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In overseas news, US President Joe Biden declared it’s “vital for America’s national security” for Israel and Ukraine to succeed in their wars, making the case for deepening US involvement in a rare Oval Office address as he prepared to ask for billions of dollars in military assistance for both countries.

“American leadership is what holds the world together,” he told Americans just now, saying “the smart investment” would help stabilise the Middle East – and the world.

“We put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine and turn our backs on Israel,” he said.

President Joe Biden speaks from the Oval Office of the White House about the war in Israel and Ukraine.Credit: Reuters

The funding request, which is expected to be roughly $100 billion over the next year, will be unveiled tomorrow AEST, and includes money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management.

‘We cannot give up on a two-state solution’, Biden said, also reiterating that NATO will defend any member country attacked by Russia.

Biden said the aid package for Israel would help “sharpen Israel’s qualitative military edge”, and make sure the Iron Dome continues to guard the skies of Israel.

But he also spoke of the need for Israel to operate under the rules of war. “The people of Gaza urgently need food, water and medicine,” he said, noting the first shipment of aid into Gaza is expected this weekend.

He spoke of conversations with the families of Americans among the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas in its rampage on October 7 and of a little Palestinian boy murdered in the US as the fallout of the conflict spreads around the world.