Gaza hospital attack: US President Joe Biden's visit to Israel, aimed at showing solidarity following the recent Hamas attacks, comes in the midst of a troubling situation triggered by a hospital explosion in Gaza. The blast, which claimed the lives of at least 500 people, has fueled anger and a blame game between local authorities and Israel.
_a5c58e56c734e391c0a0141da12b9936_1280X720.webp)
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza attributed the incident to Israeli airstrikes, while Israel countered by alleging that it was a result of misfired Hamas rockets. Here are key points on this developing story:
- Biden's Solidarity Visit: President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on a visit intended to demonstrate solidarity with the nation following last week's Hamas attacks, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 Israelis. His arrival at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv was met with a warm welcome from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Israeli Army's Claims: The Israeli army asserted that "intelligence from multiple sources" indicated that the failed rocket launch responsible for the hospital strike was the work of the Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian group aligned with Hamas. The army's spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, emphasized that Israel was not conducting aerial operations near the hospital when the strike occurred and that the rockets used did not match their own equipment.
- Islamic Jihad's Response: In response to these allegations, the Islamic Jihad, a Hamas ally, accused Israel of attempting to evade responsibility for the hospital bombing. They condemned the attack as a "brutal massacre" and accused Israel of fabricating lies.
- Biden's Outrage: In the wake of the hospital bombing, President Joe Biden, during his visit to Israel, expressed outrage and deep sorrow over the incident. He stated, "I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted."
- UN Secretary-General's Condemnation: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the deadly airstrike, labeling it a "horrific" attack and emphasizing that hospitals and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law.
- Regional Outrage: The hospital bombing prompted protests outside the UK and France embassies in Iran's Tehran, and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi declared a day of "public mourning," blaming Israel and its ally, the US, for the attack.
- Hezbollah's Call for Protest: The Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon, involved in the ongoing regional conflict, called for a "day of rage" to denounce the strike, urging Muslims and Arabs to express their anger through street demonstrations.
- Protests in West Bank: In the West Bank, Palestinian security forces in Ramallah clashed with protesters who were demonstrating against President Mahmoud Abbas, with tear gas and stun grenades being used to disperse the crowds.
- Humanitarian Crisis: Over one million people from northern Gaza have relocated to the south as the UN warns of an increasingly dire humanitarian situation, with Palestinian civilians squeezed into smaller areas and life-saving supplies running low. The UN called for a humanitarian truce to enable aid deliveries.
- WHO's Assessment: The World Health Organisation (WHO) described the hospital strike as "unprecedented in its scale," highlighting that 115 healthcare facilities in Gaza have been attacked, rendering most of the city's hospitals non-operational. The situation continues to deteriorate, with significant human suffering and a pressing need for international assistance.
- With inputs from agencies
