Israel’s 9/11 US death toll rises to 27 five days after Hamas terror attack
- John Kirby confirmed that the American death toll in Israel has risen by two more
- Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Thursday – five days after Hamas launched a horrific terror attack on the Jewish nation
The number of Americans killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel has now reached 27, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby revealed Thursday.
The Israeli, Palestinian and American death toll continues to rise five days after Hamas attacked the Jewish state.
Gaza-based Hamas terrorists entered Israel for the first time on Saturday in a surprise multi-pronged attack that left at least 1,200 Israelis dead in less than a week – on par with 9/11 multiples. Thousands more are injured and there are still hostages being held in Palestinian territory.
Arriving in Tel Aviv, Israel on Thursday morning, Foreign Secretary Antony Blinken revealed that at least 25 Americans had been killed in the Hamas attacks.
Later in the day, two more were confirmed dead by Kirby during the White House press briefing.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken revealed Thursday that the American death toll in Hamas terror attacks in Israel has reached 25
Blinken told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “We are with you and we are not going anywhere.”
“Thank you very much,” Netanyahu replied.
On Friday, Blinken, who is Jewish, will also sit down with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The updated death toll of 25 comes after it was revealed the previous day that the number of Americans killed in Hamas atrocities had risen to at least 22 by Wednesday. There are still thousands of American citizens in Israel missing.
Blinken crashed in Tel Aviv at about 3 am. eastern time, at 10 a.m. local time in Israel. On the tarmac he was greeted by Israeli government officials who offered him a warm hug.
Blinken is joined on his peacekeeping mission to Israel by Deputy Chief of Staff Tom Sullivan, State Department Press Secretary Matthew Miller, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf, Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs Hadi Amr and Deputy Special The President’s Envoy for Hostage Affairs Steve. Gillen.
The meeting comes as Israel continues to bomb the Hamas stronghold of Gaza as part of the country’s counteroffensive, which could expand to a ground offensive this week as troops are mobilized across Israel.
Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday and said during a joint press conference in Tel Aviv: “We are with you and we are not going anywhere.”
Meanwhile, Israel is engaged in a heavy counter-offensive against Gaza after the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas invaded at the weekend. The Israeli death toll is believed to exceed 1,200. Photo: An Israeli army tank fires near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on Thursday, October 12
Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of 1,100 people in the area.
Less than 24 hours before Blinken’s arrival in Israel, the world’s largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford Strike Group, arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
According to a press release from US Central Command, the move to the region was to “prevent any actor seeking to escalate the situation or expand this war.”
Capt. Angelica White, a spokeswoman for the 26th Marine Corps Unit, told Marine Corps Times that the group was ordered to return to the ships and end their exercises in Kuwait early.
He said the orders for the Marines and sailors to return to their ships were to “prepare for further deployment as a result of emerging events,” but did not specify whether this was related to the terror attacks in Israel.
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