FOG BLOG WORLD NEWS LOG: ISREAL WAR WITH HAMAS ON THE GAZA: BOMBINGS, CASUALTIES AND HOSTAGES!

Israel has 'duty' to respond to Hamas, says Biden US President Joe Biden has said that Israel has a duty and a right to respond to Hamas' "terrorism" as fighting continues near Gaza.

In his remarks, Mr Biden said that the US will "stand with Israel" and provide whatever assistance it needs.

Mr Biden said that at least 14 Americans have been killed in the fighting, with others taken as hostages.

He added there was no justification for the "rampages" by Hamas.

The identities of US citizens killed or missing have not yet been announced by officials.

In an approximately 10-minute speech at the White House, Mr Biden condemned what he termed "an act of sheer evil" from Hamas, comparing the attacks to "the worst rampages" of the so-called Islamic State.

"Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond, and indeed has a duty to respond, to these vicious attacks," Mr Biden said, adding that the US response in a similar situation would be "swift, decisive and overwhelming".

Standing alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Mr Biden also said the US is sharing intelligence with Israel and has deployed experts to "consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts".

"As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world," he added.

At a separate news conference on Tuesday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that "20 or more" Americans are missing, although US officials are unsure of how many have been taken captive.

Mr Sullivan added that Mr Blinken - who has been focused on securing the release of hostages in Gaza - will travel to Israel "in the coming days" to meet with Israeli officials.