Hospital attack has taken ‘massacre in Gaza’ to another level: Turkish president

By Diyar Guldogan

The deadly Israeli attack on a hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday has taken "the massacre in Gaza" to another level, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

"Yesterday, the massacre in Gaza was taken to another dimension with the heinous attack on Al-Ahli Arabi Hospital. I condemn the perpetrators of this attack, which constitutes a crime against humanity and amounts to genocide against the people of Gaza.

"Those who have poured fuel on the fire with the statements they have made since Oct. 7 are as responsible as the perpetrators for yesterday's massacre, which broke our hearts," Erdogan said on X.

Türkiye will continue to work to establish first a humanitarian cease-fire and then permanent stability, he added.

At least 471 people were killed and 342 others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza late Tuesday, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

Gaza is already experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel and medical supplies are running out.

The conflict began on Oct. 7 when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

At least 3,478 Palestinians have so far been killed, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.