After Gaza hospital bombing kills hundreds, Israel and Hamas blame each other

Israelis and Palestinians blamed each other Tuesday for an explosion that killed hundreds at a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded people and others seeking shelter from relentless bombing.

The Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, initially said an Israeli airstrike tore through Al Ahli Arab Hospital and estimated the number of fatalities at a minimum of 500. The Israel Defense Forces said it would investigate, then issued a statement disavowing involvement.

"An analysis of IDF operational systems indicates that a barrage of rockets was fired by terrorists in Gaza, passing in close proximity to the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza at the time it was hit,'' the statement said. "Intelligence from multiple sources we have in our hands indicates that Islamic Jihad is responsible for the failed rocket launch which hit the hospital in Gaza."