Americans Among Hostages Captured by Hamas: Israeli Minister

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Epoch Times Header

The United States is investigating reports that Americans were killed or captured in Hamas’s attack on Israel.

Americans are among the “scores” of hostages currently being held by the Islamic terror group Hamas after its unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said during an Oct. 8 appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” program.

On Oct. 7, Iran-linked militants in the Gaza Strip launched a surprise attack on Israel, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow revenge, declaring war on the Islamic militant group. More than 600 people in Israel have died since the attack, Mr. Dermer said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department is working to investigate reports that Americans were among those killed in the attack, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the program.

He told CNN anchor Dana Bash that the State Department is aware of the reports and said the government is “working overtime” to corroborate those claims.

โ€œYes, we have reports that several Americans were killed,โ€ Mr. Blinken said. “Weโ€™re working overtime to verify that.”

Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel represents the largest foreign attack on the state in decades.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on Oct. 8 about the situation in Israel, according to a statement by the White House. Following the briefing, President Biden “directed additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas.”

Mr. Blinken also suggested that the United States will likely announce financial and military assistance in the near future.

โ€œWeโ€™re looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have madeโ€”I think youโ€™re likely to hear more about that later today,โ€ he said.

US Lawmakers Condemn Attack

Following the attack, U.S. lawmakers were quick to condemn the aggression and to declare the United States’ continued support for Israel.

“The United States must unequivocally stand with our ally Israel and their right to defend themselves from terrorism,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who last week was ousted as speaker of the House of Representatives.

Byย Joseph Lord

Read Full Article on TheEpochTimes.com

The Epoch Times
The Epoch Timeshttps://www.theepochtimes.com/
Tired of biased news? The Epoch Times is truthful, factual news that other media outlets don't report. No spin. No agenda. Just honest journalism like it used to be.

Trumpโ€™s โ€œMajor Statementโ€ On Russia Is A Clumsy Attempt To Thread The Needle

The โ€œmajor statementโ€ on Russia Trump hyped up turned out to be an attempt to thread the needle between escalating US involvement in Ukrainian and walking away from it.

AI Takes Customer Service from Doublespeak to Triplespeak

Corporations are replacing customer service agents with AI agents. Here's a real-life example of attempting to use AI to have my internet restored.

The Left’s Descent into Extremismย ย 

The political left, from mainstream Dems to radical Antifa, have embraced extremism, alienating swaths of the public and undermining their own influence.

Roger Stone Speaks About Trump at Turning Point USA

Longtime Donald Trump friend, Roger Stone, gave a speech at the 2025 TPUSA convention offering his take on the recent Epstein List controversy.

Dredging the Swamp For CNN RINOs

Epstein ran a multinational child sex trafficking ring to service and entrap political and business elites to blackmail and to usurp democratic governance.

What to Know About the ICE Operation at California Cannabis Farms

The immigration operation at two cannabis farms led to the detention of 361 Illegal Immigrants, and 14 unaccompanied minors being found.

Federal Appeals Court Upholds Constitutionality of Gun Bans for Drug Users

Federal appeals court ruled law barring people who regularly use illegal drugs from owning guns is constitutional because of public safety concerns.

Gut Bacteria Could Help Remove โ€˜Forever Chemicalsโ€™ From Body

Researchers found that nine species of gut bacteria can help detoxify the body from forever chemicals, absorbing PFAS linked to cancer and other illnesses.

Trump Urges Supreme Court to Allow Firing of Biden Appointees at Consumer Commission

President Trump urged the Supreme Court on July 14 to lift a lower court order blocking his firing of three Biden appointees at the CPSC.

Trump to Announce $70 Billion Energy and Innovation Investment in Pittsburgh

President Trump is meeting with business leaders to discuss how best to meet the energy and computing needs of the future.

Trump Says He Spoke to Bongino Amid Reports of Infighting Over Epstein Files

President Trump spoke to FBI Deputy Dir. Dan Bongino, indicating the two remain close despite reported friction over release of Jeffrey Epstein docs.

EU Wonโ€™t Retaliate to Trumpโ€™s 30 Percent Tariff, Countermeasures on Hold Until August

EC President Ursula von der Leyen said EU will extend suspension on countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until next month while trade negotiations continue.

Trump Announces 30 Percent Tariff on EU, Mexico

President Donald Trump has announced a 30 percent tariff on imports from the European Union and Mexico, to go into effect on Aug. 1, 2025.
spot_img

Related Articles