In a recent turn of events surrounding the devastating explosion at a hospital in Gaza, both the US government and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have indicated that Palestinian militant groups, rather than Israel, are responsible for the tragedy.
The blast at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives. The IDF, in a bid to provide clarity on the incident, released an audio recording of two purported Islamic Jihad terrorists admitting their involvement in the bombing. The audio clip, shared on various platforms, captures the operatives realizing that the missile shrapnel was local and not of Israeli origin, suggesting the rocket was fired from a location near the hospital.
The US government's stance aligns with Israel's claims. The National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, stated that based on overhead imagery, intercepts, and open-source information, the current assessment is that Israel was not behind the explosion. This assessment was further supported by President Joe Biden, who, during his visit to Israel, mentioned that the data presented to him by the Defense Department indicated that a Palestinian militant group was likely behind the strike.
Evidence gathered by the US intelligence community suggests that the hospital strike was a result of a rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. A blast analysis indicates that the explosion originated from the ground, consistent with a rocket launch gone awry. The absence of a singular crater, extensive fire damage, and scattered debris further support this assessment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in his discussions with President Biden, reiterated Israel's stance on the incident. The IDF has maintained that its intelligence showed a "failed rocket launch" by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group as the cause of the explosion. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari emphasized the lack of cratering and structural damage to nearby buildings, indicating that the explosion was not a result of an aerial munition.
The international community has been closely monitoring the situation, with many awaiting conclusive evidence. Mick Mulroy, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East and retired CIA officer, expressed confidence in the US intelligence community's capabilities, suggesting that they likely possess enough data to determine the origin of the projectile.
The tragic incident at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital is the latest in a series of events that have heightened tensions in the region. As investigations continue, the international community hopes for clarity and justice for the victims of the blast.
