Israel and Palestinian Militants Blame Each Other for Hospital Strike
Angry protests erupted in various countries across the Arab and Muslim world following a strike on a Gaza hospital, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has been a subject of dispute between Israel and Palestinian militants, with each side attributing blame to the other.
Protests were staged in several nations, with crowds expressing their outrage and pointing fingers at Israel despite its denials. Calls for mass mobilization came from Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and Palestinian factions, leading to widespread condemnation.
In Beirut’s southern suburbs, hundreds of Hezbollah supporters chanted slogans like “Death to America, death to Israel” at a rally. Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine addressed the demonstrators, accusing Israel of intentionally targeting hospitals, rescue workers, civil defense volunteers, and Gaza’s residents.
Protests also took place in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Nablus, where demonstrators chanted “Free, free Palestine.”
The strike on the Gaza hospital occurred on Tuesday, and Israel’s army claimed to have “evidence” suggesting that militants were responsible for the attack.
Even countries that had established ties with Israel, such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain through the Abraham Accords of 2020, criticized Israel for its alleged involvement in the hospital strike. Saudi Arabia, which had halted talks on potential ties with Israel due to recent violence, referred to the incident as a “heinous crime” committed by the Israeli occupation forces.
Egypt, the first Arab country to normalize relations with Israel in 1979, condemned the “deliberate bombing” of the Ahli Arab hospital, emphasizing that it was a clear violation of international law.
Other nations, including Qatar, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, joined the chorus of condemnation, with varying degrees of criticism directed at Israel for the hospital strike.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan called for region-wide protests, demanding the expulsion of Israeli ambassadors from all Arab and Islamic capitals.
In Jordan, where many Palestinian refugees reside, thousands gathered outside the Israeli embassy, demanding the expulsion of Israel’s diplomatic mission.
The Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the Arab League were among international bodies that blamed Israel for the incident, categorizing it as a war crime and organized state terrorism.
In Iraq, protesters brandished Palestinian flags in Baghdad and called for an “immediate and urgent resolution” from the UN Security Council to stop Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Throughout the region, the strike on the Gaza hospital prompted an outpouring of public outrage, protests, and calls for accountability.
| Location | Response to Gaza Hospital Strike |
|---|---|
| Israel | Blamed Palestinian militants and presented “evidence.” |
| United Arab Emirates | Strongly condemned the Israeli attack, with hundreds of casualties. |
| Bahrain | Expressed strong condemnation of the Israeli bombing. |
| Saudi Arabia | Referred to the strike as a “heinous crime.” |
| Qatar | Slammed the incident as a “brutal massacre.” |
| Morocco | Blamed Israel for the hospital strike. |
| Egypt | Condemned the “deliberate bombing” and violation of international law. |
| Algeria | Condemned the strike as a “barbaric act.” |
| Tunisia | Protested outside the French embassy and criticized Western support for Israel. |
| Libya | The internationally recognized government called it a “despicable crime.” |
| Jordan | Insisted that Israel bears responsibility and called for Israel’s diplomatic mission’s expulsion. |
| Organisation of the Islamic Conference | Described it as a war crime and organized state terrorism. |
| Gulf Cooperation Council | Considered it “glaring evidence of serious violations” by Israeli forces. |
| Arab League | Called for an immediate end to the tragedy and questioned the intention behind bombing a hospital. |
| Iraq | Demanded an “immediate and urgent resolution” from the UN Security Council. |
| Syria | Demonstrators expressed solidarity with Palestinians in front of parliament. |
The Gaza hospital strike sparked widespread international reactions and protests.
