A significant explosion occurred at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City earlier Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, states that a rocket launched by the Islamic Jihad terror organization misfired and caused the blast, contradicting earlier accusations that the Israeli military was responsible.
The IDF asserts that after conducting a thorough review of their operational and intelligence systems, they confirm they had no role in striking the hospital. “An analysis…indicates that a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza…at the time it was hit,” said Hagari.
Hamas and some Arab nations have previously attributed the explosion to Israel. This explosion at the hospital has reportedly resulted in a significant death toll, with numbers still being clarified. The IDF has highlighted the fact that many rockets aimed at Israel by Gaza-based terror organizations have inadvertently landed in Gaza since the onset of the conflict on October 7.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has announced an urgent meeting of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah following this incident. As global leaders urge for a solution to the crisis, US President Joe Biden is set to visit Israel on Wednesday, amidst escalating tensions in the region.