Echoing comments he made on CNN, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tells NBC’s Meet the Press that “we have reports” that several Americans are among the dead and kidnapped, but would not confirm.

He adds, “We are very actively working to verify those reports.”

Blinken says “any American anywhere who is being detained or held hostage, that is going to be a priority for this government, for this administration, and for me, but I don’t want to get ahead of where we are. We have reports, and we have to verify them.”

Police name another four officers killed during fighting with Hamas terrorists in southern Israel:

Superintendent Vadim Blich, a commander in the coordination of enforcement operations unit; Chief Inspector Stas Shainkman, a member of the Yamam counter-terror unit; Sergeant Major Denis Belkin, a patrolman at the Sderot station; and First Sergeant Dvora Avraham, a patrolwoman at the Ofakim station

The Shin Bet, meanwhile, names five members and veterans killed during the Hamas attack.

Yossi Tahar, 39, Maor Shalom 46, and Amir Wax, 48, were killed when Hamas Terrorists Attacked southern towns; and Ili Nahman, 23, and Ido Edri, 24, were killed when terrorists attacked an outdoor rave near Re’im.

Despite Media Reports about Egypt negotiating with Hamas on Israel’s behalf, an Israeli official tells The Times of Israel that the government “does not know of any such conversation and is not conducting any negotiations.”

Another officials tells The Times of Israel that “right now we are fighting terrorists on Israeli territory. We’re not involved in any talks about the hostages right now.”

The government has confirmed that at least 100 Israelis are being held in Gaza, with media reports suggesting as many as 170 may be captive in the Strip.