It’s Wednesday, October 18. Do you know where your Speaker of the House is? Neither does the GOP at the moment.

But first, to the Middle East.

Hundreds Killed in Gaza Hospital Explosion … But Who’s Responsible?

Yesterday, the heat in the Middle East increased, if you can believe that, after a hospital in Gaza was destroyed, killing hundreds. Hamas hides and stores weapons in and near hospitals in the hopes of warding off Israeli attacks. Because as several Stream contributors have noted, the Jewish ethos is to protect innocent lives. Hamas welcomes death … and craves the propaganda victory.

Indeed an initial IDF investigation indicates the explosion at the Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City was caused by a failed rocket launch from Islamic Jihad.

Breaking: IDF Spokesperson

From the analysis of the operational systems of the IDF, an enemy rocket barrage was carried out towards Israel, which passed through the vicinity of the hospital when it was hit.

According to intelligence information, from several sources we have,…

— Israel ישראל (@Israel) October 17, 2023

The Jerusalem Post reported the explosion occurred amid a barrage of rockets being fired from the strip. And here’s some video evidence.

Surveillance camera footage from Netiv Haasara shows a large barrage of rockets being launched from northern Gaza, followed by a massive blast in the Strip, apparently caused by a failed projectile. pic.twitter.com/PdNCbks02r

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 17, 2023

Did terrorists just blow up their own hospital?

The media immediately jumped on the Hamas declaration that Israel deliberately bombed a hospital. The truth has since emerged. But will the world listen? Will the likes of Squad members Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar apologize and set their followers straight?

Protests erupted at U.S. and Israeli embassies across the Middle East over the hospital attack.

Meanwhile, fearing reprisals from the Israel-Gaza war, Israel’s National Security Headquarters raised the Threat Level in Turkey to its highest and has ordered all its citizens out of Turkey immediately.

Boy is this timely: Check out Stream contributor Raymond Ibrahim’s new one “Islam or Israel: Which Normalized the Killing of Women and Children?” or Dennis Prager’s take down of “moral equivalency.”

The President Goes to the Holy Land

Joe Biden has travelled to Israel to meet with Israeli leaders and demonstrate American support for the Jewish State in its time of trouble. He was also planning to go to Jordan, where he was supposed to participate in a four-way summit with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. Abbas backed out in the wake of the Gaza hospital destruction, and before long Jordan announced the summit was cancelled. The White House says by mutual agreement.

According to the White House, Biden “will reiterate that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination and discuss the humanitarian needs of civilians in Gaza.”

Jordan won’t be opening its arms to its fellow Arabs. King Abdullah II said Tuesday, “This is a red line,” Abdullah said. “No refugees to Jordan and also no refugees to Egypt.” Added Abdullah, “This is a situation that has to be handled within Gaza and the West Bank. And you don’t have to carry this out on the shoulders of others.” Dr. Benjamin Braddock suggests why the King is saying “no way, Jose.” His grandfather King Abdullah I was assassinated by a Palestinian nationalist. Likewise, his father King Hussein was shot by a Palestinian nationalist after contending with a civil war involving Palestinians. Why would he want to destabilize his country?

Anyone taking odds on how long before Biden offers our shores for Palestinian refugees? But that’s another issue. Right now, we pray for the president’s safe travels in the region and that all talks are fruitful.

And continued prayers for the region.

Speaker Battle Rolls On

Not for nuthin’, but with the president hanging out in a war zone, Iran threatening all manner of trouble, and the very real risk this war explodes much wider, it’s probably a good idea to have a Speaker of the House. After all, the Speaker is third in line of succession. Rep. Jim Jordan came up short on the first ballot Tuesday when 20 Republicans voted for other names. How much of that was anti-Jordan and how much of that was a protest vote against the ousting of Kevin McCarthy? In other words, does Jordan gain ground or lose ground in round two?

A second round of voting is now scheduled for 11 a.m. today.

On Monday, Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman floated the idea of George W. Bush being a compromise choice for Speaker. You mean the famous portrait artist?

Along The Stream

Some major twists in the assorted investigations into Joe Biden have flown under the radar the last week and a half. We run through them in my article “Catching Up With the Biden Investigations.” (We also dig into Commander’s ouster.) Check it out.

 

Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream, co-author, with John Zmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and co-author of the counter-terrorism memoir Hostile Intent: Protecting Yourself Against Terrorism.