Announcer this is cnn breaking news. And wellcome to the lead. Im jake tapper. And we start in the middle east where americas top diplomat delivered an inperson message to the israeli people who are grieving and wounded. He said the United States will never back down from its support of israel. Secretary of state Antony Blinken is on his way to meet with other u. S. Allies in the region. Saudi arabia, egypt, uae, qatar, and jordan after standing side by side with Benjamin Netanyahu today. The secretary also met with families of americans killed and taken hostage by hamas, a group the u. S. Has labeled terrorists. The white house says at least 27 americans have been killed and at least 14 others remain missing. In its efforts to eliminate hamas which brutally attacked israel last saturday, Israel Defense forces are currently pounding gaza with air strikes today. Since hamas embeds itself within the palestinian population, this is tragically resulting in hundreds of innocent palestinian
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