Biden Calls Attack on Hospital in Gaza a 'Horrific Tragedy'; Both Sides Blame Each Other

On Tuesday, October 17, the strike of a missile on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza and the subsequent death of hundreds became the headline news around the world. Israeli officials, while initially pointing fingers at themselves for the attack, denied any involvement and claimed to have evidence showing that the attack was carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad forces. An Israeli army spokesperson stated that the Israel Defense Forces would soon publish their evidence proving their non-involvement in this deadly explosion. As of the time of this report, this evidence has not been released. The Israeli Prime Minister wrote on X: 'The whole world knows that the wild terrorists in Gaza were the ones who attacked the Gaza hospital, not the Israeli army. He who brutally killed our children also kills his own.' Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, also stated: 'Hamas and Islamic Jihad are terrorist groups that place no value on human life; they launch rockets from civilian areas and target civilians. They are ISIS themselves.' Yair Lapid, the leader of the Israeli opposition, wrote on X: 'After operational assessment and review by the Israeli army, the Gaza hospital was hit by a rocket from Islamic Jihad. They not only kill our children but also their own.' Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, canceled his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday following the attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza and called for an urgent meeting of Palestinian leaders upon his return to Ramallah. Joe Biden, who was informed of the news while en route to Israel, referred to the explosion at the hospital in Gaza as an 'attack' and stated that the United States has always emphasized the protection of civilian lives during conflicts. He added: 'I am furious and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza and the horrific loss of life that resulted. Immediately after hearing this news, I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and instructed my national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened.' Meanwhile, Hezbollah in Lebanon, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, declared Wednesday a 'Day of Rage' against Israel, holding the country responsible for the hospital explosion, calling it a 'massacre' and a 'brutal crime,' and stated that Israel 'must be held accountable.' The government of Ebrahim Raisi also declared Wednesday a public day of mourning in Iran. Ebrahim Raisi, announcing this public mourning, said: 'The flames of the American-Israeli bombs that fell tonight on the wounded Palestinian victims in the Al-Muhammadi Hospital in Gaza will soon engulf the Zionists.' Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Minister, also reacted to the events in Gaza on Tuesday, implicitly threatening Israel with destruction, writing on X: 'The time for the end has come.' At the same time, Iranian state media reported the presence and mourning of a group of government supporters in some streets, who ten days prior, at the beginning of Hamas's attacks on Israel, distributed syrup and sweets in those same streets and celebrated victory. An Israeli spokesperson of Iranian descent stated: 'Hamas launches rockets from homes and clinics; the people of Gaza are human shields.' A father from Israel recounted the situation of his children after their first encounter with attacks from Lebanon. Arash Sigarachi explained the wartime situation one kilometer from the Israel-Lebanon border. American lawmakers urged Joe Biden to hold the Islamic Republic accountable and increase support for Israel. Canadian officials expressed hope for a potential agreement to establish a humanitarian corridor in Gaza. The Pentagon stated that the United States is increasing its military support for Israel.