Israel-Gaza live updates: Biden worried about ‘death’ in potential ground invasion

As the Biden administration intensifies efforts to help American nationals leave Israel and Gaza, more than 20,000 U.S. citizens have reached out to the State Department asking for help in the wake of the Hamas attacks, including several hundred seeking to leave Gaza, according to two U.S. officials.

While not all have actively sought assistance with transportation, “many thousands” across Israel have indicated they needed help finding flights out of the country, the officials said.

Government-chartered planes have now started to ferry U.S. citizens from Israel to other countries in the region, though one official said the State Department still cannot share a detailed breakdown on the number of Americans whose departure it has already facilitated or the number of Americans still waiting for help “given this is an unfolding situation.”

Citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes, Oct. 13, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza.

For Americans in Gaza, the U.S. is still eyeing the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt as a means of safe passage. Officials say they are very hopeful they will be able to work with Israel and Egypt to establish a corridor for U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals, but that it could take days to make substantial progress.

The Israeli government estimated that between 100 to 130 Americans were living in Gaza earlier this year. An official says the State Department believes hundreds more are visiting — putting the total number in Gaza potentially between 500 and 600.

The State Department estimates that roughly 500,000 American citizens reside in Israel.

-ABC News’ Shannon K. Crawford