There was a big explosion at the site of a hospital in Gaza and now both sides of the conflict are blaming each other. Hamas says it was an Israeli air strike. The IDF claims it was a Hamas rocket which misfired. Let’s start with the Hamas side of this. Note that the Gaza health ministry which is reporting death tolls in Gaza is run by Hamas.

The Health Ministry run by Hamas said an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday hit a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter, killing hundreds of people. If confirmed, the attack would be by far the deadliest Israeli airstrike in five wars fought since 2008.

The health ministry said at least 500 people had been killed. Photos and video purportedly from al-Ahli Hospital on social media showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital’s grounds strewn with torn bodies, many of them young children. Around them in the grass were blankets, school backpacks and other belongings. The images could not immediately be independently verified.

Hamas is not a reliable source of information. This is the same group that claimed repeatedly they didn’t target civilians a few days after murdering more than 1,000 civilians. Meanwhile, the IDF is blaming the explosion on Hamas, saying this was a rocket intended for Israel that went astray.

Following an analysis by the IDF's operational systems, a barrage of rockets was launched toward Israel, which passed in the vicinity of the hospital, when it was hit.

According to intelligence information from a number of sources we have, Islamic Jihad terrorist organization is… pic.twitter.com/QZsanPaFEc

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 17, 2023

“…is responsible for the failed rocket launch that hit the hospital.”

The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, and not the IDF.

Those who brutally murdered our children also murder their own children.

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 17, 2023

IDF spokesman in a statement in front of the camera: "A rocket launched by the Islamic Jihad hit the hospital in Gaza" pic.twitter.com/lwmZwMe7dC

— איתי בלומנטל Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) October 17, 2023

Here’s video of the impact.

🚨JUST IN: The moment an alleged Israeli Air Force struck the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip a few minutes ago.

Some are alleging the rocket could have been a failed Hamas rocket, however we have not seen any indication of those claims.

We do not yet know the source… pic.twitter.com/SX6JAHXetF

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 17, 2023

And moments after:

#BREAKING| The first moments after the Israeli bombardment of the Baptist Hospital in central #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/SWaqm9IMZH

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 17, 2023

Every anti-Israel lefty is jumping on this and blaming Israel.

Israeli air strikes have hit Al Ahli hospital in Gaza. More than 500 people – patients, doctors & those sheltering – have been killed.

What unspeakable horror. We will mourn their loss forever.

Our leaders could have spoken up for peace. They chose to cheer on war instead.…

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 17, 2023

Rep. Tlaib blamed it on President Biden for refusing to embrace a ceasefire.

Israel just bombed the Baptist Hospital killing 500 Palestinians (doctors, children, patients) just like that. @POTUS this is what happens when you refuse to facilitate a ceasefire & help de-escalate.

Your war and destruction only approach has opened my eyes and many… https://t.co/mZYoifT7bj

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) October 17, 2023

Bombing a hospital is among the gravest of war crimes. The IDF reportedly blowing up one of the few places the injured and wounded can seek medical treatment and shelter during a war is horrific.@POTUS needs to push for an immediate ceasefire to end this slaughter. https://t.co/dPJ48dyDe8

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 17, 2023

People are also pointing to this tweet from an Israeli spokesperson which has been deleted.

Here’s what he is saying now.

The world must see this!

Hamas and Islamic Jihad are known to launch rockets into Israel from densely populated areas, including hospitals, mosques, schools and homes.

Condemn Hamas. Condemn Islamic Jihad. pic.twitter.com/AV0BRq6tsv

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 17, 2023

Also, here’s his explanation for the deleted tweet.

Earlier today I shared a report that was published on @reuters about the bombing at the hospital in Gaza which falsely stated Israel struck the hospital. I mistakenly shared this information in a since deleted post in which I referenced Hamas’ routine use of hospitals to store…

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 17, 2023

Also circulating is this clip. People are pointing to this as proof this was a rocket fired from Gaza. What I see is one rocket possibly being destroyed by Iron Dome and then another explosion on the ground.

Here’s Al Jazeera live coverage from this evening of Palestinian Islamic Jihad launching a rocket attack at Israel and falling short in #Gaza hospital. pic.twitter.com/zZZQgqm4Lv

— Lt. Col. (R) Peter Lerner (@LTCPeterLerner) October 17, 2023

This appears to be the same video minus all of the on-screen graphics.

Al Jazeera broadcast live the rocket launched by Islamic Jihad the hit the hospital in Gaza pic.twitter.com/MiViA9NTea

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) October 17, 2023

There’s also another video from a different angle which may show the explosion just after a barrage of rockets was fired.

Surveillance camera footage from Netiv Haasara shows a large barrage of rockets being launched from northern Gaza, followed by a massive blast in the Strip, apparently caused by a failed projectile. pic.twitter.com/PdNCbks02r

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 17, 2023

There’s also a thread here which attempts to geolocate what is seen in the video above and concludes this was video of the hospital. You can click to read the whole thing but here is their conclusion.

Conclusion:

A missile launched by a Palestinian group exploded mid-air (Reason unknown) and one piece fell on the hospital causing an explosion.

The geolocation and timing of the footage is conclusive.

More information will be added to this thread.

11/X pic.twitter.com/jDJn4OZJLO

— GeoConfirmed (@GeoConfirmed) October 17, 2023

The fight over who is responsible will surely go on because, unfortunately, there’s no doubt that people were killed.

#BREAKING| The Ministry of Health has organized a press conference amidst dead bodies of the Baptist Hospital massacre. It confirmed that all victims are civilians and that the hospital has been always deemed a safe place for Gazans. pic.twitter.com/o9FF2JBseQ

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 17, 2023

Update: Good catch by Noah Rothman.

This is shaping up to be an unmitigated debacle for the news outlets whose instinct was to run with Hamas’s version of events. https://t.co/JVn0iykJKj

— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) October 17, 2023