In the midst of escalating Middle East turmoil, President Joe Biden has arrived in Israel. This visit comes in the wake of a devastating hospital explosion in Gaza, which has significantly intensified the region’s unrest.
The hospital, located in Gaza City, was reportedly hit by an Israeli airstrike, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 500 lives. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza has pointed the finger at Israel for this catastrophe. However, Israeli authorities have categorically denied any involvement, attributing the explosion to a misfired Palestinian rocket.
Protests erupted in numerous Arab nations and the West Bank following the hospital explosion, resulting in the cancellation of a scheduled four-way summit in Jordan involving key regional stakeholders. Jordan’s foreign minister officially announced the summit’s postponement, citing security concerns and the necessity for coordinated efforts among all involved parties.
In his tweet post, Biden mentioned his conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, where they discussed the current situation, security assistance, humanitarian needs, and the status of any Americans who couldn’t be located. As a friend of Israel, Biden stated that he asked challenging questions and asserted that efforts would persist in preventing any party from escalating the conflict further.
Biden’s visit is seen as a high-stakes diplomatic mission to try to calm the tensions in the region and facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza, where half of the population has been displaced by Israel’s blockade and airstrikes. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who accompanied Biden on his trip, said he had met with Israel’s wartime cabinet on Monday to work on a framework for getting assistance into Gaza.
Biden’s visit also comes amid reports that Hamas is holding almost 200 hostages, including 13 U.S. nationals, and that as many as 600 U.S. citizens are trapped in Gaza. Blinken said the U.S. was working with Israel and other partners to secure the safe return of its citizens. He also said the U.S. was committed to Israel’s security and its right to defend itself from Hamas’ terror attack and rocket fire, which have killed about 1,400 Israelis and wounded 3,500 others.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, the Security Council is gearing up for a crucial vote on a resolution concerning the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. However, negotiations on the resolution’s wording are still underway.
As President Biden steps onto Israeli soil, the world waits to see how his presence might influence this volatile situation. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
International response to Gaza hospital explosion
The international community has reacted with a mix of horror, condemnation, and confusion to the hospital explosion in Gaza. Here’s a summary of the responses:
Israel: The Israeli military denied attacking the hospital. They believe that the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization is responsible for the failed rocket launch that hit the hospital. They also posted a video that purports to show a misfired rocket causing an explosion.
Hamas and Palestinian officials: The Palestine Islamic Jihad denied accusations that the hospital blast was caused by a misfired rocket from their side. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said that the explosion will mark “a new turning point”.
Arab countries: Several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq issued statements condemning Israel and accusing its military of bombing the hospital.
United Nations: The World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly condemned an apparent attack on a hospital in northern Gaza. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency session on Wednesday following the explosion.
The tragedy is already beginning to threaten efforts to prevent the war from escalating into a broader regional conflict. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
(With inputs from agencies)
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