Destroyed families, smouldering debris: Gaza hospital day after blast

Debris and burnt out cars, some still smouldering, were strewn across the parking lot of a Gaza City hospital that was rocked by a massive blast on Tuesday.

The Al-Ahli hospital was packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter on Tuesday when the blast occurred, killing hundreds, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said.

The Hamas militant group blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military blamed a rocket misfired by other Palestinian militants. At least 500 people were killed, Hamas said.

"We were just sitting here, and suddenly there was an explosion. The glass shattered on us. Many people were martyred," said Hamdoun Barhi Hajaj, an elderly displaced man from Shalaya.

There were 3,000 displaced families sheltering in and around the hospital at the moment of the blast, said Dr. Mohammed al-Naqa.

"This place was a safe haven for women and children, who fled Israeli shelling," he said.

The attack had occurred without warning, and resulted in carnage, al-Naqa said.

"We have the right to live in peace, and for every Palestinian child and woman to have a safe haven. This hospital was that safe haven, but tragically, civilians and children were targeted," the doctor added.

By Wednesday morning, hospital staff were still piecing together what happened.

The exact death toll was not known.

Misshapen metal rods jutted out from the ceiling of the front hall of the hospital.

A displaced woman carrying documents and blankets told The Associated Press: "They destroyed us."

Her son had been seeking medical care in the hospital for the past five days, she said after their neighbourhood was shelled.

Visibly shocked, she said a “missile” had just fallen on them.

“We were staying on the floor,” she said, pointing toward the left of the hospital building.

"Everything got destroyed; we were destroyed," she said.