American Death Toll in Gaza Rises to 36, Defense Secretary Says

The number of Americans killed in the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel rose from 33 to 36, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a committee hearing Tuesday.

Austin said that was the latest official number when speaking to the Senate Appropriations Committee. In his official testimony, Austin said "at least 36 Americans" were killed when Hamas attacked Israel just over three weeks ago.

Among those killed were music festival attendee Lotan Abir, aspiring DJ Laor Abramov and nurse Adrienne Neta.

"It was the deadliest attack deliberately targeting civilians in Israel’s history. It was cruel, hateful, and repugnant," he said. "And as a former head of Central Command, these Hamas atrocities remind me powerfully of the outrages committed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria."

Lloyd said that American forces had come under "repeated attack" in recent days by Iranian-backed militia groups, adding that if this did not stop that the U.S. would be forced to respond.

He appeared alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asking for further financial assistance from Congress for the United State's involvement in both the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine wars.

"It will ensure Israel can continue to defend its people, by building on the
diplomatic, security, and intelligence support the United States has surged since Hamas’s appalling slaughter," Secretary Blinken said.