New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed shock at the tragic loss of lives at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday night, stating that "civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern" and that "those involved should be held responsible".
Reacting to the reports that at least 500 people lost their lives in an explosion at the Saza hospital, the Prime Minister offered India's "heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured".
While the Palestinian foreign ministry reportedly blamed Israel for the horrific attack and termed it a "cold-blooded massacre", Israeli ambassador to India Naor Gilon on Wednesday said that the explosion at the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza was due to a rocket fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group.
The Israeli ambassador said: "al-Ahli hospital was hit by a rocket from the Palestinian Islamic jihad. Since the beginning of the fighting, more than 450 Palestinian-shot rockets have fallen inside the Gaza Strip. They try to hit our children, but on the way, they hit their own children. The international poison machine immediately accuses Israel. It's really a pity that many around the world are cooperating with them. But, in our technological world, everything is documented, and we have clear-cut evidence that it was a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket."
The Israeli envoy added: "The Palestinian terrorists and their allies immediately take out the victim card. After cowardly murdering, abducting and abusing defenceless Israeli citizens, they are afraid to confront the IDF. They are trying to create international pressure to prevent us from taking action. But nothing...nothing will prevent us from making sure that these murderers are not be able to repeat their atrocities. Release the kidnapped! Stop hiding behind your own civilian population! Come out of the tunnels and fight us!"
On the "evidence presented" in two videos, Israel said, "The first is an (West Asia-based media group) Al Jazeera video shot live yesterday documenting the PIJ rocket failure at exactly 18.59. Notice the explosion over Gaza. The IDF Iron Dome does not intercept over Gaza due to its trajectory. The rocket is clearly separated into two parts. The body fell first, leading to a minor explosion of the propellant. The warhead second, landing on the hospital grounds, leading to an explosion and fire, as Palestinian warheads do."
Dismissing the Israeli claims, the Palestinian foreign ministry was quoted by reports as saying, "Every rule of international law is being shredded as thousands are mercilessly massacred and millions of people are being stripped of their humanity, subjected to wanton killing, starvation and forced transfer, with no end in sight as Israeli occupying forces continue to pound the Gaza Strip..."
The loss of civilian lives in the Gaza hospital has triggered global outrage and a focus on the need to tackle the issue of mounting civilian casualties. The ongoing bloodbath in Palestine and Israel was triggered after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.
While India had last week said it stands firmly with Israel following the terror attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, New Delhi is watching with growing dismay the humanitarian crisis that is developing in Gaza along with numerous other nations in the world.
Asked earlier to comment on the ongoing conflict, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said last week, "I think we've been very clear that we see this (the October 7 attack on Israel) as a terrorist attack... India has always advocated the resumption of direct negotiations towards establishing a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine, living within secure and recognised borders side by side at peace with Israel. And I think that position remains the same."
Mr Bagchi added: "Regarding the humanitarian situation or the developments... There is an universal obligation, I think, to observe international humanitarian law. There is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. And I think that accurately sums up how we look at this position."
