What happened in Gaza..800 dead and wounded?
The incident of Israeli army aircraft bombing Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City, during the past hours, specifically the evening of Tuesday night, October 17, 2023, and the fall of hundreds of victims, represents a turning point in the course of the current conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement, which has been escalating dramatically for 11 days. .
Bombing a hospital in Gaza
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza said that 500 people were killed in the Israeli air strike on the hospital, while pictures showed flames consuming the hospital halls, and glass and body parts were scattered in the area.
Sources in the Gaza Strip reported that an Israeli plane launched a raid on the hospital yard at a time when hundreds of displaced Palestinians were present, who had taken refuge there in search of a safe place.
Video clips showed ambulances transporting the victims and injured to the Shifa Medical Complex, in addition to a fire breaking out as a result of the bombing.
The Arab National Hospital in Gaza is affiliated with the Anglican Episcopal Church in Jerusalem, and is considered one of the oldest hospitals in Gaza.
Mourning and flags flying at half-mast
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared three days of general mourning and flags were to be flown at half-mast for the martyrs of Baptist Hospital.
Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said that the occurrence of such a large number of civilian casualties in a hospital that is supposed to have immunity confirms that “the Israeli government does not respect any of the international standards and recognized laws.”
Egypt considered this deliberate bombing of civilian facilities and targets a serious violation of the provisions of international and humanitarian law, and of the most basic values of humanity, calling on Israel to immediately stop its policies of collective punishment against the people of the Gaza Strip.
The Arab and international position
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented on Israel's bombing of a hospital in Gaza, saying: The news received is catastrophic, "It is terrible and unacceptable."
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, “The bombing of a hospital containing children, women and innocent civilians is the latest example of Israeli attacks, which lack basic human values.”
If the attack's casualty numbers are confirmed, it will be the deadliest Israeli air attack in five wars since 2008.
On the other hand, Israeli army spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said that there were still no details about the deaths in the hospital: “We will get the details and update the public. I cannot say whether it was an Israeli air strike.”
For his part, the former Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mohamed Al-Orabi, said that what the Israeli forces did was “a heinous crime against humanity.”
Al-Orabi explained that what happened supports the Arab position at the summit being held tomorrow in Jordan, which brings together US President Joe Biden, the King of Jordan, the Egyptian President, and the Palestinian President.
He added: "Tel Aviv may believe that by this bombing they are contributing to the failure of the summit, but this is a grave mistake, because the Arab position will be strengthened, but unfortunately with the blood of innocent Palestinians."
The Associated Press quoted a Palestinian official as saying that President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to cancel his attendance at the Quartet summit tomorrow.
He stressed the need for international intervention to bring about a ceasefire and limit the indiscriminate bombing launched by Israel, which "does not distinguish between targets."
Undermining international support
For her part, the American expert specializing in security and strategic affairs, Irina Zuckerman, said in exclusive statements that the recent bombing “may undermine international support for Israel’s right to self-defense.”
She added: "It is expected that Europe and the Arab world will use these tragic incidents as an excuse to pressure Israel to stop the escalation."