Rep. Mike Lawler sent a strongly worded letter to the State Department Sunday night inquiring about plans to safely bring his constituents home from Israel.

There are currently thousands of New Yorkers in Israel attempting to get flights back to the United States, according to a member of Congress who spoke with News 12.

The letter sent to the State Department says in part, "Americans are fearing for their lives and searching for ways to return... We need to know what steps are and will be taken to address the situation at hand."

News 12 reported Saturday a group of 32 police chiefs and other members law enforcement from across Westchester County, Long Island and New York City traveled to Israel just 24 hours before Hamas' initial attack.

The Israeli government formally declared war and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack from the Gaza Strip.

The declaration on Sunday portended greater fighting ahead as the toll from the conflict passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides.

More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to crush the last groups of militant fighters holed up in several towns of southern Israel.

At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel. More than 400 have been killed in Gaza.