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

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie slammed the dysfunctionin> the U.S. House of Representatives, where a small group of Republican lawmakers last week voted along with the Democratic minority to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for leaving it without a way to pass legislation, including foreign aid to Israel.

"What I would be doing is making sure, one, that Israel has everything that it needs to be able to take whatever actions it needs to take. And this is the problem with not having a speaker right now," Christie, the former New Jersey governor, told ABC News' "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Christie, a former ABC News contributor, added, "The actions taken by some members of my party were wholly irresponsible without this going on. They're now even putting a brighter light on the irresponsibility of not having someone in place."

Christie also said his top priorities if he were president would be engaging allies in the region, such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia, to keep the conflict from spreading and to serve as a "sounding board" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help him "think through the ramifications of every step they're going to take to defend themselves and to try to do the best they can to eliminate the leadership of Hamas."

-ABC Nicholas Kerr

For the first time since Saturday's surprise attack by Hamas militants, the Israeli government confirmed that a number of people, including civilians, have been taken hostage.

Israel's Government Press Office said Sunday that at least 100 Israeli citizens and soldiers are being held hostage by Hamas fighters.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in separate interviews on CNN and NBC News that there is a possibility Americans are among those killed or taken hostage and that the U.S. Department of State is investigating.

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday pushed back on growing Republican criticism that the White House's decision to allow the transfer of some $6 billion of Iran's oil revenue, in exchange for the release of five American detainees, was a sign of "appeasement" ahead of the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas militants.

"Not a single dollar from that account has been spent to date and, in any event, is very closely and carefully regulated by the Treasury Department," Blinken told ABC's "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Blinken stressed that the funds are designated solely for humanitarian purposes and are not U.S. tax dollars.

-ABC News' Adam Carlson

Two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were killed Sunday when a gunman opened fire on them and a group of travelers in Egypt, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

The attack unfolded in Alexandria and was allegedly committed by a local resident, the Foreign Ministry said. The tour guide was an Egyptian, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The shooting left at least one other Israeli tourist injured, the Foreign Ministry said.

Israeli officials -- including the Israeli Embassy in Cairo, the Prime Minister's Office and the Israel Defense Forces -- are working with Egyptian authorities to return the slain Israeli citizens to Israel as soon as possible, the Foreign Ministry said.

-ABC News' Becky Perlow