This is cnn breaking news. Welcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. President biden arrived in israel hours after a devastating explosion in the courtyard of a Baptist Hospital in gaza, a deadly tragedy that the u. S. Is now asserting, the u. S. Believes israel is not responsible for. Rather, President Biden said earlier today, it was damage that the palestinians may have caused. The images emerging are devastating and the descriptions of the deadly aftermath are rather graphic. Heres what a volunteer who went to help clear the remains said. Translator i came at 8 00 a. M. As a Volunteer Thinking i would help with minor thing, but i was shocked to see unimaginable things like childrens corpses, elderly coralses, bodies scattered, intestines and many human bodies. The hamascontrolled Palestinian Health ministry immediat immediately blamed the Israeli Military and that accusation flew around the world, but after investigating the matter israel says that they have evidence that the cause of t
Blamed the Israeli Military for explosion. But after investigating the matter, israel said they have evidence that the cause of the blast was a failed rocket blast from Islamic Jihad. Israeli Officials Say the damage does not suggest an israeli missile. A spokesman for the Israeli Defense forces told me that the failed rocket from the Islamic Jihad was caught live on al jazeera. They were broad casting it live, and i have an image here of the launch of the broad cast. I screen captured what they did. You can see this is just 6 59, you see the al jazeera emblem. Thats the rocket that fell into the hospital. Israelis released audio of individuals who they claim are members of hamas discussing the inc incident, acknowledging that it was Islamic Jihad and the failed rocket fell near the hospital. The u. S. National Security Council reaffirmed that initial intelligence does not suggest that israel was behind the blast as they issued this updated statement this evening, saying the u. S. Gove
Cut deep anywhere in the world, but it cuts deeper here in israel. October 7th, which was sacred, a Sacred Jewish Holiday became the deadliest day for the jewish people since the holocaust. It has brought to the surface painful memories and scars left by millennia antisemitism and the genocide of the jewish people. The world watched then. It knew, and the world did nothing. We will not stand by and do nothing again, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. President joe bidens trip was more than what you saw, a powerful, tangible, reaffirmation of the strength and durability of the u. S. israeli alliance. It was also a pblem solving diplomatic endeavor, one that has already yielded actual tangible results. The president announced earlier that the u. S. Would provide 100 million in humanitarian assistance for palestinians in gaza and the west bank, that money goes towards things like clean water, food, hygiene support, medical care, thats according to the white house. For israels part, Prime
Now theres holocaust number one and holocaust number two. Mind blowing, unbelievable that it happened in 2023 in israel. Everyone doing everything they can. Sandra the State Department is confirming the deaths of at least 22 u. S. Citizens in israel. The news coming as we await a White House Press briefing, set to begin any moment now, a live look inside the white house. National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby will be joining Karine Jeanpierre as pressure is building for President Biden to rescue those americans held captive by hamas at this hour. Hello, welcome. Sandra smith in new york. John im john roberts in washington and this is america reports. It is now 8 00 p. M. In israel, and here is what we know right now. More than 150 hostages are being held in gaza, among them, some 20 americans. Israel warning gaza of a potential Ground Offensive imminently. Sandra and the first batch of u. S. Weapons we can report is in the hands of the israelis, as a u. S. Aircraft carrier has
Happening now, israel formally declares war on hamas and the Palestinian Terrorist groups strikes back. Breaking news. Hamas has just fired a new barrage of rockets at israel tonight. And were learning that there has been a direct strike on the city of ash. We welcome our viewers here in the United States and Around The World. And im wolf blitzer and this is a Special Edition of the situation room. Israel at war. Announcer this is cnn Breaking News. And were following all of the Breaking News, our correspondents are positioned in israel and indeed Around The World to bring you all of the latet developments in this escalating crisis right now. Raising enorm ow fears of a major war in the middle east. Lets begin with Nic Robertson, youre not far away from the border with gaza. What more do we know about the new round of attacks that is underway right now . Reporter weve been able to see a couple of things from this location, wolf. Were seeing rockets taking off that are not intercepted q