The explosion which struck the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza on October 17, 2023 continues to raise many questions. The Israeli authorities and Hamas mutually blame each other for this tragedy which left hundreds of victims. But according to a European military source, the scenarios put forward by the two parties are questionable.
The military source, who relied on confidential information from other intelligence services, questions the arguments put forward by Hamas. She emphasizes in particular that the damage observed on site as well as the weapons used are inconsistent with the versions presented.
By studying satellite images, it was found that the explosion created a hole approximately 1 meter by 75 cm in diameter and 30 cm deep. This hole size would correspond to a rocket with a maximum payload of 5 kg. In addition, no traces of rocket debris were found in the surrounding area.
Thus, the thesis of an Israeli airstrike seems implausible, according to the military source. Indeed, the use of a fighter plane or a drone would normally have caused much greater damage and would have left visible debris at the scene.
The hypothesis of an interception of a Hamas rocket attack is also called into question. The source states that interceptions are generally made in the middle of the trajectory, and not during the shooting phase. Furthermore, debris from an intercepted missile could not have caused the damage observed.
The handling of explosives is another possibility raised, but there is no concrete evidence to support this hypothesis. Satellite images and eyewitness accounts show no signs of explosives being handled on site.
Ultimately, the most likely theory would be that of a Hamas rocket which deviated from its trajectory. With an error rate of 10%, this type of situation is not uncommon. The dimensions of the hole as well as the damage observed correspond to the characteristics of the rockets used by the Palestinian factions.
However, this new information also calls into question the toll put forward by the Gaza Ministry of Health, which speaks of “471 people” killed. The nature of the explosion, in an open environment, would have reduced the power of the blast, making such a number of victims unlikely. In addition, the dead/injured ratios also seem high, which raises doubts about the figures communicated.
In conclusion, the explosion at the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza still remains shrouded in mystery. The versions put forward by the different parties are subject to doubt, and it is difficult to know the truth. We will have to wait for new investigations and concrete evidence to shed light on this tragedy.