The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has categorically denied any involvement in the blast. IDF spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus stated that Israel has already released footage captured by a UAV to international media of the blast that occurred earlier in the day.

The IDF said, “According to intelligence information, from several sources we have, the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization is responsible for the failed shooting that hit the hospital.”

Conricus added that they plan to release additional intelligence of an intercepted conversation between Palestinian militants that they believe there was a rocket that had misfired. He also added that the IDF went through their own systems to confirm they did not fire at that location and that there was no misfire from Israel.

He went on to say that an investigation into the blast revealed that the Islamic Jihad had fired a barrage of rockets toward northern or central Israel, and at least one of them misfired, landed on the ground and exploded. 

While Hamas claimed that over 500 people were killed in the blast, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said that 200 to 300 lives were lost as a result. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has declared three days of mourning following the air strike and also canceled his meeting with US president Joe Biden in Jordan today.

Hundreds of people reportedly were killed in a strike at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza on Oct 17. According to the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza, the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital was sheltering thousands of displaced people when it was bombed, adding that many victims were still under the rubble. 

US President’s visit to Israel

Israel has already briefed American military officials on this intelligence ahead of US president Joe Biden’s visit to Israel today. Shortly after his arrival in Tel Aviv, Biden will have a ‘small restricted bilateral meeting’ with Netanyahu, following which he will meet the Israeli war cabinet. 

Biden will also meet Israeli first responders and families of those who have lost loved ones in Israel and some who still don’t know the fate of their loved ones. Later in the day, Biden will speak with his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog. 

The hospital which is funded by the Anglican Church, is said to have taken ‘a direct hit from the missile’. 80% of the hospital was out of service, and hundreds of people were killed or injured in the blast. Protests have broken out in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Earlier, a school in central Gaza where 4,000 people are sheltering was also hit, killing at least six people. 

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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