Summary
Egypt's president has agreed to open up a crossing to allow up to 20 trucks of aid into Gaza

US President Joe Biden told reporters that the aid shipment would probably not happen until Friday

It came as President Biden visited Israel in a show of support where he backed Israel's strong denial of any involvement in an explosion at a hospital in Gaza

Local officials say 471 people were killed when a huge blast ripped through a crowded area at the hospital where Palestinian civilians were sheltering

Israel was blamed by the militant group Hamas, but its military says the blast was caused by a misfiring Palestinian rocket

In fighting which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, some 1,400 Israelis and about 3,500 Palestinians have been killed

BDST: 0948 HRS, OCT 19, 2023
SMS