US says it’s verifying reports that Americans are being held hostage by Hamas

ANKARA

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday his administration is verifying reports that Americans are being held hostage by the Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

"We've got reports that several Americans are among the dead. We're working very actively to verify those reports,” Blinken told CBS News’ Face the Nation program

“At the same time, the reports of Americans being taken hostage — there too, we're working to get the facts to find out if those reports are accurate," he added.

Israel’s Ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, said earlier Sunday that Americans were among the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

“I understand there, but I don’t have details,” Herzog said.

The US National Security Council also confirmed that several Americans had been killed during an attack by Hamas on Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities,” said a spokesperson for the council.

On Sunday, Hamas and the Palestinian group Islamic Jihad said they are holding more than 130 Israelis.

On Saturday, Hamas launched its biggest attack on Israel in decades, firing thousands of rockets and sending fighters who infiltrated Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip. The group said its attack was in response to Israeli violations in the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.

At least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the attack, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.

Israel retaliated with a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 430 Palestinians and wounding at least 2,300 others.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to use all of Israel’s strength to destroy Hamas’ capabilities and “take revenge for this black day.”