The strike was the bloodiest single incident in Gaza since Israel launched an unrelenting bombing campaign against the densely populated territory in retaliation for a deadly cross-border Hamas assault on southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7.
Israel's military denied responsibility for the hospital attack, saying military intelligence suggested the hospital was hit by a failed rocket launch by the enclave's Palestinian Islamic Jihad military group. A spokesman for the militant group denied the Israeli allegations.
The strike took place on the eve of a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to Israel to show support for the country in its war with Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip.
Arab countries, Iran and Turkey swiftly condemned the attack. The Palestinian prime minister called it "a horrific crime, genocide" and said countries backing Israel also bore responsibility.
