Israel has denied having a hand in the air strike that is believed to have killed about 500 people at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City.
According to agencies reports, the hospital is where thousands of displaced Palestinian civilians seeks for medical treatment and shelter from attacks in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, blamed Israel for the “horrific massacre” which happened on Tuesday.
However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying it did not target hospitals and added that an investigation was underway.
The Israeli Prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, blamed the deadly hospital blast on Palestine.
Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Bahrain also accused the Jewish state of firing the rocket at the hospital.
Netanyahu said, “the whole world knows: The barbaric terrorists in Gaza are the ones who attacked the Gaza hospital, not the IDF. Those who cruelly murdered our children, murder their children as well.”
In another statement, the IDF said “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”.
“Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza,” IDF added.
The attack came as the United States President Joe Biden is slated to visit Israel on Wednesday in a show of solidarity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also issued a statement condemning the deadly strike on the hospital.
The global health body demanded the immediate protection of civilians and health caregivers.
“The hospital was operational, with patients, health- and caregivers, and internally displaced people sheltering there. Early reports indicate hundreds of fatalities and injuries,” the statement reads.
“The order for evacuation has been impossible to carry out given the current insecurity, critical condition of many patients, and lack of ambulances, staff, health system bed capacity, and alternative shelter for those displaced.
“WHO calls for the immediate active protection of civilians and health care. Evacuation orders must be reversed.
“International humanitarian law must be abided by, which means health care must be actively protected and never targeted.”
Credit: Agency reports
