The conflict between Israel and Hamas took a new turn after a bomb struck Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital in Gaza, killing about 500 Palestinians. The incident came hours before U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in the Middle East in his quest to strengthen U.S. support for Israel.
According to Palestinian officials, the attack on the hospital was carried out by Israel during a series of coordinated air strikes in Gaza. Speaking to the media, the Palestinian Authority Health Minister said that Israel was out to ensure the mass killing of Palestine.
In a counterreaction, Israel denied the allegations, saying that the air strike on the hospital was from Hamas. It claimed that one of the rockets launched by Hamas and targeted at Israel failed to land on the hospital.
Hamas has distanced itself from the incident, saying that it was not responsible for such an evil against its own people.
There are varying reports about the incident, with each faction denying responsibility and calling out the other as being the one behind the air strike on the hospital. The Palestinian ministry spokesperson, Ashraf Al-Qudra, said efforts are being made to ensure that everyone is pulled out of the rubble.
However, the Air Force One touched down just before 11 a.m. (0800 GMT) at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed President Biden.
At a meeting between both leaders, President Biden approved Israel’s denial of being responsible for the attack on the hospital. According to him, “it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you.”
It remains unclear if President Biden’s position was based on an intelligence report from a U.S. agency. A report that the air strike was truly from a failed rocket from Hamas.
It is expected that President Biden’s mission to the Middle East will help fast-track the need to restore greater hope in humanitarian efforts and peace within the warring factions.
Meanwhile, the planned meeting between President Biden and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remained cancelled as police struggled to contain the protest rocking Ramallah.
