Pakistan and 16 other countries on Saturday strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza that killed at least six Palestinians and injured nearly 30 others, calling for the protection of civilians and medical facilities and the uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian assistance to the besieged territory.
The joint condemnation followed Thursday’s attack on the hospital’s surgical ward in Khan Younis, which killed at least six people, including a 13-year-old boy, and wounded nearly 30 others.
The strike was reported to be the deadliest single Israeli attack since the country’s parliamentary elections last month.
In a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates denounced the attack in the “strongest terms”.
The ministers said the strike had caused casualties among patients and medical personnel, raising serious concerns about the protection of healthcare facilities during the conflict.
According to the joint statement, the attack “caused casualties among patients and medical personnel, in violation of international humanitarian law, which affords special protection to medical facilities and healthcare workers”.
The Israeli military, however, defended the operation, claiming that Hamas had established a presence within the hospital complex and was using it as a command centre.
In its statement, the military said it had conducted an “aerial strike to eliminate the threat they posed, after the Hamas had established a presence within the hospital complex and used it as a command centre”.
The Israeli claim was not independently verified in the information available.
The 17 countries also condemned continuing Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, including strikes targeting tents and other locations sheltering displaced families.
They expressed concern over the impact of such attacks on efforts to maintain the ceasefire and restore stability in Gaza.
“These attacks undermine the ceasefire and efforts to restore security and stability in Gaza and are inconsistent with US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan,” the joint statement said.
The foreign ministers called on Israel to respect its obligations under international humanitarian law, particularly those concerning the protection of civilians, medical personnel and healthcare infrastructure.
They also emphasised the importance of ensuring that humanitarian assistance reaches Palestinians in Gaza without obstruction or interruption.
The statement reflected shared concerns among the participating countries over the continuing risks faced by civilians and healthcare workers, as well as the consequences of renewed attacks for diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilising the enclave.
The ministers reiterated their demand for the protection of medical facilities and the sustained, unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population.