Title: Massive Blast at Gaza Hospital Halts Biden’s Diplomatic Mission
Date: October 18, 2023
Gaza/ Tel Aviv – A massive explosion at the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital in Gaza has halted U.S. President Joe Biden’s diplomatic mission in the Middle East. The blast, which killed a large number of Palestinians, unfolded as Biden arrived in Israel to show support for its war against Hamas. While Israeli officials claimed that the explosion was caused by militants, Palestinian authorities blamed an Israeli airstrike.
The devastating explosion wreaked havoc on the hospital and undermined Biden’s efforts to calm the region. Arab leaders subsequently canceled the second half of Biden’s itinerary, which included a summit in Amman with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority. This summit was crucial for reinforcing aid to Gaza and preventing further escalation.
Palestinian officials stated that the blast killed as many as 500 people and accused Israel of carrying out an airstrike. On the other hand, Israel attributed the explosion to a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, which denied responsibility.
President Biden, standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed his outrage at the hospital explosion. He emphasized that based on the evidence he had seen, it appeared as though the explosion was caused by the other team, not Israel. However, he acknowledged the need to overcome the existing doubts surrounding the incident.
The scenes of destruction from the hospital were nightmarish, even by the standards set during the past 12 days of violence and bloodshed. The hospital staff, along with rescue workers, searched the debris for survivors. Dr. Fadel Naim, Head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Al-Ahli al-Arabi, described how the hospital had been filled with dead and wounded, dismembered bodies. The hospital team struggled to save lives overwhelmed by the sheer number of casualties.
Following the explosion, Israel released drone footage of the scene, arguing that the lack of an impact crater disproved their involvement. The Israeli military also published an audio recording it claimed was of militants discussing failed rocket launches. They suggested that the Palestinian death toll of 500 appeared to be exaggerated.
While Palestinians were convinced that the explosion was an Israeli attack, Israel maintained that there had been no warning for civilians to evacuate a hospital that had served as a shelter for thousands of displaced Gazans.
The blast further fueled anger across the Middle East, undermining Biden’s attempts to control the situation. Protests erupted in the West Bank, Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon. Biden’s goal of alleviating the plight of civilians in the Gaza Strip became increasingly challenging amid mounting tensions.
As the situation unfolds, the international community eagerly awaits Biden’s response to the crisis and his efforts to de-escalate the violence in the region.
The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been ongoing for decades, and this recent escalation has once again highlighted the urgent need for a peaceful and lasting solution to this enduring crisis.
In Memoriam: Our thoughts and condolences go out to all those affected by the recent violence and their loved ones during this tragic time.
*This article was written by a senior correspondent with extensive experience covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict including several wars and peace agreements.*