An unclassified intelligence assessment obtained by CNN provides additional details regarding the explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza. According to the assessment by the US intelligence community, it is estimated that between 100 to 300 individuals were likely killed in the blast. Furthermore, the assessment concludes that Israel was not responsible for the strike, citing available reporting, intelligence, and open-source video and images of the incident. The assessment, sent to Capitol Hill by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, expands on the initial assessment released on Wednesday, reaffirming the conclusion that Israel was not responsible for the hospital strike. The number of deaths resulting from the blast is estimated to be on the lower end of the 100-to-300 range, contradicting initial figures provided by Hamas which claimed more than 500 casualties. In terms of damage, the intelligence community observed only minor structural damage at the hospital. There was no visible damage to the main hospital building, and no impact craters were detected, according to the assessment. Two structures adjacent to the main hospital building sustained only light damage to their roofs, but remained intact. The US intelligence community initially released its assessment on Wednesday, following President Joe Biden's public statement in Israel that the strike appeared to be the result of an errant rocket fired by a terrorist group in Gaza. President Biden is scheduled to give a primetime address from the Oval Office on Thursday evening. Amid accusations that Israel was responsible for the blast, the National Security Council announced the Biden administration's intention to share as much of the available intelligence as possible. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer highlighted this commitment during an appearance on "CNN This Morning" on Thursday. The ODNI assessment indicates that Palestinian militants in Gaza themselves assessed that the explosion might have been caused by an errant rocket or missile launched by the Palestine Islamic Jihad. However, the militants are still investigating to ascertain the cause of the blast. While the assessment of the hospital strike continues to evolve, the current estimated death toll reflects a devastating loss of life. The United States remains deeply concerned about the deaths of all civilians and is actively working to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer cautioned against drawing premature conclusions in the midst of a conflict and emphasized the importance of a measured response by governments in the region and the media. The Biden administration has been engaged in discussions regarding the extent to which raw intelligence should be declassified to support its assessment that the deadly blast at the Gaza hospital resulted from an errant rocket from a Palestinian militant group, rather than an Israeli missile. The White House believes that providing a clearer assessment to the public would help establish an accurate narrative of events, although a decision on the effectiveness of releasing raw intelligence has not been reached. There is growing concern that the United States and Israel have lost control of the narrative surrounding the Gaza events, particularly with accusations implicating Israel in the hospital blast. Some former intelligence officials and individuals familiar with current US intelligence express skepticism about the potential impact of any publicly released information on Arab world perceptions. Following a classified briefing on Capitol Hill, a bipartisan group of senators urged the Biden administration to make as much of the intelligence as possible available to the public. In addition to addressing the situation, the senators stressed the importance of easing tensions in countries that have previously maintained favorable relations with Israel, such as Jordan and Egypt.
