Israel-Gaza war live: Biden calls for American aid as Israeli troops mass at Gaza border

Rishi Sunak promised Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu that Britain would stand by Israel in “its darkest hour” as he welcomed the decision to allow aid into Gaza and said Israel was doing all it could to limit civilian deaths.

“I know that you are taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas which seeks to put civilians in harm’s way,” Sunak said alongside Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Continuing his statement at a press conference in Israel, Sunak said: “Can I also say that we have seen the scenes over the past day that have shocked all of us, particularly at the hospital and we mourn the loss of every innocent life – civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed.

“And we also recognise that the Palestinian people are victims of Hamas too.

“And that is why I welcome your decision yesterday that you took to ensure that routes into Gaza will be opened for humanitarian aid to enter.”

He added: “I’m proud to stand here with you. In Israel’s darkest hour as your friend. We will stand with you in solidarity. We will stand with your people and we also want you to win.”

President Joe Biden on Thursday said he was asking Congress to approve an “urgent budget request” including essential defence aid to Ukraine and Israel, casting both countries’ respective wars against Hamas and Russia as part of a struggle against enemies of democracy who will be emboldened if the US withdraws support.

“American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner other nations want to work with,” he said in remarks delivered as part of just the second prime-time Oval Office address of his presidency.

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“To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, it’s just not worth it,” he said.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Joe Biden on Thursday issued a strong call for Congress to provide additional security aid that would bolster Ukraine and Israel, as well as refresh American military capabilities.

The president framed the infusion of cash as a way to maintain democracy, American leadership, and the various alliances that have defined global governance since the mid-1900s.

“It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations,” Mr Biden said.

Mr Biden argued in his speech that American leadership underwrites global security and human rights, comparing the wars in Ukraine and Israel to the American Revolution.

“We’re stronger than ever before. America is a beacon to the world, still,” Mr Biden said, quoting Madeleine Albright’s famous phrase that America is “the indispensable nation.”

The president said there were people around the world “who hope because of us, who believe in a better life because of us, who are desperate not to be forgotten by us.”

Joe Biden’s Oval Office speech today is arguing that US support for Ukraine and Israel are linked to a wider goal of protecting democracies around the world from aggression.

He said Hamas’s threats against Israel are similar to the Russian threat against Ukraine because they share an authoritarian character.

“They both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy,” the president said.

“If we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be embolded to try the same,” Mr Biden continued, arguing that regional powers like Iran could take similar actions in the Middle East.

Joe Biden said on Thursday he’s making freeing Israeli and American hostages in Hamas custody a top priority.

“We’re pursing every avenue to bring your loved ones home,” he said from the Oval Office. “As president there is no higher priority for me than the safety of Americans held hostage.”

You can watch it on The Independent’s YouTube channel below.

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President Joe Biden is scheduled to address the nation on Thursday evening in a formal speech from the Oval Office.

Typically, Oval Office addresses are reserved for special moments when the president wants to speak directly to citizens and sway public opinion by addressing concerns.

Here’s everything to know ahead of Mr Biden’s address.

Progressive Democrats in the US House of Representatives have spent recent days calling on Joe Biden to push for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

“President Biden, not all of America is with you on this one. You need to wake up and understand that,” Rep Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said in Washington this week. “One goal: save lives.”

Kobi Shabtai, Israel’s police chief, threatened this week to send protestors rallying against the Israel-Hamas war to the Gaza Strip on buses.

In a video on the Israeli police’s TikTok account shared Tuesday, the official said he would have “zero tolerance” for protests against the war.

“Whoever wants to become an Israeli citizen, welcome,” he said in the video, Al Jazeera reports. “Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza is welcome. I will put him on the buses heading there now.”

A explosion tore through Gaza’s ancient St Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church campus on Thursday.

An estimated 500 people have been sheltering on the campus of the church, one of the oldest in the world.

Majdy Jildah, one of those seeking refuge there, told The Wall Street Journal about 80 people were sheltering in the council building on the campus where the explosion took place, and that he believed a child was killed in the blast.

The Israeli military told the paper it is investigating the incident.