Nearly two dozen Americans have been killed in Israel-Gaza war, U.S. says

Twenty-three American citizens, most of whom served in the Israel Defense Forces, have been killed in the Israel-Gaza war since Oct. 7, according to the U.S. State Department.

“As a result of continued violence after Oct. 7 … we can confirm the deaths of 23 American citizens - 21 who have served in the IDF, one who served in the Israeli National Police, as well as the recently reported death of Mr. Jabbar,” State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in his Monday press briefing. He was referring to 17-year-old Tawfic Hafeth Abdel Jabbar, a Palestinian American teenager who was fatally shot in the occupied West Bank last week.

At least 552 Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7, and at least 2,672 have been injured, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

After receiving draft notices as part of a wider mobilization, about 10,000 people living in the United States have reported for duty with the IDF, Israeli officials said in November. Many had previously done service in the IDF or remain reservists. Historically, about 1,200 Americans serve in the IDF at a given time, according to a 2022 study published by the journal Sociological Forum. Many are, or become, dual citizens.

At least 32 Americans were killed by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel. At least 10 Americans are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, with two released under a hostage exchange deal late last year.

[21 Israeli troops killed in the deadliest attack on the military since the Gaza offensive began]

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Kelly Kasulis Cho, Dan Lamothe and Alex Horton contributed to this report.