State And White House Pressers To Provide Insight Into Israel Response

There are two key Biden Administration press briefings to follow today for insight into the US response to the Hamas attack on Israel.

• At 13:00 ET 18:00 BST President Biden will deliver remarks.
• At 13:15 ET 18:15 BST: State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller will brief the press. Miller will likely face robust questions on the US response to reports that Hamas has taken US citizens prisoner in Gaza.
• Miller will also face questions on a recent deal struck with Iran to unfreeze USD$6b in oil revenue in return for the release of detained US citizens. This deal is under greater scrutiny now with the prospect of US hostages, leading to accusations that previous deals with Russia and Iran may have contributed to the validation of hostage taking.
• Republican lawmakers have called on the administration to re-freeze those funds due to Tehran's history of funding Hamas. A move which likely prove terminal to tentative plans to restart nuclear negotiations.
• At 14:00 ET 19:00 BST: White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will brief reporters at the White House. Sullivan has been a key architect of Biden administration plan to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. That plan now appears unviable with Israel planning retaliatory action in Gaza and Riyadh declining to openly condemn Hamas.