US President Joe Biden said on Monday that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel following the weekend’s attacks by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Washington believes it is likely US 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.

Critical munitions

The US has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon is reviewing inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally, a senior defence department official said on Monday.

Planes have already taken off, said the official, who declined to provide details on the weapons.