President Biden delivered an Oval Office speech urging Americans to stand by Israel and Ukraine as he made the case for billions in aid to both countries and warned that the world was at an “inflection point in history.” He said he would send an urgent budget request to Congress Friday asking for that support in a speech that came a day after his wartime trip to Israel. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres on Thursday urged “rapid, unimpeded access for humanitarian aid” that he said is critical as the region plunges into a crisis. But it appears that the first trickle of aid — up to 20 trucks — will be delayed until at least late Friday, but more likely Saturday, according to American and U.N. officials speaking on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive issue. The U.N. has said at least 100 trucks a day are needed to sustain more than 2 million Palestinians inside Gaza who have been without supplies of water, food, fuel and electricity for more than a week.
