Biden ‘didn’t hear the full question’ on whether Israel should delay Gaza ground assault, White House says – as it happened

White House says US president was only commenting on whether he wanted to see more hostages released; schools told to evacuate are in Gaza City close to the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital. This blog is now closed

• Hamas and Israel at war: what we know on day 15

Biden says, We're pursuing every avenue to bring hostages home". He says there is no higher priority.

We're facing an inflection point in history," Biden says as he opens his speech. What we do today will determine outcomes for decades to come, he says.