Misconceptions About the War in Israel

By Abby Hodes '25
On October 17th, 2023, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were incorrectly accused of the deadly explosion in the parking lot of the Gazan Al-Ahli Arab Hospital. Media outlets around the world immediately condemned Israel for this rumor spread by the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry. ​

King Abdullah II of Jordan labeled this as an “Israeli massacre,” which was a “heinous war crime that cannot be ignored.”
According to the American Jewish Committee, the IDF stated, "From an analysis of the IDF’s operational systems, an enemy rocket barrage was carried out towards Israel, which passed in the vicinity of the hospital when it was hit.”
 The IDF revealed further evidence by presenting an intercepted conversation between Hamas officials confirming that a misfired rocket by Palestinian Islamic Jihad hit the hospital.  U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed this assessment in his speech in Tel Aviv. 
The flow of evidence to prove Israel’s innocence continued as the IDF revealed additional information. They stated the parking lot did not feature a crater in the ground, and there was no structural damage to any nearby buildings—both indicators that it was not an IDF strike. 
Israel was quickly blamed nonetheless, with individuals and the media all around the world claiming it had hit the medical facility and that hundreds had been killed; this behavior was condemned by Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others. The countries had no evidence for their claim that an Israeli airstrike caused the damage, though they continued their harmful statements.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh claimed that “the U.S. holds the responsibility of the hospital attack because of the cover it gives to the Israeli aggression.”
Geoff Bennet, Co-Anchor of PBS NewsHour, set the record straight, claiming “U.S. officials [told him] their preliminary assessment, using independent intelligence of imagery and intercepted phone calls, is that— quote— ‘Israel is not responsible.’”
Furthermore, Hamas deliberately places its launching sites where civilians live, allowing civilians to be at risk and susceptible to being harmed by misfires. Since the beginning of the war, approximately 450 rockets aimed at Israel have fallen within Gaza, endangering the lives of Palestinians in Gaza. 
Hamas stores weapons in residential areas, schools, hospitals and mosques, and fires these rockets from densely populated areas. Therefore, it is challenging for the Israeli army to target military grounds without risking the lives of innocent Palestinians. 
The Israeli Army, unlike Hamas, has been relatively considerate as they contact civilians in Arabic to evacuate their homes before launching a rocket into Gaza.