-suspected-weapons-2026-02-14/</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Addressing frequently asked questions and allegations about MSF work in Gaza Palestine {{!}} MSF |url=https://www.msf.org/addressing-frequently-asked-questions-and-allegations-about-msf-work-gaza-palestine |access-date=2026-02-13 |website=www.msf.org |language=en}}</ref>
===Mass graves=== {{Main|Nasser Hospital mass graves}}
In late April 2024, a mass grave containing nearly 300 bodies was discovered following the withdrawal of Israeli forces earlier in the month, according to Gazan civil defence workers. In regards to the April 2024 reports of mass graves, the IDF has stated that any “claim that the IDF buried Palestinian bodies is baseless and unfounded.” The IDF told CNN that during its operation “in the area of Nasser Hospital, in accordance to the effort to locate hostages and missing persons, corpses buried by Palestinians in the area of Nasser Hospital were examined.” They further stated that “Bodies examined, which did not belong to Israeli hostages, were returned to their place.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Salman |first1=Abeer |last2=Dahman |first2=Ibrahim |last3=Lister |first3=Tim |date=2024-04-22 |title=More than 300 bodies found in mass grave at Gaza hospital, says Gaza Civil Defense |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/22/middleeast/khan-younis-nasser-hospital-mass-grave-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2025 double tap strike === {{Main|2025 Nasser Hospital strikes}}
On 25 August 2025, an Israeli [[Double tap strike|double tap]] strike on the hospital killed at least 20 people, including 5 journalists. The second strike was fired from a tank at the same area minutes after the first strike, [[List of journalists killed in the Gaza war|killing more journalists]], as well as rescue workers who had attempted to aid [[Reuters]] contractor Hussam al-Masri. The journalists killed were also associated with [[Associated Press]] and [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-25 |title=Israeli Hospital Strike Kills 20 in Gaza, Including 5 Journalists |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/world/middleeast/gaza-hospital-journalists.html |access-date=2025-08-26 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Baba |first=Anas |date=2025-08-25 |title=Israeli strikes kill 22, including 5 journalists, in a Gaza hospital |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/08/25/nx-s1-5515630/israel-gaza-journalists-killed-hospital |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-25 |title=Israel hits Gaza hospital, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-hits-gaza-hospital-killing-least-20-people-including-5-journalists-2025-08-25/ |access-date=2025-08-25 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Liebermann |first=Oren |last2=Shalev |first2=Tal |last3=Salman |first3=Abeer |last4=Khadder |first4=Kareem |date=2025-08-25 |title=Outrage after Israel kills five journalists in ‘double-tap’ attack on Gaza hospital |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/25/middleeast/more-than-dozen-killed-israeli-strikes-gaza-hospital-journalists-intl |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Shurafa |first=Wafaa |last2=Magdy |first2=Samy |last3=Lidman |first3=Melanie |date=2025-08-25 |title=AP freelancer among 5 journalists killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital, health officials say |url=https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-gaza-journalists-killed-5c33e999ee88effd89566a993b31d9cc |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== * [[List of hospitals in the State of Palestine]] * [[Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital]]
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
[[Category:1960 establishments in the United Arab Republic occupation of the Gaza Strip]] [[Category:2024 disestablishments in Palestine]] [[Category:20th-century establishments in Palestine]] [[Category:Hospitals established in 1960]] [[Category:Hospitals disestablished in 2024]] [[Category:Hospitals in Khan Yunis]] [[Category:Gamal Abdel Nasser]] [[Category:Egypt–Palestine relations]]