Jordan cancels summit with Biden after attack on hospital in Gaza, US President will have tough questions for Netanyahu

(Patria) - Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said that the summit on October 18 in Amman, which US President Joe Biden was supposed to attend, has been cancelled.

"We have made the decision not to hold the four-party summit in Amman," the minister said.

He added that the highest-level meeting was cancelled after consultations with other partners - Egypt, the United States, and Palestine, TASS agency reported.

"Our decision not to hold the four-party summit was made after consultations with the Palestinian Authority, Cairo, and Washington," Safadi said.

Meanwhile, the White House announced early Wednesday that Biden had cancelled his visit to Jordan.

"Following consultations with Jordanian King Abdullah II and in light of the day of mourning announced by Palestinian Authority President Abbas, President Biden will postpone his trip to Jordan and the planned meeting with these two leaders and Egyptian President Sisi," the White House stated.

According to the statement, the US President "looks forward to consulting personally with these leaders soon and has agreed to stay in regular and direct contact with each of them in the coming days".

Biden also conveyed his condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza. The summit was scheduled to take place on October 18 in the Jordanian capital, Amman. US President Biden, Jordanian King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were expected to attend. A spokesperson for the Fatah movement, led by Abbas, said late Tuesday that the Palestinian President had refused to participate in the talks.

Biden is going to Israel, and as announced by the White House, he will have 'tough questions for Netanyahu'.