President Joe Biden’s planned visit to Jordan, scheduled after his trip to Israel, has been called off, a senior administration official confirmed. Biden had intended to meet with Arab leaders in Amman, demonstrating solidarity with the U.S. ally amidst its conflict with Hamas.
“After consulting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and considering the days of mourning announced by President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, President Biden will postpone his travel to Jordan and the planned meeting with these leaders and President Sisi of Egypt,” stated a White House official. Biden expressed condolences for the lives lost in the Gaza hospital explosion, extending his wishes for a swift recovery for the injured. The President plans to meet these leaders in person soon and maintain regular engagement with them over the coming days.
The cancellation came after an attack on al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, which reportedly claimed the lives of 200 to 300 people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ministry’s spokesman, Ashraf Al Qudra, accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of bombing the hospital. Hamas, responsible for a previous terrorist attack in Israel, also blamed Israel for the incident.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied Israel’s involvement, attributing the attack to “barbaric terrorists in Gaza” rather than the IDF.
Jordan had earlier announced a four-way summit in Amman, with participation from President Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and King Abdullah, to discuss the situation in Gaza. Despite this, a Jordanian official indicated that all parties agreed to the cancellation, citing unfavorable circumstances for the summit’s objectives.
