US: Gaza Strip Hospital Explosion Death Toll 300, Not 500

U.S. intelligence authorities have estimated the death toll from the hospital explosion disaster in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, to be up to 300.

According to major foreign media on the 19th (local time), the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) stated in a report evaluating the 'Gaza hospital explosion incident' submitted to Congress by U.S. intelligence agencies, "We are still assessing the number of casualties, and the figures may change accordingly."

The report emphasized, "(The current) number of casualties is still a tremendous loss of life," adding, "The United States takes the death of all civilians seriously and is working to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip."

U.S. President Joe Biden (left) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken are meeting with survivors and bereaved families of the Palestinian militant group Hamas' attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, on the 18th (local time). On the 7th, Hamas launched an airstrike on an Israeli music festival, killing civilians and taking many hostages.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The report cited the basis for estimating the death toll, noting that only minor structural damage was observed in the hospital building and that there was no crater caused by the explosion's impact. It stated, "Only the roofs of two buildings near the hospital main building were slightly damaged, and both buildings remain intact." So far, no photos showing destruction inside the hospital have been released.

Earlier, the Gaza Strip's Ministry of Health, controlled by the Palestinian armed group Hamas, initially blamed the Israeli military for the explosion and announced a death toll of over 500, later revising it to 471.

The report reaffirmed that "Israel is not responsible for the Gaza Strip hospital explosion," confirming Israel's non-involvement in the disaster. Previously, President Joe Biden also pointed to a "rocket misfired by a terrorist group within the Gaza Strip" as the cause of the hospital explosion during his visit to Israel the day before.

U.S. intelligence agencies reached this conclusion based on the explosion pattern and infrared satellite data, and some sources have mentioned another Palestinian armed group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as being behind it. The report stated, "We continue to work to confirm whether this explosion was caused by a rocket failure by Islamic Jihad."

Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a briefing that 32 Americans have died and 11 are missing due to the clashes between Hamas and Israel. Some of the missing are held hostage by Hamas, but the exact number has not been disclosed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.