Drones are being flown into Gaza to search for hostages taken during the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, two US government officials have said. The report by the British news agency Reuters mentioned two government officials, but did not provide names or departments.
An official at both said the U.S. was looking for hostages held by Hamas and was being assisted by surveillance and intelligence-gathering drones, among other efforts. He said that he himself has been flying the drone for more than a week.
U.S. officials said 10 Americans are among 200 foreigners held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, believed to be hidden in an extensive network of tunnels by Hamas.
The Israeli army laid siege to Gaza City, the largest city in the Strip, on Thursday to target Hamas, but they were suddenly faced with guerilla attacks from the same tunnels.
The city, located in northern Gaza, has been the center of attacks on Israel, while Israel has vowed to eliminate the Islamist group and its structures in the area and told civilians to move south.
Israeli officials said that Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,400 people, most of whom were civilians, and the deadliest in the country's 75-year history.
Gaza Health Department officials said that after the attacks by Hamas, Israel carried out heavy aerial bombardments on the area with a population of 2.3 million and also ground attacks, in which 9,061 people have been killed so far.
An official at both said the U.S. was looking for hostages held by Hamas and was being assisted by surveillance and intelligence-gathering drones, among other efforts. He said that he himself has been flying the drone for more than a week.
U.S. officials said 10 Americans are among 200 foreigners held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, believed to be hidden in an extensive network of tunnels by Hamas.
The Israeli army laid siege to Gaza City, the largest city in the Strip, on Thursday to target Hamas, but they were suddenly faced with guerilla attacks from the same tunnels.
The city, located in northern Gaza, has been the center of attacks on Israel, while Israel has vowed to eliminate the Islamist group and its structures in the area and told civilians to move south.
Israeli officials said that Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of 1,400 people, most of whom were civilians, and the deadliest in the country's 75-year history.
Gaza Health Department officials said that after the attacks by Hamas, Israel carried out heavy aerial bombardments on the area with a population of 2.3 million and also ground attacks, in which 9,061 people have been killed so far.