An overnight Israeli airstrike targeting the Nasser Hospital complex in the southern Gaza Strip killed at least six people -- including a surgeon -- and wounded dozens of others, according to the hospital and Gaza's Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it carried out the strike in the city of Khan Younis early on Thursday, targeting an alleged Hamas commander and other militants who it said were hiding inside the hospital.

The IDF did not provide any evidence for its assertion.