Shocking Revelation: The Truth Behind the Gaza Hospital Blast Revealed - Israel Not Found Responsible!
The US government denies Israel's responsibility for the Gaza hospital blast, aligning with President Biden's statement that a Palestinian militant group was behind the attack
According to the National Security Council, the US government presently holds the belief that Israel is not accountable for the explosion that occurred at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. This comes after President Joe Biden stated that a Palestinian militant group was responsible for the attack. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the NSC, stated that this assessment is founded on the analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts, and open-source information.
In a statement on Wednesday, Watson stated that despite ongoing information collection, it is presently concluded, through the analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts, and open-source information, that Israel is not accountable for the recent hospital explosion in Gaza. CNN has been informed by officials that initial evidence obtained by the US intelligence community points towards the hospital strike being a result of a rocket launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.
On October 18, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden traveled to Israel amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He was warmly greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. The event was captured by REUTERS photographer Evelyn Hockstein.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Hospital blast looms over Biden's complicated diplomatic mission to Israel
The evidence collected includes a blast analysis indicating that the hospital was hit by a ground explosion rather than an airstrike, according to one source. There was no single crater suggesting the presence of a bomb, but there was significant fire damage and scattered debris that is in line with an explosion originating from ground level, as per the source. This analysis is a contributing factor that has led intelligence officials to lean towards the assessment that the hospital was mistakenly targeted during a failed rocket launch.
The intelligence community is currently examining the blast analysis, along with other factors. Intelligence collection assets have been increased in the region. US intelligence officials are still gathering evidence and have not made a final assessment, according to the officials. After arriving in Israel, Biden expressed his opinion on the party responsible for the strike on the hospital. "From what I have observed, it seems that the other team, not you, is responsible," Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden was later asked what made him confident the Israelis werent behind the hospital strike.
"The data I was shown by my Defense Department," he said.
In his remarks later on Wednesday, Biden restated that the blast seems to have been caused by a stray rocket launched by a terrorist group in Gaza, based on the information available to the US.
He expressed condolences for the suffering of the Palestinian people, acknowledging the loss of innocent lives. Biden also conveyed his outrage and sadness over the significant loss of life at the hospital in Gaza. According to the information reviewed so far, it appears that the tragedy resulted from an accidental rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza. The United States is unwavering in its stance to protect civilian lives during conflicts, and Biden sincerely mourns for the families who have experienced the loss or injuries due to this tragic event.
Gaza authorities have accused Israel of being responsible for the deadly explosion at the hospital. However, the Israel Defense Forces have claimed that their intelligence indicates the blast was caused by a "failed rocket launch" from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.
On Wednesday, an IDF spokesperson stated that the post-blast images revealed no evidence of cratering or structural damage to neighboring buildings.
"There are no visible craters present and the walls remain undamaged, indicating that the parking lot of the hospital was not struck by an aerial munition," stated Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesperson, during a news conference on Wednesday. "Upon analyzing our aerial footage, it has been confirmed that the hospital itself was not directly hit. The only area affected is the parking lot outside, where signs of burning are evident."
Officials mentioned that the US intelligence community has been examining a variety of intelligence sources, such as overhead imagery and blast analysis, in order to formulate an assessment.
Mick Mulroy, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East and retired CIA officer, stated that the US intelligence community is likely equipped with ample imagery, communications intercepts, and other data to determine the source of the projectile that struck the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital. Furthermore, Mulroy noted that it is possible to ascertain the initial accounts of individuals on the ground regarding their perceptions of the incident. Additionally, based on the publicly released video, Mulroy concluded that the explosion aligns with a rocket that had a substantial amount of fuel upon impact.
Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, a national security and military analyst for CNN, mentioned that the US military is equipped with satellite-based overhead platforms capable of detecting the ignition of a missile during launch or the expulsion of any object from the atmosphere. Hertling also expressed his opinion on the released imagery by the Israeli military, describing it as convincing.
"It is very compelling, but when you also look at that aftermath, wheres the crater? When youre talking about a crater from an Israeli bomb, theres going to be a hole there," he said.
