Biden’s Trip to Israel Overshadowed by Gaza Hospital Strike
A terrible incident occurred in Gaza when a hospital was hit by a strike, causing the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. This has made the situation in the Middle East even more tense. As a result, U.S. President Joe Biden is now heading to Israel to show his support for their fight against Hamas.
According to Palestinian officials, the hospital was hit by an Israeli air strike, leading the Palestinian Authority’s health minister to accuse Israel of committing a “massacre.” However, Israel claims that the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital was caused by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which denies any involvement.
It is important to note that Reuters has not been able to independently verify these claims. The situation is already critical in the region since Hamas carried out a violent attack on communities in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,300 people.
Rescue workers are still working tirelessly to find survivors and retrieve bodies from the rubble. Al Jazeera has shared footage showing the chaotic scene as rescuers search through debris stained with blood. At least four victims have been carried away in body bags.
While a Gaza civil defense chief reported a death toll of 300, health ministry sources suggest it could be as high as 500.
Biden’s original plan for his trip to the Middle East was to bring calm to the region and support humanitarian efforts in Gaza. However, the strike on the hospital has had significant consequences. Jordan has canceled a summit with President Biden, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
President Abbas has also canceled his meeting with Biden. In addition, there have been protests in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, where Palestinian security forces used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse anti-government demonstrators. Protests have also taken place near Israel’s embassies in Turkey and Jordan, as well as the U.S. embassy in Lebanon, where security forces had to use tear gas against the protesters.
