WASHINGTON – President Biden departed Washington on Tuesday for a visit to Israel to show support for the Jewish state in its conflict with the Hamas terror group – just hours after a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital marred the mission.
The White House revealed moments after Biden boarded Air Force One that he was canceling a scheduled stop in Jordan to attend a meeting in Israel on Wednesday.
A mob what’s up attempted to storm the Israeli embassy in Amman late Tuesday — hours before Biden was expected to visit — after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas backed out of meeting Biden in Amman.
Biden is also scheduled to meet with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.
“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 trip to Jordan and his planned meeting with both these leaders and President Sisi of Egypt,” White House said in a statement.
“The President expressed his deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and wished the injured a speedy recovery. He looks forward to consulting personally with these leaders soon, and has agreed to remain on a regular basis and engage directly with each of them in the coming days.”
President Biden departed Washington Tuesday for a visit to Israel to show support for the Jewish state in its conflict with the Hamas terrorist group hours after a deadly explosion at a Gaza hospital.AP Air Force One prepares for takeoff at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. , Tuesday, Oct. 17 2023.AP A mob reportedly tried to storm the Israeli embassy in Amman late Tuesday — hours before Biden was expected to visit — after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas backed out of meeting Biden in Amman.AP The White House said in a statement, “The President offered his condolences deeply for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and pray for a speedy recovery for the injured.” AP
Hamas, which rules Gaza, blamed Israel for the hospital blast and said that more than 500 people had died at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.
The region has been battered by Israeli airstrikes for more than a week in response to Hamas’ slaughter of 1,300 people — including at least 30 Americans — in southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Israeli authorities said preliminary evidence, supported by video footage, showed that the tragedy was caused by a misfired rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which is affiliated with Hamas.
Hamas, which rules Gaza, blamed Israel for the hospital blast and said that more than 500 people had died at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital. ‘ the slaughter of 1,300 people — including at least 30 Americans in southern Israel.AP Israeli authorities said preliminary evidence, backed by video footage, suggested the tragedy was caused by a misfired rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which is affiliated with Hamas. Anadolu via Getty Images
“The whole world should know: It was the barbaric terrorists in Gaza who attacked the hospitals in Gaza, and not the IDF,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted.
“Those who brutally killed our children also killed their own children.”
Biden’s visit to Israel was intended “to demonstrate his strong support for Israel in the face of the brutal terrorist attacks of Hamas and to discuss next steps,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted, “The whole world should know: It was the barbaric terrorists in Gaza who attacked the hospitals in Gaza, and not the IDF.” REUTERS President Biden’s visit to Israel is intended “to demonstrate his steadfast support for Israel in the face of the brutal terrorist attacks of Hamas and to discuss next steps,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday. AP Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has also made the visit recently to Israel told The Post that he is collecting “a long list” of Israeli aid requests that he wants approved by Congress “as soon as possible.” AFP via Getty Images
The Jordanian leg of the one-day trip was supposed to be used to “reiterate that Hamas does not defend the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination and to discuss the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza,” Jean-Pierre added.
Biden’s visit comes as thousands of US citizens try to evacuate both Israel and Gaza and as an unknown number of Americans remain among at least 200 hostages kidnapped by Hamas in its violent attacks.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have also made recent trips to Israel — with Schumer telling The Post that he compiled a “long list” of Israeli aid requests that he wants to be approved by Congress “as soon as possible.”
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