The White House issued a statement in which U.S. President Joe Biden expressed profound outrage and sorrow following the explosion that occurred at a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. The statement quoted President Biden as saying, “The explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza and the tragic loss of life deeply saddens me. Upon receiving this news, I immediately engaged in discussions with King Abdullah II of Jordan and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. I have instructed my national security team to continue gathering information on the incident.”
President Biden emphasized the United States’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding civilian lives during conflicts, stating, “The United States unequivocally supports the protection of civilian life during conflict, and we grieve for the patients, medical personnel, and other innocent individuals who lost their lives or were injured in this tragedy.”
In response to the Gaza hospital explosion, President Biden has decided to postpone his visit to Jordan, as confirmed by a White House official. Originally, the President was set to travel to Jordan after visiting Israel amid its conflict with Hamas. The official noted, “After consulting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and considering the days of mourning announced by President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, President Biden will delay his travel to Jordan and the planned meetings with these leaders and President Sisi of Egypt.” As reported by Reuters, President Biden departed from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland earlier today. His arrival in Israel is scheduled for Wednesday, when he will express support in response to the terrorist attack by Hamas. During his visit, he intends to engage in consultations with senior Israeli leaders to discuss subsequent actions.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has opted to cancel a previously scheduled meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, according to statements from a senior official. The meeting was initially planned to occur in Jordan, but Abbas is now said to be returning to Ramallah, the administrative center of his government in the occupied West Bank, as per Reuters. This decision followed an incident on Tuesday where an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives.
Condemning the fatal strike on Al Ahli Arab Hospital, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the immediate protection of civilians and healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the WHO expressed strong condemnation of the attack. Earlier in the month, reports indicate that Israel initiated a conflict with Hamas in response to a sudden attack, leading to the reported deaths of over 1,400 individuals and the abduction of approximately 200 hostages. Subsequently, Israel conducted retaliatory airstrikes, resulting in a reported loss of over 2,700 lives in Palestine. Furthermore, Israel imposed a stringent blockade on Gaza and deployed tens of thousands of troops along the border, reportedly preparing for a potential ground offensive.