Emmanuel Thomas I Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2023
GAZA, Palestine – President Joe Biden of the United States will cut short his journey to the Middle East after his meeting with President of Israel, Benjamin Netanyanhu and return to the United States.
Joe Biden was to travel to Amman, Jordan for a conference of Jordan with Palestine over ongoing war in Gaza occasioned by the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by the military faction of Palestinian Liberation Movement, Hamas, which killed 1400 Israelites.
Biden was to meet with the regional leaders after a similar diplomatic shuttle by U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to call for a united support for Israel in its quest to obliterate Hamas, which the U.S designated a terrorist organisation.
But it was during this visit that an alleged Israeli airstrike hit Al Ahli Baptist Hospital, killing 471 people sheltering in the hospital. According to the Gaza Hospital, 324 Palestinians were injured in the attack besides the 471 killed.
The Israeli Defence Forces, IDF has denied any culpability in the attack and attributed it to failed rocket launch by Hamas and provided evidence to back up their claim even as it intensified bombardment of Gaza.
At a meeting with Netanyanhu, Biden said “You are not responsible for the attack at the hospital, the other side was responsible”, he said, concluding that the attack was carried out by Hamas even as protests continue in Gaza and Lebanon, against Israeli bombardment of Gaza Strip following call by Hezebollah for a day of rage, to protest against continued attacks on Gaza. Hezbollah said “Gaza will not fall”.
It was the attack on the hospital and conclusive utterance of Biden that forced President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan to turn down the meeting with Biden.
In a statement, Jordanian Foreign Minister said there is no need to talk when Gaza is still under continuous bombardment but that the focus should be on ending the war.
So far, about 3,478 Palestinians have been killed with over 12,000 injured, while over 1,400 Israelis have also been killed by Hamas and several injured.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has called for an end to what he described as barbaric war and opening of humanitarian corridors.
“I am horrified by the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in a strike on a hospital in Gaza today, which I strongly condemn. My heart is with the families of the victims. Hospitals and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law.
“I call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Middle East to ease the epic human suffering. Too many lives – and the fate of the entire region – hang in the balance”, he said.
The churches in Jerusalem have also condemned the attack.
’ “In unyielding unity, we vehemently denounced this crime with our strongest condemnation. The initial report of the church hospital in Gaza has left us steeped in sorrow, for it represents a profound aggression against the principle held by humanity. Hospitals designated as sacred havens under international law have been desecrated by military forces.
“We unequivocally described these atrocities as an egregious crime, one demanding the severest censure and international accountability. We implore the global community to embrace its sacred duty to shield civilians and to ensure that such heinous transgressions are never again permitted”, the Patriarchs and Head of the Churches in Jerusalem said in a statement.
