Over 260 bodies recovered from music festival as US positions warships – live updates

The US says it is moving an aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean and will also give Israel additional equipment and ammunition.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, a missile cruiser and four missile destroyers were heading to the region. He also said the US had also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

He added that the US would be “rapidly providing” Israel with “additional equipment and resources, including munitions” in the coming days.

At least three Americans were among those killed, CNN reported on Sunday, citing a U.S. memo.

Intense fighting in Israel and Gaza has massively disrupted international air travel.

Airlines including Delta and American have said operations are suspended at least through Sunday, and they’ve joined United in temporarily halting flights in and out of Tel Aviv.

“Due to the ongoing conflict situation in the region, between Israel and Gaza based extremist militants, operators are advised to review current security, threat information and [Notice to Air Missions],” the Israeli Civil Aviation Authority said Saturday, urging operators to “exercise caution” and expect delays.

Over 1,100 people have been killed and numerous others have been wounded in fighting since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.

Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group claim to have taken more than 130 people captive, The Associated Press reports.

Mike Pence led the charge for the foreign interventionist wing of the 2024 Republican primary against their isolationist rivals this weekend as new hostilities erupted between Israel and the Hamas militants of the occupied Gaza Strip.

Mr Pence made his remarks in Iowa, where he is battling for a surprise victory (or at least a decent-enough showing) in the first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Calling out Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis by name, he accused them of supporting America’s retreat from a global military, diplomatic and economic footprint he argued was previously responsible for tamping down on unrest around the world.

At least three Americans have been killed in the ongoing Hamas war on Israel, according to a US government memo reviewed by CNN.

The reported State Department document also adds that other US citizens remain unaccounted for in the violence.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Sunday that Americans could be among the dead and said the government was making it a major priority to verify that information and rescue any US hostages.

The Israeli rescue service Zaka says its paramedics removed more than 260 bodies from a music festival that came under attack by Hamas militants.

Early on Saturday morning, Hamas targeted Nova music festival, a techno rave in the desert near the border with Gaza. Videos shared on social media and by Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festival-goers running through an open field as gunshots rang out.

Elon Musk pleaded with X users on Sunday to try and stick to the facts, as the site and its billionaire owner come under heavy criticism for the spread of false information regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

“As always, please try stay as close to the truth as possible, even for stuff you don’t like,” Mr Musk wrote on X. “This platform aspires to maximize signal/noise of the human collective.”

Government buildings in the UK have lit up in support of Israel.

Rishi Sunak shared a photo of 10 Downing Street with a projection of the Israeli flag. The government has asked all its buildings fly the Israeli flag and use appropriate coloured lighting to show solidarity with the country.

An Irish-Israeli citizen is missing after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Saturday.

The Irish government said it is in contact with the family of 22-year-old Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for after an unprecedented surprise attack was launched against Israel.

According to the Irish Times, who first reported the story, the young woman’s mother is Irish.

Irish premier Leo Varadkar said on Sunday that they were aware of the case. He added: “We don’t have any definite detail beyond that, but certainly (we’re) aware of it and willing to offer any consular assistance we can to any Irish citizens or any dual Irish citizens that are caught up in these terrible attacks.”

Ireland’s deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin echoed those comments.

“We are aware of the case and the Department Foreign Affairs has been in touch… with the family. But we don’t intend to comment specifically on the case at this stage,” the Tanaiste said.

“Could I say that as more information is revealed, I think the full horror of the crimes that were committed yesterday by Hamas are laid bare – hundreds and hundreds of innocent people slaughtered in the most savage of ways.”

He said that people had been targeted in their homes in an “indiscriminate” way.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is “aware of this case and we are in touch with the family directly and providing consular assistance”.

“We don’t comment on the detail of individual cases,” it added.

The Israeli rescue service Zaka says its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack by Hamas militants. The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area. Videos aired on social media and by Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festival goers running through an open field as gunshots rang out at Nova festival. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled.