KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A Gaza City hospital was devastated by a massive explosion on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The cause of the blast was a subject of contention, with Hamas blaming an Israeli airstrike and the Israeli military claiming it was a misfired rocket by Palestinian militants.
The hospital was packed with wounded Palestinians and civilians seeking refuge. Video footage confirmed by The Associated Press showed the building engulfed in flames, with the hospital grounds filled with bodies, including many young children. Amidst the carnage, there were scattered belongings, such as blankets and school backpacks, left behind.
The incident occurred amidst ongoing efforts by the U.S. to provide aid to the desperate civilians, aid groups, and hospitals in the Gaza Strip, which has been under a complete siege since Hamas’ attacks in southern Israel. The timing also coincided with President Joe Biden’s planned visit to the region to show support for Israel and deter the escalation of the war.
Hundreds of Palestinians had sought shelter in hospitals, including al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, hoping to avoid bombardment after Israel ordered residents to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip. Hamas condemned the hospital strike as a “horrific massacre,” attributing it to an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli military, on the other hand, claimed the incident was caused by rockets fired by Palestinian militants.
Ambulances and private vehicles transported approximately 350 casualties from the al-Ahli blast to Gaza City’s main hospital, al-Shifa, which was already overwhelmed with wounded from previous strikes. The hospital director, Mohammed Abu Selmia, described the dire situation, with patients crammed into small rooms and a shortage of essential equipment and supplies. He warned that the hospital’s generators were running out of fuel, putting Gaza’s medical sector on the verge of collapse.
The death toll in Gaza, prior to the al-Ahli Hospital incident, stood at 2,778 people, with 9,700 wounded, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Shockingly, nearly two-thirds of those killed were children. There are also an estimated 1,200 people buried under the rubble, either alive or dead. Hamas’ recent attack in southern Israel resulted in the deaths of over 1,400 people, predominantly civilians, and took 200 individuals captive.
In the aftermath of the alleged airstrike on the hospital, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled his participation in a meeting with President Biden and other regional leaders. Protests erupted in major West Bank cities, with demonstrators clashing with Palestinian security forces. Similar protests occurred in Beirut and Amman, where a crowd gathered outside the Israeli Embassy.
With Israeli troops positioned at the border, an Israeli ground invasion into Gaza was anticipated. However, the specific plans remained uncertain. The military spokesman emphasized that preparations for the next stages of the war were underway, without disclosing further details.
Throughout Tuesday, airstrikes targeted civilian areas in the southern half of Gaza. A significant number of casualties were reported, including the death of a senior Hamas figure, Ayman Nofal. Shelling from Israeli tanks also hit a U.N. school, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. At least 24 U.N. installations were struck during the past week, causing the deaths of several staff members.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu placed responsibility for the civilian casualties on Hamas, accusing them of hiding behind civilians. The effects of the siege imposed on Gaza were increasingly evident, with water, fuel, and food shortages. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken secured an agreement with Netanyahu to explore mechanisms for delivering aid to the Palestinian population, but as of now, no deal has been finalized.
The situation in Gaza was rapidly deteriorating, with hospitals facing electricity shortages, patients at risk, and a high number of displaced people with limited access to food and water. Aid workers described the territory as being on the brink of collapse. Meanwhile, thousands of people, including those with foreign citizenship, were stranded at the Rafah crossing, desperately seeking to leave Gaza.
The negotiations for aid delivery continued, involving the U.S., Israel, and Egypt, but progress was slow. The complexity of the situation presented challenges for all parties involved.
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