Fact Check: Al-Ahli hospital was bombed by Israel

Fact Check: Al-Ahli Hospital Was Bombed by Israel

What We Know

On October 17, 2023, an explosion occurred at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, resulting in significant casualties among displaced Palestinians who had sought shelter there. Initial reports from the Gaza Health Ministry claimed that over 500 individuals were killed, but this figure was later clarified to approximately 471 fatalities and 342 injuries (Wikipedia). The cause of the explosion has been a subject of intense debate. Israeli and U.S. intelligence sources have suggested that the explosion was likely caused by a misfired rocket launched from within Gaza by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) (AP News). In contrast, Hamas and PIJ attributed the explosion to an Israeli airstrike (Wikipedia).

Investigations by various news organizations, including the Associated Press, CNN, and others, have pointed towards the likelihood of an errant rocket from Gaza being responsible for the explosion. However, some reports, including those from Human Rights Watch and Channel 4 News, have contested this narrative, suggesting that the evidence does not strongly support the claim of a misfired rocket (Wikipedia, HRW).

Analysis

The conflicting narratives surrounding the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital highlight the complexities of the situation. On one hand, the Israeli government and allied intelligence agencies maintain that the explosion resulted from a failed rocket launch from Gaza, supported by video evidence showing rockets being fired shortly before the explosion (AP News). However, the credibility of this evidence has been challenged. For instance, a new analysis by the Associated Press ruled out a widely cited Al Jazeera video that initially seemed to support the rocket misfire theory, indicating that the projectile seen in that footage was actually fired from Israel (AP News).

On the other hand, organizations like Human Rights Watch have expressed skepticism about the Israeli narrative, suggesting that the available evidence makes an Israeli airstrike "highly unlikely" (Wikipedia). Investigations by Forensic Architecture have also raised doubts about the misfired rocket theory, suggesting that the explosion was more likely caused by a munition fired from the direction of Israel (Wikipedia).

The reliability of sources varies; while U.S. and French intelligence agencies are generally considered credible, the context of the ongoing conflict may introduce bias into their assessments. Similarly, media outlets have varying degrees of reliability based on their editorial policies and the nature of their reporting.

Conclusion

The claim that "Al-Ahli hospital was bombed by Israel" is Partially True. While there is substantial evidence suggesting that the explosion was not a direct result of an Israeli airstrike, the exact cause remains contested. The prevailing narratives from both sides—Israeli claims of a misfired rocket and Palestinian claims of an airstrike—reflect the complexities and uncertainties inherent in conflict reporting. The truth may lie in a combination of these narratives, but definitive conclusions are still elusive.

Sources

1. Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion - Wikipedia
2. New AP analysis of last month's deadly Gaza hospital explosion rules ...
3. WHO statement on attack on Al Ahli Arab Hospital and reported large ...
4. What happened at Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza? Here's the available ... - NPR
5. Israeli air strike destroys part of last fully functional hospital ...
6. In deadly day for Gaza, hospital strike kills hundreds
7. Gaza: Findings on October 17 al-Ahli Hospital Explosion