Middle East conflict live updates: Biden calls Israel’s conduct in Gaza ‘over the top’ in rare rebuke

Biden’s comments follow National Security Council spokesman John Kirby saying “we would not support” a major Israeli military operation in crowded Rafah under current conditions, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying the United States had conveyed “profound concerns” to Israel about inflammatory rhetoric and actions, calling for it to address the high civilian death toll and lack of aid.

Biden also on Thursday issued a memorandum laying out standards for countries that receive U.S. weapons and, for the first time, requires the administration to submit an annual report to Congress about whether they are meeting the requirements. It comes after Democratic lawmakers raised concerns about Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

The U.S. Senate approved a military aid bill that includes $14 billion for Israel bundled with funding for Ukraine and elsewhere, which will next be debated in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has signaled the bill could face a tough road there, with many Republicans having drawn a hard line on no more Ukraine funding.

At least 27,708 people have been killed and 67,147 injured in the Gaza Strip since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.