A newly released video by the Israel Defense Force shows a rocket misfiring and exploding in Gaza at the same moment a Baptist hospital was struck and at least 500 people were killed.
‘A rocket aimed at Israel misfired and exploded at 18:59—the same moment a hospital was hit in Gaza,’ the IDF wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The video shows a rocket exploding in the air before descending below. It’s unclear what exactly was hit by the misfired rocket in the video.
Israel denied responsibility for the blast at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, claiming it was a rocket misfired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists.
A spokesman for Islamic Jihad blamed the strike on Israel and accused the IDF of ‘trying to cover for the horrifying crime and massacre they committed against civilians.’
The Israel Defense Forces shared raw footage, revealing the moment a rocket misfired and exploded at the same time the Gaza hospital was hit, killing 500 people
Israel denied responsibility for the blast at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, claiming it was a rocket misfired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists
IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN that Israel ‘categorically’ do not intentionally strike any sensitive facilities, including hospitals.
‘We did not strike that, and that the intelligence that we have suggests that it was a failed rocket launch by the Islamic Jihad, and I want to add, categorically, that we do not intentionally strike any sensitive facilities, any sensitive facilities, and definitely not hospitals,’ he said.
Video from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital’s grounds strewn with bodies, many of them young children.
Hundreds of people were reportedly seeking shelter at the hospital at the time of the blast. About 6,000 Palestinians were sheltering at the hospital, which is reportedly funded by the Anglican Church.
Video from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital’s grounds strewn with bodies, many of them young children
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II cancelled their Arab summit meeting with President Joe Biden that was planned for Wednesday due to outrage over the blast.
Within hours of the incident, the White House and Jordan’s government announced the meeting was called off.
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Following the hospital blast, the United States also elevated its travel advisory for Lebanon after pro-Palestinian protestors descended onto the US embassy in Lebanon and set fire to it.
Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and other Arab nations condemned the hospital blast, which is still being investigated.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi claimed the hospital explosion was ‘a clear violation of international law … and humanity.’
Iran-backed Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel in 2006, called for a day of protest in Beirut on Tuesday in response to the attack.
In response, the State Department told DailyMail.com the travel restriction to Lebanon is raised to ‘Level 4.’
People stand in front of fire that erupted outside the security gate, during clashes between protesters and security forces outside the US embassy in Beirut
Protests erupted outside the U.S. embassy in Beirut just hours after a blast at a hospital in Gaza that Hamas claims killed at least 500 people and has more trapped under rubble
Protesters clash with Lebanese security forces outside the US Embassy during a demonstration
‘The Department authorized the voluntary, temporary departure of family members of U.S. government personnel and some non-emergency personnel from U.S. Embassy Beirut due to the unpredictable security situation in Lebanon,’ the announcement read.
People are also being advised to avoid the border with Syria due to terrorism and armed conflict, the border with Israel and refugee settlements.
Thousands of Lebanese protesters, some waving Palestinian flags, gathered late into Tuesday night outside the US embassy in response to the incident. Military members unleashed gas and smoke to push them back.
Video shows the protestor scaling a barb-wire-topped fence to replace a US flag with a Palestinian version. A fire was also set near the complex. Later, footage showed gas being sprayed at the protestors to push them back.
It’s unclear if any protestors have breached the perimeter fence or if any embassy personnel have been hurt.
