Israel-Gaza updates: Israeli forces preparing for 'wide range of offensive plans'

A senior White House official told reporters Saturday evening that it is "too early" to know what involvement, if any, Iran had in the attacks in Israel.

"It's too early to say whether the state of Iran was directly involved or planning, supporting," the senior administration official said. "We are going to be looking at that very closely."

"That said, there's no doubt Hamas is funded, equipped, armed by Iran and others," the official added.

Several Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, have claimed that Iran helped coordinate the attacks.

The White House official said President Joe Biden and the administration have been in contact with Palestinian and Israeli officials throughout the day.

"We are in deep talks with the Israelis about some of their particular needs," the official said.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

Up to 50 Israelis who were being held hostage by Hamas have been freed, according to an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson.

They were being held in the dining hall of Kibbutz Be'eri in southern Israel, though the situation has been "neutralized," the IDF spokesperson said.

Officials still believe hostages are being held in Gaza but an exact number hasn't been released.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have issued a "Public Safety Notification" to law enforcement around the U.S., urging them to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity in the midst of the ongoing situation in Israel.

The notice says the agencies "do not currently have specific intelligence indicating a threat to the United States stemming from the Hamas attacks in Israel" but that "foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters remain committed to attacking the United States within and beyond our borders."

"In recent years, there have been several events and incidents in the United States that were purportedly motivated, at least in part, by the conflict between Israel and Hamas," the notice continued. "These have included the targeting of individuals, houses of worship, and institutions associated with the Jewish and Muslim faiths with acts of physical assault, vandalism, or harassment."

-ABC News' Mike Levine

A high-ranking Israel Defense Forces commander was killed in action Saturday, the military said.

Col. Jonathan Steinberg, 42, the commander of the Nahal Brigade, was killed during a confrontation with Hamas, IDF said.