Israel’s bombing of al-Adhil Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday night led to massive mobilisation in the Arab world. The attack was strongly condemned by Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Bahrain, Canada and Saudi Arabia, among other countries.
The attack that killed over 500 people happened hours before US President Joe Biden.
In Jordan, protesters stormed the Israeli embassy. Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi has called off the summit between the US, Egypt and Palestinian leaders scheduled for tomorrow after the hospital attack.
Thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah have gathered in the al-Manara public square to denounce Israel’s air strike. Protesters have clashed with the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.
Protests also broke out in Turkey’s Istanbul, Syria’s Idlib and Lebanon’s Beirut. Videos on social media show angry protesters flocking in hundreds to demonstrate against Israel.
According to a report, Turkish protesters tried to break into a NATO military base, throwing stones at the police, who tried to stop them.
Fireworks were launched at the Israeli consulate building in Istanbul during a protest. All political parties at the Turkish Parliament have signed a joint declaration to condemn Israel over reports that it had targeted hospitals in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has issued a strong statement condemning Israel’s bombing. In a statement published on social media platform X, the Saudi Ministry of Interior stated they “condemn the crimes carried out by the Israeli occupation in their bombing of the hospital in Gaza”.
“The Kingdom rejects this beastly attack which violates all international laws, including humanitarian laws. The Kingdom denounces the Israeli occupation’s continued attacks against civilians despite international calls for them to stop.”
“This dangerous development will force the international community to let go of their double standards and selectivity when applying international laws, especially when it comes to the crimes of the Israeli occupation. This requires a serious and firm stance to provide protection for civilians,” the statement added.
Following the attack, Hamas leader Ismail Hannieyh called on Palestinians everywhere, and the global community, to protest against Israel’s aggressions, and the bombing of the hospital in Gaza.
“God does not like the unjust. We are seeing a brutal massacre, and hundreds have been killed. This massacre reaffirms how beastly the enemy is,” he said.
