The United States is trying to confirm the fate of Americans in Israel after a deadly attack by Gaza militants, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday.
He told CNN’s “State of the Union” that there were reports of Americans killed and missing, but they were not verified yet.
The attack on Saturday killed hundreds of Israelis and triggered a fierce response from Israel, which launched airstrikes on Gaza. Israel may also try to take over Gaza, which it left in 2005, and evacuated some nearby communities.
Blinken said the US was ready to provide more aid to Israel, which could be announced later Sunday. He said President Joe Biden had assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the US’s “rock solid and unwavering” support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
The situation is diplomatically complex, as Republican presidential candidates criticized the Biden administration for unfreezing Iranian funds. Blinken denied that any money had been spent from those funds, which were meant for humanitarian purposes.
He said those who claimed otherwise were either “misinformed or they’re misinforming.”
