"Biden's Middle East Mission: Allies Snubbed, Global Influence Tested"

President Joe Biden faced a snub from some of the United States' closest Arab allies as they canceled a planned meeting with him, expressing their anger over the Gaza hospital blast that killed hundreds of Palestinians. While Palestinian officials blamed Israel for the blast, Israeli officials claimed it was caused by a misfired Islamic Jihad rocket. Arab leaders are alarmed at the US's perceived support for Israel and are distancing themselves from the Biden administration. Anti-Israel protests have erupted in several Arab countries, and Arab leaders are wary of protests escalating at home. Egypt and Jordan have pushed back against a US plan to establish a safe corridor for Palestinians fleeing Gaza in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.