Investigating the Gaza Hospital Blast: Unraveling the Uncertainty and Searching for Answers
A tragic blast at a Gaza hospital highlights the immense human toll of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas The cause remains uncertain, and CNN hasn't independently verified either side's account Explore what occurred, statements from Israelis and Palestinians, US intelligence insights, and global reactions
Following a deadly explosion that struck Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, triggering protests throughout the area, the United States has issued its own evaluation regarding the cause of the devastation.
Israel has presented evidence indicating that a misfire from the militant organization Islamic Jihad was responsible for the blast. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden supported this explanation, citing intelligence from the United States. A representative from the National Security Council subsequently stated that an examination of aerial imagery, intercepted communications, and publicly available information indicated that Israel is "not accountable."
Despite the ongoing airstrikes in Gaza, Israeli forces are being accused by Palestinian officials and numerous Arab leaders of targeting the hospital. Islamic Jihad, a rival group to Hamas, has denied any involvement. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that hundreds of casualties have occurred as a result of the attack, and photos depicting the gory aftermath have ignited demonstrations throughout the area.
Heres a look at what we know - and dont know - so far.
A view shows the aftermath of the deadly blast on Wednesday.
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images
What happened at the hospital?
CNN has geolocated a video capturing the moment of the blast at Al-Alhi Baptist Hospital. The footage reveals the sky brightening as a massive explosion occurs on the hospital premises, releasing a billowing cloud of flames and smoke into the atmosphere.
There was panic in the building as a deafening blast reverberated through the hospital. Dr. Fadel Naeem, the head of the orthopedic department, was in the middle of performing surgery when chaos erupted. Staff members rushed into the operating room, screaming for assistance and providing updates on numerous casualties. In a recorded video interview with CNN, Dr. Naeem recounted the moment, stating, "Right after completing one surgery, we were startled by a massive explosion. Initially, we assumed it was occurring outside the hospital, as it never crossed our minds that they would target the hospital itself."
Some of those wounded in the blast were taken to Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital.
Mohammed Al-Masri/Reuters
Women and children wait for treatment at Al-Ahli Hospital on Tuesday night.
Abed Khaled/AP
After leaving the theater, Dr. Naeem described a harrowing scene of widespread destruction. "There were numerous beheadings and a massive fire engulfing everything," he recounted. "Our medical team urgently attended to the gravely injured, but the magnitude of the devastation was overwhelming. The numbers were so immense that we felt helpless."
Although it is challenging to independently verify the death toll from the explosion, evidence of the bloodshed can be observed in images circulating on social media in the aftermath. The photos and videos depict young children, covered in dust, being rushed for medical treatment for their injuries. Meanwhile, lifeless bodies lie motionless on the ground.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has said the death toll is over 400.
What the Israelis and Palestinians have said
Palestinian officials attributed the Tuesday evening attack to Israel.
According to Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the initial information provides clear evidence that disproves the possibility of an Israeli bomb.
According to Israel's intelligence, the Islamist militant group Islamic Jihad conducted a "failed rocket launch." However, the Islamic Jihad movement denied these claims, calling them "false and baseless."
In addition, the IDF released an audio recording which purportedly captured a conversation between two Hamas operatives. During the conversation, they discussed a rocket launch that took place near a hospital cemetery. According to the IDF's translation of the conversation, one of the alleged operatives mentioned that the missile's shrapnel was different from Israeli shrapnel.
CNN cannot verify the authenticity of the recordings.
A photograph depicts the aftermath of a devastating explosion that occurred at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City on Wednesday, October 18. Palestinian officials attribute the incident to the continued airstrikes conducted by the Israeli forces, whereas a representative of the Israel Defense Forces claims that a failed rocket launch by a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group caused the hospital to be hit.
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In pictures: The deadly clashes in Israel and Gaza
The IDF presented visual evidence on Tuesday implying that the damage at the hospital could not have been caused by an airstrike due to the absence of visible crater marks or significant building destruction typically associated with such a strike.
As additional proof, a video posted on the official State of Israel's account on social media platform X was presented, suggesting that the hospital was hit by rockets launched by militants. However, upon closer examination, the timestamp on the video did not align with the actual timing of the explosion. Subsequently, the tweet was edited to remove the video.
Israel Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat informed CNN that they had received the video, initially believing it to be from an official source. However, upon contacting the person who shared it, they discovered it was obtained from elsewhere, prompting them to remove it.
Meanwhile, officials in Gaza alleged that the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital suffered damage from two Israeli shells four days prior. In response, the IDF issued a warning to evacuate the hospital. CNN has reached out to the IDF for their response to this claim.
What US intelligence suggests
The US government currently assesses that Israel "was not responsible" for the blast,according to the US National Security Council (NSC).
During his high-stakes visit to Israel on Wednesday, Biden assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the damage at the hospital seemed to be caused by someone else, not him. However, Biden acknowledged that there are still many people who remain uncertain, so there are numerous obstacles that need to be overcome.
This view shows the aftermath of a deadly blast that struck Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, on Wednesday, October 18.
Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images
US currently assesses that Israel is 'not responsible' for Gaza hospital blast
According to the NSC on Wednesday afternoon, new findings suggest that some Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip speculate that the explosion may have been caused by an accidental rocket or missile launch conducted by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The militants are currently conducting an investigation to determine the exact details, states spokesperson Adrienne Watson.
Furthermore, officials inform CNN that initial evidence obtained by the US intelligence community points to a rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group as the source of the hospital strike.
One source reports that a blast analysis indicated that the hospital was hit by a ground explosion rather than an airstrike. While no singular crater was found to suggest a bomb, there was significant fire damage and debris scattered, which aligns with an explosion originating from the ground level. This analysis, among other pieces of evidence, has led intelligence officials to consider that the attack on the hospital may have been a failed rocket launch.
Still, the blast analysis is just one of the things being examined by the intelligence community, which has surged intelligence collection assets to the region.
How has the world reacted?
Numerous countries have expressed shock over the casualties at the hospital and advised against assigning blame until the situation is better understood.
The United Nations has urged a thorough investigation. Until impartial investigators can thoroughly examine the incident, it is improbable that the global community will have a definite understanding of the cause behind the explosion.
Israel has shared intelligence with the United States regarding the Gaza hospital explosion, as confirmed by an Israeli official and an anonymous source familiar with the issue.
Wounded Palestinians lay at the al-Shifa hospital following Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
Abed Khaled/AP
Middle East enraged over Gaza hospital explosion as Biden visits Israel. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq denounce Israel and allege its military is responsible for the hospital strike.
Thousands of protesters in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, and Tunisia raised their voices against Israel, chanting anti-Israel slogans. In addition, the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah experienced intense protests. CNN reporters Kareem Khadder, Eyad Kourdi, Donald Judd, Richard Allen Greene, Tim Lister, and Chloe Liu covered the developments.
