*Live Report* Hamas Launches Unprecedented Terror Attack on Israel...

The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented terror attack on Israel, which has included the firing of thousands of rockets onto the Israel and the infiltration of Israeli territory by land, air, and sea. Responding to the surprise attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the nation is “at war” and the terrorists “will pay a price it has never known before.” Thus far, the attacks in Israel have reportedly left over 600 people dead and 2,048 wounded. Hamas claims it has captured Israel Defense Force soldiers and civilians during its assault on Israeli border towns outside Gaza. Israel’s military response –“Operation Sword of Iron”– has led to the deaths of 198 Palestinians and 1,864 people injured. The attack occurred on the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, the final day of the annual High Holy Day cycle.

Stay tuned to for live updates. All times eastern.

12:50 P.M. —

12:49 P.M. — Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer tells CNN that Israel’s death toll, which has passed 600 people, is likely to jump in the coming hours.

“We are well north of 600 people who have been killed. There will probably be more — hundreds, several hundred more,” the Israeli official says.

12:44 P.M. — In a brief and vague White House statement, it is announced that Biden has directed “additional support” to Israel as it battles against and “unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas.”

12:42 P.M. —

12:36 P.M. — Ambassador of Israel to the United States Michael Herzog tells CBS News that American citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas, but is short on details.

11:59 A.M. — Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer tells CNN that American citizens are among the “scores” of hostages in Gaza.

11:47 A.M. — A gut-wrenching interview with Yaakov Argamani, the father of Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped from a music festival in Southern Israel, is making the rounds.

“I tried to contact her from the second we heard the [rocket] sirens,” the elder Argamani tells Channel 12, per Times of Israel.

“I went to one of the offices and was informed that she was not injured. While on the phone, her roommate contacted us, and said that there was a video of her on a motorcycle and she was kidnapped and taken to Gaza,” the emotional father continues.

“I asked to see and then I saw that it was definitely her. She was so scared, so frightened. I always protected her, and at this very moment I couldn’t,” he adds. “I pray that everyone will return.”

11:40 A.M. — Israel says its forces have struck 800 targets in Gaza and has killed “hundreds of fighters,” the Guardian reports.

11:32 A.M. — Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Maj. Doron Spielman tells CNN that the Jewish state will not rest until every hostage is released from Hamas.

“We have men, women, children and grandmothers sitting in Gaza in some basement,” Spielman says. “What I can tell you is that we’re not going to stop until we exhaust every means possible of (getting them back). We will not leave any person behind, and we will do anything to make that happen.”

11:28 A.M. — Biden and Netanyahu hold another phone call in which the U.S. president reaffirmed America’s support for the Jewish state.