Biden's Israel visit plunged into chaos: Crunch summit cancelled, US embassy on FIRE, and terrorists vow 'unprecedented anger'

Biden's Israel visit plunged into chaos: Crunch summit cancelled, US embassy on FIRE, and terrorists vow 'unprecedented anger'

Biden's Israel visit plunged into chaos: Crunch summit cancelled, US embassy on FIRE, and terrorists vow 'unprecedented anger'

REUTERS/GETTY
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 18/10/2023

- 07:45

Updated: 18/10/2023

- 11:26

Jordan pulled out of a summit between the Middle Eastern nation and leaders from Palestine, US and Egypt

  • Joe Biden arrived in Israel shortly before 9am
  • He met with Benjamin Netanyahu and the pair made a joint statement
  • The US President supported Israel's claims about the hospital strike
  • A crunch summit was cancelled following an airstrike on a hospital in Gaza
  • The airstrike prompted protests across the Arab world

Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have made a joint statement after the US President touched down in Tel Aviv.

Biden, 80, was due to visit Israel and meet with officials from other Middle Eastern nations to discuss the instability since Hamas launched its attack on October 7.


However, the visit was plunged into chaos before Biden even touched down in Tel Aviv after an airstrike seemingly hit a hospital in Gaza.

A crunch summit with regional powers was subsequently cancelled, the American embassy in neighbouring Beirut was engulfed by flames and terrorists called for a “day of unprecedented anger” against the US.

WATCH NOW: Joe Biden leaves for Israel

The American President supported Israel's account of the Gaza strike.

He said: "According to what I saw, the attack on the hospital was not carried out by Israel."

Despite rejecting the allegation, the hospital incident brings even more instability to the Middle East during Biden's visit.

Jordan pulled out of a summit between the Middle Eastern nation and leaders from Palestine, US and Egypt.

Jordan's foreign minister Ayman Safadi said: "There is no use in talking now about anything except stopping the war."

The summit was cancelled immediately after up to 500 people died in the strike.

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A man walks along with a cycle as Palestinians inspect the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip

A man walks along with a cycle as Palestinians inspect the site of Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip

REUTERS

A White House spokesperson said: "After consulting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and in light of the days of mourning announced by President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, President Biden will postpone his travel to Jordan and the planned meeting with these two leaders and President Sisi of Egypt."

In a statement, President Biden said: "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."

Israel rejected suggestions the IDF was responsible and instead claimed it was the result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Lebanese protesters hang the Palestinian flag and signs on fence of the US embassy fence after hundreds of Palestinians were killed in a blast at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza

Lebanese protesters hang the Palestinian flag and signs on fence of the US embassy fence after hundreds of Palestinians were killed in a blast at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza

REUTERS

The hospital strike sparked violent protesters across the Middle East yesterday.

Demonstrators stormed the Israeli consulate in Jordan and the US embassy in Lebanon was engulfed in flames.

Protests also took place in Turkey, Tunisia and Iran.

Lebanese Islamist terror group Hezbollah denounced the airstrike but called for a "day of unprecedented anger".

Hezbollah said in a statement: "The attack reveals the true criminal face of this entity and its sponsor ... the United States, which bears direct and complete responsibility for this massacre."

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