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At least 500 people were killed in the blast at the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, Gaza\u2019s Hamas-run Health Ministry claimed yesterday,<\/p>\n
Last night the cause of the strike was unclear, with both sides of the Israel-Palestine war blaming each other.<\/p>\n
Palestinian officials blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike.<\/p>\n
But last night, The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said an initial investigation showed the explosion was caused by a failed Hamas rocket launch, according to reports.<\/p>\n
What was clear was hundreds of civilians were caught up in the carnage. The hospital compound was packed with wounded, with hundreds of displaced Palestinians seeking shelter in its grounds at the time of the alleged blast.<\/p>\n
Unverified images showed fire engulfing the hospital halls, shattered glass and body parts scattered across the area. Hamas officials claimed hundreds were trapped in the rubble.<\/p>\n
Other pictures captured scenes of chaos – with bloodied and maimed casualties beingrushed out on stretchers in the darkness. Wrecked vehicles could be seen lying in the rubble strewn street outside.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> My family is still dreaming for peace in Israel more than 50 years on<\/strong><\/p>\n Unconfirmed videos appeared to show a huge explosion shortly beforehand.<\/p>\n An unnamed doctor working at the hospital said there was total devastation at the scene of the attack – where some 4,000 displaced persons were seeking refuge.<\/p>\n He added that 80 per cent of the hospital was out of service, and that hundreds of people were killed or injured in the blast.<\/p>\n He told the BBC the hospital was empty as people were busy trying to rescue the survivors of the strike.<\/p>\n If confirmed, the attack would be by far the deadliest Israeli airstrike in five wars fought since 2008.<\/p>\n Several hospitals in Gaza City have become refuges for hundreds of people, hoping they would be spared bombardment after Israel ordered all residents of the city and surrounding areas to evacuate to the southern Gaza Strip ahead of an expected ground offensive.<\/p>\n British-Palestinian surgeon Professor Ghassan Abu Sittah – who was working when the strike hit said: \u201cParts of the hospital are on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know whether that is the emergency department. But it\u2019s certainly the operating suite, part of the roof has fallen. There is glass everywhere,\u201d he told the BBC.<\/p>\n Hamas, which sparked the latest war with an attack last week that killed more than 1,400 Israelis, called yesterday\u2019s alleged hospital strike \u201ca horrific massacre\u201d and a \u201cwar crime\u201d.<\/p>\n It said in a statement that most of the casualties were displaced families, patients, children and women.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n \u201cThe hospital was housing hundreds of sick and wounded, and people forcibly displaced from their homes,\u201d an official statement said.<\/p>\n There are \u201chundreds of victims\u201d still buried under the debris, the health ministry said.<\/p>\n The Israeli military said it is looking into the report.<\/p>\n Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari initially said there were still no details on the hospital deaths: \u201cWe will get the details and update the public. I don\u2019t know whether it was an Israeli air strike.\u201d<\/p>\n Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has declared three days of mourning following the alleged air strike, Palestinian state media reported. He cancelled a planned meeting with President Biden.<\/p>\n Abbas added flags would be flown at half-mast \u201cfor the martyrs of the Baptist hospital massacre and all our people\u2019s martyrs\u201d, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said.<\/p>\n The Palestinian Liberation Organisation added: \u201cWhat is taking place is genocide. We call on the international community to intervene immediately to stop this massacre. Silence is no longer acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier yesterday the Palestinian ambassador to the UK said the situation in Gaza was \u201calmost like living in an unimaginable horror movie.\u201d<\/p>\n Husam Zomlot said people in Gaza have to make \u201chorrific\u201d choices between fleeing their homes or not, as well as rationing food and water.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really unimaginable what has happened,\u201d he told BBC News.<\/p>\n The alleged attack came as US President Joe Biden prepared to head to the region as he and other world leaders tried to prevent the war from sparking a broader regional conflict.<\/p>\n Last night, Canon Richard Sewell, the Dean of St George\u2019s College, Jerusalem, said: \u201cAhli Arab hospital has taken a direct hit from an Israeli missile.<\/p>\n \u201cEarly reports say hundreds of women and children killed. This is deliberate killing of vulnerable civilians. The bombs must stop now. There can be no possible justification for this.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere yesterday, shelling from Israeli tanks hit a UN school in central Gaza where 4,000 Palestinians had taken refuge, killing six people and wounding dozens, the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency said.<\/p>\n The Israeli military said it was targeting Hamas hideouts, infrastructure and command centres.<\/p>\n Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/5018152.jpg?r=1697579872601\")
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