Washington [US], October 9: President Biden is sending additional military assistance to Israel following the Hamas attack on southern Israel.
The White House said Biden had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the "unprecedented and appalling assault".
The US was also working to verify reports its citizens were among those killed and taken captive, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Further military aid to Israel would be sent in the coming days, the White House statement said, adding that the US was working to ensure that Israel's enemies would not try to seek advantage from the situation.
The Pentagon said it was sending fighter jets to the region and the US Navy was also moving several ships - including an aircraft carrier - into the eastern Mediterranean.
Blinken said officials were looking at reports that US citizens had been caught up.
"We've got reports that several Americans are among the dead. We're working very actively to verify those reports," he told US TV on Sunday. Other countries including the UK, France, Ukraine and Thailand have also reported deaths He told ABC that "this is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as we've seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the border with Gaza.
"So, you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel. And the world should be revolted at what it has seen." Hundreds of people are still reported missing following the attack. Among them is 23-year-old American-Israeli HershGolberg-Polin, who was at a music festival in the desert which was stormed by militants. His parents told the Jerusalem Post they received two messages from him reading: "I love you" and "I'm sorry."
The UN Security Council is due to meet in New York shortly to discuss the violence in Israel and Gaza.
Source: Qatar Tribune
