UK PM Sunak: Blast at Baptist hospital likely caused by missile from within Gaza

Rishi Sunak, British prime minister, says the deadly hospital blast believed to have killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza was not caused by Israel.

Sunak spoke on Monday while addressing the British parliament after his two-day visit to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt last week.

According to the prime minister, his assertion was drawn from analysis by British intelligence.

“The UK government judges that the explosion at Gaza’s Al-Ahli hospital was likely caused by a missile or part of one that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel,” Sunak said.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, had blamed Israel for the “horrific massacre”.

Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Bahrain also accused the Jewish state of firing the rocket at the hospital.

However, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) denied the allegations.

The Israeli forces said, “analysis of IDF operational systems indicates that a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity to the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza at the time it was hit”.

“Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza,” IDF added.

The Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza, denied any role in the blast.

Joe Biden, president of the United States, had also expressed support for Israel during his visit, hours after the attack, saying the attack was “done by the other team, not you”.

Biden cautioned Israelis not to be consumed by rage and said the vast majority of Palestinians are not affiliated with Hamas.

During his address to the House of Commons, Sunak also showed empathy for Palestinians, calling them “victims of Hamas”.

The prime minister said the UK would give a further £20 million of humanitarian aid to Gaza, doubling its earlier funding.

Biden had earlier announced $100 million as humanitarian assistance to support over 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians.