Logan Reid
The Israel-Palestine conflict has seen hospitals in Gaza become frequent targets of Israeli attacks, with at least 36 hospitals bombed and burned by the Israeli military since the start of the war. In 2025, Israel bombed two hospitals in Gaza, killing at least 18 Palestinians. Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli army deliberately targeted anyone who tried to rescue the wounded. In October 2023, a blast at the crowded Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City killed hundreds of people. While the Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza blamed Israel, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike, Israel denied involvement and released a recording of what it said was an intercepted conversation between Hamas militants acknowledging that the hospital was hit by a projectile fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. However, the recording could not be independently verified, and the Israeli army's credibility has been questioned.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the incident | 17 October 2023 |
| Location | Al-Ahli Hospital, Gaza City |
| Number of deaths | Hundreds, with the Health Ministry in Gaza putting the number at 471 |
| Perpetrator | Unclear. Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza blamed Israel, which denied involvement. Israel claimed Hamas officials acknowledged in a conversation that the hospital was hit by a projectile fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. |
| Evidence | Live footage from the Al-Jazeera media network showed a bright light in the sky, flashing twice and changing direction before exploding. Other footage on social media showed the blast from different angles. There is also physical evidence at the site, including scorch marks and burnt-out cars. |
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What You'll Learn
- Israel denies bombing al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, blaming a Hamas misfired rocket
- Hamas blames Israel for the hospital blast, claiming it was a deliberate air strike
- Evidence suggests the explosion happened in a courtyard as part of the hospital site
- Hospitals in Gaza have been a frequent target of Israeli attacks since the war began in October 2023
- World leaders have condemned the bombing, but stopped short of blaming Israel
Israel denies bombing al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, blaming a Hamas misfired rocket
On 17 October 2023, an explosion occurred at the crowded Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, killing hundreds of people. While the Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza immediately blamed Israel, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike, Israel denied any involvement.
Al Jazeera broadcast the explosion live, capturing several explosions in the Gaza Strip in the few minutes leading up to the Al-Ahli explosion. The blast occurred in a parking lot in the courtyard, creating orange plumes in the sky. The BBC was able to match the details of the buildings and the layout of the Al-Ahli hospital site with publicly available satellite imagery, confirming the hospital was the scene of the blast. Images of the ground after the explosion showed scorch marks and burnt-out cars, but no significant damage to the surrounding hospital buildings.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that the hospital contained a "command and control centre used by Hamas" and that they had taken steps to "mitigate harm to civilians or to the hospital compound". However, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which runs the hospital, stated that the building was completely destroyed, leading to the forced displacement of patients and hospital staff. They also noted that one child, who had previously suffered a head injury, died as a result of "the rushed evacuation process".
The IDF released a recording of what it claimed was an intercepted conversation between two Hamas militants, in which they acknowledged that the hospital was hit by a projectile fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). However, the BBC and CNN reported that they could not verify the recording, and Channel 4 News suggested that it had been digitally manipulated.
This incident is part of a larger pattern of Israeli attacks on hospitals and healthcare facilities in Gaza, with at least 36 hospitals bombed and burned by the Israeli military since the start of the war. These actions are considered war crimes under the 1949 Geneva Convention, which prohibits the targeting of health facilities, medical personnel, and patients.
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Hamas blames Israel for the hospital blast, claiming it was a deliberate air strike
Tensions have escalated in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, with Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza blaming Israel for a deadly blast at the crowded Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City. The blast is feared to have killed hundreds of people, including displaced civilians seeking shelter. Hamas claims the explosion was a deliberate air strike by Israel, which has denied any involvement.
Video footage from Al-Jazeera media network showed a bright light in the sky above Gaza, flashing twice and changing direction before exploding. Additional footage from social media channels showed the blast from different angles. The BBC has geolocated the explosion and contacted experts to determine the cause. While the investigation is ongoing, early evidence suggests that the blast occurred in a courtyard as part of the hospital site, with scorch marks and burnt-out cars visible but no significant damage to surrounding buildings.
Israel has countered Hamas' accusations, releasing a recording of an alleged conversation between Hamas militants acknowledging the hospital was hit by a projectile fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group. However, the recording cannot be independently verified, and there are inconsistencies in the Israeli briefing regarding the rocket's launch site. Israel's history of falsely attributing acts to Palestinian groups and social media posts by Israeli officials have aroused suspicion.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that there have been over 51 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since the start of the conflict, with 15 healthcare workers killed and 27 injured. Hospitals in Gaza have been frequent targets of Israeli attacks, with at least 36 hospitals bombed and burned since the war began in October 2023. These actions are considered war crimes under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread condemnation of attacks on hospitals and civilian targets. World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have denounced the bombing of Al-Ahli Hospital, emphasizing that targeting civilians is unjustifiable. The high death toll and impact on healthcare facilities have prompted strong reactions from the international community.
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Evidence suggests the explosion happened in a courtyard as part of the hospital site
The BBC has reported that, based on available evidence, the explosion at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City appears to have happened in a courtyard that is part of the hospital site. This evidence includes video footage, still imagery, and eyewitness accounts.
Live footage from the Al-Jazeera media network showed a bright light rising in the skies above Gaza, flashing twice, and then exploding. This was followed by a much larger explosion closer to the camera, which the BBC has geolocated. Other footage from social media channels showed the blast from different angles and distances.
The BBC has matched the details of buildings and the layout of the Al-Ahli hospital site with publicly available satellite imagery to establish the hospital was the scene of the blast. Images of the ground after the blast do not show significant damage to surrounding hospital buildings. Instead, they show scorch marks and burnt-out cars.
The hospital is owned and run by the Anglican Church. Canon Richard Sewell, the dean of St George's College in Jerusalem, told the BBC that about 1,000 displaced people were sheltering in the courtyard when it was hit, and about 600 patients and staff were inside the building.
There are conflicting accounts of the explosion, with Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza blaming Israel, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike, while Israel has denied involvement. The IDF has released a recording of what it says is an intercepted conversation between two Hamas militants acknowledging the hospital was hit by a projectile fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). However, it is not possible to independently verify this recording, and PIJ has denied any involvement, blaming Israel for the blast.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, and the available evidence is inconclusive.
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Hospitals in Gaza have been a frequent target of Israeli attacks since the war began in October 2023
Hospitals in Gaza have been frequent targets of Israeli attacks since the war began in October 2023, with at least 36 hospitals bombed and burned across the enclave. The Israeli military’s first major operation against a hospital was Al Shifa Medical Complex in November 2023, which was raided a second time in March 2024, leaving it in ruins. Three mass graves were found at the hospital, with at least 80 bodies retrieved, sparking concerns about potential war crimes.
The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the Al-Quds Hospital, and the Indonesian Hospital were also struck by Israeli forces in early November 2023. The Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City was the site of a deadly blast, with Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities blaming Israel for a deliberate airstrike, while Israel denied involvement and blamed the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Live footage from Al Jazeera showed an explosion in the sky, followed by a larger blast closer to the camera, which some commentators attributed to a rocket.
The UN Human Rights Office verified multiple cases of people being shot at Al Awda Hospital in Jabalya in December 2023, including a volunteer nurse who was fatally shot. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, emphasised the paramount importance of protecting hospitals during warfare. By June 2024, more than 500 medical professionals had been killed in Gaza, with patients, staff, and civilians falling victim to attacks.
Israeli attacks on hospitals have severely impacted the healthcare system in Gaza, with Doctors Without Borders reporting that Nasser Hospital was targeted twice in seven weeks, forcing the relocation of their burn unit. The Gaza Health Ministry condemned the targeting of hospitals and the killing of wounded patients, stating that Israel deliberately intended to inflict greater damage on the healthcare system. These attacks on hospitals and medical professionals are in violation of international humanitarian law and the 1949 Geneva Conventions, raising grave concerns about Israel's compliance with international law.
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World leaders have condemned the bombing, but stopped short of blaming Israel
World leaders have condemned the bombing of the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, which killed hundreds of people. While the Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza have blamed Israel for the attack, Israel has denied involvement. The IDF has released a recording that it says is of two Hamas militants acknowledging that the hospital was hit by a projectile fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). However, it is important to note that this recording cannot be independently verified, and the PIJ has denied any involvement.
Amid the conflicting claims, it is challenging to ascertain the truth. Experts are examining video footage, still images, and other evidence, including eyewitness accounts, to determine the cause of the blast. While some commentators suggested that the explosion came from a rocket, others noted that the pattern of fires at the hospital site did not align with this explanation.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has a long history, with both sides engaging in bombings, rocket attacks, and shootings that have resulted in civilian casualties. Hospitals in Gaza have been frequent targets of Israeli attacks since the war began in October 2023, despite the illegality of attacking healthcare facilities under the 1949 Geneva Conventions. However, it is important to note that Hamas has also been accused of using hospitals as human shields, although these claims have been contested.
While world leaders have denounced the bombing of the hospital, they have refrained from directly assigning blame to Israel. This cautious approach may be due to the ongoing investigations and the complexity of the situation, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives. As new information emerges, it is crucial that world leaders continue to seek the truth, hold accountable those responsible, and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no clear evidence that Hamas bombed the hospital. The Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza blamed Israel for the attack, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike. However, Israel denied involvement and released a recording of what it says is an intercepted conversation between Hamas militants acknowledging the hospital was hit by a projectile fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that there had been over 51 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since the start of the conflict. Additionally, a senior health official in Gaza claimed that Israel fired two artillery shells as a "warning" at the hospital days before the explosion.
Israel has denied bombing the hospital and claimed that it only targets Hamas strongholds, arms depots, and terror targets. However, Israel's credibility has been questioned due to previous instances of providing false information.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, at least 471 people were killed in the blast, with hundreds of other victims still trapped under the rubble. The Palestinian Authority’s health minister, Mai Alkaila, referred to the incident as "a massacre."
