President Joe Biden will not meet with the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and Jordan after his trip to Israel, the White House announced Tuesday evening.
The decision followed an announcement by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he would not be attending the meeting.
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“After consulting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and in light of 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 two leaders and President Sisi of Egypt,” White House officials said in a statement. “The president sent his deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded. He looks forward to consulting in person with these leaders soon, and agreed to remain regularly and directly engaged with each of them over the coming days.”
The president himself did not answer questions about his previously planned travel to Jordan while departing the White House on Tuesday.
Abbas faced major pressure to cancel his meeting with Biden after a bomb or rocket hit a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, killing more than 500, according to the Palestinian Authority.
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An investigation carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces alleged that the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad was responsible for the attack.
“From the analysis of the operational systems of the IDF, an enemy rocket barrage was carried out towards Israel, which passed in the vicinity of the hospital, when it was hit,” IDF Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement. “According to intelligence information, from several sources we have, the [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] organization is responsible for the failed shooting that hit the hospital.”
