In a horrifying turn of events, a massive explosion at a crowded hospital in Gaza City has resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives. This incident marks the largest single loss of life in the blockaded territory throughout the five wars between Hamas and Israel since the militants took control of the strip in 2007.
The Gaza health ministry, which is under Hamas’s administration, reported that at least 500 people lost their lives on Tuesday night in what it alleged to be an Israeli airstrike on the al-Ahli al-Arabi, also known as the Baptist hospital. On the other hand, the Gaza civil defense estimated the death toll to be around 300.
The Israeli military, after an initial investigation, suggested that the explosion was a result of a failed Hamas rocket launch. Subsequently, they claimed it was due to a rocket barrage from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. However, Islamic Jihad vehemently denied the Israeli allegations, and the scale of the blast appeared to surpass the capabilities of these militant groups.
Reports have emerged of violent clashes between protesters and Palestinian security forces in several cities in the West Bank. In central Ramallah, authorities had to use tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters who were throwing rocks and chanting against Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas. The deadly hospital attack in Gaza on Tuesday has left many in anger, with the authority denouncing it as a “cold-blooded massacre” by Israel.
Amid these tragic events, international responses have been swift. Britain’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, expressed the UK’s commitment to work with allies to investigate the incident and emphasized the importance of protecting civilian lives.
In response to the situation, the White House announced that President Joe Biden’s planned trip to Jordan was canceled. Jordan’s Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, declared the cancellation of a planned summit with the U.S. president and leaders from Egypt and Palestine, emphasizing the urgency of stopping the ongoing conflict.
Joe Biden is expected to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel on Wednesday. The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is also set to visit Israel soon. Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office reported the successful repatriation of more than 900 people from Israel.
Tragedy continues to unfold in the region, as earlier on Tuesday, the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA reported that an Israeli airstrike had claimed the lives of at least six people, hitting one of its schools that had been serving as a shelter for displaced individuals. Several hospitals in Gaza have become refuges for hundreds of people seeking safety from the bombardment.
Health authorities in Gaza have reported that at least 3,000 people have been killed due to Israel’s bombardment since October 7. The toll includes a distressing number of children and women, according to the Hamas government media office. President Mahmoud Abbas has declared three days of mourning following the tragic blast at Gaza’s Al-Ahli Arabi Baptist hospital.
The conflict shows no signs of abating, as Hamas launched a major attack in southern Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,400 casualties, mainly civilians. Rocket attacks from Hamas militants in Gaza have continued daily, targeting cities across Israel.
Additionally, concerns are mounting over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where clean water is running out, and Israeli airstrikes persistently pound the territory of 2.3 million residents, exacerbating shortages of food, electricity, medicine, and fuel.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized his country’s commitment to supporting the existence of the state of Israel and working to prevent the conflict from escalating further.
The UN’s cultural body, UNESCO, has warned that the ongoing hostilities have resulted in the “deadliest week for journalists in any recent conflict,” with nine journalists losing their lives in the line of duty since October 7.
In a surprising development, the head of Israeli military intelligence, Maj Gen Aharon Haliva, publicly acknowledged responsibility for intelligence failures that allowed Hamas to carry out its unexpected attack on October 7. This comes after similar remarks from the head of the Shin Bet security agency and the IDF chief of staff.
In a tragic twist, a British teenager is missing and feared kidnapped following Hamas’s targeting of Israeli kibbutzim. Yahel Sharabi, 13, was believed to be missing after the attack on the Be’eri kibbutz, during which her mother, Lianne, lost her life. Her sister Noiya and their Israeli father, Eli, remain missing.
The UN’s human rights office has raised concerns about Israel’s siege of Gaza and its evacuation order, which could potentially constitute the international crime of forcibly transferring civilians.
Hamas has announced the death of a senior commander and member of its higher military council, Ayman Nofal, due to an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli air force has confirmed his death, alleging his involvement in terrorist attacks against Israel and directing rocket fire toward areas populated by civilians.
