A catastrophic explosion has ripped through the Al-Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza, creating a major flashpoint in the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. The horrific incident, which Palestinian health officials claim was caused by an Israeli airstrike, has resulted in a significant and devastating loss of life.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported a death toll of at least 500, a figure that, if confirmed, would mark one of the single deadliest incidents in the long history of the conflict. The hospital courtyard, which was being used as a refuge for hundreds of displaced Palestinians seeking safety from the bombardment, became the epicentre of the tragedy.
The Fierce Blame Game
Israeli authorities have vehemently denied responsibility. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a firm statement, asserting that their intelligence and operational systems concluded that the strike was the result of a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group.
"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," the military stated. They further claimed that Islamic Jihad was responsible for the “failed rocket launch” that resulted in the tragic loss of life.
International Outcry and Reactions
The blast has triggered a wave of international condemnation and protests across the Middle East. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas immediately declared three days of mourning, blaming Israel for what he labelled a "hideous war massacre."
Jordanian and Egyptian officials cancelled a planned summit with US President Joe Biden, who was en route to the region for diplomatic talks. The incident has dramatically heightened tensions and threatens to derail fragile diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation.
As the world reacts with horror, the exact sequence of events remains shrouded in the fog of war. Both sides continue to present competing narratives, leaving the international community to piece together the truth amidst the chaos and devastation in Gaza.
