The IDF confirmed late Tuesday night that a failed rocket attack carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad damaged a Gaza hospital, leading to a still-unclear number of deaths.
The army spokesperson gave a press conference declaring that "an analysis of IDF operational systems indicates a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity to the hospital at the time it was hit. Intelligence from a few sources that we have in our hands indicates that the Islamic Jihad is responsible."
IDF Spokesperson R[.-]Adm. Daniel Hagari confirms: Islamic Jihad is responsible for the rocket that hit the hospital in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/Tssfl5M7Ew
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 17, 2023
The office also told Israeli media that Israel is in possession of audio recordings in which Islamic Jihad members say out loud that they are responsible for the explosion.
"They don't only kill our children, they also kill their own"
At around 19:00 this evening, a failed rocket launch was shown live on air on Al Jazeera. The rocket was launched and fell in Gaza causing an explosion.They don't only kill our children, they also kill their own. pic.twitter.com/DCBjA4vqWb
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) October 17, 2023
"At around 19:00 this evening, a failed rocket launch was shown live on air on Al Jazeera. The rocket was launched and fell in Gaza causing an explosion," said Yair Lapid on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
"They don't only kill our children, they also kill their own" Lapid declared.
The IDF said that it had multiple intelligence sources that had confirmed that Islamic Jihad, and not Israel, was responsible, despite accusations by Hamas and some other countries.
"The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza and not the IDF. Those who brutally murdered our children also murder their own children," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared late Tuesday night.
The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, and not the IDF.Those who brutally murdered our children also murder their own children.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 17, 2023
US President Joe Biden also issued a statement on the incident, noting that he is "outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted."
Biden spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Netanyahu had his national security team investigate the explosion.
"The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict and we mourn the patients, medical staff and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy," he said.
The IDF took two hours to confirm their security assessment before announcing that PIJ was responsible for the explosion.
"An analysis of IDF operational systems indicates that a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity to the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza at the time it was hit," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said.
Germany's Scholz calls for thorough investigation of Gaza hospital blast
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed horror at images of an explosion at a hospital in Gaza that left hundreds dead and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
"Innocent civilians were injured and killed. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims," wrote Scholz on X Wednesday.
Ich bin entsetzt über die Bilder, die uns von der Explosion in einem Krankenhaus in Gaza erreichen. Unschuldige wurden verletzt und getötet. Unsere Gedanken sind bei den Angehörigen der Opfer. Es ist wichtig, dass dieser Vorfall sehr genau aufgeklärt wird.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) October 18, 2023
Scholz is expected in Egypt on Wednesday, where he is set to meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, following his visit to Israel.
Hamas officials blame Israel
Officials in Gaza issued contradictory statements about casualty numbers, ranging between dozens to hundreds, with video footage reportedly from the scene showing a number of cars on fire near the hospital.
The explosion was reported at the same time that heavy rocket barrages were fired from Gaza toward central Israel.
Palestinian rockets in civilian areas
Hamas and other Palestinian factions fire rockets from within residential areas in the Gaza Strip, with rocket storehouses often placed inside or near hospitals, schools, and mosques. Rockets launched by the factions often fall short and hit buildings in Gaza, with multiple deaths reported in such incidents in past rounds of conflict. During Operation Breaking Dawn in August 2022, two people were killed after a rocket fired from Gaza fell next to a clinic.
In May, four Palestinians were killed after an Islamic Jihad rocket fell short. The IDF released footage showing the failed launches in that incident.
25% of rockets launched by the Islamic Jihad have fallen in Gaza. These misfires killed four innocent civilians including a ten year old.The Islamic Jihad isn't just a threat to Israel. It's a threat to the innocent men, women and children in Gaza that it happily places in… pic.twitter.com/8KfG8sqsB8
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) May 11, 2023
Hamas accused Israel of being responsible for the deaths, stating "We call on the international community and the Arab and Islamic countries to assume their responsibilities and intervene immediately now to stop the arrogance of the occupation and its fascist army."
IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated shortly after the incident that the military was looking into what happened, noting that while there are many strikes being conducted throughout Gaza, there are also many failed launches and many false reports from Hamas.
Abbas declares three days of mourning
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning following the deadly air strike on a hospital in Gaza, killing at least 500 Palestinians on Tuesday, Palestinian Authority media reported.
"What is taking place is genocide. We call on the international community to intervene immediately to stop this massacre. Silence is no longer acceptable," a statement issued by the Palestinian Liberation Organization said in response to the attack.
Reuters and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.