The media has been abuzz with reports of an explosion at the Al-Ahli Al-Arabi hospital in Gaza City that killed hundreds of Palestinians. However, conflicting narratives have emerged regarding the cause of the blast. Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group, immediately blamed Israel and called them war criminals. Popular opinion in Arab countries also sided with Hamas. On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Forces denied responsibility, claiming that the explosion was caused by a rocket launched at Israel by Islamic Jihad, Hamas's rival group.

Initial reports by news outlets such as the New York Times, Reuters, and the Associated Press relied heavily on claims made by Hamas, which has now been criticized for giving a one-sided account. The Times later admitted that their coverage had relied too heavily on Hamas's claims and that those claims could not be immediately verified. Furthermore, an analysis by the Associated Press suggests that a rocket fired from Palestinian territory broke up in the air and fell onto the hospital, causing the explosion.

While investigations are ongoing, both Israel and the United States have stated that the evidence so far supports the conclusion that Israel was not responsible for the blast. The conflicting narratives highlight the importance of verifying claims and considering multiple perspectives before drawing conclusions.