Israel-Hamas war: Biden leaves for Israel, his meet with Arab leaders cancelled over Gaza hospital attack

As the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists continues to escalate, at least 500 people were reported dead after an air strike hit a hospital in Gaza, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said.

Another hospital in the southern Gaza city of Rafah said it received an order to evacuate, even after Israel told residents they could take refuge in the city.

The explosion, which Hamas blamed on Israel and Israeli authorities denied to claim, came hours ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to the war-torn country. Biden said he was “outraged and deeply saddened” by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Jordan called off a four-way summit scheduled for Wednesday with Joe Biden and other leaders, the country’s foreign minister told state-run television. Ayman Safadi told al-Mamlaka TV that the war between Israel and Hamas was “pushing the region to the brink” and the summit would be postponed. Biden had planned to travel to Amman for the meeting following his Israel visit today.

Israel Hamas war: US President Joe Biden is set to land in Israel on Wednesday, to show solidarity with the people of the country in the aftermath of the terrorist attack by Hamas. However, Biden had to abruptly scrap his trip to Jordan after the Palestinian authorities cancelled the summit following a huge explosion at a hospital in Gaza, which killed hundreds of civilians.

Though Israel has denied its involvement in the bombing, the Palestinians have held it responsible. More than 4,000 people have so far died on both sides, since the war between Israel and Hamas, the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, began on October 7.