Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Condemns ‘Misreporting’ Of Gaza Hospital Explosion

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons Monday that Israel was “likely” not to blame for the explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza and emphasised the imperative for accuracy in reporting.

“When things are so delicate we all have a responsibility to take additional care in the language we use and to operate on the basis of facts alone,” he said.

In the aftermath of the explosion last week, which is believed to have killed hundreds of civilians, Palestinian authorities blamed an Israeli military strike while the Israeli government claimed the cause as a malfunctioning rocket fired from within Gaza by Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad.

Sunak revealed the UK’s intelligence findings: “I can now share our assessment with the House 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.”

Sunak continued: “The misreporting of this incident had a negative effect in the region, including on a vital US diplomatic effort and on tensions here at home.”

He urged the public and media to refrain from making hasty conclusions, noting, “we need to learn the lessons and ensure that in future there is no rush to judgement.”