New US speaker introduces pro-Israel resolution

The new US Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has introduced a resolution supporting Israel in his first action as leader of the chamber.

"The first bill I'm going to bring to this floor in a little while will be in support of our dear friend Israel and we are overdue in getting that done," Johnson said as he accepted the speakership.

The House backed the resolution by 412 to 10, with six members voting "present," reflecting traditional bipartisan support in Congress for Israel. The non-binding measure reaffirms US commitment to Israel and calls on Hamas to immediately cease attacks and release every hostage.

However, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian American in Congress, released a statement shortly after the vote, to explain why she voted against it.

"This resolution rightly mourns the thousands of Israeli civilians killed and wounded in the horrific attacks but explicitly does not mourn the thousands of Palestinian civilians, including over 2,000 children, killed and wounded in the collective punishment of Palestine," Tlaib said.

On Wednesday, Haaretz reported that Johnson, the new speaker and an evangelical Christian, has close links to Israel's far right.