Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
A devastating explosion at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza has resulted in the loss of numerous lives, with Palestinian officials reporting casualties numbering in the hundreds. The hospital was serving as a shelter for thousands of displaced individuals when the catastrophic event unfolded, raising significant humanitarian concerns in the already embattled region. According to Gaza Health Ministry, at least 500 people were killed in the hospital blast
The responsibility for the destruction of the hospital remains a point of contention. Palestinian authorities firmly attribute the incident to ongoing Israeli airstrikes, exacerbating tensions in an already volatile situation. In contrast, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have staunchly denied any involvement, instead attributing the incident to a "failed rocket launch" by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a rival militant group of Hamas in Gaza
Against the backdrop of mounting international pressure to address the escalating crisis, President Joe Biden is set to make an extraordinary visit to Israel. This visit follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken's efforts in the Middle East to defuse the escalation of war. Initially scheduled to include a summit in Jordan with Arab leaders, these plans were canceled in light of the hospital blast, underlining the gravity of the situation
The Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital played a pivotal role in providing refuge for those forcibly evacuated in Gaza. The destruction of this hospital intensifies the already dire situation, with numerous healthcare facilities grappling with shortages of electricity and water
Accusations and counter-accusations between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas millitants continue to escalate the conflict. Each party has issued statements holding the other responsible for the tragedy at the hospital. Meanwhile, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari has indicated that the IDF possesses evidence suggesting the involvement of the Islamic Jihad and plans to release this information
Hours after the attack, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released an audio clip as an evidence of Gaza hospital explosion being caused by a failed Palestine Islamic Jihad's missile
In the audio clip released by the IDF, two Hamas operatives are allegedly discussing that the missile which struck the hospital belonged to the Palestine Islamic Jihad. "It's from us?" asked one Hamas militant. To which the other replied, "It looks like it." The militant added, "They are saying that the shrapnel from the missile is local and not like Israeli shrapnel." He also said that the missile was fired from the cemetery behind the hospital
In response to the hospital attack, protests have erupted in multiple Middle Eastern cities, with Amman, Jordan witnessing demonstrators attempting to reach the Israeli embassy. These protests reflect the heightened tensions and unrest in the region in the wake of the tragic event
While the IDF maintains that it does not intentionally target hospitals, the United Nations and Doctors Without Borders have reported that medical facilities, including hospitals and ambulances, have been impacted by Israeli airstrikes. In addition to the dire situation in the hospitals, food and water supplies within Gaza are rapidly depleting. Fuel reserves are nearly exhausted, causing 20 out of 23 hospitals to offer only partial services, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
UN agencies have raised concerns about dwindling food stocks in Gaza, warning that shops could run out of available supplies within a week. The shutdown of Gaza's last seawater desalination plant adds to the risk of dehydration and waterborne diseases
Hospitals in Gaza continue to receive numerous bodies from various areas, including those affected by airstrikes in Rafah. The overall death toll includes victims from strikes in the southern Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Younis
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a significant loss of life, with more than 3,000 people killed and over 12,500 wounded, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Furthermore, hospitals have not been spared from the impacts of the conflict, intensifying the region's humanitarian crisis. On the other hand, over 1400 people have been killed on the Israeli side in Hamas attacks