In Gaza, a devastating Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of at least 500 people at a hospital, a heart-wrenching incident that includes patients and displaced Palestinians who sought shelter within its walls.
This alarming death toll stands as the most significant loss of life in a single incident in Gaza during the ongoing violence, sparking protests not only in Gaza but also in the occupied West Bank, Istanbul, and Amman.
Mai Alkaila, the Palestinian Authority’s health minister, decried the event as nothing short of a massacre perpetrated by Israel.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, Israeli Military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari placed the responsibility for the attack on rockets fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. However, this claim was met with a denial of any such activity by the group in Gaza City at that specific time.
The staggering loss of life prompted condemnation from several countries, particularly on the eve of U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to Israel. President Biden expressed his deep outrage and profound sadness at the tragic strike, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau characterized it as horrific and entirely unacceptable.
Taking to Twitter, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his horror at the loss of lives, underlining that hospitals and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law.
In response to this distressing incident, the United Nations Security Council will convene to discuss the deadly attack, following the request made by Russia and the UAE. Additionally, the Council will vote on a resolution drafted by Brazil, aiming to secure humanitarian pauses in the ongoing conflict. These pauses would facilitate access for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip, offering a glimmer of hope amid the prevailing tragedy.
