US Intelligence Officials: Israel Not Responsible for Gaza Hospital Explosion

Based on information gathered from various sources, including satellite images, missile activity data, intercepted communications, as well as publicly available videos and images, US intelligence officials have concluded with 'high confidence' that Israel was not responsible for the explosion at the Gaza hospital. The United States is attempting to contain the anger stemming from last week's explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, which escalated tensions and sparked widespread protests around the world. Much of the criticism is directed at Israel, and many protesters have accepted the narrative from the Hamas militant group, which accuses Israel of carrying out an airstrike. The US, the European Union, and Japan have designated the Hamas militant group, which is supported by the Islamic Republic, as a terrorist organization. According to Voice of America, the US has addressed this narrative by publicly releasing its initial intelligence assessments while sharing more detailed findings with key governments. A senior US intelligence official, who requested anonymity, confirmed this in a conversation with reporters on Tuesday, November 2. He noted that the information provided was 'relatively strong' and stated that the US would continue to update this assessment based on new information. It is currently unclear how impactful the information sharing will be. Jordan and Egypt canceled their meeting with President Joe Biden in Amman last week, holding Israel responsible for the hospital explosion. Images of the explosion continue to be prominently displayed at pro-Palestinian demonstrations worldwide. One senior US official told Voice of America, 'There is a lot of interest in clarifying the reasons for the hospital explosion and the conflicting reports surrounding it.' He emphasized that the US has been trying to share more information for transparency. The approach of declassifying and sharing such sensitive information is increasingly becoming part of the US strategy. US officials have used this method especially before Russia's attack on Ukraine in February 2022. However, since then, the US has employed what the White House calls a 'strategic reduction of information classification' to counter China's claims regarding a spy balloon and to defuse a potential crisis in Mali. Regarding last week's explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, US intelligence officials believe there is compelling evidence to exonerate Israel. Britain: Hamas missile was the cause of the explosion at the Gaza hospital. Verification: Who is responsible for the explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza? Analysis by the Associated Press also confirmed that the cause of the explosion at the Gaza hospital was 'likely' a missile fired from Gaza. France: The explosion at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza was not the result of an Israeli missile attack. The latest US assessment of casualties from the Al-Ahli hospital explosion estimates between 100 to 300 people. The US National Security Council: Israel was not involved in the attack on the Gaza hospital.