A whole bunch of individuals had been feared useless on Tuesday after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza, which the Palestinians and Israel blamed one another for, escalating tensions throughout the area.
The Hamas-controlled well being ministry mentioned a minimum of 200 individuals had been killed in what it mentioned was an Israeli strike on Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza Metropolis — the day earlier than US president Joe Biden was resulting from arrive in Israel.
That will make it the deadliest incident in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive on the strip in response to a lethal October 7 assault by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
However the Israel Protection Forces mentioned its intelligence indicated that the explosion was attributable to a misfired rocket launched by Islamic Jihad, a smaller Islamist militant group additionally based mostly in Gaza.
The Palestine Pink Crescent Society, a humanitarian organisation, mentioned “tons of” of individuals had been killed on the hospital. It was not attainable to independently confirm the loss of life toll or the reason for the explosion.
The incident will forged a cloud over Biden’s journey to Israel to point out solidarity with the Jewish state, in addition to to push for the supply of support into Gaza.
Jordan cancelled a summit at which Biden was to fulfill the Jordanian and Egyptian leaders, in addition to Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, a Jordanian official mentioned.
Biden mentioned he was “deeply saddened” by the “explosion” on the hospital, and he had requested his nationwide safety staff to “proceed gathering details about what precisely occurred”.
In an announcement issued whereas he was in flight to Israel, Biden didn’t attribute the incident to both facet of the battle.
“America stands unequivocally for the safety of civilian life throughout battle and we mourn the sufferers, medical employees and different innocents killed or wounded on this tragedy,” he mentioned.
The explosion triggered clashes between Palestinians and police within the occupied West Financial institution — fuelling considerations that the war between Israel and Hamas will spill over into that territory.
Movies posted on-line confirmed Palestinian police utilizing tear gasoline in opposition to crowds at a number of places within the West Financial institution.
The blast additionally drew condemnation from Muslim nations, together with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, which blamed Israel. Jordan’s King Abdullah mentioned the bombing, which he pinned on Israel, was a “bloodbath” and a struggle crime.
1000’s of Palestinians have taken refuge in hospitals in Gaza believing they’d be protected from Israel’s bombardment of the densely populated enclave.
Gaza, which is house to 2.3mn Palestinians and is managed by Hamas, has been focused by intense Israeli air and artillery strikes for greater than per week.
Ghassan Abu Sitta, a Palestinian-British surgeon, posted on social media: “I moved to Al Ahli hospital to assist out. The Israelis have simply hit Al Ahli hospital.”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned: “Your complete world ought to know: [it was] the barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, and never the IDF.”
Biden’s assertion mentioned he had spoken to Netanyahu and King Abdullah after the explosion.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, mentioned the IDF was finishing up an investigation into the assault on the hospital that may be accomplished forward of Biden’s arrival in Israel.
He added the IDF had proof of a barrage of rockets fired throughout the hospital by Islamic Jihad, and that one had hit the location.
However Islamic Jihad denied being liable for the explosion on the hospital, in response to a spokesperson quoted by Reuters.
Talking from Jerusalem, Reverend Fadi Biab, vice-chair of the hospital’s board, mentioned it was assessing the variety of casualties, including he couldn’t affirm the quantity.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Well being Group, mentioned the WHO “strongly condemns the assault” on Al-Ahli Arab hospital and known as for “the rapid safety of civilians and healthcare”.
Russia’s UN mission mentioned it and the United Arab Emirates had requested a unprecedented Safety Council assembly to debate the blast on the hospital, in response to state newswire Tass.
A Saudi overseas ministry assertion mentioned the dominion “condemns within the strongest phrases the atrocious crime dedicated by the Israeli occupation forces in shelling the Ahli hospital”.
Riyadh had been in discussions with the US over a deal to normalise relations with Israel earlier than the Hamas assault triggered the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
Israel’s bombardment of the hemmed-in strip started after Hamas’s assault killed greater than 1,400 Israelis, in response to Israeli officers. The militant group additionally took practically 200 hostages.
The Israeli strikes have since killed greater than 3,000 individuals in Gaza, in response to Palestinian officers.
Dozens had been killed in air strikes within the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis on Tuesday and scores extra injured, in response to Palestinian officers.
A whole bunch of hundreds of Palestinians have fled to the south of the enclave after Israel final week ordered them to go away the north, together with Gaza Metropolis.
The Israeli army says it’s focusing on Hamas militants, whom it accuses of hiding round hospitals and colleges and utilizing civilians as “human shields”.
The UN mentioned on Tuesday that a minimum of six individuals had been killed when one in all its colleges in the midst of the territory sheltering 4,000 displaced Palestinians was hit throughout Israeli air strikes.
It added that dozens extra had been injured, together with a few of its employees in a college within the al-Maghazi refugee camp.
“That is outrageous and it once more exhibits a flagrant disregard for the lives of civilians,” mentioned Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general for UNRWA, the UN aid company for Palestinian refugees. “No place is protected in Gaza anymore, not even UNRWA services.”
The UN has warned of an unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Ingesting water is scarce, mains energy isn’t obtainable and provides of gasoline, medicines and meals are operating out. UNRWA mentioned “individuals will begin dying” due to the water shortages.
Extra reporting by James Politi in Washington