13 U.S. citizens also missing in the midst of the conflict.
The Department of State reported on Sunday that the death toll of Americans from the violence in Israel has risen to 30, up from 29 as reported the previous day. However, the number of Americans missing in Israel has lowered from 15 to 13.
The Islamic terrorist group Hamas has taken around 150 people hostage, demanding the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages’ return. Though 13 Americans are still missing in the area, the State Department cannot confirm whether or not Americans are part of that group of hostages.
“The U.S. government is working around the clock to determine their whereabouts and is working with the Israeli government on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to advise the Israeli government on hostage recovery efforts,” a State Department spokesperson said Saturday.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Secretary Blinken as he heads State Department efforts in the Middle East.
- For the president and his staff as they prepare to make the trip to Israel.
- For the safety of Israelis and Americans who are in jeopardy in the wake of the attacks.
Sources: Reuters, The Hill
