U.S. officials reportedly said on Sunday that preliminary reports show at least four American citizens were killed and seven others have gone missing after Hamas launched a series of attacks against Israel over the weekend.
The numbers could change as the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem continues to compile reports, according to a U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The official noted that most of the deceased or unaccounted for have dual citizenship with the United States and Israel.
A National Security Council spokesperson confirmed Sunday evening that several U.S. citizens were killed in the attacks.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” the spokesperson said, in part. “We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities.”
Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, told CNN’s “State of the Union” that American citizens are among the hostages taken by Hamas, but could not provide further details about those who may have been killed.
“Unfortunately, I can’t,” Dermer said. “We have a lot of dual citizens in Israel. I suspect there are several, but we’re still trying to sort through all of all this information after this horrific surprise attack, and we’ll make sure to put that information out so that the loved ones of these people who were killed and who are held hostage, they know as quickly as possible.”
President Joe Biden said he spoke to the Israeli prime minister and “reiterated [his] unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told “State of the Union” host Dana Bash that reports suggest Americans have been killed and kidnapped.
“We have reports that several Americans were killed,” Blinken said. “We’re working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans, and there again, we’re working to verify those reports.”
Israel formally declared war for the first time since 1973 after Palestinian terrorist group Hamas invaded Israel by land, sea, and air on the Gaza Strip over the weekend, leaving more than 600 dead and at least 2,000 injured.
“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Terrorists launched thousands of rockets into Israel early Saturday morning, sending people throughout the country running for bomb shelters.
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Simultaneously, the terrorists used drones to drop bombs on Israeli defenses on the border, rendering them inoperable as terrorists used explosives and bulldozers to smash through Israel’s border wall. More than 1,000 terrorists then flooded into the country on paragliders, boats, motorcycles, trucks, and by foot as they hunted down innocent civilians door to door to slaughter or kidnap them.
The Israel National Security Council approved a state of war under Article 40 of the Basic Government Law on Saturday, allowing government officials to carry out “significant military activities.”
“I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known,” the Israeli prime minister said Saturday. “The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the IDF and Home Front Command. We are at war, and we will win it.”
Israeli Defense Forces Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari called the brutal attack a war crime on Sunday and vowed to take revenge against Hamas.
“Taking women and children captive violates international law and goes against Islam,” Hagari said. “Whoever took part will pay the price. The war is difficult and challenging days lie ahead. The IDF is strong and will use every bit of of its strength and power.”
An operational update from IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari: pic.twitter.com/2QNm29UYZ7
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023
Ryan Saavedra contributed to this report.
