Hundreds killed in 'deadliest strike in years' as both sides blame each other
A massive explosion at a hospital in Gaza City killed at least 500 people on Tuesday, as both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict blame one another for the "deadliest strike in years."
Israel denied responsibility for the huge blast that struck the al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital, better known as Al-Ma’amadani, saying it was the enclave’s Islamic Jihad group instead. Hamas attributed the blast to Israel, but the Israeli military said it was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket. If the deaths are confirmed, it would be the deadliest strike on Gaza since 2008, with a mother caught up in the carnage describing the scene to the Mirror. The British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said the UK will work with allies to "find out what has happened" after the explosion in Gaza City on the 11th day of the war which started on 7 October.
The horror unfolded as the United States tried to convince Israel to allow the delivery of supplies to desperate civilians in the besieged enclave. But in protest over the purported airstrike, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled his participation in a meeting with US President Joe Biden set for Wednesday in Amman, Jordan. The war that began on October 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides. The Gaza Health Ministry said 2,778 Palestinians have been killed and 9,700 wounded. Another 1,200 people across Gaza are believed to be buried under the rubble, alive or dead. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, and at least 199 others, including children, were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza, according to Israel.
People gather around bodies of Palestinians killed in airstrikes on the Ahli Arab hospital (AFP via Getty Images)British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could visit Israel as soon as Thursday, according to reports, amid growing concerns about the crisis in the Middle East. The Prime Minister could reportedly travel to the country as part of a wider trip to the region, including stops in Jordan and Egypt, Sky News reported earlier this evening before the horror attack on the hospital unfolded. Downing Street has said it will not comment on the Prime Minister’s travel plans, but reports suggested he would travel to Israel in the coming days. It comes after a British teenager became one of the another British-Israelis murdered by Hamas during its attack on the country. Yahel Sharabi, 13, was killed along with her mother, Bristolian Lianne, while her elder sister, Noiya, 16, and her father, Eli, are still missing. Mr Sunak updated Cabinet on Tuesday with the latest developments from the conflict, telling ministers Hamas was responsible for the "murder and suspected abduction of British nationals."
A Palestinian is helped across the rubble following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah (AFP via Getty Images)Expressions of condemnation and grief are pouring in after hundreds of people were killed in the hospital attack. Countries such as Syria and Saudi Arabia blamed Israel for the blast, with Libya’s Foreign Ministry accusing Israel of "war crimes and genocide" in the Gaza Strip. Iraq declared three days of mourning, and hundreds of protesters gathered in central Baghdad.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Egypt’s President, Abdul-Fattah el-Sissi, condemned what he called Israel’s "deliberate bombing" of Ahli Arab Hospital and "a clear violation of international law ... and humanity." The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that it was "shocked and horrified by reports that Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza was destroyed." The United Arab Emirates and Russia called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to put the blame on Hamas for Israel’s retaliatory attacks and the rising civilian casualties in Gaza. "Not only is it targeting and murdering civilians with unprecedented savagery, it’s hiding behind civilians", he said. With Israel barring entry of water, fuel and food into Gaza since Hamas’ brutal attack last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken secured an agreement with Netanyahu to discuss the creation of a mechanism for delivering aid to the territory’s 2.3 million people. US officials said the gain might appear modest, but stressed that it was a significant step forward. Still, as of late Tuesday, there was no deal in place and tonights attack casts doubt on whether Netanyahu will follow through.
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