Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Canadian government has issued an official statement indicating their belief that Israel was not behind the explosion that destroyed the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. The explosion itself is said to have killed at least 500 Palestinians.
The Canadian Intelligence Agency, namely The Canadian Forces Intelligence Command, confirmed that the explosion was caused by a rocket fired from Gaza.
Minister of National Defense Bill Blair revealed that this conclusion was obtained from the results of analysis using open sources and classified information. He also expressed his condolences.
“Canada is deeply saddened by the loss of life caused by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza on October 17 2023,” Blair said. Al JazeeraSunday (22/10/2023).
“We repeat our sincere condolences to all those who lost loved ones.”
The Department of National Defense said in a separate statement that the conclusion was based on analysis of the blast location and the flight path of incoming munitions.
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Photo: Injured people receive treatment at Al Shifa Hospital after hundreds of Palestinians were killed in an explosion at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza that Israeli and Palestinian officials blamed on each other, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, October 17, 2023. ( REUTERS/STRINGER)
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“Reports from Canada’s allies corroborate the DND/CAF (Department of National Defense / Canadian Armed Forces) findings. We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available,” the department said.
The release of Canada’s findings comes after the United States and France issued similar findings indicating that Israel was not behind the explosion.
On Friday, France’s Military Intelligence Directorate said that its intelligence indicated that an off-target Palestinian rocket with an explosive charge of about 5 kg was the cause of the explosion.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials blamed Israeli airstrikes, while Israel said the blast was caused by a misfired rocket launched by a hardline Islamist group. However, the group denied responsibility.
An investigation conducted by Al Jazeera cast doubt on Israel’s assertion that an image taken on a live news broadcast showed a Palestinian rocket misfiring before hitting the hospital.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said 471 people were killed in the blast, a death toll that Israel said was deliberately exaggerated. US intelligence agencies estimate the death toll at 100-300 people.
On Friday, the United Nations (UN) called for an independent investigation into the explosion.
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Originally posted 2023-10-22 12:00:20.