The Israeli military presented evidence suggesting that the devastating explosion at a Gaza hospital, which resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives, was caused by a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The incident had initially sparked widespread protests and condemnation across the Middle East.
Read also: Israel Fiercly Attacks Gaza Despite Deadly Warning from Hamas
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari made a compelling statement, saying, “The evidence – which we are sharing with you all – confirms that the explosion at the hospital in Gaza was caused by an Islamic Jihad rocket that misfired.”
![People inspect the area of Al-Ahli hospital where hundreds of Palestinians were killed in a blast that Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed on each other, and where Palestinians who fled their homes were sheltering amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, in Gaza City, October 18, 2023. [Photo/REUTERS]](https://news.switchtv.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HSOHCAJGABLWXJ3DSD6R3OIYMQ.webp)
Hagari emphatically stated that there was no involvement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), “There was no IDF fire by land, sea, or air that hit the hospital.”
He further explained, “Our radar system tracked missiles fired by terrorists in Gaza at the time of the explosion, and the trajectory analysis of the rockets shows the rockets were fired in close proximity to the hospital.”
This revelation comes as a response to Hamas’ initial accusation, blaming Israel for the hospital blast.
In their statement, Hamas said, “Its outrageous lies do not deceive anyone,” and claimed that Israel was directly responsible for the tragic incident.
This incident follows more than a week of intense conflict in the region, sparked by a series of cross-border attacks initiated by Hamas on October 7.
![People inspect the area of Al-Ahli hospital where hundreds of Palestinians were killed in a blast that Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed on each other, and where Palestinians who fled their homes were sheltering amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, in Gaza City, October 18, 2023. [Photo/REUTERS]](https://news.switchtv.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/GWCRCZA3JJLXJPGLMZ7D5NWADU.webp)
The Israeli military has been engaged in a retaliatory bombardment of Gaza, resulting in a high death toll and escalating tensions.
The hospital explosion marks the deadliest single incident in Gaza during the ongoing violence. It has led to protests not only in the occupied West Bank but also in neighboring countries, including Jordan and Turkey.
Hagari also shed light on the misfired rockets from Gaza, stating, “We have intelligence about communication between terrorists talking about rockets misfiring.”
The Israeli military published an audio recording of such a conversation, with English captions.
Subscribe to Switch TV
The international community has been closely monitoring the situation, with the United States sending support to Israel in the form of aircraft carriers.
Meanwhile, allies of Hamas, such as Iran and Hezbollah, have vowed to respond if Israel proceeds with a ground invasion of Gaza.
