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| Biden backs Israel's account of deadly Gaza hospital explosion | Biden backs Israel's account of deadly Gaza hospital explosion |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| President Joe Biden was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu | President Joe Biden was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu |
| US President Joe Biden has said a deadly blast at a Gaza hospital appears to have been caused by Palestinian militants, backing Israel's account of the incident as he visits the country. | US President Joe Biden has said a deadly blast at a Gaza hospital appears to have been caused by Palestinian militants, backing Israel's account of the incident as he visits the country. |
| Mr Biden, who landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, said he was "deeply saddened and outraged" by the explosion. | Mr Biden, who landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, said he was "deeply saddened and outraged" by the explosion. |
| Israel's military said it was caused by a failed Palestinian rocket launch. | Israel's military said it was caused by a failed Palestinian rocket launch. |
| But Palestinian officials said an Israeli air strike hit the hospital. | But Palestinian officials said an Israeli air strike hit the hospital. |
| During his visit, Mr Biden also announced that Israel has agreed to let humanitarian aid from Egypt into Gaza. | During his visit, Mr Biden also announced that Israel has agreed to let humanitarian aid from Egypt into Gaza. |
| Access to food, water, fuel and power has been blocked by Israel since the conflict began, sparking deep humanitarian concerns. | Access to food, water, fuel and power has been blocked by Israel since the conflict began, sparking deep humanitarian concerns. |
| Israel, the president said, agreed to let the aid in based on the understanding it would go to civilians and not Hamas. | Israel, the president said, agreed to let the aid in based on the understanding it would go to civilians and not Hamas. |
| Mr Biden also said $100m (£82m) in US funding would be be allocated to support Palestinian civilians. | Mr Biden also said $100m (£82m) in US funding would be be allocated to support Palestinian civilians. |
| Shortly afterwards, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel would not prevent food, water and medicine going from Egypt to the civilian population in southern Gaza. | Shortly afterwards, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel would not prevent food, water and medicine going from Egypt to the civilian population in southern Gaza. |
| However, it would not allow any aid to pass through its own territory until hostages being held by Hamas are released. Nearly 200 people have been abducted, Israel says. | However, it would not allow any aid to pass through its own territory until hostages being held by Hamas are released. Nearly 200 people have been abducted, Israel says. |
| Who are the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel? | Who are the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel? |
| Biden's visit to Israel is a high-stakes gamble | Biden's visit to Israel is a high-stakes gamble |
| Mr Biden's high-stakes visit has been overshadowed by the blast at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday evening, which has further inflamed tensions and sparked protests across the region. | Mr Biden's high-stakes visit has been overshadowed by the blast at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday evening, which has further inflamed tensions and sparked protests across the region. |
| Biden says he is "outraged and saddened" by the loss of life | |
| Biden says he is "outraged and saddened" by the loss of life | |
| Health officials in Gaza have said almost 500 people were killed in the explosion, which one doctor called "a massacre". | Health officials in Gaza have said almost 500 people were killed in the explosion, which one doctor called "a massacre". |
| The US president landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday where he was greeted warmly by Mr Netanyahu, before the pair hosted a joint news conference. | The US president landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday where he was greeted warmly by Mr Netanyahu, before the pair hosted a joint news conference. |
| "I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday," Mr Biden said. | "I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion at the hospital in Gaza yesterday," Mr Biden said. |
| "Based on what I've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you," he told Mr Netanyahu. "But there's a lot of people out there not sure so we have to overcome a lot of things." | "Based on what I've seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you," he told Mr Netanyahu. "But there's a lot of people out there not sure so we have to overcome a lot of things." |
| Mr Biden was later asked by reporters what led him to conclude that Israel was not responsible, and said: "The data I was shown by my defence department." | Mr Biden was later asked by reporters what led him to conclude that Israel was not responsible, and said: "The data I was shown by my defence department." |
| A senior US official has told CBS, the BBC's US partner, that the US has its own intelligence - in addition to Israel's - that includes communications intercepts and satellite photos which gives it "high confidence" Israel was not behind the strike. | A senior US official has told CBS, the BBC's US partner, that the US has its own intelligence - in addition to Israel's - that includes communications intercepts and satellite photos which gives it "high confidence" Israel was not behind the strike. |
| The official said there were "indications" that it was an errant rocket fired by a group in Gaza. | The official said there were "indications" that it was an errant rocket fired by a group in Gaza. |
| In the news conference, Mr Biden reiterated his support for Israel and condemned the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza on 7 October that left 1,400 people dead. | In the news conference, Mr Biden reiterated his support for Israel and condemned the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from Gaza on 7 October that left 1,400 people dead. |
| But Mr Biden also sounded a warning to Israel not to be "consumed by rage" but to observe the "laws of war". | But Mr Biden also sounded a warning to Israel not to be "consumed by rage" but to observe the "laws of war". |
| At least 3,000 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. | At least 3,000 people have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. |
| Mr Biden had planned to travel from Israel to Jordan to meet King Abdullah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, but that leg of the trip was cancelled after the hospital blast on Tuesday. | Mr Biden had planned to travel from Israel to Jordan to meet King Abdullah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, but that leg of the trip was cancelled after the hospital blast on Tuesday. |
| Watch: Chaos in Gaza City after hospital hit | Watch: Chaos in Gaza City after hospital hit |
| Watch: Chaos in Gaza City after hospital hit | Watch: Chaos in Gaza City after hospital hit |
| Jordan cancelled the meeting and condemned what it called "a great calamity and a heinous war crime". The White House, meanwhile, said the decision had been "made in a mutual way" and Mr Biden would call Mr Abbas and Mr Sisi on his return flight to the US. | Jordan cancelled the meeting and condemned what it called "a great calamity and a heinous war crime". The White House, meanwhile, said the decision had been "made in a mutual way" and Mr Biden would call Mr Abbas and Mr Sisi on his return flight to the US. |
| Hamas blamed Israel for the hospital blast, calling it a "war crime". A spokesperson for Mr Abbas, who is based in the occupied West Bank, accused Israel of a "heinous crime". | Hamas blamed Israel for the hospital blast, calling it a "war crime". A spokesperson for Mr Abbas, who is based in the occupied West Bank, accused Israel of a "heinous crime". |
| But the Israeli military said it had proof its forces were not behind the blast and that it was instead caused by rockets misfired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. | But the Israeli military said it had proof its forces were not behind the blast and that it was instead caused by rockets misfired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. |
| Meanwhile, the US has announced sanctions on key Hamas members and operatives on Wednesday, in an effort to limit the revenue flow for the group. | Meanwhile, the US has announced sanctions on key Hamas members and operatives on Wednesday, in an effort to limit the revenue flow for the group. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Middle East | Middle East |
| Israel-Gaza war | Israel-Gaza war |
| Israel | Israel |
| Gaza | Gaza |
| United States | United States |
| Joe Biden | Joe Biden |