White House: Biden Will Veto House Proposal on Aid to Israel

John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House, explicitly stated on Thursday that Biden will veto any proposal that only includes military aid for Israel's war against Hamas. According to The Hill, Kirby said the President supports a combined aid package that includes assistance for Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine, along with other priorities in a proposed $106 billion national security budget. Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives is seeking to approve military aid to Israel but without humanitarian assistance for Gaza. House Republicans have unveiled a plan that allocates $14.3 billion to Israel, and the House intends to vote on this measure on Thursday. Additionally, the proposed aid package by Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House, requires that emergency aid be offset by cuts in other government spending. Kirby emphasized that Biden 'wants to address all priorities' in this package. The White House has stated for weeks that aid to Israel and Ukraine should be linked, as both are priorities for the President. Joe Biden has indicated that he will veto this plan. Biden is seeking nearly $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, U.S. border security, and other needs, but Democrats argue that the Republican plan goes nowhere. Biden's request to Congress for a military and humanitarian aid package for Israel and Ukraine is being met with resistance as Mike Johnson seeks to put a standalone plan for aid to Israel to a vote. Lloyd Austin has warned the Islamic Republic: if attacks on American personnel do not stop, we will take further steps. The White House has requested that Congress allocate $106 billion for aid to Ukraine and Israel.