Massive Blast in Gaza City Hospital Claims Hundreds of Lives Amidst Ongoing Conflict
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — In a harrowing turn of events, doctors in Gaza City were forced to perform surgeries on the floors of hospitals without anesthesia due to a severe shortage of medical supplies. This desperate situation arose after a massive blast rocked a hospital, killing hundreds of civilians who had taken shelter there amid ongoing Israeli bombings and a blockade of the territory.
Both Hamas, the militant group in control of Gaza, and the Israeli military have placed blame for the blast on each other. Hamas attributes it to an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military claims it was caused by a rocket misfired by other Palestinian militants. The Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that at least 500 people were killed in the blast.
News of the hospital carnage has sparked outrage throughout the Middle East. U.S. President Joe Biden, who arrived in Israel with hopes of deescalating the conflict, held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden expressed his belief that the blast was not Israel’s fault, stating, “Based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you.”
Just before Biden’s arrival, Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel resumed, following a 12-hour lull. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued, targeting cities that were previously designated as “safe zones” for Palestinian civilians. As a result of the hospital blast, a planned meeting between Biden, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was canceled.
The war between Israel and Hamas has been escalating tensions in the region, with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warning that the situation is pushing the region to the brink. The Israeli military held a briefing, presenting evidence that they were not responsible for the blast at the al-Ahli Hospital. According to Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the blast was caused by a misfired rocket from the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad. The Israeli military released a recording of two Hamas militants discussing the blast, suggesting that it was an Islamic Jihad misfire.
However, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have dismissed Israel’s claims and accused Israel of attempting to evade responsibility for the tragedy. With the hospital as a primary target, according to Palestinian militants, the blast caused unimaginable destruction. Videos from the scene show torn bodies, including many young children, amidst a burning building and scattered belongings.
The aftermath of the blast overwhelmed hospitals in Gaza City, leaving doctors to perform surgeries on floors and in hallways, often without anesthesia. The dire situation was heightened by the shortage of medical equipment and supplies. Hospital director Suhaila Tarazi described the blast as “unlike anything I have ever seen or could ever imagine” and called for an immediate end to the war.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid urgently needed in the Gaza Strip has yet to reach those in need. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken secured an agreement with Netanyahu to discuss the delivery of aid to Gaza’s population, but as of now, no aid has been able to pass through the Rafah crossing, the only connection Gaza has with Egypt. The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 3,200 deaths and 11,000 injuries, with another 1,200 people believed to be buried under rubble. In addition, more than 1 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, and the situation is growing increasingly perilous.
As the conflict persists, there are concerns that Israel may launch a ground invasion into Gaza. In the meantime, steady airstrikes continue to rain down on the territory. Aid workers warn of an impending humanitarian crisis, with a shortage of essential items that will run out within days. The United Nations reports that over 1 million Palestinians have fled their homes, and 60% of Gaza’s population is now concentrated in the narrow area south of the evacuation zone.
The international community remains deeply concerned about the escalating violence and urges all parties involved to work towards a peaceful resolution.