Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday the Biden administration is looking into reports of Americans being killed or taken hostage as Israel goes to war against Hamas following a surprise attack by the militant group from Gaza.

“We have reports that several Americans were killed. We’re working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, we’re working to verify those reports,” the top U.S. diplomat said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Biden Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the attacks in Israel: "We have reports that several Americans were killed … There are reports of missing Americans." pic.twitter.com/4eIMFkDvTG

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 8, 2023

Blinken said in a separate interview on NBC’s “Meet The Press” that assisting detained U.S. citizens abroad “is going to be a priority,” but he stressed that any reports must be verified first.

The assault on Israel began Saturday morning with rocket barrages and Hamas fighters crossing the border. Soldiers and civilians were taken captive, Israel’s military said on Saturday, though the exact number remains unclear as of press time.

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Israeli forces engaged Hamas gunmen and were still reportedly fighting them within Israeli territory roughly 30 hours into the conflict. Israel has also engaged in retaliatory strikes against Hamas in Gaza and traded fire with Hezbollah along Israel’s northern border.

Officials have estimated hundreds of people have died and thousands are wounded in Israel and Gaza amid the fighting.

“We unequivocally condemn the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks,” Blinken said in a post to X.

President Joe Biden, in a statement to social media, said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and “reiterated [his] unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”

The Biden administration is “looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made,” Blinken said on CNN, adding, “I think you’re likely to hear more about that later today.” Blinken also said Biden aims to “make sure that we’re providing Israel everything it needs in this moment to deal with the attacks from Hamas.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Palestinians that they needed to immediately leave Gaza because the Israel Defense Force (IDF) was preparing to turn it into “rubble.”

The warning from Netanyahu came after Palestinian terrorists murdered hundreds of Israeli civilians in rocket attacks and shooting throughout Israel on Saturday.

“Dear citizens of Israel, this morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war,” he said. “We will be victorious in this war despite an unbearable price. This is a very difficult day for all of us. Hamas wants to murder us all. This is an enemy that murders children and mothers in their homes, in their beds, an enemy that abducts the elderly, children, and young women, that slaughters and massacres our citizens, including children who simply went out to enjoy the holiday.”

“What happened today is unprecedented in Israel and I will see to it that it does not happen again,” he continued. “The entire government is behind this decision. The IDF will immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas’ capabilities. We will destroy them and we will forcefully avenge this dark day that they have forced on the State of Israel and its citizens.”

Netanyahu then warned that “all of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding in, and operating from in that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble.”

“I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere,” he said. “At this hour, the IDF is clearing the terrorists out of the last communities.”

WATCH:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening:

"This morning, on Shabbat and a holiday, Hamas invaded Israeli territory and murdered innocent citizens including children and the elderly. Hamas has started a brutal and evil war." pic.twitter.com/ckPXuXNHk0

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 7, 2023