In Gaza’s Khan Younis, Israel announced on Wednesday that it would allow limited deliveries of humanitarian aid from Egypt to the Gaza Strip, marking the first opening in a ten-day blockade of the territory. The situation became dire after a gigantic explosion at a Gaza City hospital claimed hundreds of lives and placed enormous strain on medical professionals as their supplies and generator fuel ran out.

The decision to allow supplies including food, water, and other essentials came at a time when anger over the hospital explosion on Tuesday had spread across the Middle East. This development occurred as U.S. President Joe Biden was visiting Israel with the aim of preventing a broader conflict in the region.

Differing accounts arose concerning the explosion’s origin. Officials from Hamas in Gaza promptly ascribed it to an Israeli airstrike, asserting that it led to almost 500 casualties. In contrast, Israel disavowed any responsibility and presented multiple pieces of evidence indicating that the explosion was the result of an errant rocket fired by Islamic Jihad, another militant group active in Gaza. However, Islamic Jihad rejected this explanation.

Notably, the Associated Press has not independently verified any of the evidence or claims presented by the parties involved.

Israel had cut off all supplies to Gaza shortly after a rampage by Hamas militants in southern Israel on October 7. The devastating events at al-Ahli Hospital underscored the impact of this siege, leading to a dire situation in other medical facilities as they ran low on supplies and generator fuel. Doctors conducted surgeries on makeshift operating tables, frequently without the availability of anesthesia.

It remains unclear when the aid will begin to flow into Gaza and the extent of the assistance provided. In Rafah, where Gaza connects to Egypt, truckloads of aid have been waiting for days to enter, but the facility’s capacity is limited, and the road across the border, damaged by Israeli airstrikes, must still be repaired by Egypt.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the decision was made following a request from President Biden. Israel expressed its willingness to permit the unimpeded transport of food, water, and medical supplies from Egypt, provided that these resources are solely designated for the civilian population residing in the southern regions of the Gaza Strip and are not intended for Hamas militants. The statement, however, did not address the pressing requirement for fuel.

Rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian groups continued shortly before Biden’s arrival in Israel, following a 12-hour lull. Israeli strikes on Gaza, including areas in southern Gaza designated as “safe zones” for Palestinian civilians, continued on Wednesday.

During his brief visit, Biden aimed to strike a balance by demonstrating U.S. support for Israel while addressing concerns from Arab allies about the situation following the explosion. Upon his arrival, Biden embraced Netanyahu and expressed his concern for the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.

Regarding the hospital explosion, Biden suggested it was not Israel’s responsibility, stating to Netanyahu in front of the media, “Based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you.”

Following the hospital explosion, a scheduled meeting involving Biden, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was canceled by Jordan.

The escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas has sparked apprehensions, with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi cautioning that it’s dangerously edging the region closer to a crisis.

The Israeli military held a briefing, providing its reasons for not being responsible for the explosion at al-Ahli Hospital. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, explained that there was no Israeli fire in the area at the time of the blast. He also mentioned that Israeli radar confirmed a rocket barrage fired by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad from a nearby cemetery during the explosion.

Since the start of the conflict, approximately 450 rockets fired by militant groups at Israel have landed in Gaza, according to the Israeli military. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad offered conflicting accounts of the hospital blast, with Hamas calling it a “horrific massacre” caused by an Israeli strike, and Islamic Jihad accusing Israel of attempting to evade responsibility.

The situation left Al-Ahli Hospital in shambles, with hundreds of Palestinians seeking refuge in the facility, hoping to avoid bombardment following Israel’s evacuation orders for Gaza City residents. Video footage showed the hospital grounds strewn with the bodies of many young children and others.

In the aftermath, the death toll remained disputed, with initial reports suggesting over 500 casualties but later revised to 471 by the Gaza Health Ministry. Al-Ahli Hospital officials only stated that the toll was in the hundreds, while others believed it was closer to 250.

The Gaza Health Ministry documented a staggering toll of 3,478 fatalities and more than 12,000 injuries, predominantly affecting women, children, and the elderly. Furthermore, an estimated 1,300 individuals across Gaza were thought to be caught under debris, either as survivors or casualties.

In Israel, more than 1,400 individuals were killed, predominantly civilians during Hamas’ incursion, which also resulted in around 200 hostages taken into Gaza. As Israeli forces gather along the border, the possibility of a ground incursion into Gaza remains on the horizon, even though military authorities have not yet made a final decision.

Recent airstrikes in Gaza City and the Nuseirat refugee camp resulted in the deaths of many people, according to witnesses. The Israeli military contends that it is directing its efforts towards striking Hamas hideouts, infrastructure, and command centers, all while accusing the militants of employing civilians as human shields.

The situation has created an imminent risk of starvation, with more than a million Palestinians fleeing their homes, about half of Gaza’s population. Approximately 60% of these displaced individuals are now located in the southern Gaza Strip, within the 8-mile-long area south of the evacuation zone, according to the United Nations.