This is cnn breaking news. Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and All Around The World as we continue our breaking News Coverage of israel at war. Im rosemary church. Well, the death toll from the hamas attacks has jumped to more than 1200 as israel steps up its punishing retaliation in gaza. The Palestinian Health ministry now says at least 950 people have been killed by israeli air strikes with more than 5,000 injured. Weve seen huge explosions within the past few hours. Its not clear what the target was in this instance, but in other areas, the idf says it has destroyed hamas systems that detect aircraft, as well as an underground tunnel, and a weapons storage facility. Israels military also says it hit naval targets, including docks used by hamas to launch attacks on the israeli coastline. The hamascontrolled government in gaza is warning that electricity will stop within hours, limiting the ability to provide the most basic services. Meanwhile, israel is massing troops and tanks on the border. Israels Defense Minister says the offensive against hamas may have started from the air, but it will also come on the ground. And cnns nada bashir is following developments for us. She joins us live from london. Good morning to you, nada. So whats the latest on israeli air strikes, and of course Hamas Rocket Fire and what appears to be an inevitable grounding incursion . Look, as anticipated, the air strikes have continued overnight, as you mentioned yesterday. And overnight we have seen rockets being launched by hamas from within gaza into israel, many of them intercepted of course by israels iron dome air defense system. But the Air Raid Sirens have been almost nonstop in israel, and of course warning citizens to enter the bomb shelters. In gaza, we have seen into this morning continued air strikes. And as you mentioned there, the death toll both in israel and gaza continuing to rise. In israel, at least 1,200 israelis to have died. In gaza, that death toll is steadily rising and will continue to rise as the air strikes continue. At least 950 palestinians in gaza so far killed. Some 5,000 wounded, according to the latest figures from the palestinian authorities. And of course there is real concern around the civilian toll here. Weve heard from Palestinian Interior Ministry which has said that the idf air strikes have been targeting civilian infrastructure, civilian homes, including schools and hospitals, medical infrastructure. And that is a huge concern. It is of course, important to underscore here that gaza is under an air, land, and sea blockade. There is nowhere for Palestinians Inside Gaza to take shelter or to flee. So this is, of course, a huge concern. Weve heard from the European Union that the Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell as well as other Human Rights Organizations who have warned against the use of collective punishment which is what we are seeing in gaza. Now it is important to underscore also that the idf says it is targeting hamas positions in gaza. As you mentioned in your lead, they have said that they are targeting key Military Infrastructure used by hamas, including most recently an Aerial Detection system in which of course will prove crucial as these air strikes continue. But we have had those repeated warnings from the idf, from israels leadership, saying this is only going to intensify. Take a listen to these remarks from the liz president. Israel is committed to the security of its citizens, to the safety and wellbeing, both when they are attacked by murderous and cruel human monster, and when they are kidnapped and taken prisoners by them. I would like to emphasize the full responsibility rests on the barbaric murders of hamas and islamic jihad. And therefore, as to the wellbeing of those abducted and kidnapped, it should be made clear not a hair on their heads should be harmed. They should be unconditionally released and returned home. Of course, there remains huge concern over the israelis who have been taken hostage by hamas and being held in gaza, according to israels ambassador to the United Nations. It is believed that between 100 and 150 Israeli Citizens are currently being held hostage by hamas. And weve heard those testimonies from families waiting for news of their loved ones. This will be definitely a complex process and operation for the idf as these airstrikes continue. And of course, weve heard those repeated warnings now. Weve seen on the ground the buildup of israeli tanks and artillery units. Weve seen hundreds of thousands of israeli reservists being called up. What is really an anticipation now that a Ground Incursion could be announced that hasnt been confirmed by the idf, but there is speculation that could well be the next step for israel. Our thanks to nada bashir for that live report. Appreciate it. Well, u. S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan says the white house does not expect israel to pursue a complete siege of gaza, as the defense ordered on monday. For now, israeli air strikes are doing tremendous damage. Cnns Matthew Chance reports. Reporter across gaza, israel is unleashing its wrath. The small gaza port pounded from the air. Israels military says more than 2,000 targets in this densely populated area, including Apartment Buildings and mosques have been destroyed. The recent attacks by hamas triggering a devastating response. And in gaza, its a bloody one too. Palestinians are digging through the rubble of flattened buildings as the death toll climbs. Health officials there say more than 900 people have so far been killed. Translator My Three Sons were killed along with their wives and children. There are nearly 50 martyrs in this building. Reporter israels military says its retrieved the bodies of another 1500 palestinians who stormed israeli territory and is now hunting hamas down. Translator mass operatives will have nowhere to hide in gaza, we will reach them anywhere, he insists. Reporter and that may mean going in even harder. Already israel has deployed forces and called Up Hundreds Of Thousands of Reserve Troops in apparent readiness for a land attack. But not only is gaza one of the worlds most densely populated areas, its also crisscrossed by hidden, possibly boobytrapped network of tunnels used by militants to move undetected through the area. Israels widely anticipated Ground Assault on gaza, if it happens, will also be fraught with danger. Matthew chance, cnn, jerusalem. Joining me now from tel aviv, Major General amos yadlin is the former head of Israeli Defense intelligence, now the chair of the el net forum of strategic dialogue. Thank you so much for joining us. Good morning. Israels intelligence agency, mossad has long been considered among the most sophisticated in the world. So how is it possible that it failed to anticipate the coordinated and deadly attacks carried out by hamas on saturday involving multiple militants entering israel by air, land, and sea . I think this will be investigated heavily and deeply after the war. We are in a war. And the war have started with a deadly, cruel attack on civilians, killing families, women, children, and beheaded babies, raped the women. And this is something that is now starting an israeli decision to destroy hamas, to take his military capabilities back to zero and to destroy its governance in gaza. What hamas have initiated is a disaster to his own people, and israel will treat hamas the way the airlines treated germany in world war ii, and the way the u. S. Treated isis in iraq and syria. Of course, it is important for israel to know why its intelligence failed because of where things stand in the future. And some critics have suggested that Intelligence Failure may have been because a lot of the attention was on the west bank, where protection of the Israeli Settlers was focused, but also suggestions of internal political divisions and turmoil adding to the distraction, offering the perfect environment for this surprise attack. And it is important that important for the Israeli Citizens that they know why there was that failure, because its really unsettled many of them, hasnt it . Yes, of course. Its an Intelligence Failure and failure of the operation, the lines that was prepared to stop fly supplies attack was not efficient. And as you mention, its a political failure for Prime Minister who dragged israel to a political dispute between two camps. And the country was busy nine months with political domestic issues thaweakened it, weakeneds deterrence. And youre also right, a part of the forces not intelligence, by the way was diverted to the west bank. After saying that, we are in a war. And the first days of war or weeks of war i can this Intelligence Failure is very much like pearl harbor, september 11th, barbarossa in operation, visavis the soviet union in world war ii. When you start the war with strategic surprise, you need time to arrange your forces. But at the end, you need to win. And thats what we are now occupied with. We are the trailer be investigated at the end of the war. And its looking like an Israeli Ground incursion into gaza is imminent as troops mass at the border. How risky would such an operation be for those troops involved . And of course, also, the hostages being held inside gaza . Yes. Israel is changing its paradigms. The paradigm in the last 15 years was hamas become an Accountable Government that ha palestinians, and they are interested in Rebuilding Gaza and the welfare of gaza, and israel helps them with the costing, with letting palestinians in israel, with enabling them to get the qatari money. And now hamas will never be any more a partner for anything, only for a war. So we dont need to think in the terms that we sought in the last 15 years. We are now in operation that has to destroy the military capabilities of hamas. When israel and the plo agreed on the peace forces, the idea was that there will not be a palestinian militarized state. It will be demilitarized. What we allowed, and this is our mistake, is to have a Palestinian State with a deadly Military Force that is not coming to fight with as a military to military, but coming to kill civilians, to destroy kibbutzim, towns, and settlements all over the place. And what happened last chabad will never happen again. We will destroy their Military Power of hamas in gaza, and we will destroy hamas as a government. This is the goal of the welcome back, anwar, and we are going t achieve it, whether from the air or the ground. And im not going to share with hamas our operational plans. Major general amos yadlin in tel aviv, many thanks for joining us. Well, u. S. President joe biden speaks with the israeli Prime Minister and tells him the hamas attacks are akin to the atrocities of isis. Well have a report from the white house after the break. Plus the heartbreaking stories of people taken hostage by hamas. We will hear from their families pleading for help from world leaders. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is making his first visit to nato headquarters in brussels since russias invasion of ukraine began early last year. He spoke standing alongside natos secretary general Jens Stoltenberg a short time ago. The meeting comes ahead of a meeting by nato ministers later today. U. S. President joe biden spoke with israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu by phone on tuesday, underscoring the need for all countries to unequivocally condemn hamas brutal attack, and comparing it to the atrocities of isis from years ago. The two leaders agreed to speak again in the next few days. Cnns Kayla Tausche has more now from washington. President biden offering a forceful condemnation of terrorism and antisemitism in the wake of incredible violence in israel that has claimed more than a thousand lives. Biden saying that at least 14 americans are among those that, in his words, were not just killed, but slaughtered, and that there is still an untold number of american hostages there. Here is the president. Israel has the right to respond, indeed has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks. Democracies like israel and the United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law. Terrorists purposely target civilians. Kill them. We uphold the laws of war, the law of war. It meters. There is a difference, to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, i have one word. Dont. Dont. As the white house works to pull out all stops in providing assistance to israel, reupping ammunition and interceptors for israels iron dome, and pledging a new package of aid to be discussed with congress upon its return, the white house is also very focused on keeping the war from widening in the region. To that end, the u. S. Has dispatched a Carrier Strike force to the region and is also deploying military planes with some of this aid that will be landing in israel. A Senior Administration official tells me that while other assets could yet be deployed as a show of force to other hostile parties in the region, that the white house wants to see what effect those assets have first. Secretary of state Antony Blinken will be visiting the region later this week. Yet another show of force from the administration as they try to prove that this administration is all in behind israel, even though they say there is still no intention of putting american boots on the ground. Kayla tausche, cnn, the white house. Israels ambassador to the u. S. Is calling on the International Community to Pressure Hamas to release its hostages without conditions. The group claims to have captured more than 100 people in its assault on israel over the weekend. The ambassador confirms the hostages include israelis, americans, and other nationalities. He says hes not sure if any of them have been killed. White house Officials Say theyre in active conversations with israel to try to bring american hostages home. Its early days right now, and we dont have a lot of information about where they are and what condition theyre being held, if theyre being moved around. And we have to remember this is an active war zone, which makes any Hostage Recovery Effort that much more difficult. Were obviously going to be developing options, looking at possibilities, how with can get them back, how we can get them back with their families. The first thing were doing is communicating with the israelis, because theyre on the ground. Theyre closer to it. They have context that we could probably benefit from. So were having active conversations with the israelis about what theyre seeing, at what they possibly know. Cnns Becky Anderson spoke with the relatives of some of those hostages who were playing with their governments to do whatever they can. Some of the video youre about to see may be disturbing. Reporter a massacre as it unfolded. Video of armed fighters rampaging through the better rhode beeri kibbutz in southern israel. Towards the end, four bodies lying lifeless on the ground, and more. This video showing some of the bodies being removed. Beeri was home to 66yearold adrienne neta, last seen saturday morning. Adrienne, a nurse now missing, presumed captured by hamas. Distraught, her son nahar, who grew up on the kibbutz, flew from his home in california as soon as he heard the news, along with the relatives of three other missing americans, Nahar Pleading for the u. S. And israel to do Everything Possible to get their loved ones released. The Israeli Government has to bring back all the hostages. I want also to speak about the responsibility that the u. S. Administration, president biden, and the Secretary Of State blinken have for the life of every u. S. Citizen that is out there. For these families, the frustration is palpable. As the fighting intensifies, talk of an imminent Ground Incursion into gaza. The fate of the hostages a terrifying prospect. In another kibbutz, more carnage. This was home to 35yearold sagi, now missing, presumed capture by hamas militants. His father, jonathan, also pleading for action from the u. S. Administration as he tries to come to terms with what has happened and what happens next. My children and grandchildren, who were on the kibbutz, so sagis young family and another young family experienced a living hell for the better part of 20 hours. These are young children, and young men and women who cannot be anything other than traumatized by what they witnessed. My job now as a parent is to try to put the pieces back together. Reporter four families experiencing a living hell, unable to process how this happened and how it will end. Give our hope, which is a little bit ridiculous at this stage, to say that the optimistic scenario here is that she is held hostage in gaza and not dead on the street of the kibbutz where we grew up. Becky anderson, cnn, tel aviv. Time for a short break. When we come back, scenes of brutality in southern israel. Why one general wanted to make sure the media was there to document it all. Weve just had a barrage of rockets coming in here. Im so sorry. That pain is echoed to thousands of families all across this country. For continuing coverage of the conflict here in israel. As Israeli Forces go door to door in towns in southern israel, theyre Finding Hundreds Of Bodies of hamas victims. Theyre also still encountering hamas fighters. This map shows the israeli locations where the idf was still engaging hamas militants on tuesday, but Officials Say the fighting now is turning into an offensive operation. Israels Defense Minister visited front line troops tuesday along the gaza border and seemed to suggest a Ground Incursion into gaza is yet to come. We started the offensive from the air. Later on we will also come from the ground. Weve been controlling the area since day two, and we are on the offensive. It will only intensify. Each passing day brings another horrific example of the brutality of the hamas attacks. Israel reports more than 100 bodies have been found in a kibbutz near gaza, and cnns Nic Robertson saw the carnage in another nearby village. A warning, his report contains graphic content. Reporter the drive is chilling. This air defense general is shocked at what he found. I spoke about General Eisenhower that come to the death camp in europe, and first thing he said is bring the press. Young children. Reporter he did the same, inviting about 50 journalists. You will see. Its a big massacre, big disaster. Reporter have you ever seen anything like this in your career . Never, never. Reporter less than a mile from gaza, 70 hamas fighters stormed in here early saturday. Some even flying. They tell us this one of the paragliders that flew in here. The propellers made of carbon fiber. The frame of the seat in the front. The idf in control now after a twoday battle. Hamas lie where they fell. Only now the extremes of their barbarity becoming apparent. 700 plus civilians lived here. How many were killed still unclear. How they died, brutally apparent. Some decapitated, they say. Babies in the front of their parents and then kill the parents. They killed parent, and we found babies between the dogs and the family killed before him. They cut head of the people. Reporter each Body Bag Silent Sentinel to the Intelligence Failure that allowed kfar aza and other communities near gaza to be overrun and motivation for troops too. We wait to the switch to switch from the defense to attack, because, you know, we defend our people. And until now, we collect the body. Reporter you say youre going to attack. Will you be going into gaza . We can see it from here. I look to the next 100 yard. Reporter you take care of neck 100 yards. Next hundred yards. And i fight for the next hundred yards, and then look forward. Reporter forward to a possible showdown with hamas. How and when still to be determined. Nic robertson, cnn, kfar aza, israel. Well, as the fighting intensifies between israel and hamas, the u. S. Is talking to israeli officials about a safe passage for civilians in gaza. This is something also that we have been discussing with our counterparts in israel and with our counterparts in egypt, and without getting into the specifics of safe passage for civilians and so forth, i will say its something the u. S. Government has seized with in supporting how we do that operationally. Large crowds have been gathering at the rafah border crossing, hoping to make their way into egypt. But the crossing was hit during an israeli strike on tuesday. The United Nations says more than 200,000 people have been displaced within gaza, and that number expected to rise. Palestinian Officials Say at least 900 people have been killed, and another 4500 injured in gaza so far. Well, for now, most palestinians are simply unable to leave gaza as israeli air strikes rain down. Cnns Salma Abdelaziz has the latest, and a warning, her report contains some graphic images. Reporter parts of gaza turned into ruins as israel continues to pound the coastal stretch. My whole building, its all gone, the man behind this camera says, with countless civilians caught in the crosshairs and under siege. Israel says it is targeting Terrorist Sites where attacked emanated from as it vows to obliterate hamas military capabilities no matter the cost. But that cost inside this densely pom lated enclave will be steep, a place all too familiar with suffering bracing for even more. This mother among the Tens Of Thousands in gaza forced to flee their homes. Why is this our fault . What did my children do . There is no electricity, internet, food, or water. Why . She says. Now im on the street. Tell me where i should go. And in what are only the first days of israels military operation, hundreds already dead here. This morgue overwhelmed with bodies. Among the killed, two gazan journalists, struck down while doing their jobs. Palestinian officials in this graphic video, friends cry over the body of mohammed sabah, still wearing his press flak jacket. On the other side of the gaza wall, the horrors hamas inflicted here are becoming clearer. More than 100 bodies were retrieved from this one small Israeli Community after days of assault. Yesterday when we went in to kibbutz beeri and we saw the what was done to the families. Reporter most of these neighborhoods now ghost towns as hamas rockets continue to rain down, soldiers going door to door to find militants both dead and alive. It isnt over yet. We dont know, sure that we clean all the area. The last engagement with enemy or terrorist here was last night. I spent 40 year in the military. I never saw Something Like this. This is not a war. This is a terror attack. Reporter and gaza has yet to bear israels full firepower. Prime minister netanyahu has vowed a response unlike anything ever seen before. But for now, its a waiting game. A matter of when, not if. Salm salma abdulaziz, cnn, london. Air strikes on gaza are just one phase of israels defense. Well have details on israels lightningfast reservation, the largest in history. The ground offense looking more and more likely. Were showing you a live shot out of gaza city in the aftermath of another israeli air strike on the territory. Well continue to follow this story, and of course as israel prepares for a potential Ground Incursion into gaza, its called up more than 300,000 reservists in just 48 hours. And one of its largest mobilizations in history. Cnns Jeremy Diamond reports now from southern israel near the gaza border. Reporter three days after hundreds of hamas militants infiltrated israel, Israeli Forces are still fighting to eliminate the threat. We are here right outside of the israeli town where we have been hearing repeated exchanges of gunfire over the last ten minutes or so. These exchanges we havent seen who exactly theyre between, but we do know that Israeli Forces have been continuing to try and clear some of these israeli towns around the gaza strip from those hamas militants. The idf later confirming they killed two Hamas Terrorists in the battle. But minutes after it ended, Israeli Defense forces rushing a casualty into an ambulance. Turn around, turn around. But the soundtrack to life in most israeli communities around the gaza strip today wasnt gunfire but rockets. In sderot, the booms punctuate the stillness of the day. Just come into a shelter where we can take cover from the iron dome interceptions. And of course theyre intercepting active rockets coming in from gaza. The booms are very loud. Theyre directly overhead. 20 minutes later another barrage of rockets headed for the city of ashkelon. Were . The city of sderot where we can now see that barrage that hamas promised at 5 00 p. M. , appearing to head over in the direction of ashkelon. Now that is exactly where hamas officials said about an hour ago that they would fire rockets in that direction. But there is also another sound in towns like sderot. Israeli troops and reservists mobilizing to the gaza front, part of a massive callup of more than 300,000 Reserve Troops, preparations for a potential Ground Invasion of gaza. For some, this moment feels different. Then we came in with a concept of, you know, full control. Started with this much more obv obviously and the Playing Field is different. Certainly. But i think in the last two days, the momentum has shifted. Reporter and the entire country is springing into action, with those out of uniform bringing food and supplies to troops. After days of tragedy, also a sense of resilience. Im not afraid at all, she said. When it will be my time, it will be my time. Jeremy diamond, cnn, sderot. At least four russian citizens were reportedly among those killed by hamas in israel, but the russian president has so far chosen not to condemn hamas for the attack. The kremlin says Vladimir Putin is concerned about the number of civilian casualties, but hes largely blaming u. S. Policy for whats happening in The Middle East. Cnns Fred Pleitgen has our report. And a warning. Some of the video is disturbing. Reporter after hundreds of israelis were slaughtered by hamas near gaza, condemnation and condolences poured in from around the world, but not from russian leader Vladimir Putin. Now in his first comments, instead of empathy, putin blasting the u. S. Translator this is a clear example of the failure of the United States policy in The Middle East which tried to monopolize any settlement between israelis and palestinians. Reporter kremlincontrolled tv followed suit, mocking both america and israel for allegedly being caught off guard by hamas attack. Translator mossad and its famous counterintelligence, as well as the u. S. And the cia slept through hamas invasion. The biggest israeli failure in security since 1973. Reporter russia has long been allied with israels staunchest adversaries and hamass most important backers, bombing rebels battling on the side of syrian president Bashar Al Assad during syrias civil war. But russia also maintained strong ties and Security Arrangements with israel. Putin meeting israels Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu on many occasions. We in no way underestimate importance of measures that would ensure very Strong Security of the state of israel. Reporter but since putin launched his fullscale war against ukraine, tehran has become a key ally for moscow at israels expense, fostering economic and military ties with iran, while tehran provides the russian army with scores of shahed drones the uses used to hit key cities and infrastructure, even though tehran denies it. Ukraines president Vladimir Putin claiming moscows allegiance in The Middle East has shifted towards tehran. Translator we see how russian propagandists are gloating. We witness how moscows iranian allies openly lend support to those who attacked israel. The kremlin has denied allegations by Volodymyr Zelenskyy that its trying to inflame the situation between israelis and palestinians. However, the former chief rabbi of moscow, who of course fled that country two weeks after the fullon invasion of ukraine, he said he believes that the lack of a show of support of russia for israel is an ominous sign of deteriorating relations between those countries. Fred pleitgen, cnn, kyiv. Still to come, a number of people from Latin America are among the victims of the hamas Terror Attacks in israel. Well have more on that after a short break. The hamas attacks are impacting countries far beyond israel. These 12 countries say their nationals are among the dead or missing. Many of the foreigners who were murdered or missing were ex Patriot Expat Yots Living In Southern Israel and are making arrangements to evacuate their citizens who want the get home. Latin american citizens are among the dead and missing. Cnns Patrick Oppmann has details. Reporter multiple people from Latin America are confirmed to have been killed or believed to be missing following hamas attack on israel, according to governments from across this region. The Largest Group comes from argentina. At least seven argentines were killed according to the argentine government. Another 15 are believed to be missing. Two peruvians were killed according to their government. And then one brazilian man was killed, his girlfriend said, in an interview with cnn brazil. They were at the nova Music Festival when Hamas Terrorists attacked that festival. They sought refuge in a nearby bunker, but then assailants threw Smoke Grenades into that bunker. They were separated, and according to this woman, also a brazilian citizen, her boyfriend was killed. Governments from across the region including mexico, brazil, and colombia have sent or will be sending planes to evacuate their citizens. Hundreds of Latin Americans who are now awaiting evacuation from israel, to be brought back home and to safety. Patrick oppmann, cnn, havana. I want to bring up this live picture out of gaza city. This is of course the aftermath of yet another israeli air strike. Well continue to follow that. I want to thank you for your company. Im rosemary church. Our coverage of israel at war will continue with max foster and Bianca Nobilo next