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Washington believes it is likely U.S. citizens are also among
those being held hostage by Hamas, Biden said in a statement.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby later added
it was not yet confirmed if Americans were taken hostage.
"I can't say definitively that we know Americans are being held
hostage. That said, we have to accept the grim possibility that
some are," Kirby told reporters late on Monday.
Biden said the United States was working with Israeli officials
to obtain more information as to the whereabouts of U.S.
citizens who are still unaccounted for.
"For American citizens who are currently in Israel, the State
Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated
security alerts," Biden said.
"For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground
options are still available," he said, adding that they should
take precautions and follow the guidance of local authorities.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday killing
hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. Israeli TV
channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed
to 900, with at least 2,600 injured.
Israel subsequently battered Palestinians with air strikes in
Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians have
been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the
blockaded enclave since Saturday.
Biden said he has directed his team to work with Israeli
counterparts on every aspect of the hostage situation, including
sharing intelligence and deploying experts from the U.S.
government.
Police departments across the U.S. have stepped up security
around centers of Jewish life, Biden said.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Dan
Whitcomb, Rosalba O'Brien and Jamie Freed)
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