Israel-Hamas war: Biden says ‘at least 11′ US citizens killed

Over 1,550 people are dead and thousands more are wounded after Hamas launched surprise attacks in Israel on Saturday. At least 11 Americans are among those killed, officials said.

Editor’s note: This story is no longer being updated. The latest updates can be found here.

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Israel formally declared war Sunday, greenlighting “significant military steps” against Hamas. On Monday, Israel’s defense minister said he ordered the “complete siege” of Gaza, cutting off supplies like food and electricity.

2 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza

Update 11:45 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City killed two Palestinian journalists early Tuesday, The Associated Press and CNN reported.

Wafa identified the journalists as editor Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih, according to the AP.

The journalists were killed while they were covering the evacuation of a building threatened by airstrikes, CNN reported.

The cable news outlet reported that another journalist, Hisham Al-Nawajha, was injured during the airstrike and is receiving treatment, according to a written statement by Salama Marouf, the head of the media office.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

More than 187,500 displaced in Gaza, UN says

Update 11:38 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: According to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 187,500 people in the Gaza Strip have been displaced since the beginning of hostilities on Saturday, The Associated Press reported.

UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, is hosting more than 137,000 people in schools in Gaza, according to the news organization.

The agency said that airstrikes from Israel have destroyed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330 more, the AP reported.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Israel strikes 2 tunnels used by Hamas militants

Update 11:31 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Israeli military officials said Tuesday that it hit two tunnels used by Hamas militants to enter Israel, The Associated Press reported.

Authorities did not provide more information about the location of the tunnels.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Biden will address war on Tuesday

Update 8:09 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: President Joe Biden will address the nation, speaking about the war between Israel and Hamas militants on Tuesday at 1 p.m. EDT, the White House said in a statement.

Biden will deliver his remarks from the White House, according to The New York Times.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Netanyahu: Hamas ‘made mistake’ attacking Israel

Update 6:40 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: In a speech on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas’ attack on Israel was a mistake ‘of historic proportions.”

“We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel’s other enemies for decades to come,” the prime minister said. “Israel is at war. We didn’t want this war. It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didn’t start this war, Israel will finish it.”

Netanyahu called the Hamas “savages” for taking hostages, including women, children and senior citizens.

“In fighting Hamas, Israel is not only fighting for its own people. It is fighting for every country that stands against barbarism,” he said. “Israel will win this war, and when Israel wins, the entire civilized world wins.”

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

White House will be illuminated in blue, white

Update 6:34 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: The White House will be lit up in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night to show solidarity with Israel, The New York Times reported. It joins the Empire State Building in New York City, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, according to the newspaper.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

US, allies condemn Hamas’ ‘appalling acts of terrorism’

Update 6:28 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: The White House released a joint statement from President Joe Biden and the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy supporting Israel.

The leaders issued an “unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.” They also urged parties “hostile to Israel” not to exploit the attacks.

“We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned,” the joint statement said. “There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.

“Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.”

The White House will be lit up in the blue and white colors of the Israeli flag on Monday night to show solidarity with Israel, The New York Times reported. It joins the Empire State Building in New York City, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and the Sydney Opera House in Australia, according to the newspaper.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Biden: At least 11 US citizens killed

Update 4:48 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: In a statement, President Joe Biden said that “at least 11 American citizens were among those killed” in Israel after the Hamas attacks in Israel. The president added that an unknown number of U.S. citizens remain unaccounted for, The New York Times reported.

Biden said the safety of Americans “is my top priority as president.” He added that he will work with the Israelis “on every aspect of the hostage crisis.”

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

Delta cancels flights to Tel Aviv through Oct. 31

Update 4:34 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Delta Airlines announced in a statement that it will be canceling flights to Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv through Oct. 31.

“As Delta continues monitoring events in the region, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our TLV flights through Oct. 31, 2023,” the airline said. “Our hearts are with those who are impacted as our people work to find safe alternatives for customers trying to depart TLV. Notifications to customers about their specific flight will be communicated via the Fly Delta app, and contact information in their reservation; customers can also reach out to Delta Reservations for support.

“Delta will continue to explore options for customers to safely exit TLV via seats that become available on our partner airlines.”

The air carrier added that it will work with the U.S. government “as needed” to assist in the return of U.S. citizens who want to return from Israel.

-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

EU will review financial aid for Palestine; no payments suspended

Update 3:15 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: The European Commission confirmed in a statement that it plans to review financial aid for Palestine after a commissioner said in a series of social media posts that all payments to the country had been “immediately suspended.”

Officials clarified that no payments will be suspended as the review takes place.

“The Commission will carry out this review as soon as possible and coordinate with Member States and partners any follow up action necessary,” European authorities said in a statement. “In the meantime, as there were no payments foreseen, there will be no suspension of payments.”

Netanyahu: Attacks on Gaza are ‘just the beginning’

Update 3 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: During an address on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that bombardment on Gaza is “just the beginning” of the country’s response to surprise attacks launched Saturday by Hamas, Al Jazeera reported.

Netanyahu did not elaborate or say whether forces are planning a ground operation in Gaza. He warned that “hard days are coming” for Israel, according to Al Jazeera.

Officials have said that nearly 1,600 have so far died since fighting began Saturday.

Nearly 690 killed in Gaza, health officials say

Update 2:35 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: More than 680 people have died in Gaza as a result of the ongoing conflict with Israel, including 140 children, the Palestinian health authority said Monday.

Officials said that 687 people have died and more than 3,725 were wounded. Of those injured, 10% are children.

Human rights group calls Israeli defense minister’s statements ‘abhorrent’

Update 2:20 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Rights group Human Rights Watch called comments from Israel’s defense minister calling for a “complete siege” of Gaza “abhorrent” in a statement released Monday.

Yoav Gallant said earlier that he had ordered “a complete siege on the Gaza Strip.”

“Depriving the population in an occupied territory of food and electricity is collective punishment, which is a war crime, as is using starvation as a weapon of war,” Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement shared by the organization. “The International Criminal Court should take note of this call to commit a war crime.”

Hamas wing threatens to execute civilian hostages

Update 1:50 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: The armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, warned Monday that it planned to kill an Israeli hostage every time the country’s military bombs a civilian target in the Gaza Strip without warning, according to The Associated Press and Al Jazeera.

“Any targeting of innocent civilians without warning will be met regretfully by executing one of the captives in our custody, and we will be forced to broadcast this execution,” said Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, according to Al Jazeera.

Israel’s foreign minister, Eli Cohen, warned Hamas not to harm hostages taken from Israel, saying, “This war crime will not be forgiven,” the AP reported.

Biden, European leaders to discuss Israel

Update 1:30 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: President Joe Biden will discuss the situation in Israel on Monday with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, The Associated Press reported.

Scholz said Germany, France, the U.S. and the U.K. agree there must not be “conflagration” in the region, according to the AP. He was hosting Macron on Monday at a joint German-French Cabinet retreat in Hamburg.

Death toll in Israel rises to at least 900

Update 1:25 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: The death toll in Israel rose to at least 900 on Monday following unexpected attacks launched by Hamas on Saturday, CNN reported, citing Israel’s Army Radio.

Earlier, officials said that at least 2,400 people have been wounded in the fighting.

In Gaza, at least 560 people have been killed and 2,900 others were wounded, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Gaza hospital out of service

Update 1:10 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: The main hospital in Gaza, Beit Hanoun Hospital, was out of service Monday following attacks by Israeli forces, according to the Palestinian health authority and ABC News.

Officials said Beit Hanoun Hospital is the only one in the city. It was heavily damaged “due to repeated targeting in the vicinity of the hospital,” according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The damage made it impossible for crews to enter or exit the hospital, officials said.

Netanyahu’s office says Egypt gave no advance notice of attack

Update 12:55 p.m. EDT Oct. 9: Officials with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Monday denied that Egypt gave the country warning ahead of attacks launched Saturday by Hamas.

Citing an unidentified Egyptian intelligence official, The Times of Israel reported that “Jerusalem had ignored repeated warnings that the Gaza-based terror group was planning ‘something big.’”

Netanyahu’s office said such reports are “absolutely false” in a statement released Monday.

“No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly,” officials said. “This is totally fake news.”

Netanyahu: ‘Israel will win’

Update 11:40 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared video of buildings being destroyed on the third day of fighting between the country and Hamas.

“Israel will win,” he wrote in a caption for the video.

2 members of Congress were in Israel during Hamas attack

Update 11:10 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: At least two members of Congress were in Israel on Saturday when Hamas launched surprise attacks on Israel.

Rep. Cory Booker, D-N.J., was in the country to speak at a summit in Tel Aviv on Tuesday while Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., was visiting for a family member’s bar mitzvah, according to reports.

US embassy staff under curfew in Israel

Update 11 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: Personnel working at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem were ordered to observe a curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. amid fighting between Israel and Hamas, according to an alert issued Monday.

“There are active military operations in the Gaza periphery and Gaza, as well as rocket and mortar fire in the Gaza periphery,” officials said, describing the Gaza periphery as “the areas of Israel near Gaza.”

“The Erez crossing between Israel and Gaza is closed until further notice, and U.S. citizens in Gaza who wish to leave and can do so safely are advised to check the status of the Rafah Crossing into Egypt.”

EU halts aid to Palestine

Update 10:15 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: The European Commission on Monday announced that it is putting development aid to Palestine under review following the Hamas attacks on Israel, The Guardian reported.

The European Union’s commissioner for neighborhood and enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, said in a series of social media posts that all payments were “immediately suspended.”

Death toll rises to at least 800 in Israel

Update 9:45 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: The death toll in Israel rose to at least 800 on Monday after Hamas launched surprise attacks in the country on Saturday, according to The Guardian.

Citing Israeli public broadcaster Kan, the newspaper reported that at least 2,400 people have been wounded in the fighting.

In Gaza, 560 people have been killed and 2,900 are wounded, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

US citizens remain unaccounted for

Update 9:20 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: A State Department official said Monday that Americans remain unaccounted for following attacks launched on Israel by Hamas over the weekend.

“We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts,” department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, according to Reuters.

He did not specify how many Americans were unaccounted for.

Israel imposes ‘complete siege’ on Gaza

Update 9:10 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, said Monday that the country is imposing a “complete siege” on Gaza, The Guardian reported.

“There is no electricity, there is no food, there is no water, there is no fuel,” he said, according to the newspaper.

The siege will affect the 2.3 million people living on the Gaza Strip, according to The Associated Press.

Israel and Egypt have ordered varying levels of blockades on Gaza since Hamas seized power in 2007, the AP reported.

9 Americans killed in Israel-Hamas fighting

Update 8:55 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: A spokesperson for the National Security Council said Monday that at least nine Americans are among those killed in the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas.

“At this time, we can confirm the death of nine U.S. citizens,” the spokesperson said in a statement obtained by CNN.

“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.”

At least 1,260 people have died in Gaza and Israel.

Death toll rises to 560 in Gaza

Update 8:40 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: The death toll in Gaza rose to 560 as fighting continued Monday, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Officials said 2,900 other people have been injured.

In Israel, more than 700 people have been killed, CNN and The Associated Press reported.

EU foreign ministers to meet Tuesday

Update 7:54 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: European Union foreign ministers are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss the situation in Israel.

Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced the meeting on social media on Monday.

2,506 people wounded; Russia, Ukraine, Lebanon respond to attacks

Update 7:42 a.m. EDT Oct. 9: The Israeli health ministry said that 2,506 people have been wounded in the attacks by Hamas since Saturday morning, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, Russia and Lebanon are speaking on the attacks.

Russian officials said they are “extremely concerned” by the “spiral of violence” in Israel, The Associated Press reported.

“We believe that this situation needs to be put onto a peaceful track as soon as possible. And the continuation of such a spiral of violence, of course, is fraught with further escalation and expansion of this conflict. This is a great danger for the region, so we are extremely concerned,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said. He said he was not aware of any Russian nationals injured in the attacks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose country has been under attack by Russia, and has fought back for more than a year and a half, said that Hamas’ attack on Israel is similar to what Russia has done to Ukraine.

“The same evil, and the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told a NATO parliamentary meeting via video in Copenhagen, the AP reported.

“Our unity must and can stop the evil,” Zelenskyy added. “Let everyone who sponsors terror feel the power of our wrath. And let everyone who needs help defending themselves against terror feel the power of our solidarity.”

Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati is urging world leaders to “take responsibility” and encourage Israel to negotiate for peace as part of the Arab Peace Initiative.

“Anything other than that is a further spiraling of violence that will not benefit anyone,” Mikati said, according to the AP.

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and is an ally of Hamas, fought with Israeli troops over the weekend, claiming responsibility for firing rockets into several Israeli areas on the border of the Syrian Golan Heights. Israel said that Hezbollah has about 150,000 rockets aimed at the country.

Original report: Israel says that the country is at war after the surprise attack with the government giving the go-ahead for “significant military steps” to answer for the attack carried out by the Palestinian terrorist group, The Associated Press reported. That includes deploying special forces to regain control at four locations now controlled by Hamas.

The country has also drafted 300,000 reservists since Saturday to fight against Hamas as Israel is “going on the offensive,” Reuters reported.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “complete siege” on Gaza. Israel will cut electricity and issue blockades to stop food, water and fuel into the country, CNN reported.

Fighting continues into the third day with at least 700 killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza. Hamas said it had launched 120 rockets into Ashdod and Ashkelon in southern Israel. It also launched rockets into Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, CNN reported.

On Monday, Israel’s Iron Dome air defense was targeting Hamas rockets that were being fired on Ashdod, CNN reported.

Chief military spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari said that border towns that had been taken by Hamas are back under Israeli control but there were still some isolated attacks, Reuters reported.

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