IDF’s Khan Yunis Mistake
Nasser Hospital Strike Scandal: IDF Admits Operational Failure
The IDF is investigating a strike near Nasser Hospital that killed civilians and Hamas operatives, focusing on why tank shells were used instead of approved precise weapons. The probe, prompted by operational lapses, aims to address command failures amid Hamas’s exploitation of civilian sites.
On August 26, 2025, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir reviewed a preliminary investigation into a controversial strike near Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, presented by Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor. The operation, conducted by Golani Brigade forces targeting a Hamas surveillance camera on a hospital balcony, aimed to neutralize a threat suspected of directing terrorist attacks against IDF troops. The camera was identified days earlier, with intelligence confirming Hamas’s systematic use of the hospital for terror activities, a tactic seen throughout the Gaza conflict since October 2023. The strike, however, used four tank shells instead of the approved precise weaponry, resulting in at least 20 deaths, including six identified Hamas operatives, one linked to the October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,195 Israelis, and several civilians, including five journalists.
Zamir expressed regret, stating, “The IDF regrets the harm to uninvolved civilians,” while emphasizing, “Hamas cynically and systematically uses sensitive sites and civilian infrastructure, like hospitals, for extensive covert surveillance and to direct terror operations against our forces.” He confirmed that six of the deceased were terrorists, including a participant in the October 7 massacre. Zamir ordered a deeper probe into two critical lapses: the approval process for the strike’s munitions and timing, and the decision-making on the ground. He stressed, “The IDF targets only military objectives,” underscoring the need to maintain operational discipline amid intense fighting.
The investigation follows reports of fatigue among troops, with recent incidents like the Kfir Brigade ambush highlighting operational strain. The strike’s fallout, including civilian casualties, has drawn international scrutiny, with nearly 200 journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023, per the Committee to Protect Journalists. Zamir’s directive for a comprehensive inquiry aims to address these gaps, ensure accountability, and preserve the IDF’s legitimacy in a conflict where Hamas’s use of civilian shields complicates military actions.