Obama to speak from White House Friday afternoon

ABOVE: During his address, Obama praised the work of diplomats like John Kerry in trying to seek a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will deliver a statement from the White House Friday afternoon as Congress finishes its last votes before a five-week recess.

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House Republicans are still working to pass a bill to address the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, where thousands of unaccompanied minors have arrived in recent months.

Obama’s statement also comes amid the quick collapse of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. With the brief pause in fighting now over, Israeli forces have moved deeper into southern Gaza in search of a soldier apparently kidnapped earlier Friday.