Israeli strike on southern Gaza hospital kills five, Gaza civil defence says

Mahmoud Basal, the spokesperson for the territory's civil defense, said the Israeli airstrike hit the surgery department at Nasser Hospital, causing extensive damage.

Medics identified the dead surgeon as Rezik Abushira.

Israel, which has stepped up its attacks on the enclave, says Hamas is trying to regroup and refill its arsenal. Hamas says it is committed to a year-old ceasefire agreement and accuses Israel of trying to undermine it.

At least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement, according to the territory's health officials, while Israel says four ⁠soldiers have ​been killed.

Palestinian authorities say more than 74,000 ​people have been killed in Israel's assault on Gaza. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people, by Israeli tallies, ​in southern Israel in an attack on October 7, 2023.

(Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)