Israel has denied being responsible for the explosion that occurred at a hospital in Gaza, which Hamas claims killed over 500 people, with more people still feared to be buried under the wreckage. According to the information gathered by Israeli intelligence, the attack on al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City was caused by a rocket that was fired in error by members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Islamic Jihad, on the other hand, has refuted this assertion and accused the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) of trying to cover up what it sees as a massacre against civilians.
The hospital was shown on video footage to be engulfed in flames, and the grounds were shown to be littered with remains, including those of a large number of small children. It is reported that the Anglican Church is the source of funding for the hospital, and that approximately 6,000 Palestinians have taken safety there.
This episode took place as the United States was trying to convince Israel to allow the transport of supplies to desperately needed hospitals, relief organizations, and residents in Gaza who were in severe need. Since Hamas carried out a devastating strike in southern Israel, the entire region has been placed under a total siege.
As the situation worsens, it is even more important to keep in mind that the terms “terrorist organization” and “militant group” can have varied connotations depending on the political and legal viewpoints that are taken into consideration. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are both referred to be terrorist organizations by Israel, the United States of America, and the European Union. However, other nations and organizations see them differently, and refer to them variously, including as resistance movements or political entities.