President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he would ask Congress to take “urgent action” to aid Israel after what he called “sheer evil” attacks by Hamas.
“When Congress returns we’re going to ask them to take urgent action to fund the security requirements of our partners,” the president said from the White House. He said the U.S. is already surging extra military aid including ammunition to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
Biden spoke after speaking Tuesday morning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House said the conversation was to discuss U.S. support for Israel and “our efforts coordinated with partners and allies to defend Israel and innocent people against terrorism and to deter other hostile actors from exploiting this attack on Israel.”
Now read: Israel pounds downtown Gaza City, threatening punishing retaliation for weekend attack
Former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren described Biden’s televised address as “the most passionately pro-Israel in history.”
Biden also revealed in the address that the number of U.S. citizens killed in the Hamas attack had risen to 14. That number was later confirmed by national-security adviser Jake Sullivan in a White House press conference.
U.S. stocks
DJIA
rose Tuesday, but oil futures
CL.1,
were lower, consolidating after a surge in the prior session in reaction to the weekend attack on Israel by Hamas.
Read: Oil prices head lower as investors monitor Israel-Gaza war
The U.S. has begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, the White House said Monday, as the Pentagon reviews its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the war with Hamas.
Now see: U.S. begins delivering munitions to Israel; at least 11 Americans killed in Hamas attacks
The White House is considering a move to attach Ukraine funding to a request for urgent aid to Israel, the Washington Post reported.
Congressional action is currently limited by the lack of a House speaker, following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy last week. House Republicans are meeting Wednesday to select a speaker candidate, and an election of the speaker by the full House could come as early as Wednesday.
The Associated Press contributed.
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