First Thing: Biden flies to Israel as Jordan summit cancelled

US president to meet only Israeli figures after the deadly hospital blast in Gaza and protests spread across the Middle East. Plus, how Bethann Hardison got frank about fashion’s racism

Good morning.

A deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza City has upended US diplomatic efforts aimed at fending off the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and thrown a shadow over President Joe Biden’s imminent visit to the region.

What else is happening in Gaza? Fears are growing that people in Gaza are beginning to dehydrate to death as clean water runs out, while Israeli airstrikes continue to pound the Palestinian territory of 2.3 million residents amid a total blockade on food, electricity, medicine and fuel.

Is everyone in Israel supportive of the government’s actions? No. The Israeli public is fiercely divided over how the state has handled the breach of its security, with the issue of the hostages becoming a lightning rod for criticism of Netanyahu’s response to the crisis. Some said the prime minister’s decision to prioritise striking Hamas over freeing the hostages was the latest sign that he should step aside, after a combined 16 years in power.

Where do things stand? In a worrisome sign for Jordan, several of his detractors, led by the congressman Mario Díaz-Balart of Florida, called for an immediate second vote yesterday, potentially indicating that they believed their ranks were growing. Jordan picked up at least one new supporter, the congressman Doug LaMalfa of California, after the first failed vote, but that still left him short of a majority.