Hamas-Israel conflict live updates: Joe Biden condemns ‘pure, unadulterated evil’; fate of hostages remains unknown

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Key posts

  • Biden warns of swift response to ‘pure, unadulterated evil’
  • Australian killed in Israel: reports
  • This morning’s headlines at a glance
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At least 20 US citizens unaccounted for

Meanwhile, American national security adviser Jake Sullivan has said at least 20 Americans remain unaccounted for following the attack on Israel.

The high-ranking US official did not say how many of those missing are believed to be held hostage.

Here’s what Sullivan told White House reporters:

We believe that there are 20 or more Americans who, at this point, are missing. But I want to underscore and stress that does not mean, necessarily, that there are 20 or more American hostages. Just that is the number who are currently unaccounted for.

Americans among the hostages

Staying with that presidential address for a moment, and Joe Biden also confirmed that Americans are among the 150 or so people held captive by terrorist group Hamas.

I have directed my team to share intelligence and to deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts. Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans.

Biden warns of swift response to ‘pure, unadulterated evil’

United States President Joe Biden has just given a televised address from Washington, DC, in which he confirmed 14 American citizens are among those killed.

US President Joe Biden.Credit: Bloomberg

During his opening remarks, he condemned the “pure, unadulterated evil” unleashed on Israel and the world.

“This is terrorism,” he said. “Sadly, for the Jewish people, this is not new.”

The president said the world can be assured the US will have a swift and overwhelming response. Specifically, Biden pledged to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome protection system when Congress returns.

We’re going to make sure Israel doesn’t run out of these critical assets. This is not about party or politics. This is about the security of our world.

Biden also had a message for countries looking to take advantage of the current situation in the Middle East:

Don’t. Our hearts may be broken, but our resolve is clear.

Australian killed in Israel: reports

An Australian citizen has been killed in Israel, according to Channel Seven’s Sunrise and Nine’s Today show.

This just in from Today reporter Jack Hahn:

The first Australian life has been lost in the bloodshed… 66-year-old grandmother Galit Carbone was killed in her own home in Israel’s south where Palestinian militants are believed to have gone from home to home, setting them on fire to smoke out residents, before executing them in cold blood.

We are making inquiries with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Stay tuned.

Australian Galit Carbone.

This morning’s headlines at a glance

Welcome to another day of our live coverage of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.

Here’s what you need to know before we get started:

  • More than 1000 Israelis have been killed since Saturday’s unprecedented incursion. More than 3400 Israelis have been injured.
  • Retaliatory strikes have killed at least 770 Palestinians and wounded more than 4000.
  • Israel has called up 360,000 reservists and called for Palestinians to leave Gaza, raising expectations of an imminent ground invasion.
  • The fate of the estimated 150 hostages taken from Israel into Gaza remains unknown.
  • The bodies of around 1500 Hamas fighters have been found inside Israeli territory since the bloodshed began, according to the Israel Defence Forces.
  • Israel says it has largely regained control of its south and has restored full control of the Gaza border.
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