Number of Americans killed in Israel rises to 30
The number of Americans confirmed dead as a result of the war in Israel rose to 30 on Sunday.
“At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 30 U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected,” a spokesperson for the State Department said in a widely reported statement.
The statement also said there were 13 U.S. citizens whose whereabouts were unknown. The statement also said U.S. officials have been in touch with their families, according to multiple reports.
The numbers are updated from those provided on Saturday, when the State Department confirmed 29 Americans killed and 15 Americans missing.
“The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts,” a State Department spokesperson said on Saturday.
Hamas’s brutal surprise attack on the southern border of Israel left more than 1,300 Israelis killed, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Palestinian health ministry estimated more than 2,600 Palestinians have died in the conflict.
An estimated 150 people were taken from Israel as hostages on Oct. 7.
The State Department is warning Americans not to travel to Gaza and is asking Americans to “reconsider” traveling to Israel and the West Bank.