Israel-Gaza live updates: Israeli officials on reports of Russian airport protesters

The U.S. is "not drawing red lines for Israel" and is still in "active negotiations" to release hostages, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a virtual briefing Friday.

Asked whether the U.S. was given advance warning of the expanding ground incursion happening today, Kirby would not give any detail on conversations with the Israelis, but said President Joe Biden has been getting daily briefings from his national security team.

Pressed on whether the U.S. is confident that Israel has thought through what happens after the ground incursion, Kirby said it's up to the Israelis to answer questions about the "soundness of their planning and the effectiveness of the execution."

Kirby said Israel should support a humanitarian pause if it can allow for the release of hostages.

-ABC News' Selina Wang and Fritz Farrow

The Israel Defense Forces are expanding ground activity in Gaza Friday night, a military spokesperson told reporters.

This is Israel's biggest ground operation in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack.

"In recent hours we have increased the attacks in Gaza," the IDF said in a statement. "The Air Force widely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly. In continuation of the offensive activity we carried out in the last few days, the ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening."

All internet and communications services have been cut off in Gaza following a barrage of strikes, according to the Palestinian Telecommunications Company.

"The intense bombing in the last hour destroyed all remaining international routes linking Gaza to the world," the company said in a statement. "The severe bombing led to the interruption of all communications services in the Gaza Strip."

4:23

Palestinian scholar from Gaza talks about need for cease-fire

Palestinian Jehad Abusalim speaks about the impact of the deadly conflict in Gaza.

ABCNews.com

Jawal, a Palestinian mobile company, also said all communications and internet services have been interrupted due to the "intense bombing."

Palestinian Red Crescent, a humanitarian organization, said it is unable to reach its teams due to the disruption in landline, cell and internet services.

"We are deeply concerned about the ability of our teams to continue providing their emergency medical services," the group said in a statement.

The World Health Organization said it has also lost touch with its staff in Gaza, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus adding, "This siege makes me gravely concerned for their safety and the immediate health risks of vulnerable patients. We urge immediate protection of all civilians and full humanitarian access."

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff met with families of Americans who are unaccounted for following the Oct. 7 attack in Israel and heard of their "agonizing" experiences, Harris' office said.

During the meeting at the State Department Friday morning, Harris told the families that "securing the hostages remains front and center in our diplomatic conversations," a readout from her office stated.

She also said they are working with partners in the Middle East "to ensure that any country with influence over Hamas brings that influence to bear to help secure the release of hostages," the readout stated.

Her office did not specify how many families attended the meeting.

The Biden administration said Tuesday that 10 Americans remained accounted for.