British intelligence: Missile fired from Gaza at Israel caused hospital blast
Prime minister told MPs British intelligence suggests the al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion was 'likely caused by a missile of part of one that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel'
British intelligence services have concluded that the deadly blast in the car-park of a hospital in Gaza was caused by a rocket fired towards Israel from inside the Strip, Rishi Sunak confirmed to MPs.
Citing the intelligence report, the prime minister said the al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion was “likely caused by a missile of part of one that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel”.
Sunak told the House of Commons:”On the basis of the deep knowledge and analysis of our intelligence and weapons experts, the British government judges that the explosion was likely caused by a missile or part of one that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel.”
Following last week’s deadly blast, politicians including Jeremy Corbyn, and the backbench Labour MP Zarah Sultana had been among those to immediately blame Israel for the attack, a response prompted to by statement released by Hamas that said 500 people had been killed.
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador in the UK, had also blamed Israel. But the IDF produced audio which it said proved it was the fault of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists, while US President Biden confirmed that having been shown evidence by Israel the blast was caused by “the other team. “Sunak said on Monday that misreporting on the cause of the destruction had a “negative effect in the region.”
Briefing the Commons after his trip last week to Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the prime minister also stressed the urgent need for efforts towards the two-state solution be stepped up.
He said he seen there was no love for Hamas after speaking to Arab leaders during his visit, and committed a further £20m of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which he later said would not make its way into the hands of Hamas.
In his statement to MPs Keir Starmer stressed that “in the light of their barbarism, Israel has the right to defend herself”.
He continued:” Yes, to get their hostages home but also to defeat Hamas so nobody need suffer like this again. And that we might once more see a road to a lasting peace, a Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
Starmer added:”Even as we stand by Israel in her fight against Hamas, our eyes must also look to the future. A future where Israeli citizens live free from the fear of terrorist attack. And a future for the Palestinian people, where they and their children enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that we take for granted.
“For too long we’ve talked about a two-state solution. The dignity and justice of a Palestinian state, alongside a safe and secure Israel. Without a serious path — or will — to make it happen. And for too long, we have allowed welcome progress in improving relations between Israel and her neighbours, to sit without any progress on a future for Palestine and its people.”
Sunak told the Commons that the Palestinian people are “suffering terribly” and are “also the victims of Hamas who embed themselves in the civilian population”.
He said: “Hamas care more about their paymasters in Iran than the children they hide behind. There is no scenario where Hamas can be allowed to control Gaza or any part of the Palestinian territories.”
The SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was among those to press for a ceasefire and claimed Israel was dishing out “collective punishment” to the people of Gaza.
Labour backbencher Zarah Sultana accused Israel of committing “war crimes” while the Tory MP backbencher Crispin Blunt warned of “killing fields” in the Gaza.
Like Sultana, Corbyn failed to acknowledged they had tweeted false information in relation to the Gaza hospital blast.
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