Biden's Israel visit: what can US president achieve after Gaza hospital blast?

Deadly explosion threatens to derail the US president's diplomatic ambitions during 'high-stakes' visit to region

Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu embrace
The US president told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he was 'outraged' by the explosion
(Image credit: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)

A deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza City has upended the diplomatic ambitions of president Joe Biden, who arrived in the Middle East today amid a flurry of last-minute meeting cancellations, finger-pointing and bitter recrimination.

Hamas blamed Israel for yesterday's explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which is believed to have killed up to 500 people. Israel in turn said that the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group hit the hospital with a malfunctioning rocket.

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Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.