US: Early intel suggests hospital blast caused by Palestinian fighters

American officials say they have multiple strands of intelligence - including infrared satellite data - indicating that the deadly blast at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday was caused by

Palestinian fighters

. The intelligence includes satellite and other infrared data showing a launch of a rocket or missile from Palestinian fighter positions within Gaza. American intelligence agencies have also analysed open-source video of the launch showing that it did not come from the direction of Israeli military positions, the officials said. Israeli officials have also provided the US with intercepts of Hamas officials saying the strike came from forces aligned with Palestinian militant groups. "While we continue to collect information, our current assessment, based on analysis of overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information, is that Israel is not responsible for the explosion at the hospital in Gaza," said Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council.
Other US officials cautioned that the analysis was preliminary. Multiple officials said the evidence gathered so far refutes claims that

Israeli forces

were responsible for the blast and was strong enough for President Biden to make comments supporting Israel's account of events. A senior defence department official said based on the launch data collected by infrared sensors that the US is "fairly confident" the launch did not come from Israeli forces. On Tuesday, Israeli officials provided US intelligence intercepted communications between Hamas members that indicated the rocket was fired by their side. nyt