Palestinians accuse Israelis of bombing Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza on purpose.
On Tuesday, October 18th, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas decided to cancel his participation in a meeting set for Wednesday with President Biden, along with other Middle Eastern leaders, including Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. The meeting was planned to take place in Amman, Jordan, with discussions focused on the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. Abbas withdrew from the meeting in protest of an alleged Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital, which, according to Hamas health officials, resulted in the deaths of more than 500 people. Israel has stated that they are investigating the source of the explosion.
President Biden had planned to visit Israel as a show of support while Israeli forces continued their offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. After the meeting, he was scheduled to visit Jordan but that part of his trip is cancelled. This development reflects the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the complexity of the situation involving Israel and the Palestinians.
