Top developments on Israel Hamas War Day 13: Limited aid allowed for Gaza after Biden’s visit; UK PM Rishi Sunak in Israel today

On the day of Biden’s visit, the White House released a statement that as per the US government’s analysis, Israel was not responsible for the Gaza hospital blast. The assessment was based on intelligence overhead imagery, intercepts and open-source information, according to the White House as reported by PTI. Hamas had blamed an Israeli airstrike for the hospital blast while Israel denied its involvement, instead blaming it on a missile misfire by Islamic Jihad, which has also rejected responsibility.

Israel-Hamas War | Rage at the Gaza hospital blast carnage spreads

Here’s a round-up of the top developments so far:

1. 01

   Israel will not block aid coming from Egypt into Gaza, says Netanyahu’s office

   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Wednesday said that the country will not block aid coming from Egypt to South Gaza, but it will not allow humanitarian supplies into Gaza from the Israeli side of the border till the hostages are not returned.

   "In light of President (Joseph) Biden’s demand, Israel will not thwart humanitarian supplies from Egypt as long as it is only food, water and medicine for the civilian population in the south Gaza Strip,” it said in a statement.

   This announcement came after US President Joe Biden's visit to Israel on Wednesday during which he urged Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza

2. 02

   UK PM Rishi Sunak to visit Israel today

   Rishik Sunak’s office has said he will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog on Thursday. He will condemn Hamas’ “horrific act of terror” and express condolences for the “terrible loss of life” in both Israel and Gaza. He’ll also visit “a number of other regional capitals,” Downing Street said, without providing details.

   The British leader’s trip follows a visit to Israel on Wednesday by US President Joe Biden.

3. 03

   US govt's assessment shows Israel not responsible for Gaza hospital blast: White House

   The White House on Wednesday said that a US analysis indicates that Israel was not responsible for the deadly blast at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of civilians on Tuesday. It was basing its assessment on intelligence overhead imagery, intercepts and open source information, as per PTI reports.

   The assessment by the US came on Wednesday the same day when President Joe Biden made a show of solidarity with Israel during his visit there.

   The massive explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital late on Tuesday night killed 471 people and injured 314 others, the Palestinian Health Ministry has said.

4. 04

   Gaza hospital blast caused by militants, says Joe Biden

   Before the White House statement denying Israel's responsibility in the Gaza hospital blast, US President Joe Biden during his visit backed Israel’s account that the explosion was caused by militants.

   Israel has been badly victimised, but it should explore the opportunity to relieve the suffering of people in Gaza who have nowhere to go, US President Joe Biden has said.

   President Biden made a show of solidarity with Israel during his visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday and held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

5. 05

   Palestinian man killed by Israeli forces in West Bank, says report

   According to Reuters, a Palestinian man was killed by Israeli forces in the village of Budrus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Palestinian official news agency WAFA said that Israeli forces stormed the village in the early hours of Thursday, shooting dead a young man, Gebriel Awad, and wounding another.

   Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinian teenagers near Ramallah in the West Bank during widespread protests against Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said according to news agency Reuters.

   A statement from the Palestinian Authority's health ministry said Israeli forces shot a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old in the village of Shuqba west of Ramallah. It did not elaborate.

6. 06

   Dozens of protesting Palestinians arrested in West Bank, say rights groups

   Rights groups in the occupied West Bank say Palestinian security forces arrested dozens of Palestinians protesting the deadly explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Meanwhile, thousands demonstrated outside the consulates of Israel and the United States in Istanbul late yesterday.

7. 07

   US imposes new sanctions on Iran

   Amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that America is imposing new sanctions to counter Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs.

   Today, the United States is imposing new sanctions to counter Iran’s ballistic missile and UAV programs.

   — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 18, 2023

8. 08

   Highlights of what followed after Biden's visit to Israel

   • President Biden says the US will provide $100 million in humanitarian assistance for Palestinians affected by conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.
   • “I just announced $100 million for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. This money will support over 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

   I just announced $100 million for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank.

   This money will support over 1 million displaced and conflict-affected Palestinians.

   And we will have mechanisms in place so this aid reaches those in need – not Hamas or terrorist groups.

   — President Biden (@POTUS) October 18, 2023

   • The United States vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Wednesday that would have called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip, according to AP.
9. 09

   US announces sanctions against a group of 10 Hamas members

   The US announced sanctions Wednesday against a group of 10 Hamas members and the Palestinian militant organisation’s financial network across Gaza, Sudan, Turkiye, Algeria and Qatar as it responds to the surprise attack on Israel that left more than 1,000 people dead or kidnapped.