Jordan Ellis
The deadly blast at the crowded Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City has sparked a war of words between Hamas and Israel, with both sides trading blame. The Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza immediately pointed the finger at Israel, alleging a deliberate airstrike, while Israel has denied responsibility, instead claiming that the explosion was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket. With conflicting narratives and limited access to the blast site, the truth remains elusive. The ongoing conflict not only involves physical fighting but also an information war, with both sides presenting their own versions of events.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 October 2023 |
| Time | 6:59 p.m. local time |
| Location | Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza City |
| Casualties | Hundreds killed |
| Cause | Unknown, suspected to be a rocket-propelled munition |
| Perpetrator | Unknown, Israel and Hamas trade blame |
| Evidence | Video footage, satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts |
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What You'll Learn
Hamas and Israel trade blame
The deadly blast at the crowded Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City has sparked a war of words between Hamas and Israel, with both sides trading blame. The explosion, which occurred around 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Tuesday, 17 October 2023, is feared to have killed hundreds of people, including women, children, and the elderly.
Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza immediately pointed the finger at Israel, alleging that the explosion was caused by a deliberate Israeli airstrike. Bassam Naim, head of the political and foreign relations department of Hamas, asserted that preliminary information "definitively points to Israel's responsibility." He also claimed that Israeli authorities warned the hospital to evacuate before the blast, suggesting prior knowledge or intent.
On the other hand, Israel has vehemently denied involvement, countering that the explosion was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket. The Israeli military's position is supported by analyses from various sources, including the New York Times, the Associated Press, and experts in the field. These analyses suggest that the blast was consistent with a failed Palestinian rocket launch, falling short of its target and exploding on impact.
Adding to the complexity, Human Rights Watch analysed videos showing Israeli aircraft nearby at the time of the strike, releasing pyrotechnic countermeasures. However, they found no evidence that these aircraft launched the munition that hit the hospital. The organisation also noted that the munition that exploded at the hospital has not been conclusively identified, and further investigation is needed to determine who launched it.
While the truth remains elusive, the exchange of accusations between Hamas and Israel fuels an information war that complicates the path to a clear understanding of the tragic events that unfolded at Al-Ahli hospital.
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Evidence points to Israel
Further evidence supporting this claim includes the presence of Israeli aircraft in the area at the time of the explosion. Human Rights Watch analysed videos that showed Israeli jets releasing pyrotechnic countermeasures, also known as flares or decoys, which are used to protect aircraft from heat-seeking munitions. This indicates that Israeli aircraft were likely involved in the strike, despite no conclusive evidence proving they launched the munition that hit the hospital.
Additionally, witnesses and footage suggest that the size of the explosion and the sounds preceding it are inconsistent with a typical Israeli airstrike using a large munition. This has led to speculation that the explosion may have been caused by a failed Palestinian rocket, with leftover rocket fuel igniting and causing the blast. However, this theory has been disputed by Hamas, who claim that Palestinian rockets do not possess the destructive power to cause such extensive damage and loss of life.
The context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip further complicates the determination of responsibility. Israel has targeted hospitals and medical staff in the past, and critics accuse them of employing reckless tactics, such as the "double-tap strike," which involves attacking the same location multiple times to hinder rescue efforts.
While Israel has denied involvement in the hospital bombing, the weight of the evidence, including eyewitness accounts, video footage, and the presence of Israeli aircraft, suggests that Israeli involvement cannot be ruled out.
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Israel denies involvement
Israel has denied involvement in the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion, which killed hundreds of people, including women, children, and the elderly. The Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza immediately blamed Israel, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike.
The Israeli military has refuted these claims, suggesting that the explosion was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket. They have stated that the accusation is a 21st-century blood libel. Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, condemned Palestinian Islamic Jihad, stating, "Shame on the vile terrorists in Gaza who wilfully spill the blood of the innocent."
Several organizations and news outlets have analyzed the evidence to determine the cause of the blast. The New York Times noted that while responsibility for the hospital blast is unknown, Israeli and American assessments that a failed Palestinian rocket launch might have been to blame remain plausible. The Times' analysis cast doubt on the evidence presented by Israeli officials, suggesting that the footage showed an unrelated rocket fired from an Israeli position that exploded about two miles from the hospital.
Additionally, the Associated Press (AP) analyzed videos, satellite imagery, and photos and concluded that the hospital explosion was most likely caused by a rocket fired from within Palestinian territory. Their preliminary conclusion was supported by experts in open-source intelligence, geolocation, and rocketry. AP also noted that Palestinian rockets had failed and fallen inside Gaza in the past, and the damage and crater were inconsistent with Israeli airstrikes, particularly those using large bombs.
Human Rights Watch also analyzed videos and found that Israeli aircraft were nearby at the time of the strike, releasing pyrotechnic countermeasures. However, they found no evidence that the Israeli jets were responsible for launching the munition that hit the hospital. While the Israeli military has been accused of targeting hospitals and medical staff, the evidence regarding the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion remains inconclusive, and Israel continues to deny direct involvement.
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Palestinian rocket suspected
The deadly blast at the crowded Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City has sparked a war of words between Hamas and Israel, with each side blaming the other. The Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza immediately pointed the finger at Israel, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike that had killed hundreds. Israel has denied responsibility, instead asserting that the explosion was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket.
Footage of the blast emerged on social media, showing the whistling sound of an incoming projectile, followed by an explosion and a huge fire. Al Jazeera also broadcast the explosion live, capturing several explosions in the Gaza Strip in the minutes before the Al-Ahli blast. The New York Times analysed the footage and concluded that there appeared to have been Israeli bombardment in the area, with two explosions visible near the hospital within two minutes of it being struck. However, the NYT also noted that responsibility for the hospital blast was unknown, and that a failed Palestinian rocket launch could not be ruled out.
The Associated Press (AP) analysed the available evidence and concluded that a rocket was fired from within Palestinian territory, and that the hospital explosion was most likely caused by part of that rocket crashing to the ground. This preliminary conclusion was supported by experts in open-source intelligence, geolocation, and rocketry. AP also noted that Palestinian rockets had failed and fallen inside Gaza in the past, and that the damage and crater were inconsistent with Israeli airstrikes and other weapons.
While Human Rights Watch (HRW) confirmed that Israeli jets were nearby at the time of the strike, they found no evidence that the munition that hit the hospital was launched by those jets. HRW also stated that the explosion was caused by a rocket-propelled munition, such as those commonly used by Palestinian armed groups. Bassam Naim, head of the political and foreign relations department of Hamas, claimed that no Palestinian group had the kind of rocket capable of causing such destruction. However, HRW noted that a rocket fired by Palestinian groups could inflict a high number of casualties if it struck an area packed with people.
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Israel's history of hospital attacks
The deadly blast at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City, which killed hundreds of people, has been attributed to an Israeli airstrike by Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza. However, Israel has denied any involvement, and the truth remains elusive amidst conflicting narratives. This incident adds to a history of alleged Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities during the Gaza war.
Israel has been accused of repeatedly targeting hospitals and medical personnel during the conflict. The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, one of the few functioning hospitals in Gaza, was hit by two Israeli strikes on August 25, resulting in the deaths of 22 people, including five journalists. The Associated Press (AP) had informed the Israeli army that its journalists were stationed at the hospital, yet it was still struck. Israel claimed that it spotted a camera on the roof and observed "suspicious behavior," but provided limited evidence to support its allegations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) documented a staggering 427 attacks on healthcare in the West Bank and Gaza Strip by November 2023, resulting in 566 fatalities and 758 injuries. By April 2024, WHO verified 906 attacks on healthcare in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon. Israel's national emergency service also reported losses, with three employees killed and four volunteers injured during the October 7 attacks.
The UN Human Rights Office published a report detailing Israel's pattern of deadly attacks on and near hospitals in Gaza, pushing the healthcare system to the brink of collapse. The report raises serious concerns about Israel's compliance with international law, as hospitals and medical personnel are specifically protected under international humanitarian law. The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides, as emphasized by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
While the truth behind the Al-Ahli hospital bombing remains contested, the incident has once again brought attention to the devastating impact of attacks on healthcare facilities and the potential violation of international humanitarian law.
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Frequently asked questions
The responsible party for the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital bombing is currently unknown. The Hamas-controlled Palestinian authorities in Gaza immediately blamed Israel, claiming it was a deliberate airstrike, but Israel has denied involvement.
Videos analysed by the New York Times and Human Rights Watch show Israeli aircraft above the sea west of the hospital, and two explosions visible near the hospital within two minutes of it being struck.
The New York Times analysis noted that a failed Palestinian rocket launch might have been to blame. The Associated Press concluded that the hospital explosion was most likely caused by a rocket fired from within Palestinian territory.
