Biden Reports 11 Americans Killed in Israel, Others Taken Hostage

In a similar vein, He also reported that at least 11 US citizens lost their lives in the assault.

During its weekend offensive on southern Israel from Gaza, Hamas abducted around 150 hostages, an act characterized by a senior US defense official as having "ISIS-level savagery."

Hamas issued a threat on Monday, warning that they would harm the hostages if Israeli air strikes, targeting Gaza residents without prior notice, persisted. This threat emerged in the wake of Israel imposing a complete blockade on the Gaza Strip, which included cutting off the water supply. The United Nations expressed concerns about an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis.

Biden mentioned that Washington, in a display of support, had moved an aircraft carrier closer to Israel and was collaborating with its crucial ally to devise plans for the safe recovery of the hostages following the deeply distressing attacks.

“Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed — many of whom made a second home in Israel,” Biden said in a statement after meeting his national security team at the White House.

“While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas,” he added.

“I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.”

In the wake of the Palestinian Islamist group's extraordinary ground, air, and sea assaults, Israel has registered 800 casualties and initiated a relentless series of attacks on Gaza, resulting in a total death toll of 687 there.

The United States displayed support by deploying its largest aircraft carrier and five additional warships near Israel on Sunday, along with reinforcing fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.