Some members of Congress on Wednesday left open the possibility of deeper U.S. military involvement in the unfolding war between Israel and Hamas as Americans were killed and taken hostage, and others were struggling to leave a country at war.

"Whatever Israel wants, they should ask us, and we should be there to help," Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force brigadier general and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said about rescuing hostages.