Washington, 12 October 2023 (dpa/MIA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to travel to Israel, arriving there on Thursday, after the large-scale attack by the Islamist Hamas movement, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in Washington on Tuesday.

Blinken will meet with Israeli counterparts to discuss the situation and how best to support Israel "in their fight against the terrorists who launched these horrific attacks," Miller said.

The Israeli military has received its first ammunition from the US, The Times of Israel reported citing the country's army.

A first transport aircraft with "advanced" US ammunition landed on Tuesday night at the Nevatim airbase in southern Israel, according to the report.

The report quoted the army saying the munitions would "enable significant strikes and preparations for additional scenarios."

US President Joe Biden had earlier made it clear that the US has been in constant communication with its Israeli partners and allies in the region and around the world since the crisis began.

Biden also confirmed that US citizens were among those kidnapped by the Islamist Hamas. He did not give a number. At least 14 have died so far and 20 are missing, the White House said.

"There are a number of countries who have the ability to deliver messages to Hamas. And we have made clear to those countries that they should urge Hamas to release all hostages immediately," the spokesman said.

Biden said he had ordered additional experts to be sent from the US. "I've directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts, hostage recovery and recovery efforts," he said.

The US president made it clear he would provide Israel with additional military aid - he would also request corresponding support from the US Congress. "So in this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with Israel," Biden stressed.

US intelligence agencies did not have indications of Palestinian militant group Hamas' plans to attack Israel, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.

"We did not see anything that suggested an attack of this type was going to unfold any more than the Israelis did," Sullivan told reporters when asked if any US intelligence pointed to an imminent attack.

The attacks apparently caught Israel's much vaunted security services by surprise, leading to shock and angry questions in Israel about why the intelligence services there failed to detect Hamas' preparations, and why the military was not more prepared for an assault across the fortified border.

Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the US, the European Union and Israel, wreaked the worst carnage among civilians since Israel's foundation in a major attack launched from the Gaza Strip on Saturday. At least 900 people were killed and 2,600 others injured in Israel - and dozens were taken hostage.

Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response have led to a total of 900 deaths there so far, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Tuesday evening, with another 4,500 injured. Among the dead are 260 children and young people, it said.

The US and Israel have traditionally had a close friendship. The US supports Israel with billions of dollars - a considerable part of which goes into defence against rockets.