US President Biden's meeting in Jordan cancelled

The leaders of Jordan, the US, Egypt and Palestine have jointly decided to cancel a summit that was scheduled in Amman for Wednesday, just hours before President Joe Biden was set to visit the region.

Speaking to Al-Mamlaka TV channel, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the decision was made "after consulting with our Palestinian brothers and our brothers in Egypt and after talking with the United States".

He added that the meeting would be held at a time when the parties could agree to end the "war and the massacres against Palestinians".

It comes after a deadly bombing of the Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip left hundreds dead and wounded.

The US President was set to meet Jordan's King Abdullah II,  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sision after his visit to Israel on Wednesday.

Taking to his official social media handle, Biden said he was "deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted".

"I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and have directed my 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."

I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted. Immediately upon hearing this news, I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and have directed my national…

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 17, 2023

The White House confirmed that Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and King Abdullah after the attack on the Gaza hospital.