Amid escalating Middle East tensions, US President Joe Biden arrived in Israel after a severe rocket explosion at a Gaza hospital, reportedly killing hundreds. Both Hamas and Israel denied involvement, disrupting Biden's scheduled talks with Jordanian, Egyptian, and Palestinian leaders.
Israel, however, presented evidence suggesting the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, occasionally allied with Hamas, was behind the blast.
Here are the main stories from today:
Biden in Israel: Following a Gaza hospital rocket explosion, US President Joe Biden visited Israel. The incident upset his scheduled talks with leaders from Jordan, Egypt, and Palestine. He conveyed his distress to Prime Minister Netanyahu, hinting at Palestinian involvement.
Hospital Blast Dispute: Responsibility for the Gaza hospital blast is disputed. Both Hamas and Israel deny involvement, but Israel shared evidence pointing to Palestinian Islamic Jihad. UK's Rishi Sunak called for restraint and promised an official inquiry.
Iran's Stance: Iran, attributing the hospital attack to Israel, asked the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) members to sanction Israel, including oil embargoes. Iran also advised Islamic nations to cut diplomatic ties with Israel.
Media Row: Sky News' Kay Burley received over 1,500 Ofcom complaints, accused of misrepresenting Palestinian diplomat Husam Zomlot's views.
Egypt on Palestinian Refugees: Egyptian President al-Sisi opposed the idea of accepting Palestinian refugees, citing regional stability concerns and potential public protests.
In summary, heightened tensions in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Palestine, have been amplified by the recent Gaza incident.