US monitoring Israel situation, Biden continues talks with Netanyahu

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a news briefing on Wednesday that parameters for the administration's additional funding request to Congress had not been finalized. Biden said he would make further remarks when he meets with Jewish community leaders at the White House later on Wednesday.

The United States is monitoring the situation in Israel, President Joe Biden said on Wednesday as he continued talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and prepared to meet with Jewish community leaders at the White House.

Biden has pledged to support its Middle East ally following an attack by the Hamas militant group on Saturday that has left 1,200 dead and more than 2,700 wounded, according to Israel's count, calling the attack "an act of sheer evil" in emotional remarks at the White House on Tuesday. "There is no justification for terrorism. No excuse," Biden said on Wednesday, adding that he had again spoken to Netanyahu -- his fourth call with the Israeli leader in recent days.

U.S. military assistance is being sent to help Israel in its fight, and Biden has said he would ask Congress to take urgent action. A person familiar with the matter earlier told Reuters that the White House is weighing a request to Congress that would include military aid to both Israel and Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's invasion for 20 months.

NBC News on Wednesday reported that the White House is preparing to seek supplemental funding from U.S. lawmakers for those two countries as well as for Taiwan and U.S. border security. White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a news briefing on Wednesday that parameters for the administration's additional funding request to Congress had not been finalized.

Biden said he would make further remarks when he meets with Jewish community leaders at the White House later on Wednesday.