Nine U.S. citizens died during Hamas’s weekend attack on Israel, the State Department announced Monday, while others are presumed to be held hostage in the Gaza Strip.
“At this time, we can confirm the death of nine U.S. citizens,” a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities.”
Israel Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said on CNN Sunday that he believes Hamas took “scores” of American hostages during its assault on Israel.
“I think it’s scores of hostages,” Dermer said. “I can tell you there’s also American hostages as part of that number as well.”
On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CBS News’ Face the Nation that the U.S. was working to verify reports that Americans had been killed or taken hostage in the Hamas onslaught. Other foreign nationals including two Ukrainians, ten Nepali citizens, one French citizen, and one British citizen were also killed, CNN reported.
“We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement Monday.
In its unprecedented offensive, Hamas launched a massive barrage of rockets into Israel’s interior and deployed terrorists to communities along Israel’s border with Gaza. The terrorists went on a murderous rampage in towns, military bases, and kibbutzim. They killed nearly 700 Israelis, perpetrated atrocities such as rape and torture, and abducted civilians including women, children, and elderly people.
As part of the surprise assault, Hamas encircled a desert music festival by the Gaza border and sprayed hundreds of Israeli youth with bullets. Israel’s search and rescue team later recovered 260 bodies from the site.
A Hamas spokesperson claimed Monday that it was holding over 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza, including soldiers and high-ranking military leaders. Hamas said Saturday that many of the captives were being held in its underground web of terror tunnels, the Times of Israel reported.
On Monday, the Israeli military launched a “complete siege” of Gaza, blockading the area and bombarding it with air strikes in an attempt to destroy Hamas. Israel has stopped short of a full ground operation in Gaza with boots on the ground, but it has called up 300,000 reservists. Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the siege in a televised address, announcing that Gaza will be cut off from food, electricity, and water for the foreseeable future.
“We are fighting barbarians and will respond accordingly,” Gallant said.