Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion facts for kids
| Part of the Israel–Hamas war | |
 Al-Ahli Arab Hospital
Where the hospital is located in the Gaza Strip
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| Date | 17 October 2023 around 6:59–7:00 p.m. |
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| Location | Zeitoun, Gaza, Gaza Strip |
| Deaths |
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| Non-fatal injuries | 314 (Gaza Health Ministry) |
On October 17, 2023, an explosion happened in the parking lot of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City. This happened during the Israel–Hamas war. Many Palestinians who were staying there for safety were killed or hurt.
The number of people who died is not clear. The Gaza Health Ministry said 471 people were killed and 342 were hurt. The church group that runs the hospital said about 200 people died. US intelligence agencies thought the number was between 100 and 300.
The reason for the explosion is also debated. Israel, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada said their information showed it was caused by a rocket from inside Gaza. They believe the rocket was fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group, but it failed. Hamas and PIJ said an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion.
Many independent studies of videos, pictures, and eyewitness accounts suggest that a rocket fired from Gaza that went off course was the most likely cause. Groups like the Associated Press, CNN, The Economist, The Guardian, and The Wall Street Journal have looked into this. Human Rights Watch also said an Israeli airstrike was "highly unlikely." However, Forensic Architecture later said in February 2024 that what happened is still "inconclusive."
Contents
About the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital
The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital is a hospital in Gaza City with 80 beds. It used to be called the Baptist Hospital. It is now managed by an Anglican church group. The hospital has a special center for treating cancer. This center helps people get diagnosed before they get treatment.
Past Events at the Hospital
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there were 51 attacks on health places in Gaza between October 7 and 17, 2023. These attacks killed 15 hospital workers and hurt 27 others.
Palestinian groups have often fired rockets from Gaza that did not reach their targets. These rockets sometimes caused damage and injuries inside Gaza. Human Rights Watch said that Palestinian groups had fired thousands of rockets towards Israel since October 7. The Israeli army said that 450 rockets fired by Palestinian groups landed inside Gaza in the 11 days before the hospital explosion. These rockets do not have good guidance systems, so they often miss their targets.
Incident on October 14, 2023
On October 14, an Israeli rocket damaged the top two floors of the hospital's cancer center. This area included the ultrasound and mammography rooms. Four staff members were injured. Reports from The Washington Post, Le Monde, and Human Rights Watch suggested the rocket was likely an illumination shell. These shells are used to light up areas, not to hit targets directly.
Orders to Leave
On October 13, Israel told hospitals and people in northern Gaza to move to southern Gaza. But it was very hard to follow these orders. There were not enough beds in the south. It was also impossible to move very sick patients, like babies in incubators.
The Anglican church group said the hospital got at least three warnings from the Israeli military to evacuate. The World Health Organization said that telling hospitals to evacuate was like a "death sentence" for sick and injured people.
The Day of the Explosion
About 1,000 people from Gaza were staying at the hospital for safety. There were also about 600 patients and staff inside the buildings. Throughout the day, Hamas posted updates about rocket attacks aimed at Israel. The New York Times later noted that there seemed to be Israeli bombings nearby. Two explosions were seen near the hospital within two minutes before it was hit.
The Explosion Itself
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The explosion happened in a parking lot at 6:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17. It created bright orange flames in the sky.
Many videos captured the moment it happened:
- Al Jazeera showed the explosion live. Before the hospital explosion, their broadcast showed several other explosions in Gaza. Then, the hospital courtyard was hit by a bright blast and caught fire.
- A video from someone near the hospital showed buildings lighting up. A "whirring noise" was heard just before the flash.
A video from Netivot, shown by Israeli Channel 12, was first thought to show a Palestinian rocket causing the explosion. But The New York Times later said it showed something else. It showed Palestinian rocket launches, an Israeli rocket intercepting a target, and another explosion in a different place.
Le Monde pointed out that two warplanes were seen over Gaza in some videos at the time of the explosion. However, they did not say these planes caused the blast. The videos also showed Palestinian rockets being fired.
The explosion did not cause much damage to buildings around the hospital. But there were burn marks and damaged cars in the parking lot. One car was flipped over. Pictures showed a shallow hole, or crater, in the driveway. It was about 1 meter long, 75 centimeters wide, and 30-40 centimeters deep.
The cause of the explosion has not been officially confirmed. It was hard to figure out what happened because many groups quickly made claims and counter-claims. Also, a lot of false information spread online. An independent study by Human Rights Watch concluded that a Palestinian rocket that misfired caused the explosion.
People Affected
The exact number of people killed has not been officially checked by independent groups. The Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry said 471 people died. The American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem thought about 200 people died. US intelligence agencies estimated 100 to 300 deaths. They thought the actual number was probably lower.
Human Rights Watch said that if the Health Ministry's numbers were true, it would mean a very high number of deaths compared to injuries. This would also seem too high for the damage seen at the site.
Mohammed Abu Selmia, who directs the nearby al-Shifa Hospital, estimated 250 deaths. He said about 350 injured people came to his hospital. He noted that many bodies were in terrible condition, making it hard to count.
An Israeli army spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, criticized news groups for quickly sharing Hamas's death toll. He said it was unlikely Hamas could know the numbers so soon. Hamas did not share any information about the people who died with The New York Times.
What Happened After
Protests
The explosion led to huge protests in many places. People protested in the West Bank, Iran, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and other countries. In Ramallah, protesters chanted against Mahmoud Abbas and threw stones. Police used tear gas to break up the crowds. Thousands protested outside the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul. In Jordan, people tried to enter the Israeli embassy. The US and French embassies in Beirut also faced protests.
Political Impact
Jordan canceled a meeting that was planned with King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and US President Joe Biden. Abbas pulled out of the meeting to protest the explosion.
News Reports
News about the event changed quickly. There were different reports from Gaza, Israel, and the US. The Guardian first said the explosion seemed too big for militant groups to cause. A BBC reporter said it was "hard to see what else this could be... other than an Israeli air strike." Days later, the BBC said they made a mistake in their live coverage and apologized for speculating.
Right after the explosion, Hananya Naftali, an aide to Israeli PM Netanyahu, tweeted that the Israeli Air Force hit a Hamas base in a hospital. He deleted it after Israel blamed a Palestinian rocket.
The New York Times first had headlines highlighting Palestinian claims of an "Israeli Strike" and "At Least 500 Dead." They later changed them to include Israeli counter-claims. The New York Times later published a note saying their early coverage "relied too heavily on claims by Hamas" and should have been clearer that the claims could not be checked right away.
Le Monde also said they "were not cautious enough" in their first reports. They said they should have been clearer that the Gaza Health Ministry is run by Hamas. They promised to remind readers that news from Gaza, especially casualty numbers, cannot always be checked.
How Experts Analyzed It
Experts looked at three main things: if there were any pieces of the weapon left, the hole (crater) and damage caused, and videos of a "projectile rising over Gaza." A full investigation would need access to the site and witnesses, which has not been possible during the war.
Where the Rocket Came From
The Wall Street Journal analyzed videos and said a rocket was launched from Gaza towards Israel. It then malfunctioned and turned back towards the hospital. They also said the crater matched a rocket coming from the east.
However, The New York Times later found that what The Wall Street Journal called a "malfunctioning" rocket was actually an Israeli rocket fired from near Nahal Oz. It exploded far from the hospital and was not connected to the hospital explosion.
The Associated Press (AP) looked at many videos and pictures. They concluded that a rocket from inside Gaza broke apart in the air. They believe part of that rocket then crashed to the ground, causing the hospital explosion. Experts they spoke to agreed this was the most likely scenario. However, AP later updated its analysis. They said the "key" video of the rocket breaking up in the air was actually an Israeli rocket, not a Palestinian one.
Channel 4 News said the path of the missile seen on Al Jazeera Live did not match Israel's claims about where the Palestinian missile was launched. They also used sound and visual analysis. Both suggested the object came from "east of the hospital, not west as the IDF claimed."
CNN talked to an expert who analyzed the sound. They said the sound showed the object was moving, but not its direction. CNN also reported that burn marks and damaged trees suggested a rocket came from the southwest. A missile expert, Markus Schiller, thought a malfunctioning rocket "fell apart mid-air" and hit the parking lot.
The New York Times published an analysis on October 24. They doubted that the rocket seen in the Al Jazeera video caused the explosion. They said about 25 seconds passed between the last Palestinian missile launch and the hospital explosion. The video Israel used to show a rocket aimed at Israel was actually an Israeli rocket exploding far from the hospital.
The Times concluded that the cause of the hospital blast is still unknown. But the idea that a failed Palestinian rocket launch might be to blame is still possible. However, they said their analysis questioned one of Israel's main pieces of evidence. They also noted that videos showed Palestinian militants firing many rockets from southwest of the hospital. And there seemed to be Israeli bombings near the hospital.
The Washington Post and Le Monde also published similar analyses. They concluded that the projectile seen in the videos was likely an Israeli missile intercepting a rocket over Israeli territory. It was too far from the hospital to cause the explosion. Human Rights Watch also reached the same conclusion.
Rocket vs. Airstrike
The Washington Post talked to over two dozen weapons experts. They all agreed the explosion was not like an airstrike, which would cause more damage. It also wasn't like an artillery strike, which would leave many fragments.
BBC Verify and other security experts said the evidence did not match an Israeli airstrike. They said it looked more like an explosion caused by rocket fuel. Experts noted the damage was consistent with a fireball from a rocket.
The Guardian quoted Marc Garlasco, an expert, who said the crater did not match an aerial bomb. He thought it was "more likely to be a weapon that failed and released its payload over a wide area." He also noted a lot of fire damage, suggesting a long burn, which is not typical for standard military weapons.
Experts from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said the size of the blast and the lack of damage to nearby cars did not match a typical Israeli airstrike. The Associated Press also noted there was no large crater, which would be expected from an Israeli airstrike. They said the large explosion and fire were likely because the rocket was still full of fuel.
Der Spiegel reported that a weapons researcher, Fabian Hoffman, believed a rocket fell apart in phases and hit the hospital. He suspected the engine overheated.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) interviewed analysts who were careful not to rule out any possibility. They noted the small damage compared to the large explosion. They thought the most likely scenario was a rocket hitting gas tanks of cars. They also said the damage was not consistent with Israeli ammunition, which usually destroys entire buildings.
CNN's report also suggested a rocket from Gaza malfunctioned in mid-air. Experts they spoke to found the damage did not match an Israeli airstrike. They noted a smaller impact crater and less destruction. They said the damage was more likely from rocket fuel and shrapnel.
Channel 4 News noted the small craters and superficial damage to buildings. This made an Israeli missile strike unlikely, unless it was an air-burst explosion.
India Today analyzed footage and images. They reported that the visual evidence did not match previous Israeli aerial bombings.
Le Monde's analysis showed that rockets were launched from Gaza towards Sderot 20 seconds before the explosion. The path of some rockets passed near the hospital. They concluded that "one of the rockets fired during this salvo could therefore have caused the explosion, but there is no evidence to prove this."
Many other news groups reported similar opinions from experts. Most independent researchers concluded that the damage did not match a standard Israeli airstrike.
Human Rights Watch found that the sound, fireball, crater size, and fragmentation were all consistent with a rocket impact. This matched the type of rockets Palestinian groups use.
Forensic Architecture later said their investigation disagreed with Israel's story. They said the rockets in question had finished burning their fuel in the air. They also said Israel's footage showed an Israeli interceptor, not a Palestinian rocket, exploding mid-air.
Iron Dome
Some people wondered if Israel's Iron Dome defense system played a role. Experts said Iron Dome is designed to stop rockets when they are coming down into Israel, not when they are going up. It is not usually used to destroy rockets flying over Gaza. Experts consulted by CNN found no evidence that Iron Dome intercepted the projectile that caused the explosion.
Al Jazeera said their analysis showed a rocket from Gaza was intercepted by Iron Dome five seconds before the hospital explosion. They said they found "no grounds" for Israel's claim that a failed rocket from Gaza caused it. They also identified "four Israeli air strikes on Gaza, targeting the area near the hospital" in the minutes before.
Death Toll
The death toll from the Gazan Health Ministry was not independently checked. An analyst, Blake Spendley, estimated about 50 deaths based on videos and photos. Several analysts doubted the Health Ministry's number. They pointed to the limited damage and small size of the open area. A European intelligence official also believed the death toll was no more than 50.
A video checked by Bellingcat showed "at least two dozen bodies" in a grassy area near the explosion. The New York Times said there were "scores" of bodies and a "high" number of casualties.
The director of Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital estimated 250 deaths.
Authenticity of Phone Call Recording
After the explosion, Israel released an audio recording. They said it was a conversation between two Hamas members saying a PIJ rocket caused the explosion. BBC Verify and CNN could not confirm the recording. Channel 4 News reported that a forensic analysis suggested it was digitally changed. Two Arabic journalists said the recording did not sound real. US intelligence officials said their conclusions were partly based on another audio recording, which they believed was real.
What Governments and Groups Said
Israel
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said a misfired rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) caused the blast. They said PIJ launched rockets near the hospital. They shared drone photos that they said did not match Israeli weapons.
The IDF said the rocket was part of 10 rockets launched by Islamic Jihad from a cemetery near the hospital. BBC journalists noted a difference in IDF statements about the launch site.
The IDF also released the audio recording they said was from Hamas. Hamas said the recording was fake. Channel 4 said two journalists found the audio not credible.
The IDF released drone footage showing the hospital before and after. It showed burned cars and no large crater or major building damage. The IDF said this did not match Israeli weapon strikes.
The official Israel Twitter account posted footage as proof, but it had wrong timestamps. The IDF said it was not involved with that video. The New York Times said Israel refused to share logs of its military activity or videos it used for its assessment.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad
The Gaza Health Ministry said an Israeli airstrike caused the explosion. Palestinian Islamic Jihad denied responsibility. They blamed Israel and pointed out that Israel had hit the hospital before and ordered its evacuation. Hamas said Israel hit the hospital because people did not evacuate.
David Leonhardt of The New York Times wrote that Palestinian officials had three main arguments:
- The hospital was hit by a rocket three days earlier. Staff had also received warnings to leave.
- Israel had given wrong information about civilian deaths before.
- Israeli officials gave inconsistent information about the hospital explosion.
Hamas did not provide any evidence linking Israel to the explosion. Islamic Jihad claimed to have a missile fragment but did not show it. A Hamas spokesperson told the Associated Press that Hamas would welcome a United Nations investigation. He told The New York Times that the weapon had "dissolved like salt in the water. It's vaporized. Nothing is left."
A witness told Human Rights Watch that Hamas's Interior Ministry workers removed all metal pieces (shrapnel) from the site. The BBC noted that Hamas-affiliated security forces were seen inspecting the site. An expert told the BBC it would be very unusual for no debris to be left. Hamas later told The Washington Post that they had remnants and would show them, which was different from what they told The New York Times.
During an Israeli questioning, a PIJ spokesperson reportedly said the group was responsible and tried to blame Israel to "erase this story."
United States
US President Joe Biden supported Israel's account. He referred to US intelligence that said a PIJ rocket misfired.
US officials said they had "high confidence" that PIJ was responsible. They based this on satellite images, intercepted communications, and public information. They said Israel was not responsible. They also said their assessment was based on Palestinians not showing any Israeli weapon at the site.
France
France's military intelligence said a misfired rocket from Gaza was the "most probable cause." A French official said this was based on secret information, satellite images, and information from other countries. The official said the crater suggested an explosive charge of about 5 kilograms, which matches rockets used by Palestinian groups. They also said the impact hole suggested the rocket came from south to north. The official also thought the reported death toll of 471 seemed too high for the size of the rocket.
Canada
On October 21, Canada's Department of National Defence said an independent analysis found "with a high degree of confidence that Israel did not strike the hospital." They said the more likely cause was a rocket fired from inside Gaza that went off course.
United Kingdom
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that British intelligence concluded the blast was likely from a Palestinian rocket fired towards Israel. He also criticized the initial news reports.
Italy
Italy's Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, said on October 24 that an Israeli missile did not cause the explosion. He said the death toll was around 50. He did not say what evidence he based this on.
Reactions from Around the World
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of mourning. He canceled a meeting with US President Joe Biden. Biden said he was "outraged and deeply saddened" but did not immediately blame anyone. He said the US would investigate. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it "horrible" and "unacceptable."
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the alleged attack. The secretary-general of the United Nations, António Guterres, was "horrified." UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, called it "totally unacceptable." Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) was "horrified" and called it a "massacre." The Red Cross was "shocked and horrified."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog blamed Palestinian Islamic Jihad. He called accusations against Israel a "21st-century blood libel."
Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey also condemned the alleged attack.
Hezbollah (Lebanon)
Hezbollah said the blast was an Israeli "massacre." They called for a "day of rage" against Israel and Biden's visit. Protesters gathered outside the French and US embassies in Beirut.
Qatar
Qatar condemned what they called "a dangerous escalation."
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia condemned "the forces of the occupation" for the alleged attack, calling it a "heinous crime."
Russia
Russia and the United Arab Emirates called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. The King of Jordan, Abdullah II, said the Middle East was "on the brink of falling into the abyss." Dmitry Medvedev, a Russian official, blamed the US for the "blatant act of war." Russia's foreign ministry said Israel must show satellite images to prove it was not involved.
Iran
Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei said the US was responsible for the "crimes." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi promised a "harsh response." Protesters in Tehran burned the Israeli flag and chanted "death to Israel."
China
China's foreign ministry expressed deep shock and condemned the attack. They called for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians.
Turkey
Turkey declared three days of mourning for the victims.
North Korea
North Korea accused Israel of bombing the hospital "under the undisguised patronage of the United States." They said the US was "giving Israel a green light to massacre Palestinians."
Indonesia
Indonesia's foreign ministry said the "Israeli attack" ignored "international humanitarian law." They called for fair peace for Palestine.
Malaysia
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called the explosion "madness" and asked for a ceasefire. He criticized Western nations for having "two distinct categories" of human rights.
Jordan
Jordanian authorities canceled Biden's trip to Amman. King Abdullah II called the blast a "reprehensible act of war."
Syria
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad condemned the attack as "abhorrent and extremely brutal." He blamed Western nations, especially the US, for being involved in "organized killings."
Red Cross and Red Crescent
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement condemned the blast. They said, "No patient should lose their life while being treated in a hospital bed." They stressed that hospitals must be protected.
WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly condemned the bombing. They said health care facilities should never be targeted. They noted that the hospital had received evacuation orders, but it was impossible to carry them out safely.
Doctors Without Borders
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) said, "Nothing justifies this shocking attack on a hospital."
Norwegian Refugee Council
Jan Egeland, from the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the "massacre of children at the Gaza Hospital should lead to a ceasefire." He added, "A war with many more dead kids than armed men is considered to be a very dirty war."
On Who Was Responsible
Biden later said to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "Based on what I've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you."
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Egypt, Lebanon, Pakistan, Algeria, and Libya condemned the explosions as attacks. They accused Israeli forces of bombing the hospital. The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called it "the latest example of Israeli attacks devoid of the most basic human values." Moussa Faki, from the African Union Commission, called it a "war crime."
Calls for an International Investigation
On October 19, a US State Department spokesperson said an international investigation was not "appropriate at this time." He said Israel had provided evidence, but Hamas had not.
On October 20, the United Nations Human Rights Office called for an independent investigation. They said there needed to be accountability.
On November 26, Human Rights Watch published a report. They found the explosion was likely caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket. But they said victims deserved full answers. They noted that a UN commission could investigate the incident.
See Also
- Attacks on health facilities during the Israel–Hamas war
- Misinformation in the Israel–Hamas war
- Friendly fire during the Israel–Hamas war
- Al-Shifa Hospital siege
