The site of the Ahly Arab hospital after a rocket attack Photo: SHADI AL-TABATIBI/AFP
British intelligence concluded that Israel was not Rishi Sunak told MPs he was to blame for the Gaza hospital atrocity.
The Prime Minister said last week's explosion at Ahly Arab Hospital was caused by a rocket fired from Palestinian territory and towards Israel.
And he warned the media that their “inaccurate reporting” of the incident had a “negative impact on the region.”
Hamas said at the time that the explosion, which it said killed more than 500 people – the result of an Israeli airstrike.
Israel denied this, saying it was a misfire of a missile fired by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group.
Rishi Sunak addresses MPs on the conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Photo: UK PARLIAMENT/MARIA UNGER/PA
Joe Biden, the US President who flew to Israel on a peacekeeping mission immediately after the explosion, told Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's Prime Minister the next day said that those responsible were ” to another team.”
France and Canada soon agreed, saying the explosion was caused by a failed missile launch.
On Monday, Mr. Sunak told the House of Commons that British intelligence had reached the same conclusion.
p>“The UK government believes the explosion was most likely caused by a rocket, or part of a rocket, launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel,” he said.
The prime minister criticized the “inaccurate reporting” of the incident, which he said had a “negative impact on the region, including vital US diplomatic efforts and tensions here.”
“Don't rush to judgment”< In comments welcomed by MPs, he said: "We must learn lessons and ensure there is no rush to judgment in the future."
The BBC and other broadcasters have been accused of that the initially reported atrocity was carried out by Israel.
Mr Sunak also used the announcement to confirm that the Government will provide an additional £20 million in humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Air Force and Royal Navy assets will also be deployed to monitor the situation in Israel and Gaza Strip.
It comes after first aid convoys entered Gaza across the border with Egypt over the weekend: 20 trucks on Saturday and 14 on Sunday. But the United Nations has said much more is needed and the Rafah border crossing remains closed to foreign nationals trying to flee the bombed and besieged Gaza Strip.
Damage caused to a hospital building in the Gaza Strip as a result of rocket fire. Photo: MAHMUD KHAMS/AFP VIA GETTY
Mr Sunak, who acknowledged that the Palestinian people were “suffering terribly”, said the new funding was “more than double our previous support” and promised every precaution would be taken to ensure it did not fall into the wrong hands.
He told MPs: “First I went to Israel. This is a nation in mourning. But it is also a nation under attack.
“The violence against Israel did not end on October 7th. Hundreds of rockets are launched at their cities and towns every day.”
“And Hamas is still holding about 200 hostages, including British citizens.
“In Jerusalem I met some relatives who were suffering unbearable torment. Their pain will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“I am doing everything I can and working with all of our partners to bring their loved ones home.”
'We looked at the evidence.”
Downing Street said the evidence in the UK took so long to emerge because “we took our time, we looked at the evidence.”
“The Prime Minister was clear that this needed to be done thoroughly, and we wanted to announce it in the House of Commons,” a government source said.
Last week, Biden told Netanyahu: “Based on what I saw, it looks like there was made by another team, not you.”
On Saturday, Canada's National Department of Defense said Israel was not responsible responsibility.
The Defense Department said in a statement that analysis by the country's intelligence command indicates a “high degree of confidence” that Israel did not strike the hospital.
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