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IDF Blames Islamic Jihad for Rocket That Hit Gaza Hospital

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) claimed a rocket that struck the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday was a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group.
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Picture of Aaron Bandler

Aaron Bandler

October 17, 2023
Protesters demonstrate in front of the Israeli consulate after an explosion at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds on October 17, 2023 (Photo by Burak Kara/Getty Images)

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) claimed a rocket that struck the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday was a misfired rocket from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror group.

Various media outlets had initially reported that the strike, which resulted in hundreds killed, was from an IDF missile. The IDF has since claimed that their analysis concluded that “an enemy rocket barrage was carried out towards Israel, which passed through the vicinity of the hospital when it was hit. According to intelligence information, from several sources we have, the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization is responsible for the failed shooting that hit the hospital.”

Additionally, Israel’s official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, noted that Al Jazeera “documented the moment that the Islamic Jihad launched a rocket which misfired and hit a hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds.”

The IDF also posted raw footage purportedly showing the misfired rocket from Gaza.

IDF Spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus posted on X that the IDF does “not target hospitals.”

Additionally, The Times of Israel reported that there are multiple videos purportedly showing “the moment the rocket fell short and exploded inside the Palestinian territory on Tuesday” and that “experts on X” were able to geolocate the Al Jazeera video “to the hospital.”

PIJ is reportedly denying responsibility for the hospital strike, calling the IDF’s allegations “false and baseless,” per Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X, “The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza, and not the IDF. Those who brutally murdered our children also murder their own children.”

The IDF called out media outlets for being “quick to run Hamas’ headlines — without fact checking. We now know that an Islamic Jihad rocket aimed at Israel misfired and hit the hospital in Gaza.” The IDF post shared screenshots of headlines from CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, BBC, The New York Times, Al Jazeera English, Associated Press (AP) and The Los Angeles Times.

Most of these media outlets have not deleted their initial posts reporting that the IDF was behind the strike, information they attributed to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Later reports noted the IDF’s claim.

Al Jazeera English, however, seemingly continues to refer to the incident as an “Israeli air strike.”

The Israel War Room X account also accused The New York Times of “stealth-editing your headlines to cover your lies” on the story. “Maybe don’t take terrorists at their word next time.”

But the initial reporting that the IDF was behind the strike has made its way to elected officials and human rights NGOs. Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) repeated the claim in posts on X urging President Joe Biden (D) to lobby for a ceasefire. As of press time, neither Tlaib nor Omar have directly acknowledged the IDF’s conclusion on X, although Tlaib did later post that “Netanyahu has lied to the public before.” Omar also reposted MSNBC’s Ayman Mohyeldin telling journalists to “take official Israeli statements with a healthy dose of skepticism when reporting on what happens inside Gaza.”

Similarly, Agnes Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International, posted on X that the hospital strike was “the cost of the [United States’] and [European Union’s] unreserved support for Israel: more civilians killed; more war crimes; more, more, more.” She has not acknowledged the IDF’s conclusion to the contrary on X.

A spokesperson for Amnesty International told the Journal, “On the evening of 17 October, Amnesty International’s Secretary General posted on X noting that hundreds of people had reportedly been killed at the Baptist Hospital al-Ahli in Gaza. She made no attribution to any parties or individuals in relation to the explosion in her post. Amnesty International is investigating the incident at the hospital in Gaza City to ensure that those responsible are held to account.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog skewered the media in a post on X, writing: “Shame on the media who swallow the lies of Hamas and Islamic Jihad — broadcasting a 21st century blood libel around the globe. Shame on the vile terrorists in Gaza who [willfully] spill the blood of the innocent. Never before has the choice been clearer. Israel is standing against an enemy made of pure evil. If you stand for humanity — for the value of all human life — you stand with Israel.”

Others lambasted the initial reporting of the IDF being behind the hospital strike. “Hamas just pulled a fast one on journalists around the world,” the American Jewish Committee posted on X. “They lied. Terrorists in Gaza misfired a rocket meant to kill Israeli civilians. They struck a hospital in Gaza instead. Hamas lies. Gazans die.”

“Now we know it was actually [a] Palestinian Islamic [Jihad] rocket that hit the hospital in #Gaza, every single media outlet, lawmaker, diplomat and NGO that rushed to condemn Israel in this vile blood libel, ought to immediately retract and apologize!” International Legal Forum CEO Arsen Ostrovsky posted on X.

Richard Goldberg, senior adviser to the think tank Foundation of Defense Democracies, posted: “If [the] IDF assessment [is] correct, every single news outlet should retract immediately and issue apologies. An attempted blood libel carried out by western media 10 days after the massacre. New standards needed ASAP from top executives across all outlets. This CANNOT continue.”

A spokesperson for the AP told the Journal that their initial tweet on the matter was “attributed to the Gaza Health Ministry” and that they included the IDF’s claim in a subsequent tweet. A spokesperson for The New York Times told the Journal that they had no comment outside of their live briefing description that stated, “The Gazan health authorities said the blast had been caused by an Israeli airstrike; the Israel Defense Forces said it was caused by a rocket fired by a Palestinian armed group that malfunctioned after launching. Neither assertion could be immediately verified.” The New York Times spokesperson also noted that “the initial tweet was attributed to Palestinian authorities in Gaza.”

A spokesperson for CNN told the Journal, “We updated the story with Israel’s response once we had it, and we also had [Senior Adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister] Mark Regev on our air giving Israel’s perspective shortly after the blast. Our reporting has been clearly attributed throughout this developing story.” The CNN spokesperson added that “an hour after the first tweet, we also tweeted the IDF’s denial,” pointing the Journal to this tweet.

The Journal’s requests for comment to Omar’s office, Tlaib’s office, Reuters, The Los Angeles Times, BBC, Wall Street Journal and Al Jazeera English have not been returned by press time.

UPDATE:  Biden said on Wednesday that Defense Department intelligence shows that the hospital explosion was likely caused “by the other team,” not the Israelis.

Also on Wednesday, the IDF released a recording purportedly featuring Hamas terrorists discussing the failed PIJ rocket launch. The IDF also released drone footage showing that the rocket landed in the parking lot of the hospital rather than the hospital itself. The Times of Israel noted that “the lack of a crater” from the explosion “indicates that the source of the blast was not an IDF strike.”

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