The Pentagon says it’s moving ships and warplanes to the eastern Mediterranean, including the USS Gerald Ford, the Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier, along with its accompanying battle group. Meanwhile, the White House says it’s rushing military aid to Israel, including air defense missiles, small-diameter bombs and machine gun ammunition. Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign aid and is due to receive $3.8 billion in military aid this year.

Today, President Biden is delivering a major address on the crisis in Israel and Palestine. Ahead of his speech, Biden signed a joint letter with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, who wrote to “express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.” The leaders added, “All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.” The letter makes no mention of Palestinian civilians killed and wounded by Israeli strikes on Gaza.