Biden postpones visit to Jordan, instructs to gather information on Gaza hospital attack

President Biden's statement on the Gaza hospital attack, published on the White House website, said that he "directed the national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened." 

"The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict and we mourn the patients, medical staff and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy," the statement reads. 

The postponement of Biden's trip was announced by a White House spokesman, Ukrinform reports.

"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," the White House spokesman said.

U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his deepest condolences for the innocent victims of the explosion in a hospital in the Gaza Strip and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

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 US administration said. 

• On Tuesday, October 17, Hamas militants claimed that Israel had carried out an air strike on a hospital in Gaza, killing at least 500 people. The IDF has launched an investigation.