Al Ahli hospital blast: Saudi Arabia condemns Israel for bombing that killed hundreds in Gaza

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has condemned the attack on Al Ahli Baptist hospital which left about 500 people killed after a bomb landed on the roof of one of the biggest hospitals in Gaza City. Saudi, blamed Israel, for the attack and sought the international community to chide Israel for its attack on civilians. It also urged Israel to lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip, enabling aid to come through to the stranded Palestinians inside Gaza.

Hyderabad:Saudi Arabia has termed the attack on the Al Ahli Arab hospital as a heinous crime by the Israel occupation forces, on Wednesday.

A statement to this effect was issued by the Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The attack on the hospital left at least 500 people dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry which is administered by Hamas. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has blamed it on a militant group working within Gaza, fighting side-by-side with Hamas. The group- Islamic Jihad, a smaller, more radical Palestinian militant group, has denied it. Hamas has squarely blamed Israel for the airstrike.

Saudi Arabia said, "the Kingdom condemns the act in the strongest possible terms the heinous crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces by bombing Al Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, which led to the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including children as well as injured and wounded individuals."

It also categorically rejected this brutal attack, which it said is a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, including international humanitarian law. The Kingdom also denounced the failure of the Israeli occupation to stop its continuous attacks against civilians despite many international appeals.

This dangerous development compels the international community to abandon the double standards and selectivity in applying international humanitarian law when it comes to the Israeli criminal practices and requires a serious and firm stance to provide protection to unarmed civilians, the Saudi Arabian government said.

The Kingdom also stressed the necessity of opening safe corridors immediately, in response to the distress calls made by countries and organizations to deliver food and medicine to civilians trapped in Gaza and to hold the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for their continued repeated violations of all international norms and laws.