By Nelly Moraa
Nairobi, Kenya: The United States is blaming Hamas for the latest explosion at a hospital Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza that claimed at least 500 lives. US President Joe Biden in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wed 18th accused Hamas of being behind the attack.
In a televised meeting aired on Sky News, Biden expressed outrage at the hospital explosion.
“Based on what I’ve seen it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you,” he told Netanyahu. The accusation comes in the wake of massive propaganda surrounding the explosion. Israel linked the explosion at the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza to a misfired rocket by Hamas, but Hamas claims Israel is behind Tues 17th bombing. The warring parties continue to defy calls to uphold the rules of war issued by the United Nations.
World leaders have joined in condemning the explosions; however, the UK is hesitant to blame Hamas for the hospital explosion, indicating it was early to do so without the facts. Addressing the UK parliament during the Prime Minister’s Time on 18th Wed, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK has no position yet until investigations by experts are complete.
“We cannot rush to judgment before we have all the facts. Words have an impact beyond this house.”
He said the UK’s security organs were analyzing evidence to establish facts independently. Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer who had raised the issue during the Prime minister’s question time described the situation in Gaza as distressing. He demanded that international law be upheld expressing concern that currently there is no place for safety as humanitarian infrastructure is attacked.
Rise in hate
He expressed concern over the rising antisemitism in Britain because of the war asking the PM to ensure they reign in on the rising hate to protect both the British Jews and the Muslims.
Tuesday’s hospital blast has sparked protests across the Middle East. Arab and Palestinian leaders canceled a scheduled meeting to discuss the crisis following the explosion. Biden in a visit to Israel on Wed 18th reiterated solidarity and support with Israel pledging to offer its continued support. The UK has also undertaken to cooperate with its allies in restoring normalcy in Gaza. Rishi Sunak said the UK is working with humanitarian agencies to ensure aid gets into the Gaza region. He condemned the terror visit on Israel on Oct 7th that claimed about 1300 lives and placed about 150 captives.
Wars have rules
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Sunday 15th October demanded that the rules of war be upheld.
“Even wars have rules, international humanitarian laws, and human rights laws must be respected and upheld; civilians must be protected and never used as shields. And all hostages in Gaza must be released”, Guterres said in the briefing posted on his X handle.
Guterres also described it as catastrophic to transfer populations to safety as commanded by Israel. The Israeli military gave 24 hours to residents in northern and central Gaza to evacuate their homes classifying those areas as war zones. UN has described the call to move more than 1 million civilians as horrendous.
GAZA BLOCKED
Israel blocked entry into Gaza in response to the October 7th attack by Hamas that left its civilians dead. Israel cut off water and power supply to Gaza’s 2.3 million people sealing off the area, in a bid to pressure Hamas to release those taken captive. Aid groups have raised an alarm of a humanitarian crisis.
“Not a single electricity switch will be flipped on, not a single faucet turned on, and not a single fuel track will enter until the Israeli hostages are returned home,” the Israeli Energy minister was quoted saying on social media.
