Skip to main content
Cloudy icon
81Āŗ

What we know about the deadly blast at a Gaza City hospital

Wounded Palestinians arrive to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, after arriving from al-Ahli hospital following an explosion there, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. The Hamas-run Health Ministry says an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion that killed hundreds at al-Ahli, but the Israeli military says it was a misfired Palestinian rocket. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled) (Abed Khaled, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

WASHINGTON ā€“ This is what we know about Tuesday's deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza City.

ā€” In the dark of early evening in Gaza, reports emerged of an explosion at Gaza Cityā€™s al-Ahli hospital. Al-Ahli was crowded both with victims of 10 days of Israeli airstrikes and with families and others who have taken refuge on hospital grounds.

Recommended Videos



ā€” Video that The Associated Press confirmed as being from the hospital showed an orange ball of fire and flames engulfing the building and grounds.

ā€” The video showed the outside of the hospital, where countless Palestinian families had been camping out. Torn bodies covered the grass, with slain children lying among dead adults.

ā€” Gazaā€™s Hamas-run Health Ministry blamed an Israeli airstrike, and said it killed at least 500 people.

ā€” Israeli authorities soon after denied involvement, saying a misfired Palestinian rocket appeared to blame.

ā€” Outraged over the hospital blast, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanā€™s King Abdullah II announced they were pulling out of a planned Arab summit Wednesday with President Joe Biden.

ā€” The White House and Jordan's government announced within hours of the attack that Bidenā€™s meeting with Arab leaders was off.

ā€” Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and other Arab nations condemned the hospital attack, or declared days of national mourning. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi declared the hospital explosion ā€œa clear violation of international law ... and humanity.ā€

ā€” Protests erupted in some Arab cities. In Beirut, protesters roamed the city on motorcycles and gathered outside the French embassy and a U.N. facility, in protests against the international communityā€™s response to the civilian deaths in Gaza. Throngs of Jordanians gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in Amman.


Loading...

Recommended Videos