US President Joe Biden is already en route to Israel on a wartime solidarity trip that is undoubtedly the most complex of his presidency. The president plans to land this Wednesday at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, at 10:00 AM local time to meet with Israeli officials.
According to the White House, the plane carrying the president and his team took off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. In the middle of takeoff, the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital was hit by rocket debris that Israel said came from a failed attack by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
In the first instance, the Arab world accused Israel of attacking the health center, and the international press targeted the Jewish State; however, as the hours passed, evidence suggested that the rocket launch occurred from the Gaza Strip itself.
The White House reported that Biden also spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while aboard Air Force One following the deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital.
"I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted. Immediately upon hearing this news, I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and have directed my national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened. The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict and we mourn the patients, medical staff and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy," Biden said about the event.
I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted. Immediately upon hearing this news, I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and have directed my national…
— President Biden (@POTUS) October 17, 2023
Likewise, the White House reported that the summit in Amman, Jordan, which would bring Biden together with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, was canceled for the moment after the impacts against the Baptista Al-Ahli Hospital.
A White House official reported in a statement that the decision to cancel the summit was made after Biden spoke with King Abdullah of Jordan "and in light of the days of mourning announced by" Abbas after the impacts against the center of health that has left hundreds of victims.
