US intel says Gaza hospital death toll likely between 100-300
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A view of debris in the area of Al-Ahli hospital where hundreds of Palestinians were killed in a blast that Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed on each other, and where Palestinians who fled their homes were sheltering amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, in Gaza City, October 18, 2023. REUTERS/Ahmed Zakot
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WASHINGTON - An unclassified US intelligence report, seen by Reuters on Thursday, estimated the death toll from a blast at a Gaza hospital
Palestinian officials said 471 people were killed in the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital late on Tuesday.
Gaza’s health ministry blamed an Israeli air strike, while Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by militants.
“We judge that Israel was not responsible,” said the unclassified US intelligence report.
“Our assessment is based on available reporting, including intelligence, missile activity, and open-source video and images of the incident.”
“We estimate the number of deaths is probably at the low end of the 100-to-300 spectrum. We are still assessing the likely casualty figures and our assessment may evolve, but this death toll still reflects a staggering loss of life,” the report said.
The report said “only light structural damage at the hospital” has been observed and there was “no observable damage to the main hospital building and no impact craters.”
Israel has responded to an Oct 7 rampage by Hamas gunmen
Israel is also preparing a ground offensive.
