Tuberville will continue block on US military nominees despite Hamas attack on Israel

Republican US senator's blockade is protest over Pentagon policy which facilitates abortions for service members and dependents

The Republican senator Tommy Tuberville has said he will continue to block hundreds of military leadership appointments despite the Hamas attack on Israel, a close American ally, that has triggered a deadly escalation in the Middle East conflict.

Tuberville has for several months put a hold on at least 300 military nominees, which are typically confirmed in a routine manner by the US Senate. His blockade is a protest over a Pentagon policy that facilitates abortions for service members and dependents.