The recent massacre that tragically took place at the Baptist Hospital in Gaza, is an incident that Israel contends resulted from a failed strike by the Islamic Jihad.
Meanwhile, Palestinians collectively view it as an Israeli operation, a catastrophic event at best, and at worst, a meticulously planned mass murder.
This event marks yet another poignant chapter in the ever-evolving history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Much like the indelible memories of the Sabra and Shatila massacres, the Qana massacre, and the suicide bombings on the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, it joins the ranks of the Hebron massacre and the burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque, serving as fodder for deepening animosity and igniting the flames of hatred on both sides.
The Gaza massacre warrants an impartial and expeditious professional probe, refraining from adopting a one-sided narrative over the other.
The paramount focus should be on halting the ongoing conflict to prevent further bloodshed.
Israel is making extraordinary efforts to absolve itself of direct responsibility for this particular massacre. After successfully convincing US President Joe Biden that the blame rests on the Islamic Jihad, they are endeavoring to persuade others in the region and the world.
They are aware that if they can advance this narrative, it would deal a severe blow to the Palestinians and mitigate the overall criticism directed at Israel.
They present images, videos, and expert reports, claiming that the Jihad rocket was launched from a location near the hospital but misfired, similar to many other rockets.
The hospital bombing occurred more than a week after renewed Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Israel declared war on Gaza and has retaliated with airstrikes and put the region under siege.
Out of an approximate total of 3,500 Palestinians who lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes, there were dozens of families entirely wiped out, every member gone. The airstrikes continue unabated on a large scale.
In related news, Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNRWA), has said that the number of internally displaced persons in Gaza since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has reached 1 million.
“In reality, civilians have nowhere to go—nowhere to escape the bombs and missiles, and nowhere to find water or food, or to escape the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe,” said Msuya.
“As civilians are packed into an ever-smaller area, the essentials they need to survive—shelter, water, food, power and medical care—have all but run out,” she added.
