President Biden Address from the Oval Office: Live stream, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine and latest updates
President Biden Address from the Oval Office: Live Updates
Headlines: Biden's Address from the Oval Office
- President Biden urges Congress to pass a funding will that includes support for Israel and Ukraine
- The speech comes after returning from Israel, where he met with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- In addition to providing an update on the President's trip, the White House has also said the speech will focus on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine
- President Biden has called on Congress to pass a funding bill to support Ukraine in its war effort, but so far, calls have gone unheard as the House of Representatives is still without a Speaker.
- The US has opposed a ceasefire between Israel and Palestine at the United Nations
- The White House said on Wednesday that humanitarian support will soon arrive in Palestine through the Rafah crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip to Egypt. The aid has yet to arrive as of Thursday afternoon.
Follow the speech at the link below:
That will be all from us this evening. The full speech can be found below.
The President ended the address by reminding the country of the US' power in the world. The message from the president made clear that he wanted the public to feel that they had a responsibility to protect the rights of people in other countries. And, while many do, there is a growing minority, with representation on Capitol Hill, who do not want to see the US involved in more conflicts.
Tomorrow the White House will send a funding bill to Congress, and for the first time in decades, it is unclear whether an expansion of military spending will have enough support to pass.
President Biden says that if Hamas does not steal aid, more will be brought in... but already reports are showing that the Rafah crossing will not be opened on Friday...
President Biden will send a budget request to Congress tomorrow that will include funds for both Israel and Ukraine. No mention of humanitarian assistance for Gaza has been made.
President Biden transitions to talking about the war between Russian and Ukraine.
President Biden begins with reflections on his trip to Israel. The administration is working to bring American hostages home.
World Health Organization hopes Rafah crossing will be opened tomorrow
The UN's World Health Organization has trucks packed with humanitarian supplies, including food, water, medicine, and much more, ready to enter the Gaza Strip. However, the Rafah crossing that connects Gaza to Egypt remains closed.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the organization hopes that the aid will be able to be delivered on Friday... The WHO is working with the Red Crescent to deliver the materials, with both organizations urging Israel to allow the "life-saving supplies" to enter Gaza. So far, five trucks are prepared to enter the Gaza Strip immediately, with a convoy of twenty expected to deliver supplies. International humanitarian organizations have warned that the planned deliveries will not be enough to alleviate the severity of the crisis currently facing civilians in Gaza.
CNN has reported that disagreements between the Egyptian and Israeli governments are creating further delays, and that the crossing will not be opened on Friday.
Thousands are dead from the fallout from Hamas’ attack on Israel over the weekend, itself a response to the continuous Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
The Israeli response has been swift and brutal, sentencing the area from which Hamas militants operate, Gaza, to continuous bombardment. The Israeli government has restricted water, electricity, and food to the withered enclave in an apparent act of collective punishment. Read more.
The White House has announced that President Joe Biden will deliver a speech from the Oval Office on Thursday. During his address, the President will discuss the latest developments in Israel and Palestine after his trip to the Middle East, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
“Tomorrow, President Biden will address the nation to discuss our response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The speech will be delivered from the Oval Office at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT/6:00 p.m. MT/7:00 p.m. CT). All cable news, broadcast networks, and online platforms, including the White House’s social media channels, will carry the speech live. Read more.
White House releases read out after call between President Biden and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine today ahead of his remarks to the American people about our support for the people of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s invasion. The leaders discussed Ukraine’s ongoing fight to defend its freedom and independence from Russian aggression. President Biden underscored the continued strong bipartisan support in the United States for Ukraine’s defense of its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democratic future.
On Thursday evening, President Biden will address the country from the Oval Office for the second time in his presidency. In a press release by the White House on Wednesday, officials said the speech will "discuss our response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine." Many have criticized the fact that the statement says nothing about the humanitarian crisis occurring in Gaza. The twenty aid trucks that Israel will allow to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt have been able to make the trip as of Thursday afternoon. With food levels running very low, many international humanitarian agencies are warning that the twenty trucks will not be able to provide the relief needed.
Before the address, the White House published a summary of a call between Presidnet Biden and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. The two leaders talked about the ongoing need for the US to support Ukraine. However, with a greater number of Republicans opposing further funding to Ukraine and with the House of Representatives still without a Speaker, it is unclear if or when such a package could be delivered.
The address will begin at 8 p.m. ET.