US Determines Deadly Blast at Gaza City Hospital Was Most Likely Caused by Misfired Rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad

The United States has determined that a deadly blast at a Gaza City hospital on Tuesday was most likely caused by a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, according to two U.S. officials and a congressional staffer. The announcement comes as Israel has allowed Egypt to deliver limited quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, one day after the blast at al-Ahli Hospital killed hundreds and put immense strain on Gaza doctors treating the many wounded as medical supplies ran out.

Four military and munitions experts consulted by NBC News were shown parts of more than a dozen videos and pictures from the incident at al-Ahli Baptist Hospital and its aftermath that have been geolocated and analyzed. Three of the experts agreed the blast wasn’t from Israel, with some saying the marks left by the projectile weren’t consistent with the weaponry Israel has used in the region.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., has not commented on the incident. The group has been launching rockets into Israel since the start of the 10-day siege on the territory.

The deadly blast at al-Ahli Hospital has sparked outrage across the Middle East, as U.S. President Joe Biden visits Israel in hopes of preventing a wider conflict in the region. The limited humanitarian aid from Egypt is a small step towards easing the strain on Gaza doctors and medical supplies, but it is unclear if it will be enough to prevent further casualties.