(In paragraph 3, corrects to point out that Mai Alkaila is the Palestinian Authority’s well being minister, not the well being minister of Gaza’s Hamas-run authorities)
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) -Gaza authorities stated an Israeli air strike on Tuesday killed about 500 folks at a hospital within the Palestinian enclave, however Israel stated a Palestinian rocket had brought on the blast.
The dying toll was by far the very best of any single incident in Gaza throughout the present violence, triggering protests within the occupied West Financial institution, Istanbul and Amman.
The Palestinian Authority’s well being minister, Mai Alkaila, accused Israel of “a bloodbath” at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital. The strike killed tons of of individuals and occurred throughout Israel’s intense 11-day bombing marketing campaign in Gaza.
Earlier a Gaza civil defence chief stated 300 folks had been killed and a well being ministry official stated 500 had been killed. Hamas stated the blast largely killed displaced folks.
A spokesperson for the Israeli navy stated evaluation by its operational system confirmed “an enemy rocket barrage” aimed toward Israel was passing the hospital on the time of the strike and blamed the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated “barbaric terrorists” in Gaza had attacked the Gaza hospital, not Israel’s navy.
Islamic Jihad denied that any of its rockets had been concerned within the hospital blast, saying it didn’t have any exercise in or round Gaza Metropolis at the moment. Iran-backed Islamic Jihad took half within the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7 and, like Hamas, has fired quite a few salvoes of rockets into Israel.
Information of the hospital strike and excessive dying toll prompted condemnation from many international locations on the eve of U.S. President Joseph Biden’s go to to Israel. Russia and the United Arab Emirates demanded a U.N. Safety Council assembly and clashes erupted within the West Financial institution.
Earlier on Tuesday the United Nations stated an Israeli strike had hit considered one of its colleges the place at the least 4,000 folks had been sheltering. The company stated six folks had been killed and dozens injured by the strike. Israel’s navy stated it was trying into that report.
Well being authorities in Gaza stated previous to Tuesday’s incident at the least 3,000 folks had been killed in Israel’s 11 days of bombing since Hamas militants rampaged into Israeli cities on Oct. 7, killing greater than 1,300 troopers and civilians.
Displaced folks fleeing the Israeli bombardment have flocked to hospitals, in search of refuge round them in hopes they are going to be safer.
Final week Israel ordered all folks residing within the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which is simply 45 km (25 miles) lengthy and residential to 2.3 million folks, to go away their houses and go south.
Nevertheless, the air strikes have pounded targets all through the enclave and regardless of expectations of an Israeli floor offensive, some displaced folks have began returning north.
The World Well being Organisation stated the assault on the hospital was “unprecedented in its scale”. It stated earlier on Tuesday there had been 115 assaults on healthcare amenities in Gaza and the vast majority of its hospitals weren’t functioning.
Israel has minimize off all energy, water, meals, gas and medication provides into Gaza because the Hamas assault, intensifying an current blockade of the enclave.
The WHO stated it urgently wanted entry to Gaza to ship help and medical provides, warning of a long-term humanitarian disaster. Egyptian help vans had been ready on the border into Gaza however there was no settlement to permit them in.
CONDEMNATION
International locations together with Canada, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and Qatar condemned the strike on the hospital.
Within the West Financial institution, the place the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority operates, Palestinian protesters clashed with Palestinian safety forces, who fired tear fuel to disperse them. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled a gathering with Biden.
Video obtained by Reuters confirmed a number of ambulances arriving at one other Gaza hospital carrying folks injured at Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital. One man was staggering, bleeding closely from the pinnacle. A boy was being carried on a stretcher.
Anglican-run Al-Ahli al-Arabi was broken by Israeli rocket fireplace on Sunday, in response to a press release by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who appealed for well being amenities to be protected.
(Reporting By Moaz Abd-Alaziz, Nidal al Mughrabi and Ali Sawafta; Further reporting by Emily Rose; Writing by Angus McDowall; Modifying by Cynthia Osterman)
