Here’s the latest on Israel’s response to Hamas attack as nation declares war

The Israeli government formally declared war against Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday following the group’s surprise onslaught of attacks Saturday that have left hundreds of people dead and thousands more injured.

In the 24 hours that followed Hamas’s unprecedented attacks early Saturday, both Israel and Gaza saw rising death tolls as Israeli forces attempted to fend off Hamas militants while launching a counteroffensive against Gaza.

Hamas’s unprecedented offensive Saturday marked the largest attack on Israel in decades as militant forces invaded multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air, while launching a barrage of rocket strikes out of Gaza.

As the fighting rages on, here’s the latest on what we know:

The rising death toll

As of Sunday afternoon, the death toll surpassed 1,100 individuals on both sides, with thousands more Israelis and Palestinians wounded.

More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, according to The Times of Israel, an Israeli media outlet, which cited officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said more than 2,150 Israelis have been injured so far.

In Gaza, an estimated 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory in the wake of Israeli strikes, The Times of Israel reported Sunday afternoon, citing the Gaza Health Ministry. Another 2,300 were reportedly wounded by the strikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Around 260 bodies recovered from music festival near Gaza

Hamas militants also gunned down or captured civilians along highways and at a techno musical festival in the desert near Gaza that attracted thousands of attendees, The Associated Press (AP) reported.

The AP said around 260 bodies were recovered from that festival, with the number expected to rise.

More than 130 captured in Gaza by Hamas, Islamic Jihad

Hamas and Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad have also reportedly captured a total of more than 130 individuals, including Israeli soldiers and civilians.

Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, told Arabic language news outlet al-Ghad the militant group has captured more than 100 people, per the AP. 

This is in addition to the more than 30 people claimed to be held by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, according to Reuters. 

In a statement shared by Reuters, Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhala said the captives will not be repatriated “till all our prisoners are released,” in reference to thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. 

Netanyahu warns of “long” war with Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to declare the state of Israel was at war with the Palestinian militants shortly after the multipronged attacks began Saturday morning, warning of a “long and difficult war.”

Israel later launched airstrikes in Gaza as retaliation, with Netanyahu vowing to destroy the militant group and forcefully avenge the attacks.

“All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere.”

Fighting continued after nightfall Saturday and before daybreak Sunday, as militants fired more rockets from Gaza, according to The Associated Press.

Israel’s military escalated retaliatory attacks against Palestinians, claiming to have hit an estimated 653 targets. Israel’s counteroffensives have prompted evacuations in at least five towns close to Gaza, the AP reported.

Americans killed, taken as hostages

The National Security Council (NSC) confirmed on Sunday several U.S. citizens were killed in the attacks, but did not provide a specific number.

Earlier Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken  told CNN’s “State of the Union” the agency has received reports that “several Americans” were killed and some were kidnapped. Blinken said the agency is “working overtime” to verify these reports. 

The NSC said there are American citizens that remain unaccounted for, adding it is “closely monitoring information” about the hostages taken by Hamas.

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday there are “scores of hostages,” noting American hostages are part of this number. He did not disclose a specific number.

When asked about the death toll of Americans, the State Department directed The Hill to Blinken’s comments made on Sunday’s news shows.

U.S. government vows unwavering support to Israel

President Biden quickly offered his unwavering support to Israel in the hours following Hamas’s attacks, telling Netanyahu the U.S. is prepared to offer “all appropriate means of support” to Israel. 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday confirmed a U.S. carrier strike group will be moved closer to Israel in response to the attacks.

The Ford carrier strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford — the U.S. Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier — as well as multiple missile cruisers and missile destroyers, will be moved closer to the Eastern Mediterranean to “bolster regional deterrence efforts,” Austin said.

The White House said Sunday Biden informed Netanyahu that “additional assistance” was on its way to the IDF and should arrive in the coming days.

Biden also expressed his sympathy for the Israeli people, according to a readout from the White House, and committed to remaining in close contact with Netanyahu.

The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday night, where the U.S. demanded all 15 members strongly condemn Hamas’s attacks, but the council did not take any immediate action, according to The AP.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters after the meeting that a “good number of countries,” but not all council members condemned the attack, per The AP.

U.S. lawmakers forced to shelter in place while visiting Israel

At least two U.S. lawmakers were forced to shelter in place Saturday when Hamas launched its attacks during their trips to Israel.

Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and his family were visiting family Saturday when Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks. Goldman along with his wife and three kids sheltered in a stairwell inside of a hotel until early Sunday morning, when they departed for New York, according to his office.

Separately, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also took refuge in a bomb shelter at his hotel in Jerusalem on Saturday.

A spokesperson for Booker’s office said the New Jersey Democrat departed Israel on Sunday, cutting his trip short in the wake of the violence. Booker arrived in the country last Friday and had plans to stay through at least Tuesday, when he had a scheduled talk about regional economic integration, his spokesperson said.

Booker recounted his experience Sunday, saying he and his staff are still “shaken” from the attacks.

Updated at 10:16 pm.