Biden cancels the Jordanian leg of his tour in the Middle East after canceling the two leaders’ summit

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden will no longer visit Jordan as part of his trip to the Middle East this week, after a leaders’ summit on humanitarian aid to the Palestinians was abruptly canceled on Tuesday.

The decision was made as unrest worsened across the region, in response to the deadly bombing of a hospital in Gaza.

Biden was scheduled to meet with Jordanian King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after his first visit to Israel.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told state television, “There is no point in talking now about anything other than stopping the war.”

The bombing of the National Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday led to the deaths of hundreds of people and the escalation of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A White House official told CNBC that Biden “sent his sincere condolences to the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.”

The official added that when the White House decided not to travel to Jordan, it also took into account “the days of mourning announced by President Abbas” for the victims of the hospital attack.

Horrific scenes captured on video showed the victims following the bombing, which Hamas blamed on Israeli air strikes.

Israel denied that its targeted bombing in Gaza was responsible for the destruction of the hospital. An IDF spokesperson told NBC News: “The hospital is a highly sensitive building and is not an IDF target. The IDF is currently conducting an investigation and is prioritizing accuracy as always.”

Angry demonstrators gathered in capitals and demanded an end to the Israeli military operation.

The aerial bombardment campaign launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip forms part of what it calls a comprehensive siege. This includes cutting off water, food and electricity supplies to a population of two million people.

The unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza was scheduled to be a major focus of Biden’s trip, epitomized by the now-canceled summit.

The United States is working with Egypt and Israel to develop humanitarian corridors to help evacuate women and children from the most affected areas.

Biden said on the “60 Minutes” program, “I am confident that there will be the ability for innocent people in Gaza to obtain medicine, food, and water.”