Biden to visit Israel as Gaza waits for aid — and an expected Israeli invasion- Hamas-Israel war

 

On Tuesday morning, the key unresolved issues include the timing of Israel's anticipated ground incursion into Gaza with the aim of dismantling Hamas on its home territory. Additionally, there's uncertainty surrounding when Israel and Egypt, who control the sole border crossing at Rafah in southern Gaza, will reach an agreement to open this passage for the safe departure of foreign nationals and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

On Wednesday in Amman, Jordan's King Abdullah II will convene a four-nation summit involving President Biden, immediately following the U.S. leader's visit to Israel. The summit will also feature Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Jordan's royal court has officially confirmed the summit's agenda, which includes discussions on the concerning developments in Gaza, their broader regional implications, and efforts to secure the provision of aid to the Gaza Strip.

CBS News cameras arrived just moments after an Israeli airstrike struck a residential area in the southern part of Gaza, near the border with Egypt. In our footage, children can be seen among those rescued from the debris resulting from the strike. The Israeli military had previously urged Palestinian civilians to evacuate the southern half of the Gaza Strip as they escalated their operations in the northern region.

The airstrike in Rafah City, located in southern Gaza, caused extensive destruction to a residential neighborhood. Our CBS News team was present to witness the immediate aftermath, with producer Marwan al-Ghoul personally noting that he observed numerous fatalities and injuries.

He also reported a shortage of ambulances and rescue workers to tend to the victims. At the scene, people were using their bare hands to painstakingly search for and rescue individuals trapped beneath the rubble.

In response to escalating regional tensions, the U.S. military is deploying additional forces to strengthen its presence in the eastern Mediterranean. Furthermore, warnings have been issued to Iran and Hezbollah, cautioning them against involvement in the conflict. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has stated that the presence of two U.S. carrier strike groups in the area is intended to deter hostile actions targeting Israel or any attempts to expand the conflict following Hamas' attack on Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made two visits to Israel since the onset of the attack, and President Biden was expected to arrive on Wednesday.