US Confirming Reports Americans Killed in Gaza After Hamas Surprise Attack: Blinken

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the United States is working to confirm reports of multiple Americans who are missing or have been killed following Hamas' surprise attack in Israel.

“We have reports that several Americans were killed. We’re working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans and there again, we’re working to verify those reports,” Blinken told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”

Blinken declared the violence in Gaza, which has resulted in at least 600 Israelis dead, is the worst attack on Israel "since the Yom Kippur War" in 1973.

The Yom Kippur War was different though, Blinken argued, because it was a "conventional war" between militaries. He described the violence by militant group Hamas as a "massive terrorist attack on Israeli citizens." 

Blinken said he's been in constant contact with Israeli officials like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said the US will provide Israel with "everything they need" and said more specifics would be announced later on Sunday. 

Israel's security cabinet declared war on on Hamas on Saturday with Netanyahu vowing "mighty vengeance for this wicked day." 

Blinken also addressed accusations from some critics who have connected the violence in Gaza to funds released to Iran as part of a recent prisoner swap. Some speculated the $6 billion could have been used to help Hamas carry out their attacks.

Blinken acknowledged that Hamas and Iran have a "long" relationship and hundreds in Iran have been sanctioned for their ties to the group, but said critics are "misinformed."

"It's deeply unforunate that some are playing politics with this while Israel is under attack ... Let's be clear about this NO US taxpayer dollars were involved," he said.

Blinken said the funds are held in South Korea and can only be used for humanitarian purposes like food and medicine.