Biden in Meeting with Netanyahu: It Seems the Al-Ahli Hospital Explosion Was the Work of the Other Side

U.S. President Joe Biden, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, October 18, referred to the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, stating that based on what he has seen, it appears that this action was 'the work of the other side and not the Israeli army.' According to Arash Sigarchi, a correspondent for Voice of America in Israel, Biden, who arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, added: 'But many are still not sure. Therefore, many issues need to be resolved.' He also stated that 'Hamas has committed disgusting acts' and added: 'In this regard, the Islamic State (ISIS) seems more logical compared to the Hamas militant group.' Health officials in the Hamas government in Gaza claim that hundreds were killed following the Israeli attack on the Al-Ahli Hospital. However, Israel has denied this accusation. In this context, Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, in response to accusations of Israel's involvement in the explosion, referred to evidence obtained by Israeli military units and said: 'We published a recording of two Hamas commanders discussing the misfire of an Islamic Jihad missile at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.' He pointed out that in recent days, over 400 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip have landed within the same area. This Israeli military official also stated that at the time of the explosion, no operations were being conducted by Israeli forces. According to the Voice of America correspondent, the U.S. President told Netanyahu that he is 'angry and upset' about the Al-Ahli Hospital explosion. Biden then stated that he does not consider Hamas to be representative of all Palestinian people. The Hamas militant group, which receives financial and military support from the Islamic Republic, is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and several other countries. Biden confirmed that Hamas has only brought suffering to the Palestinian people and emphasized the need to find ways to assist innocent Palestinians who are caught in the conflict. The U.S. President also described the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 as a 'slaughter.' In this attack, more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed. Additionally, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group took about 200 individuals, including both military personnel and civilians, hostage and brought them to Gaza. Following these attacks, the Israeli army launched strikes on Gaza, which, according to Hamas government officials, resulted in nearly three thousand deaths, including civilians. Nevertheless, the Israeli army claims it only targets Hamas objectives. American lawmakers have urged Biden to hold the Islamic Republic accountable and to increase support for Israel. The U.S. President's trip to Israel began under the influence of the explosion at the Gaza hospital. Biden called the 'attack' on the hospital in Gaza a 'horrific tragedy'; both sides accuse each other. Hundreds were killed in the 'attack' on the hospital in Gaza; Israel claims it was due to an 'unsuccessful firing' by Islamic Jihad.