Jordan Ellis
On October 17, 2023, an explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza killed and injured hundreds of civilians. While the specific type of munition could not be identified, Human Rights Watch determined that the explosion was caused by a rocket-propelled munition. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attributed the explosion to a failed rocket launch by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, a claim supported by the U.S. However, Hamas, the Islamist group controlling Gaza, blamed Israel for the airstrike, and Israel denied any involvement. This incident fueled protests and outrage in the region, with hundreds of Palestinians taking to the streets.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of explosion | October 17, 2023 |
| Location | Al-Ahli Hospital, Gaza City, Gaza Strip |
| Number of deaths | Between 100 and 500 |
| Number of injuries | 342 |
| Cause of explosion | Rocket-propelled munition |
| Responsible party | Islamic Jihad, according to Israel and the US; Israel, according to Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement |
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What You'll Learn
The Islamic Jihad group is accused of a failed rocket launch
On October 17, 2023, an explosion near the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed and injured hundreds of civilians. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attributed the blast to a "failed rocket launch" by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. The group, allied with Hamas, had allegedly fired a barrage of rockets towards the Israeli city of Haifa, with one misfiring and landing inside the hospital compound.
The Islamic Jihad group, however, denied responsibility for the explosion. They claimed that Israel was responsible for the blast and pointed out that Israel had previously targeted the hospital. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, supported this accusation, stating that Israel struck the hospital as retribution for the failure to evacuate.
In contrast to these claims, the IDF presented intelligence and drone-collected aerial photography indicating that the Islamic Jihad group's rocket barrage passed close to the hospital when it was hit. The IDF also released audio that purportedly contained intercepted discussions among Hamas militants blaming a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket for the explosion. Nevertheless, Hamas denied the authenticity of this recording.
While the specific cause of the explosion remains under investigation, the incident highlights the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups, with both sides trading accusations and casualties. The explosion's proximity to a hospital, a site typically seen as a safe haven, further underscores the devastating impact of the region's hostilities on civilians.
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Israel denies responsibility, blaming a Palestinian rocket misfire
On 17 October 2023, an explosion near the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed and injured hundreds of civilians. While Palestinian officials blamed Israeli airstrikes for the incident, Israel denied responsibility, claiming that a misfired rocket launched by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group caused the explosion.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that intelligence from multiple sources indicated that the Islamic Jihad group was responsible for the "failed rocket launch" that struck the hospital. They emphasised that they did not conduct any operations in the area at the time of the blast and asserted that they do not intentionally target sensitive facilities, especially hospitals. The IDF also highlighted that terror organisations often place their launching pits within civilian areas, putting civilians at risk of misfires.
Footage from the scene supported Israel's denial of responsibility, as it revealed that the explosion occurred in the hospital's parking lot, with none of the surrounding buildings sustaining significant damage. This contradicted initial claims that the blast took place inside the hospital itself.
However, Bassam Naim, head of the political and foreign relations department of Hamas, disputed Israel's account. He argued that the preliminary information they had pointed to Israel's responsibility and claimed that Palestinian resistance factions did not possess weapons capable of inflicting such a high number of casualties. Human Rights Watch found that while larger types of rockets fired by Palestinian armed groups could cause significant casualties, further investigation was needed to determine who launched the rocket and whether there were violations of the laws of war.
The explosion at the hospital occurred amidst a war between Israel and Hamas, which began on 7 October 2023. This conflict involved Hamas terrorists crossing the border into Israel and carrying out attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and the taking of hundreds of Israeli hostages. In response, Israel conducted airstrikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, targeting rocket launch sites, terror leaders, and infrastructure.
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Hamas claims an Israeli airstrike, Israel denies this
On October 17, 2023, an explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed and injured many civilians. Human Rights Watch found that the explosion was caused by a rocket-propelled munition, such as those commonly used by Palestinian armed groups. However, the organization was unable to identify the type of munition conclusively and called for a full investigation to determine who launched the rocket and whether the laws of war were violated.
While Hamas claimed that the explosion was the result of an Israeli airstrike, Israel denied these allegations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the explosion was caused by a rocket misfire by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, not by any action on the part of Israel. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus of the IDF said, "I can say now for the first time on CNN that we did not strike that, and that the intelligence that we have suggests that it was a failed rocket launch by the Islamic Jihad." He added that Israel does not intentionally target sensitive facilities or hospitals and that they are aware of the presence of civilians in the area.
The IDF's account is supported by footage that emerged showing the blast happened in the hospital's parking lot, rather than the hospital itself, with none of the surrounding buildings sustaining significant damage. Additionally, the IDF posted to its Telegram account that "an analysis of IDF operational systems indicates that a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity to the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza at the time it was hit."
In contrast, Bassam Naim, the head of the political and foreign relations department of Hamas, claimed that the preliminary information they had pointed to Israel's responsibility. He argued that Palestinian resistance factions did not possess weapons with the destructive power of the bomb used in the incident. However, Human Rights Watch found that larger types of rockets fired by Palestinian armed groups could inflict a high number of casualties if they struck in a crowded area.
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Hundreds killed, Biden offers condolences and aid
On October 17, 2023, an explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza killed and injured hundreds of civilians. While the exact number of casualties is unknown, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported 471 deaths and 342 injuries, while other estimates placed the death toll between 200 to 300. The hospital grounds, a place where many civilians sought refuge from the Israeli strikes, were hit by a rocket-propelled munition.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attributed the explosion to a "failed rocket launch" by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, denying any involvement in the incident. However, Palestinian officials and Hamas claimed that the hospital was struck by an Israeli airstrike. Human Rights Watch investigated the explosion and determined that a rocket similar to those used by Palestinian armed groups caused the blast. Despite this, the definitive responsibility for the attack remains unclear, and further investigations are needed to ascertain who launched the rocket and whether the laws of war were violated.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, US President Joe Biden offered his deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza. He expressed his support for the people affected and pledged to provide any needed assistance. Biden's sentiments were echoed by other world leaders, including the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who offered condolences and assured Turkey of his country's readiness to provide assistance.
The international community responded to the crisis by offering aid and assistance to Gaza. Russia pledged to deliver urgent aid and send rescue workers to Syria. Israel prepared to dispatch search and rescue teams and medical aid, while the World Health Organization coordinated with Turkish authorities to support relief efforts in Turkey and Syria.
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Hospitals as safe havens in Gaza
Hospitals in Gaza have been considered safe havens for people made homeless or displaced by the relentless Israeli bombing raids. However, on 17 October 2023, an explosion near the Ahli Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in central Gaza killed and injured many civilians. The hospital grounds, which were packed with people seeking refuge from the strikes, were hit by a rocket-propelled munition. The Israeli military claimed that the explosion was caused by an Islamic Jihad rocket that misfired, while Palestinian officials blamed Israeli airstrikes.
The Al-Ahli Hospital explosion is a stark reminder that hospitals in Gaza are no longer safe havens. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 654 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 2023, with 886 fatalities and 1,349 injuries. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called the destruction of hospitals a "human rights catastrophe". He emphasized that civilians are not safe anywhere in the Gaza Strip and that targeted attacks on healthcare facilities, including the killing and forced removal of patients and staff, are becoming a pattern.
The ongoing hostilities have pushed many health facilities out of service. As of May 2025, only 19 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain operational, with 12 providing a variety of health services and the rest offering only basic emergency care. These hospitals are struggling under severe supply shortages, a lack of health workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties. The situation is dire, with the WHO warning that the health system in Gaza is at a breaking point.
The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount and must be respected by all sides. WHO calls for the active protection of healthcare facilities and for aid to be allowed into Gaza through all possible routes. Without a ceasefire and increased protection for health services, the future looks grim. As Dr. Peeperkorn noted, "the health sector is being systematically dismantled."
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Frequently asked questions
The Israeli military said the explosion was caused by a rocket misfire by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group. However, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said it was caused by an Israeli airstrike. The U.S. also has an independent assessment that it was a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket that misfired.
The hospital blast killed hundreds of people, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting 471 deaths and 342 injuries. The explosion occurred in the hospital's parking lot, with none of the surrounding buildings sustaining significant damage.
The rocket attack sparked protests across the region, with many protesters carrying Palestinian flags and chanting anti-Israel sentiments. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement also called for a "day of rage" to condemn the hospital blast, blaming Israel for a "massacre."
