US death toll rises to 22; lawmaker says Egypt warned Israel before attack: Live updates

The American death toll increased to 22, while Israeli casualties exceeded 1,200 on Wednesday, as Tel Aviv’s reaction to Hamas’s devastating strike left neighbourhoods damaged, homes unlit, and hospitals running low on medical supplies.

“At this time, we can confirm the deaths of at least 22 U.S. citizens,” stated the State Department in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected.” In addition, the White House reported that 17 Americans are still missing.
Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, has pledged to “crush and destroy” Hamas. “Every Hamas member is a dead man,” that’s what he stated.

According to Palestinian sources, over 1,100 terrorists and Gaza residents have been killed, with over 5,000 injured. For the seventh day in a row, Israeli missiles crashed into neighbourhoods, devastating houses and infrastructure.

Israeli forces retaking neighbourhoods along the Gaza border discovered dead of people, including women and children, littering the streets. According to the Israeli health ministry, the death toll is certain to rise as violence continues and additional dead are discovered in settlements.
After evening, Palestinians in wide portions of Gaza City and elsewhere were plunged into total darkness after the territory’s sole power station ran out of fuel and shut down. Only a few lights from private generators remained up.

The territory, home to more than 2 million Palestinians, went black as its sole power station ran out of fuel on Wednesday, leaving people with the bleak prospect of inadequate food and water supplies. According to the World Health Organisation, hospital supplies were low.
“We will not allow a reality in which Israeli children are murdered,” Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant declared during a meeting with soldiers. “I have removed all restrictions.” We will remove everybody who opposes us and utilise whatever means available to us.”

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According to a lawmaker with knowledge of such affairs, Israel officials were alerted by neighbouring Egypt that an assault was probable three days before it occurred.

Rep. Michael McCaul, a Republican from Texas who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the Hamas attack on Saturday was most likely the consequence of a “failure of intelligence,” and that it was unclear how both the US and Israel were caught off guard.

“We know that Egypt had warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen,” McCaul said in a press conference. “We know that this was planned possibly as long as a year ago.”

McCaul went on to say that “a warning was sent,” although it was unclear at what level of administration.

Netanyahu has denied knowing about the strike in advance, calling the claims “absolutely false.” According to some stories, the material was sent forward but never made it to his desk due to a lack of specifics.

McCaul stated that the focus is now on preventing the violence from spreading because to the presence of other violent organisations in the region.

“We’re very concerned about the fidelity of our intelligence and the escalation of a Middle Eastern conflict that could turn into a global Jihad movement in Israel,” he added.

The United States is casting a broad net in pursuit of missing Americans.
In addition to the 22 Americans murdered, the White House warned Wednesday that 17 Americans are currently missing in Israel as a result of the Hamas attack, and that the number might grow further.

READ: Every Hamas member is a dead man, Netanyahu says

Hamas denied targeting children and condemned Western media for “promoting the Israeli occupation’s propaganda, which is full of lies and fabrications, in an attempt to cover up the crimes and massacres committed by the Israeli occupation around the clock.”