The US says it is moving an aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean and will also give Israel additional equipment and ammunition.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, a missile cruiser and four missile destroyers were heading to the region. US fighter jets would also be sent.

It follows the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which US President Biden called an “unprecedented and appalling assault”.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was also working to verify reports its citizens were among those killed and taken captive.

In Gaza, at least 313 people have been killed following retaliatory Israeli air strikes, according to Palestinian officials, while Israel says more than 600 people have been killed and 100 kidnapped.