At least 17 Americans are currently unaccounted for and 22 have been killed due to the Israel-Hamas war. President Joe Biden stated that the Biden administration is working on bringing back Americans who have been taken hostage by Hamas, the terrorist group. President Biden made these comments during a roundtable with Jewish community leaders at the White House, where he also denounced anti-Semitism and expressed his support for Israel.
President Biden mentioned that the administration is deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts, but he did not provide specific details about the operations. He expressed his commitment to bringing the hostages home and emphasized that revealing any information about the operations could jeopardize their safety.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that 17 Americans are currently unaccounted for and 22 have been killed due to the war. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby noted that there is no specific proof of life on any individual hostage, but they believe the number of Americans held by Hamas is very small. However, Kirby acknowledged that these numbers could increase over time.
Officials do not have detailed information about the conditions of the hostages, their location, or if they are being moved. The administration is working to gather more information, but Kirby emphasized the importance of discretion in these situations. He did not comment on any dialogue with Hamas.
In the midst of these developments, Rep. Cory Mills, an Army veteran, stated that he has been in Israel helping Americans evacuate from the country. He has already assisted 32 Americans and plans to continue his efforts. He could not provide specific details about the operation for safety reasons.
Lawmakers have also been pressing the Biden administration to evacuate Americans from Israel. On October 10, 146 members of Congress sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the use of all available resources, including chartering flights and military options, to evacuate Americans trapped in Israel due to the war.
Several airlines have halted flights to and from Israel due to the actions of Hamas, including firing rockets that have hit Ben-Gurion International Airport. The legislators called on Blinken to consider charter flights and military options for evacuation.
The State Department has been in contact with U.S. citizens in Israel and has facilitated the departure of some individuals from the country.