Day 11 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Tuesday, Oct. 17

A planned four-party summit in Jordan with President Joe Biden has been postponed until further notice, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told Jordanian outlet Roya News and in response to a Gaza hospital blast that killed hundreds. 

The White House confirmed that Biden is no longer going to Jordan. “After consulting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and in light of the days of mourning announced by President [Mahmoud] Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, President Biden will postpone his travel to Jordan and the planned meeting with these two leaders and President [Abdel Fattah] al-Sisi of Egypt,” the White House said. It added that Biden sent his “deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.” 

A regional official told Al-Monitor’s Jared Szuba that the decision to cancel Biden’s summit in Amman was “collective,” not a unilateral one by Jordan. 

Following his visit to Israel planned for Wednesday, Biden was due to meet with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority in Amman on Wednesday to discuss the Gaza crisis. Earlier Tuesday, Abbas reportedly withdrew from the summit in protest following a deadly explosion at a Gaza City hospital that Hamas blamed on Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said a failed rocket launch from Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad caused the blast. 

Hamas officials said at least 300 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike at Gaza City's al-Ahli hospital around 9:30 pm local time. 

A Hamas statement said the airstrike that hit Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital "left hundreds of casualties, most of them displaced families, patients, children and women." 

The Israel Defense Forces denied responsibility and said a failed rocket launch from the militant group Islamic Jihad, not an Israeli airstrike, caused the deadly explosion at the hospital. “An enemy rocket barrage was carried out toward Israel, which passed through the vicinity of the hospital when it was hit,” the IDF said in a statement. “According to intelligence information from several sources we have, the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization is responsible for the failed shooting that hit the hospital.”

A correspondent for Al-Monitor in Gaza City described scenes of chaos in the area of the attack. “The electricity is gone, so ambulances and transporting bodies is even harder.” The correspondent, who prefers to stay anonymous for safety reasons, said wounded militants from Hamas and other groups have been receiving treatment at Gaza hospitals but emphasized that al-Ahli hosted a large number of those displaced.

The news comes as Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a direct threat to the United States on Tuesday, saying Washington “must be held responsible” for the Israel-Hamas escalation. The Pentagon ordered around 2,000 troops to be on heightened alert to potentially deploy to the region, as US President Joe Biden readies for a rare trip to Israel and Jordan on Wednesday.

The death toll has now exceeded 4,000, with nearly 3,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis killed.

The fighting entered day 11 on Tuesday as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continued shuttle diplomacy and visited Amman. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Israel and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while French President Emmanuel Macron said he will visit Israel “in the coming days.” The foreign visits reflect both solidarity with Israel and concerns over Netanyahu’s leadership in risking a regional war.

Meanwhile, intense negotiations to open the Rafah crossing continued as a blast hit the area, adding to operational problems that could delay opening the only passage out of Gaza.

On Tuesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah said that neither his country nor Egypt will accept Palestinian refugees, declaring it a "red line."

Rina Bassist, Ezgi Akin, Beatrice Farhat, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Adam Lucente, Jack Dutton, Jared Szuba and Al-Monitor’s contributors on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel contributed to this blog.

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Live updates (all times EDT):

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023

11:40 pm: Israel-Lebanon border clashes continue, injuring soldiers

Four Israeli soldiers were injured by a missile fired from Lebanese territory toward the northern Israeli village of Shtula in the Upper Galilee region, said the IDF, which retaliated with artillery. Hezbollah took responsibility for the missile.

10:00 pm: US tells citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon due to security situation

The US State Department has raised its travel alert for Lebanon in light of ongoing cross-border fire between Hezbollah and Israel and following a night of protests in front of the US Embassy near Beirut in response to a massive strike at a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds. The travel advisory for Lebanon was raised to “do not travel,” according to the State Department, due to “the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah or other armed militant factions.” 

9:00 pm: Protesters outside US Embassy in Lebanon

Hundreds of protesters reportedly gathered at the US Embassy in Awkar, a suburb of Beirut, Lebanon. 

According to Reuters, more than 100 protesters were near the embassy carrying Palestinian flags ahead of a “day of rage” declared by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Wednesday. 

7:09 pm: Biden ‘outraged’ by Gaza hospital blast

President Joe Biden said he is “outraged and deeply saddened” by the explosion at Gaza's al-Ahli hospital that Palestinian health officials said killed hundreds of people.

“Immediately upon hearing this news, 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,” Biden said in a statement after departing for Israel.

Hamas blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, while Israel said the hospital was hit by an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants.

6:45 pm: Jordan summit cancelation was 'collective'

A regional official told Al-Monitor’s Jared Szuba that the decision to cancel Biden’s summit in Amman was “collective,” not a unilateral one by Jordan. 

6:00 pm: Biden no longer going to Jordan 

President Joe Biden will no longer visit Jordan on Wednesday. “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 [Abdel Fattah] al-Sisi of Egypt,” the White House said. It added that Biden sent his “deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.” 

5:30 pm: Jordan calls off summit with Biden

A planned four-party summit in Jordan with President Joe Biden has been postponed until further notice, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told Jordanian outlet Roya News. Following his visit to Israel, Biden was due to meet with the leaders of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday to discuss the Gaza crisis. Earlier Tuesday, PA President Mahmoud Abbas reportedly withdrew from the summit in protest following a deadly explosion at a Gaza City hospital that Hamas blamed on Israel. The IDF said a failed rocket launch from Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad caused the blast. 

4:43 pm: Hezbollah blames US for strike on Gaza hospital, calls for ‘day of anger’

Hezbollah denounced what it alleged was an Israeli strike on al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City while also blaming the United States.

“These acts, over the years of the oppressive occupation, reveal the true criminal nature of this entity, its malevolent sponsor, and the principal culprit, the United States of America, which bears direct and complete responsibility for this and all crimes perpetrated by the Zionist enemy,” read a statement carried by Hezbollah’s media outlet, Al-Manar.

Hezbollah declared that Wednesday should be a "a day of unparalleled anger against the enemy” in response to the attack, referencing US President Joe Biden’s planned visit to Israel on that day, according to Al-Manar. Read more here.

4:15 pm: Chaos, power outage near site of hospital attack

A correspondent for Al-Monitor in Gaza City described scenes of chaos in the area of the attack. “The electricity is gone, so ambulances and transporting bodies is even harder.” The correspondent, who prefers to stay anonymous for safety reasons, said wounded militants from Hamas and other groups have been receiving treatment at Gaza hospitals but emphasized that al-Ahli hosted a large number of those displaced.

3:52 pm: Gulf states, Egypt condemn Israel over Gaza hospital bombing

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said it “condemns in the strongest terms the atrocious crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces” in reference to the blast at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City. Adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates Anwar Gargash tweeted, "The human tragedy and scenes of horror for innocent people is the result of Israeli targeting” of the hospital. 

Earlier, the foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt issued statements condemning Israel for the incident. Gaza authorities said Israel struck the hospital, while the IDF blamed a failed rocket launch from the militant group Islamic Jihad.

3:50 pm: Hamas leader calls Gaza hospital strike 'massacre' 

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh strongly denounced the alleged Israeli airstrike against a Gaza City hospital, referring to the incident as a “massacre” and vowing to continue the fight against Israel.

“The resistance continues and will not cease until the occupier leaves our land and holy sites,” said Haniyeh in a video message broadcast by Al Jazeera Arabic. Speaking from Qatar, Haniyeh added that the United States has "provided cover" for Israel and "carries responsibility" for the attack.

3:38 pm: Israel blames Islamic Jihad for Gaza hospital blast 

The IDF said a failed rocket launch from the militant group Islamic Jihad, not an Israeli airstrike, caused the deadly explosion at al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. “An enemy rocket barrage was carried out toward Israel, which passed through the vicinity of the hospital when it was hit,” the IDF said in a statement. “According to intelligence information from several sources we have, the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization is responsible for the failed shooting that hit the hospital.”

3:00 pm: Israel warns citizens to leave Turkey 

Israel’s National Security Council raised the level of travel warning to Turkey to level 4 — the highest alert. It called on all Israelis in Turkey to leave the country as soon as possible, and to exercise vigilance by not wearing anything indicating that they are Jews or Israelis. Israel also raised the warning level for those in Morocco to level 2, urging citizens to take extra precautions.

1:27 pm: Gaza officials say hundreds killed in Israeli strike

Hamas-run health authorities in the Gaza Strip said hundreds were killed by an Israeli airstrike at a hospital in Gaza City. A Gaza civil defense chief told Al Jazeera more than 300 people were killed at the al-Ahli Hospital. A Gaza Health Ministry official said at least 500 were killed and injured.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, “I don’t know to say whether it was an Israeli airstrike,” and stated the IDF will get details and update the public, the Associated Press reported.

12:15 pm: French president denounces captive video released by Hamas

French President Emmanuel Macron denounced on Monday a video released by Hamas showing 21-year-old dual French-Israeli national Mia Shem, who appears injured. It’s the first hostage video released publicly by Hamas since its fatal attacks on Oct. 7. “It is an ignominy to take innocent people hostage and put them on show in this odious way,” Macron said, before confirming that he will visit Israel in the coming days. Rina Bassist reports.

11:56 am: Israel-Lebanon border clashes continue

The IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee tweeted that Israel is striking Hezbollah targets without providing further details.

Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF reported that missile fire from Lebanon injured two soldiers and a civilian in the northern town of Metula. Lebanon's National News Agency reported Israeli shelling in the southern town of Blida as well as Hezbollah strikes on Israeli targets, including in Metula.

11:30 am: Iran’s Khamenei threatens US, 2,000 US troops enter heightened state of readiness

The Pentagon said 2,000 US troops have been placed in a heightened state of readiness in the event they must deploy to the region after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered a direct threat to the United States on Tuesday, saying Washington “must be held responsible” for the Israel-Hamas escalation. Jared Szuba reports.

11:05 am: US takes oversight role in Israel’s Hamas war

Distrusting Netanyahu and fearing a regional war, the Biden administration has taken on an oversight role in Israel’s war plan with the US president making a rare visit on Wednesday. Read Ben Caspit’s latest.

10:45 am: Gaza death toll around 3,000, Israel at 1,400

The Palestinian Health Ministry said around 3,000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli strikes. More than 12,500 were wounded, the PA's WAFA news agency reported.

The death toll in Israel from Hamas' attack and subsequent fighting has risen to more than 1,400 people, multiple outlets reported on Sunday, with around 3,400 wounded.

10:11 am: Hamas military leader killed in Israeli airstrike

Hamas' armed wing the Al-Qassam Brigades announced the death of one of its senior commanders, Ayman Nofal. The brigades said Nofal was killed in an Israeli airstrike. He was a member of the group's general military council and led its central brigade in the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-affiliated Safa news agency reported.

The IDF announced its fighter jets killed Nofal.

7:54 am: Missile fire between Israel, Lebanon continues

Two anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon toward the northern Yiftah kibbutz and some rifle fire was reported toward IDF positions near the border, said an IDF spokesperson. Israeli troops are responding with tank fire and artillery. IDF also said two of the three Israelis injured earlier by missile fire in the northern town of Metula are soldiers and the third is a civilian.

7:02 am: Jordan to host four-way meeting on Gaza war

Jordan’s King Abdullah will host US President Joe Biden, Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a four-way summit on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Gaza and their impact on the region. The Jordanian royal court said in a statement posted on X that the four leaders will also tackle the issue of aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

5:49 am: Turkey FM reports efforts to free third-country citizens, Egypt to host summit on Gaza war

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Tuesday that efforts to release hostages held by Hamas are particularly focused on third-country citizens.

“Our efforts for the release of particularly foreigners, civilians and children will continue,” Fidan said. Fidan discussed the issue with Hamas’ Qatar-based political chief on Monday. Separately, Hamas military spokesperson Abu Obeida also said Monday that the group was preparing to release third-country citizens at a suitable time.

Fidan also said Egypt will host a summit of world leaders on Saturday to discuss the ongoing war and the situation in the Gaza Strip. His remarks came during a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart in Beirut.

3:34 am: Israeli airstrikes kill another journalist in Gaza

A Palestinian journalist was killed in Israeli airstrikes that hit a residential building in the northern Gaza neighborhood of al-Saftawi, bringing the total number of journalists killed since Israel began its air campaign against Gaza last weekend to 12. Sources cited by Anadolu Agency identified the journalist as Mohammad Balousha. He worked with the local Palestine Today news site, which confirmed Balousha's death in a post on the X platform.

3:20 am: Israel begins major arrest campaign in West Bank

Some 109 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli forces across the West Bank, according to the official WAFA news agency. The massive wave of arrests coincides with the Hamas-Israel escalation in the Gaza Strip that erupted last weekend. Since then, 680 Palestinians have been arrested in the West Bank, most of whom are former prisoners in Israeli jails, the Palestinian Prisoners Club reported.

3:18 am: Residents of northern Israel instructed to enter shelters amid Lebanon fire

The IDF instructed residents of the northern cities Metula and Kiryat Shmona to enter shelters after reports of anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanese territory. Earlier in the day, the IDF reported killing four militants who tried to cross the border fence from Lebanon and to place explosives there. The head of the Metula municipality said three people were injured. The IDF responded with artillery fire.

2:30 am: King Abdullah says Jordan and Egypt won’t accept Palestinian refugees

Jordanian King Abdullah II said while in Germany that neither his country nor Egypt will accept Palestinian refugees, declaring it a “red line.” Speaking after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Abdulla said, “Some of the usual suspects are trying to create facts on the ground." He stated, "There will be no refugees in Jordan and no refugees in Egypt.”

2:13 am: Israeli forces shoot Palestinian teenager dead in West Bank

A Palestinian teenager was killed by Israeli forces during a raid on a school in the city of Hebron, in the southern West Bank, the official WAFA news agency reported. Medical sources identified the victim as Mohammad Nidal Melhem, 17. Since the Hamas-Israel war erupted on Oct. 7, 60 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, where tension is running high.

1:00 am: IDF hits more than 200 Hamas, Islamic Jihad targets overnight

The Israeli army struck more than 200 targets of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip overnight, said the IDF spokesperson's office. Among the targets hit by fighter jets were the operational headquarters of the two organizations, operatives, a bank that was used by Hamas to finance terrorism and several tunnels. The IDF added that in the past few days, its navy has struck several operations headquarters and depots of weapons and ammunition.

Click here for our most recent updates.

For our previous live coverage, see:

Day 10 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Monday, Oct. 16

Day 9 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Sunday, Oct. 15

Day 8 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Saturday, Oct. 14

Day 7 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Friday, Oct. 13

Day 6 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Thursday, Oct. 12

Day 5 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Wednesday, Oct. 11

Day 4 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Tuesday, Oct. 10

Day 3 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Monday, Oct. 9

Day 2 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Sunday, Oct. 8

Day 1 of Hamas-Israel war blog: Saturday, Oct. 7