Biden Administration Criticizes Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Hospital, Urges Protection of Civilian Lives

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
15/10/2024 20h20

**Biden Administration Condemns Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Hospital Compound**

The Biden administration on Tuesday expressed strong disapproval of Israeli airstrikes that targeted a hospital compound in the Gaza Strip. The attacks, which took place on Monday night, resulted in the deaths of at least four Palestinians and left dozens injured, including children. The strikes ignited a fire in a nearby tent encampment where displaced Palestinians had sought refuge, causing chaos and terror.

Sean Savett, a spokesman for the National Security Council, stated, "The images and video of what appear to be displaced civilians burning alive following an Israeli air strike are deeply disturbing, and we have made our concerns clear to the Israeli government." Savett emphasized that Israel is responsible for minimizing civilian casualties and described the incident as horrifying, even if Hamas was potentially using the vicinity to shield their operations.

Addressing the specifics of the strike, the Israeli military reported that the attack aimed at terrorists operating within a command and control center adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, a city in central Gaza. The ensuing fires in the hospital's parking lot were attributed to secondary explosions. The military reiterated that the hospital itself remained operational and assured that efforts are in place to reduce harm to civilians through precise munitions and extensive intelligence.

The attack has added to the escalating violence as Israeli forces expanded their operations into northern Gaza. Tanks have reached the outskirts of Gaza City, prompting residents in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood to flee their homes under heavy bombardment. Videos circulating on social media depicted desperate scenes of tents engulfed in flames and people scrambling to extinguish the fires with buckets of water and hoses. Medical workers were seen searching through the charred remains for casualties.

Survivors recounted to The New York Times the harrowing experience of a fast-spreading fire fueled by explosions from cooking gas canisters and plastic tents. This was reportedly the seventh time the hospital grounds had been struck, exacerbating the already dire situation for those seeking refuge.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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