The IDF shared raw footage revealing the moment a rocket misfired and exploded at the same time it hit the hospital in Gaza, killing 500 people.
“A rocket aimed at Israel misfired and exploded at 6:59 p.m. – the same time a hospital in Gaza was hit,” the IDF wrote on Twitter.
The video shows a rocket exploding in mid-air before descending downward.
Israel on Tuesday denied responsibility for the blast at Gaza City’s al-Ahli hospital, claiming it was a rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists.
An Islamic Jihad spokesman blamed Israel for the attack, accusing the IDF of “trying to provide cover for the heinous crime and mass murder they committed against civilians.”
The IDF shared raw footage revealing the moment a rocket misfired and exploded at the same time it hit the hospital in Gaza, killing 500 people.
Israel on Tuesday denied responsibility for the explosion at Gaza City’s al-Ahli hospital, claiming it was a rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists.
Video from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital grounds littered with bodies, including many young children.
IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN that Israel will “categorically” not deliberately target sensitive facilities, including hospitals.
“We did not do that, and that the information we have indicates that it was a failed Islamic Jihad missile launch, and I would like to add categorically that we did not deliberately attack sensitive facilities, sensitive facilities and other facilities. certainly not hospitals,” he said.
Video from the hospital showed fire engulfing the building and the hospital grounds littered with bodies, including many young children.
Hundreds of people were reportedly seeking shelter at the hospital at the time of the explosion. About 6,000 Palestinians were sheltered in the hospital, which is reportedly funded by the Anglican Church.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan’s King Abdullah II canceled their Arab summit meeting with President Joe Biden, scheduled for Wednesday, amid outrage over the blast.
Within hours of the incident, the White House and the Jordanian government announced that the meeting had been called off.
Following the hospital explosion, the United States also increased its travel advisory for Lebanon after pro-Palestinian protesters invaded and set fire to the US embassy in Lebanon.
Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and other Arab countries condemned the hospital explosion, which remains under investigation.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi claimed the hospital explosion was “a clear violation of international law… and humanity.”
The Iran-backed Hezbollah, which waged war with Israel in 2006, called for a day of protests in Beirut on Tuesday in response to the attack.
In response, the Foreign Office told DailyMail.com that the travel restriction to Lebanon has been increased to ‘Level 4’.
“The Department has authorized the voluntary, temporary departure of family members of U.S. government personnel and certain non-emergency personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut due to the unpredictable security situation in Lebanon,” the announcement said.
People are also advised to avoid the border with Syria due to terrorism and armed conflict, the border with Israel and refugee settlements.
Thousands of Lebanese protesters, some waving Palestinian flags, gathered outside the US embassy late Tuesday evening in response to the incident. Military members released gas and smoke to push them back.
Video shows the protester climbing a barbed wire-covered fence to replace an American flag with a Palestinian version. A fire was also set near the complex. Images later showed gas being sprayed at the demonstrators to push them back.
It is unclear whether demonstrators broke through the fence and whether embassy staff were injured.