Israel denies involvement in Gaza blast claiming explosion caused by misfired Palestinian rocket

The Israeli military says it had no involvement in an explosion that killed hundreds of people at a Gaza City hospital and that the blast was caused by a misfired Palestinian rocket.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says an Israeli airstrike caused the blast, and that it killed some 500 people, many of whom had sought shelter from an ongoing Israeli offensive.

The Israeli military, however, said Palestinian militants had fired a barrage of rockets near the hospital at the time.

Photos from al-Ahli Hospital showed fire engulfing the hospital halls, shattered glass and body parts scattered across the area. 

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has cancelled a meeting with Joe Biden due to take place in Jordan during the US President's visit to the Middle East which starts on Wednesday.

Our journalists are working on the story and will update as soon as more information becomes available.