Congressional leaders are confident that Israel did not cause the Gaza hospital explosion.

Jerusalem

Oct. 19, 6:07 a.m.

On Wednesday, President Biden backed Israel’s claim that a Palestinian group was responsible for causing

An explosion in a Gaza hospital killed hundreds

He announced that Israel would also allow desperately needed aid to enter the Gaza Strip, which is under siege.

The statements made by Mr. Biden in Tel Aviv did not seem to have any impact on the situation.

Widespread anger

Over the War and the

Carnage at Ahli Arab on Tuesday

The hospital in Gaza City has sparked widespread anti-Israel protests, from Rabat, Morocco to Tehran. The hospital grounds were a refuge for many civilians who had sought shelter from Israel's bombardment campaign.

Hamas, a Palestinian group which controls Gaza and fights Israel, has blamed an Israeli strike without providing any evidence. This claim was widely accepted throughout the Middle East.

Officials in the United States said that evidence from various sources was available.

A failed rocket launch was highlighted

The explosion was caused by rockets fired from Gaza at Israel. This was the conclusion Israeli officials presented on Tuesday evening.

'From what I have seen, it seems that it was the other team and not you', Mr. Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as they sat next to each other in a Tel Aviv Hotel before a group journalists. There are a lot people who don't know. We have a lot to do, and we need to overcome many things.

In response to

Hamas

Israel's airstrikes on Gaza have been a response to the attack and hostage taking that took place in Gaza on October 7. The territory has been closed off from imports of essential supplies.

Tell 1.1 Million People

In northern Gaza, to evacuate south while apparently preparing for an invasion by ground troops. Gaza's two million residents are running out of food and water.

Water, food, fuel and electricity are all examples of medicine.

Many are homeless, with hundreds of thousands displaced.

After heavy Israeli bombardment on Kahn Younis in southern Gaza on Wednesday, people seeking help.

Credit...

Samar Abu Elouf, The New York Times

In a Tel Aviv speech, Mr. Biden announced $100,000,000 in aid for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Gaza. He also said that he had obtained a commitment from Israel to allow food and water into Gaza via Egypt.

A deal like this would be a huge step towards alleviating the humanitarian crisis that is escalating in Gaza. However, there have been reports of a deal being imminent but none has materialized.

The office of Mr. Netanyahu said Israel would not prevent aid from reaching Gaza via the Rafah border crossing -- the only official gateway to Egypt -- so long as it did not reach Hamas. Hamas controls the territory so it is unclear what Israel would do.

Egypt has been clear in its refusal to allow an influx into Gaza, and the Rafah border crossing has been closed ever since the conflict began.

Trucks waiting on the Egyptian side

To go through.

Later, Mr. Biden told reporters aboard Air Force One he persuaded Egypt to allow 20 trucks worth of humanitarian aid in Gaza for an initial test. He did not specify when. He said that if Hamas intercepted aid, Egypt would cut it off. If not, Egypt will allow more to enter.

According to the Israeli assessment and photos of the aftermath, the blast that occurred on Tuesday in the hospital owned by the Jerusalem diocese Episcopal Church was centered around a courtyard and parking area. Multiple fires were ignited.

Gazan officials announced on Wednesday 471 deaths and hundreds of injuries. These figures cannot be independently verified.

The scene was littered by charred vehicles, blankets, and backpacks. Buildings in the area were largely unharmed but had suffered some damage.

Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, the Gazan Health Ministry's spokesperson, stated that wounded survivors were transported to another hospital where doctors performed surgery on floors or in corridors without anesthesia.

In a press release, he stated that 'the sudden increase in hundreds of complex injury victims far exceeded the abilities of medical crews' and ambulances.

Amir Ahmed, paramedic at the Palestinian Red Crescent, in Gaza City said: 'There's still a lot of bodies that they haven’t collected yet.' He said that some bodies were damaged too badly to be identified, and the victims will be buried on Wednesday in a large grave.

A blast at the Ahli Arab Hospital on Tuesday night killed hundreds.

Credit...

Mohammed Saber/EPA, via Shutterstock

Daniel Hagari (a spokesperson for the Israeli army) displayed a drone aerial photo at a Wednesday morning news briefing. He said that the damage did not match an Israeli airstrike. A strike of this magnitude would have caused a large crater, and structural damage to surrounding buildings. Yet there was no evidence.

Israeli officials also provided what they claimed was evidence that a barrage rockets were fired near Israel by Palestinian Islamic Jihad - a group operating in Gaza, which is aligned to Hamas. Israeli officials claim that one of their rockets, often malfunctioning, hit the hospital.

Admiral Hagari stated that the majority of the damage was caused by the flammable propellant in the rocket, which had not traveled very far when it struck.

When asked by a journalist what he used to blame 'the opposing team', Mr. Biden replied, "The data that my Defense Department showed me."

Other U.S. officials, who spoke under the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive material, cited a variety of intelligence sources. These included infrared data from satellites showing a launch of a rocket from Palestinian positions in Gaza as well as open-source videos showing it was not from Israeli positions. They also said that Israel had shared with the United States intercepted communications between Hamas fighters claiming the attack was from Palestinians.

The officials cautioned, however, that this was a preliminary analysis and they were still gathering and analyzing the evidence.

On Wednesday, families and supporters held pictures of kidnapped persons near a Tel Aviv military base.

Credit...

Avishag Yashuv for The New York Times

Since Hamas, which is backed by Iran, and is dedicated to the destruction Israel, took control of the strip in 2007, Israel and Egypt have partially blockedaded Gaza. Since 2007, the economy of Gaza has steadily declined, exacerbated by repeated armed conflicts between Israel and Hamas. However, none of these clashes were as bad as this one.

Hamas militants from Gaza, armed with rockets, broke through Israel's border fence on October 7, taking Israel's security and military services by surprise. They then overran dozens villages, military bases, and even a music festival. Israeli officials claim that they killed 1,400 people -- mostly civilians -- and took 200 hostages to Gaza.

Israel has responded with airstrikes that it claims are meant to wipe out Hamas's military infrastructure and Hamas itself. Gaza's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that 3,478 civilians had died in Gaza. This includes those killed in the hospital attack.

While condemning Hamas' attack, U.N. officials, international rights groups and aid agencies have criticised Israel's response. They have condemned the killing of innocent civilians, destruction of homes and schools, and the directive for mass evacuation, which they have called inhumane.

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An emotional speech

In Tel Aviv Mr. Biden spoke out strongly about the Hamas attacks, despite not having publicly criticized Israel's war conduct. He spoke of the Holocaust, the Islamic State and the courage of rescuers as well as the grief of those who have lost loved ones.

He said: 'Raping, beheadings and bodies burning alive. "Hamas has committed atrocities that remind us of the worst crimes of ISIS. They have unleashed pure, unadulterated evil on the world." The brutality that we witnessed would have been felt anywhere in the World, but in Israel it was even more intense.

He urged Israelis to not let anger cloud judgment, and appeared to advise restraint. Biden stated that they'screamed out of justice' and added, "But I caution you: while you feel this rage, do not be consumed by it."

On Wednesday, smoke rose after airstrikes on the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Credit...

Yousef Maoud for The New York Times

He made a comparison to the United States following 9/11 when he said that 'we too made mistakes'. This was an apparent reference to Mr. Biden's vote for the Iraq invasion, which he later regretted.

Biden claimed that the vast majority of Palestinians were not Hamas. He accused the group of using civilians in Gaza as human shields. He added that the Palestinians are also suffering. We mourn the innocent Palestinian deaths. Like the rest of the world, I am outraged by the huge loss of lives yesterday at the Gaza hospital.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari is the Middle East Regional Director of the World Health Organization. He said that on Wednesday, Israeli soldiers had told 20 hospitals, including Ahli Arabic, in northern Gaza to evacuate. He said the order was unrealistic, given the insecurity and critical conditions of many patients, as well as the lack of ambulances and staff.

Israel's military admitted calling Ahli Arabs in recent days. It said that this was not due to a planned attack, but rather as part of a larger push to evacuate northern Israel.

Mr. Biden was going to travel from Israel to Jordan to meet the leaders of Jordan and Egypt, as well as the Palestinian Authority. However, this meeting had to be cancelled on Tuesday due to the hospital strike. Mr. Biden returned to the United States Wednesday.

Patrick Kingsley, Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear reported from Tel Aviv. Katie Rogers and Michael D. Shear from Washington. Julian E. Barnes contributed to the reporting, as did Adam Entous. Helene Cooper. Aaron Boxerman. David E. Sanger. Hiba Yazbek. Raja Abdulrahim. Yousur Al-Hlou. Christoph Koettl. Nadav Gauvrielov. Monika Pronczuk. Farnaz Fassihi. Matina StevisGridneff. Vivia Yee.

A photo of Ayatollah Khamenei that was reportedly distributed by the Iranian Supreme Leader's office, Ayatollah Al Khamenei on Tuesday, is said to have been taken in Tehran.

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Iranian supreme leadership office via Shutterstock

Iranian officials warned publicly that new fronts could open against Israel in the region if it continued its offensive on Gaza. On Wednesday, Iran's State Television aired an episode detailing how such attacks might unfold.

The report began with Ayatollah Khamenei as the supreme leader.

Saying that "nobody can stop the forces the resistance" if the conflict continues, referring to the network of militias in the region who are supported by Iran.

The report said that the Houthis from Yemen, the Syrian and Iraqi militias from Syria, and Hezbollah from Lebanon would coordinate their attacks on Israel using missiles and drones, creating a'siege from all sides'.

Iran's State Television broadcasts hyperbole and propaganda from the Islamic Republic. The threats of military action could be part a larger strategy to increase fear of the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading in the region.

The segment stated that the Houthis of Yemen have missiles with a maximum range of 1,200 miles, and that Hezbollah of Lebanon has a cache advanced missiles capable of targeting Israeli warships on the Mediterranean Sea or the city of Tel Aviv.

According to the report, Iraqi militia groups are positioned alongside Syrian militias in the vicinity of Golan Heights. This is an area Israel seized from Syria in 1967 before annexing it.

Younis Shadlou, the state television reporter who identified himself as the narrator in his sign-off at the end of the three-and-a-half-minute piece, said that 'these operations could happen in the next few days' if Mr. Khamenei's call for an end to Gaza's bombardment wasn't heeded.

Tensions

Already the flames are flaring

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging gunfire along Israel's north border every day since Hamas launched their deadly attack. Both sides have reported casualties. The fighting has so far not extended beyond the border.

In the region too, the American military is on high alert. According to a Central Command statement, on Wednesday in Iraq, President Biden's bold wartime visit was a show to Israel of support. The U.S. Military said they had intercepted drones which were threatening American and allied military personnel. The statement stated that in one incident, coalition soldiers sustained "minor injuries."

In its latest report, published on Wednesday, the International Crisis Group (a conflict prevention group) said that if the bombing continued, it was vital to prevent the fighting from spreading to other theaters. The International Crisis Group, a conflict prevention organization, said that if the bombing continues, it is vital that fighting does not spread to other theaters, in its latest report on the Israel-Hamas war, released on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Israeli soldiers were seen on a tank in a camp located near Kibbutz Beiri. Israel has been preparing forces to invade the Gaza Strip.

Credit...

Tamir Kalifa, The New York Times

Some Israelis who had family members kidnapped during the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, by Hamas gunmen, are divided over the idea to send troops into the enclave.

Maayanzin, whose daughters were taken hostage, aged 15 and 8, believes that the government should do everything possible to get the girls back.

In an interview, she stated that she did not understand the concept of defense and war. I just want my daughters back -- the world and the prime Minister, as well as the chief of the military staff.

She said that they should do anything, including a prisoner swap deal, an air-backflip, or a military operation. They just needed to bring my daughters back. My daughters are worth any price.

The two girls are living with their father, the ex-husband of Ms. Zin, in Kibbutz Nahal Oz. This is one of the communities that were overrun by the Gaza Strip.