Thread: President Joe Biden

• Biden: 14 Americans killed in Israel, others held hostage by Hamas in Gaza

At least 14 Americans were killed in the surprise Hamas attack on Israel and U.S. citizens are among the hostages being held by the militant group in Gaza, President Biden confirmed on Tuesday.

The big picture: The confirmation that Americans have been killed or are being held hostage will likely draw the U.S. even further into the crisis.

• The U.S. on Sunday announced it was sending additional military aid to Israel and moving its Ford carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to "bolster regional deterrence efforts."

What they're saying: "I've directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts," Biden said on Tuesday.

• "Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world," he added.
• "The brutality of Hamas' blood thirstiness brings to mind the worst rampages of ISIS. This is terrorism," Biden said, speaking alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Driving the news: Hamas militants invaded Israeli villages and towns on Saturday in its multiprong attack from land, air and sea. The Israeli military and much of the world were surprised by the attack.

• Unverified videos on social media show militants killing Israeli civilians and soldiers, and taking others, including elderly women, hostage and bringing them to Gaza.

• A Hamas military wing spokesperson said on Saturday that all those who were kidnapped were being held in hideouts around Gaza, including in tunnels.

Zoom out: Several hours after the attack began on Saturday, Israel began launching retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

• At least 1,000 Israelis and 765 Palestinians have been killed since the attacks began on Saturday. Thousands have been injured.
• The fighting comes after a year of escalating violence in the region, including in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.

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• U.S. may send second aircraft carrier toward Israel

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Extra

• Biden interviewed by special counsel in classified documents probe

President Biden sat this week for an interview with the special counsel overseeing an investigation into his handling of classified documents from his time as vice president, the White House confirmed Monday.