Logan Reid
On 17 October 2023, an explosion occurred at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians and wounding many others. The hospital was crowded with patients and about 1,000 displaced Gazans seeking refuge from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. In the aftermath of the blast, Hamas and Israel traded blame, with Hamas claiming it was caused by an Israeli airstrike and Israel asserting that it was due to a misfired Palestinian rocket. This incident occurred amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions and violence in the region, with both sides trading attacks and casualties mounting. The hospital explosion sparked outrage and calls for a ceasefire, highlighting the fragile and volatile situation in Gaza and the devastating impact on civilians caught in the crossfire.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of explosion | 17 October 2023 |
| Location | Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City |
| Number of deaths | Hundreds |
| Cause of explosion | Disputed; Hamas claims Israeli airstrike, Israel claims misfired Palestinian rocket |
| Damage | Destroyed vehicles, damaged buildings with blown-out windows, blood stains |
| Warnings | Israel warned Zeitoun residents to move south on the day of the explosion |
| Reactions | International condemnation, calls for investigation, blame traded between Hamas and Israel |
| Impact | Overwhelmed hospitals, mass population displacement, acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter |
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What You'll Learn
The Al Ahli Arab Hospital explosion
On 17 October 2023, an explosion occurred at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians. The hospital, founded in 1882 and run by the Anglican Church, offered 80 beds and various services, including a free programme to detect breast cancer and a centre for elderly women. At the time of the explosion, about 1,000 displaced Gazans were sheltering on the hospital grounds, in addition to about 600 patients and staff inside the hospital buildings.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip attributed the explosion to an Israeli airstrike, claiming that at least 500 people were killed. However, the Israeli military denied this accusation, asserting that the blast was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket. Specifically, they alleged that a barrage of rockets fired by militants in Gaza passed close to the hospital, and that Islamic Jihad was responsible for the failed launch.
Israel's military had previously warned residents in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City, where the hospital is located, to evacuate their homes and move south for their safety. Despite this, many people sought refuge in hospital grounds, believing them to be safe havens against strikes.
The explosion at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital has sparked outrage and criticism towards Israel from various quarters. Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, expressed dismay over the incident, labelling it as "madness" and calling for a ceasefire. He also criticised Western nations for their stance in the conflict, accusing them of interpreting human rights in two distinct categories.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains disputed, several media organisations and analysts have conducted investigations. The Associated Press concluded that a rocket was fired from within Palestinian territory, and the hospital explosion was likely caused by a part of that rocket crashing to the ground. This conclusion was supported by experts in open-source intelligence, geolocation, and rocketry. However, India Today's OSINT Team reported that the visual evidence of the explosion did not match previous aerial bombings by Israel, but a more detailed investigation was needed for a conclusive verdict. Xavier Tytelman, an air defence consultant, also cast doubt on the notion that the explosion was caused by Israeli munitions, stating that the grade of munitions used by Israel would have inflicted more damage.
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Israel-Palestine conflict
The Israel-Palestine conflict has been an ongoing issue for decades, with both sides experiencing devastating losses. One of the most recent incidents occurred in October 2023, when a blast at a Gaza hospital killed hundreds of Palestinians. The hospital, Al Ahli Arab Hospital, described itself as "a haven of peace in the middle of one of the world's most troubled places."
At the time of the explosion, the hospital was crowded with displaced Gazans seeking refuge, in addition to patients and staff. The blast occurred just before US President Joe Biden's visit to Israel, during a period of heightened conflict between the Israeli military and the Hamas militant group. The exchange of blame for the hospital bombing further inflamed tensions in the region.
Palestinians attributed the bombing to an Israeli airstrike, with Hamas claiming that it had resulted from a misfired Palestinian rocket. On the other hand, Israel denied the accusations, asserting that their analysis indicated that a barrage of rockets fired by militants in Gaza was responsible for the explosion. They claimed that Islamic Jihad was responsible for the failed rocket launch.
The hospital bombing is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of attacks on Gaza's healthcare system. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 697 attacks on healthcare in Gaza have occurred since October 2023, contributing to the near-total collapse of hospitals in the region. The intensified military operations by Israel have severely impacted an already weakened health system, with acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter. The destruction of WHO's main medical warehouse in Deir Al-Balah has exacerbated the situation, particularly the shortage of antibiotics.
The conflict has resulted in mass population displacement, with North Gaza stripped of nearly all healthcare services. Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed by a daily influx of injured people, and the lack of food and water contributes to famine-like conditions for over two million people. The continuous targeting of medical personnel and facilities by Israeli forces has led to accusations of genocide, with organizations like Physicians for Human Rights Israel stating that Israel is committing genocide on a longer timeline than direct killing.
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Hamas' role
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing since 2007 and has included four wars: in 2008–2009, 2012, 2014, and 2021. On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people, including civilians, and taking hostages. This attack broke a fragile ceasefire with Israel that had been in place since late January. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas, launching a ground invasion that led to the biggest displacement in the region since Israel's creation in 1948.
Hamas has been accused of using hospitals and civilians as human shields, although this has been contested by Amnesty International and Hamas itself. The Israeli military has also accused Hamas of inflating casualty numbers and claimed that the group could not have known as quickly as it claimed what caused the blast.
Hamas has blamed Israel for the hospital bombing, with the Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip stating that an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion that killed hundreds. However, the Israeli military attributed the blast to a misfired Palestinian rocket.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in the destruction of Gaza's healthcare system, with Israeli airstrikes continuously targeting hospitals and denying access to fuel, water, and medical supplies. This has contributed to a condition in which large numbers of people are expected to die not only from injuries but also from a lack of medical care and resources.
Hamas has also been implicated in the detention, torture, and killing of journalists, health workers, aid workers, and other members of civil society in Gaza. In addition, Hamas has been accused of committing war crimes, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) seeking arrest warrants against Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict.
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Israel's destruction of Gaza's healthcare system
In October 2023, a blast at a Gaza hospital killed hundreds of Palestinians, with Israelis and Palestinians blaming each other for the bombing. While Israel claimed that the hospital blast appeared to be the result of a misfired rocket by a "terrorist group", Hamas asserted that an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion. This incident exemplifies the ongoing conflict and the destruction of Gaza's healthcare system by Israel.
Israel's military operations have severely impacted Gaza's healthcare system, with hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of casualties. The destruction of medical facilities, obstruction of humanitarian access, and targeting of health workers have directly contributed to a worsening situation. The International Criminal Court investigation in Palestine concluded that Israeli claims about Hamas's use of hospitals to justify attacks were "grossly exaggerated."
Physicians for Human Rights Israel has stated that Israel is committing genocide through the wholesale destruction of Gaza's healthcare system. This slow-motion genocide inflicts long-term harm, killing not only instantly but also long after the last missile is fired. The denial of fuel, water, and medical supplies, as well as the killing and arrest of medical personnel, have further exacerbated the situation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Gaza's health system is at a breaking point due to intensified military operations, mass population displacement, and shortages of essential resources. WHO recorded 28 attacks on healthcare in Gaza in a week and 697 attacks since October 2023. As of May 2025, only 19 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip remain operational, facing severe supply shortages and a lack of healthcare workers.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory determined that Israel's destruction of Gaza's healthcare system constituted war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination. The rights of children to life and health are being violated, and the growing population density further challenges the provision of healthcare. The deliberate destruction of healthcare facilities and the disregard for the protection of hospitals during warfare have raised grave concerns about Israel's compliance with international law.
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International response
The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly condemned the attack, emphasizing the importance of abiding by international humanitarian law and that healthcare facilities should be actively protected and never targeted. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) also voiced its condemnation, stating that even war has rules and that hospitals should serve as sanctuaries for all. Médecins Sans Frontières called the bombing a "massacre," while the Red Cross was "shocked and horrified."
UN experts have decried the bombing of hospitals and schools as crimes against humanity, calling for the protection of humanitarian workers and the prevention of genocide. They raised serious concerns over Israel's tightening of its 16-year siege and the deprivation of essential food, fuel, water, electricity, and medicine for 2.2 million people. The UN Security Council has repeatedly condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare, prohibited under international law.
Some Western countries have called for an investigation into the hospital bombing in Gaza without directly assigning blame. The international community has been criticized for its inaction in the face of escalating tensions and violence in the region.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, on 17 October 2023, an explosion occurred at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza.
The cause of the explosion is disputed. Palestinians and Hamas blame Israel, while Israel claims it was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket. The Associated Press concluded that a rocket was fired from within Palestinian territory and that the explosion was likely caused by part of that rocket crashing to the ground.
Yes, the explosion killed hundreds of Palestinians.
International reactions to the explosion were widespread. Biden echoed Israel's view that the blast appeared to be the result of an errant rocket fired by a "terrorist group". Some Western countries called for an investigation, while Arab states blamed Israel. Malaysia's Prime Minister expressed dismay and called for a ceasefire, criticising Western nations for their stance in the conflict.
