 In a statement Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the United States will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel to show support. Washington believes Hamas' latest attack may have been motivated to disrupt a potential normalizing of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns as the country suffered its bloodiest day in decades on Saturday. Israel battered Palestinians with airstrikes in Gaza on Sunday, with hundreds reportedly killed on both sides. The spiraling violence threatens to start a major war in the Middle East, Austin added that the United States will provide munitions to Israel, and its security assistance will begin moving on Sunday. The Pentagon will be adding fighter jets to the region, as well, he said. President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces was on its way to Israel and more would follow in the coming days, the White House said after their call.