Image Credits- Palestine Chronicle
Following a devastating explosion that claimed the lives of over 500 individuals in Gaza City’s Al Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday evening, amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, global leaders have responded with a combination of shock, strong criticism, and a sense of bewilderment regarding how such a tragedy could occur and who should be held accountable.
Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdallohian, issued a warning on Wednesday morning, suggesting that Israel is rapidly approaching a critical juncture. He shared this unsettling message in response to the tragic event that occurred on Tuesday when a missile strike resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives at a hospital in Gaza City. Israel has asserted that this incident was a result of a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. As a consequence, there is growing concern among experts about the potential for a third global conflict.
🚨JUST IN – Iran Foreign Minister speaking on Israel, following the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital bomb:
"TIME IS OVER" pic.twitter.com/hZ5glhooyt
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 17, 2023
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointed fingers at Palestinian militants, accusing them of causing the explosion. He emphasized that it was “barbaric terrorists in Gaza” who attacked the hospital in Gaza, rather than the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), stating that those responsible for the heinous act not only took the lives of Israeli children but also inflicted harm on their own. IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated that Islamic Jihad should be held accountable for the rocket strike on the hospital in Gaza.
Israeli and Palestinian authorities have engaged in a blame game, with each side attempting to attribute responsibility for the incident. The spokesperson for the Gaza Health Ministry, which is under the control of Hamas, has reported that a significant number of people lost their lives in an explosion at Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital on Tuesday.
During a live televised interview on Monday night with Iranian state television, Amir-Abdollahian declared that time is rapidly running out. He stated that if the alleged war crimes against the Palestinians are not immediately halted, it will inevitably lead to the opening of multiple new fronts. This warning came shortly after Hamas accused Israel of causing the death of over 500 people in an airstrike at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, an accusation which Israel has denied, asserting that it was the result of actions by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group.
Concurrently with the escalating conflict in Gaza, Israel has put into action a scheme to relocate inhabitants from 28 villages situated within a 2-kilometer (1-mile) radius of the Lebanese border. This move by the Israeli military follows recent clashes with Hezbollah. Notably, one of these villages, Shtula, was struck by a Hezbollah missile on Sunday, resulting in the reported death of a civilian, according to Israeli media.
Nevertheless, Iran swiftly criticized Israel for the attack. Nasser Kan’ani, a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, labeled it a “brutal war crime” and a case of “genocide.”