Biden sends $106bn aid request to Congress for Israel, Ukraine and Gaza

Move follows president's prime-time address to nation but faces uncertain future with House of Representatives still paralysed

The Biden administration on Friday submitted a $106bn request to Congress for military and humanitarian aid for Israel and Ukraine and humanitarian assistance for Gaza, insisting lawmakers had an obligation to support US allies standing up to tyranny and aggression worldwide.

White House officials spelled out the urgency of the request at a morning press briefing, reinforcing Joe Biden's assertion in a televised address to the nation on Thursday night from the Oval Office that there were links between the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the deadly attacks on Israel by Hamas on 7 October.