Universities dont stop some of these protests, sandra. Sandra Alexis Mcadams live in New York City at columbia. Calling on congress for more bombs and more weapons. Which we know will only lead to more violence and more death and more atrocity and absolutely not, absolutely not most of america is not with you, mr. President. [cheering] most of america is not with the people that dont want to deescalate and to facilitate a ceasefire. To obviously not talking to these americans. Sandra that happened just moments ago, congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and cory bush, they are demanding a ceasefire as the white house asked congress to send billions in new aid to the middle east. More on this this hour, but Breaking News, a source telling Fox News Hamas has released two american hostages and that is great news all over the world. Im sandra smith in new york. John very good news. John roberts in jerusalem, America Reports as another alert goes off on my phone, we are working to confirm more information about the Hostage Release, but we are told that the pair are a mother and daughter, went off again, hamas says they released them humanitarian grounds, sandra. Sandra steve is in beirut. John but more on the Hostage Release, and Lucas Tomlinson in tel aviv, a busy evening with all alerts out of gaza. What more do we know about the hostages that were released . John, just in the past few minutes we have learned two american hostages have been released from gaza, a mother and daughter, and we have their names. Judith and Natalie Rananan. And says families headquarters congratulates the release of hamas hostages. A War Crime Hundreds of families await assistance of leaders o he oh john lucas, can you pause for a second, all those alerts, they are on trey yingst, he is under fire now. Trey. Just listen, im going to let you listen here. Yeah, guys, we just had a few rounds come in right now, we can see a lot of rockets coming off the gaza strip, and we are just going to wait here at the shelter for one more minute to see, but this is just a constant barrage coming. You can hear those explosions there. Stay inside for a second here. Let me know what you see out there. And ill give you a little bit more information as this continues on the hostages. We are learning some more information just now about these two individuals, a mother and daughter, they are from the chicago area. We are talking about judith and Natalie Ranana. Working to get you a photo of the two. They were taken hostage from the kibbutz, the Small Community that sits along the border with gaza. And we are told by an israeli official that the family has been notified. Step out here, we should be all right. And well continue to follow developments about that. But we brought to you that this was done through a qatari mediation effort, and as a result, it is certainly a promising sign in all of this, that potentially they will be able to get more released, still 201 hostages inside the gaza strip, john. Sandra trey, be safe, we will get back to you very shortly as the news continues to break and trey, by the way, we did get the picture up on the screen while you were reporting on the two hostages, the mother and the daughter from chicago, thats the picture provided by the family. It is on your screen, trey, see you again shortly. Thank you. John turned into suddenly a very tense night for trey down there in the south. Just wanted to point out, you heard the siren going off, thats alert we have, its an app on the phones that shows when hamas fires a rocket, sandra, it immediately activates the Civil Defense system here in israel. They put up an alert and it comes to our phones. Let me just show you on the map, recent alerts. So these are the these are the alerts that have just happened in the last half hour, you heard it going off 4 or 5 times. This is kinds of the way that its been throughout the day. These are all individual alerts here that we are showing you, i only keep them for about an hour or so. No need to pile up the phone. As soon as that goes off, you know you need to take cover, its often times faster than the actual sirens in the area where the rockets are headed to. So, thats how we and trey out in the field there keep an eye on whats happening over our heads. Sandra and by the way, john, as we continue to report on the Hostage Release situation in the hands of the red cross, we are told well await any update on their condition. Their families have been notified. But a mother and daughter from chicago reportedly visiting israel, they were for a relatives birthday when they were kidnapped, john. A remarkable john apparently the mothers 85th birthday. Back to Lucas Tomlinson and more of what we know about the Hostage Release, we had some urgent news out of the south. What are you learning about the hostages and the release . John, we have learned their names, judith and Natalie Ranana, a mother and daughter, some unconfirmed reports they were brought into egypt and we have a statement from the familys headquarters, congratulate the release of the hostages saying the continued holding of hostages is a war crime, hundreds of families await the assistance of leaders of arab states after hamass actions shocked the entire world. Many leaders have influence and must act immediately to release all the hostages held in gaza. And of course earlier today, john, israels Defense Minister outlined a new threephase plan to prosecute this war on hamas. We will destroy the hamas organization, eliminate the military and governmental infrastructure. Thats the first thing. Its not going to be easy, there will be a toll. We will need the support of everybody in the army on this. Now, this is the humanitarian aid pledged by President Biden remains stuck in egypts only Border Crossing into the gaza strip. Biden pledged 100 million to aid gaza and the west bank. Now, back to israels threephased plan for the war. Phase one, Israeli Military will continue striking targets in gaza and later launch Ground Forces with the goal to assassinate hamas operatives, destroy their infrastructure and wipe out the entire organization. Phase two, lower the volume, fight at a lower level at the gaza strip and beyond, the third phase of the war, the creation of a new Security Regime in the gaza strip and remove of Israeli Forces from the strip. Since this morning, the Israeli Air Force has launched airstrikes into gaza, among the targets, operational headquarters, antitank launchers and underground infrastructure. Going back to the release of the hostage, some american officials think of course its a Notion Of Good Will by hamas, to try to get more support perhaps from the west and perhaps even to prolong this expected Ground Assault by Israeli Forces into the gaza strip. John. John building good will, release the hostages and fired off a barrage of missiles. Not sure how much good will that is going to buy them. Lucas tomlinson, keep your head down in tel aviv, thank you. Sandra idf is fortifying defenses after hezbollah launched multiple rockets. The u. S. Is urging americans to leave lebanon as crowds of protestors take to the streets in beirut. Steve is live with the latest. Level of fighting seems to be increasing. What are you seeing and hearing . Exactly right, sandra. Fighting by hezbollah seen as a terror group has picked up in recent days. Hezbollah saying it targeted multiple positions overnight with guided missiles. Israeli forces fired back. Also launched Drone Strikes against hezbollah. At least 22 people on the lebanese side of the border have been killed since this fighting has begun. And a sign things could be picking up, things could be heading down a very bad row, israel deciding to evacuate kiryat shmona, one mile from the border with lebanon, 22,000 people. Theyll be moved to state funded guest houses to get them away for what could be larger fighting along israels northern border. And finally, the National Airline here in lebanon has decided to cut flights and try and move its planes to safer places out of the country. This comes as other airlines as well have canceled flights and a number of nations telling their citizens to come home, get out of lebanon. Sandra, back to you. Sandra steve, thank you so much. We will check back in with you shortly in lebanon for us. Lets bring in dan hoffman now, i want to get your reaction to the release of two hostages. Does this mean possibly we will see more released . Well, with he could only hope so. I have to tell you, its so unbelievably unexpected. I did not hold out much hope we would gain any releases whatsoever, so this is certainly a result of some outstanding diplomatic work on the part of the United States government and Secretary Blinken should be applauded for his steadfast work with the qataris, kudos for saving two lives, and hope its the first of many releases. Sandra walking over to the touch screen so you can sort of take us through the geography of the moment. We obviously just talked to steve harrigan, checking with greg palkot, the northern border of israel with lebanon, obviously a key focus here. As you look to the north, we have been watching that. But israel is surrounded with these iran proxies and you look at the map here and you realize that they are surrounded, israel. What does this mean for the ongoing war and possible escalation, dan. I think thats a really key point. Iran is the arsonist here and of course thats the last thing we need in the middle east. But just in the past couple of days Rocket Attack on israel by the hutis, the u. S. Navy was able to intercept, attacks on u. S. Forces in syria and in iraq, attack at the Baghdad International airport, regular gunfire from hezbollah targeting israel. This is all at the behest of iran with their Proxy Terrorists that they are deploying throughout the middle east. And irans goal for sure is to drive a wedge between israel and the gulf states. But iran also wants to create a lot of unrest in the gulf. When we see all these protests in egypt and other places, thats exactly what iran wants, to damage the Regime Security of those sunni states which are still considered by iran at least to be their enemies. Sandra to your point, looking at just the strikes on u. S. Bases in the surrounding areas and you realize how intense this is getting. I want to bring our viewers to the next screen. Its a new one, you have not seen this yet, detailing the Concrete Jungle and the enormous challenges the idf will face once they do invade gaza on the ground, this urban warfare. These dense areas, narrow streets, tunnels that can support even the most elite Ground Forces. Dan, tell us a little bit more about that, considering the snipers, the drones, the tunnels, the rubble, the bobby traps we have heard about, almost impossible conditions on the ground if they are to invade, dan. Yeah, i mean, this is a hamas kill zone and it is a densely populated urban area, but thats above ground. Thats where hamas deploys Human Shields and do not hesitate to launch rockets from hospitals or civilian neighborhoods knowing if israel strikes them there will be a price to pay. And tunnels, strategic depth, they can move around hundreds of Miles Underground and pop up and launch attacks on Israeli Defense forces. Hamas is using the same technology that iran used against us when i served in iraq, improvised explosive devices on the road, snipers. For those of us not from gaza but remember the Battle Of Fallujah or mosul, and you throw in a couple hundred hostages and the priority to gain their safety somehow, it is an extraordinary challenge, intelligence challenge, and why the Israeli Defense forces need to rely on the best intelligence they can get and do a better job than they did in detecting the original attack from hamas, and that has to be the concern from the netanyahu government. Sandra obviously from aerial views, watching for the snipers, the drones, something the Wall Street Journal says is collapsed buildings, dont know what they will encounter, watching out for civilians and the ground troops, of course. But then underground, those tunnels, the underground passages, hidden escape routes. Obviously this is an enormous challenge. A lot of unknowns, a lot of knowns, but a lot they dont know once they get in there. Dan, thank you. Thank you. John all right, and from the war in israel to the battles on capitol hill, chad pergram here with some Breaking News that jim jordan will not stand for a fourth vote for speaker, chad. What happened . Thats right, john. Just a few minutes ago the House Republican conference met privately and via Secret Ballot they have voted to yank his nomination from him. This was a small d democratic ballot behind closed doors. Jim jordan has had three failed votes for speaker on the floor and kept losing more and more ballots each time and no sign of attrition at any stage. So they are done with jim jordan for speaker, two Potential Speaker Nominees they have burned through, Steve Scalise was first, we are told he will not stand for speaker again, the one person who has thrown their hat into the ring early is kevin hern, republican from oklahoma. The chair of the Republican Study Committee which is the largest block of conservatives in the House Of Representatives. We are told that they will have a filing deadline for candidates for speaker to file by sunday evening, and the republicans are going to send everybody home over the weekend and have yet another, their third Candidate Forum on monday night and try to go to the floor some time next week. Im told, its unclear if kevin hern or anybody else can get the votes to win as speaker, that they would have to burn through one more person before they might try to put into effect this plan to vote to give Patrick Mchenry the speaker protem full powers to run the House Of Representatives. They at least have to go one more round and see where they stand, but the thing staring down the pike at them, trying to fund the government in a months time and also trying to deal with this aid package that President Biden announced Last Night For Taiwan and ukraine and israel. Thats something they want to address, the senate probably considering if you compare to the house will be able to move that rather expeditiously in the next couple weeks and something i was told very early on in this process when they kicked out kevin mccarthy, the former speaker, i said when will this process be over, when will they tap a speaker, and one learned hand here on capitol hill said chad, the deadline is really when they have to fund the government come mid november and that might be the deadline to get a speaker and make the House Of Representatives operational. Sandra that is quickly approaching, that is for sure. Time is of the essence here. Just looking through what we know as you just reported, representative herns name first to emerge to run for u. S. House speaker. Hold that thought. More Breaking News on the ground in israel. Trey, what are you seeing . Some more explosions, we are going to wait in the shelter, constant mortar and rocket fire into Southern Israel. Im going to take the phone to hear you guys. We are working to get some you have english . You can hear some of those explosions in the distance. Constant fire into Southern Israel as we work to learn more about those hostages. We are efforting some video for you of just the latest mortar barrage, we have it on camera, well bring it to you momentarily. But these barrages continue into the southern part of this country. We immediately get to shelter. Israelis are expected to increase airstrikes on the gaza strip momentarily. 14 days, nearly two weeks, tomorrow morning will mark two weeks, hamas and Islamic Jihad are able to fire with massive barrages toward southern and Central Israel and it is significant because it just illustrates that despite the thousands of airstrikes against different positions inside gaza they still can maintain this firing capability, ill listen here so i can hear. Sandra trey, we are with you. We are listening and watching with you. Just incredible conditions for you and your crew, obviously. Please stay safe but we heard those, trey, when we came in there. I know you guys were off the screen at that moment, but we heard them. Yeah, if we have the video here, i can show you what it was like a moment ago. You can hear some massive explosions. Right now in Southern Israel. Mortar and rocket fire continues to hammer sderot, stay back here, stay back here, one round after another coming in hitting this community that lies just over the border from gaza, stay inside, guys. You can hear another explosion there. A huge barrage. And look, you can see there just the short amount of time, about ten seconds we have to get into shelter why which is when you are back from break or a guest youll see us inside the shelter describing what just happened. You saw it there. Those are the moments we are experiencing here as we try to report along the gaza border. In the distance i can hear israeli drones overhead, picking out the next targets inside the gaza trip. And talk about the amount of rocket fire, officials in israel are surprised they have been able to keep up these barrages toward the southern and central part of this country. And remember, the Ground Operation has not started yet. So there is a belief they are still keeping some of their reserves so that they can fire once Israeli Forces enter the gaza strip. They are battling with all of all of the fire that they have in terms of short, medium and long range rockets. Throughout this conflict the past two weeks, hamas has actually fired on haifa, and just illustrates the weaponry they are able to make inside the gaza strip. We showed you some of the images of the small arms and the ieds and explosives, but the rockets are manufactured inside gaza as well, and we have been inside gaza when conflicts erupted. In 2019, a fourday war, i was the only International Journalist inside gaza and the rockets were fired from civilian areas, in between buildings, tunnel you did not even know were there, exposed for a moment enough time to fire rockets into israel and israelis could sometimes use the drones to strike that position. What hamas has illustrated over the past two weeks, they have many, many different positions the israelis are not aware of because otherwise they would be hitting those positions. They are hitting deep inside gaza and gives you a sense of the weaponry and how advanced it is and what israel will face on the ground and part of the apprehension, we know they will be ambushed, not just rocket fire, but roadside bombs, car bombs, ieds, when ultimately the orders are given to invade. Sandra trey, we are going to push forward now with the state Department Briefing top of the next hour. We are expected to get an update there. Trey, thank you for the update on the ground. Well check back in with you shortly. John. John throughout this week we have been hitting the streets of israel to talk with israelis about how they are coping with the war and the aftermath of that horrific terror attack. And we found for some people drastic times call for drastic measures. The attacks of october 7th have left israelis with a deep sense of vulnerability. Until now, the threat of terrorism had come mostly from the skies, or on the streets from a lone attacker. But the horror of hundreds of terrorists seething across the border and slaughtering people in their homes has fundamentally changed the israeli mindset. What are they doing in response . Follow me. A Shooting Range is not among the landmarks that immediately come to mind when you think of jerusalem. But since the terror attacks, the gun shop and Shooting Range has been slammed by people looking for protection. Since october 7th, how much has business increased . How many people have been coming in . This week, im here 23 years here in this place, i have another place in jerusalem, i never, ive never dont see like this i would say that people come like like massa no wait, no wait, unbelievable. John what are people telling you when you speak to them when they come into the shop to look at a weapon . We are going to protect ourselves, we need a gun. We do not believe its happening in israel. We need to be safe. We are not want to fight with anybody. John but if somebody tries to kill you. I need to kill him. Also in the bible, if i come to kill you, you need to kill me before. John are people buying weapons because they had always believed the israeli army and the police would protect them. We are not huge like america, not 340 million. We are small, small army. Small police. And the people, yes, we have an army, we have a police, but now understand that unique to care for himself, his family so he need to buy a gun. John did the way israelis think fundamentally change on october 7th . Absolutely yes. I talk with the people, i talk with the people, i spoke here, and i see here, people thats coming, thats before a few months, for what we need gun, no gun, no gun, we dont need, we dont need. Now you want a gun, why . The minds has changed 1,000 times its changed. John compared to the u. S. , in israel, Gun Ownership is pretty rare and obtaining a firearm is a long process of licensing, including lengthy interviews with police, instruction and training. A population of 9. 6 million, only 160,000 civilians own guns. But the Interior Ministry is expediting the process because of increased threats against jews. The grotsski family lives in a village in the west bank. Hes had a gun for a while now. Gabriel recently obtained his permit. Layla just applied for one. You have just applied for a permit for a firearm. Ive been putting it off, a new job, new apartment, whatever and after that saturday, just became very obvious that i need to be able to protect myself, my family. My community. John when you heard about what happened, what went through your mind in that regard . Complete catastrophe. I i cant imagine what those people went through. But the stories that ive heard of people that did have guns and protection in the house did protect so many lives. John do you believe that if it came down to it, if somebody came into your house and was going to kill you, that you could pull the trigger . 100 . Like a mama bear instinct. Anyone that hurts me or my family no, i just know. Yeah. John let me ask you this question. Youve had a weapon for a while. Were you encouraging them to say you know what, the world out there is changing, you need to have some protection . Yes, i think that anyone that can have a firearm to protect themselves should have a firearm to protect themselves. John its a long, long process. Is it worth it . 100 . For me i have a fighting chance, gives me stability and protection that i feel on this, i could do something, im not a sitting duck, and its very important for me and especially whoever lives, i think, whoever lives in this country needs that. John since october 7th, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of applications for gun permits. People heard the stories and layla alluded to it that we actually talked on this program to a woman whose son had a weapon when the terrorists came in and he managed to shoot the terrorists dead. Otherwise he would be among the casualties of this war. Sandra wow, wow, just incredible, incredible perspective you are providing, john. Thank you. That is just one story that well continue to watch, john. John yep. President biden addressed the nation from the oval office where he laid out the high stakes of supporting israel and ukraine. President says it is vital to u. S. Security that both succeed in their wars. And he is planning to ask congress to pass a 105 billion aid package that will include money to assist both countries. 2024 president ial candidate nikki haley will join us on all of that in just a moment. But we begin with White House Correspondent peter doocy live on the north lawn. Peter. And john, 105 billion in military aid, but also 100 million in humanitarian aid and President Joe Biden is talking about how the humanitarian aid he was assured would be able to go through the raffa gate into gaza hasnt yet but hes talking about it like something that is literally just a matter of some new asphalt. Answer that one question i believe youll see i got a commitment from israelis and the president of egypt the crossing be open. Highway had to be repaved because it was very very bad shape, and i believe that in the next 24 to 48 hours the first 20 trucks will come across. Two things critics wanted to hear President Biden talk about last night, border and iran. The border never came up, but iran did. Iran is supporting russia in ukraine and its supporting hamas and other Terrorist Groups in the region. And well continue to hold them accountable, i might add. Despite going there, some republicans dont think tehran is going to get the message. The israelis can take out hezbollah, take out hamas, but iran will keep pumping them with weapons and money all day long. Its only until we go after the head of the snake and deter and make them feel the cost that this will that peace will be restored. President biden is meeting right now with the leaders of the European Commission and council. For some reason, theres no Press Briefing today before President Biden goes on to a Campaign Fundraiser and then jets off to Rehobeth Beach for the weekend, john. John jets off, he could drive. Bay bridge, traffic on a friday, easier to fly. John if youve got a helicopter, use it. Thanks, peter. Bring in sandra again. Sandra and Ambassador Nikki Haley as well, thank you very much for joining us. These two hostages that have just been released, obviously this is incredibly welcome and good news that we are now hearing. What is your reaction to that, and all of us obviously are praying that more too will be released. Thank you, sandra. First ill say two prayers have been answered and we have 200 more to go. Thats the first thing ill say. The second thing ill say to the Biden Administration is dont fall for it. This is, you know, i have dealt with qatar in terms of trying to get hostages or actually Hostage Bodies out of gaza, this is what they do. They are trying to earn favor with the United States. But look at the leveraging thats happening here. What you are seeing is that hamas is worried about this ground war thats gonna happen with israel, iran is worried hamas could lose, they are going to throw two hostages out there, for one, to see if they can weaken us, to keep israel from going into gaza, and two, because they want to see if they can get something out of it. This shows there has been some conversations between the Biden Administration and qatar, this also shows that iran is trying to find ways to intimidate by having hezbollah shoot rockets, by having things happen from yemen towards israel and having hamas do what they do. This is a time to be smart. Go in smart, dont let this weaken us, dont fall for it. We have 200 more hostages in there, and dont forget what happened on october 7th. They want everyone to forget, we can never forget. Israel needs to stay focused, determined and America Needs to have their back. Sandra we just put the picture on the screen of the mother and daughter released, qatari mediation according to sources led to the release and they are in the hands of the red cross right now. Ambassador, we pray for more to be released. Where are you with the Ground Invasion, should israel move in and when . Yes, israel should move in, do what they need. They are a strong military, a Fighting Force and they are determined. They lost 1400 of their Brothers And Sisters and so you know, what i would say again is this is not the time to talk about restraint. Not the time to talk about a ceasefire. This is the time to say to israel whatever you need weve got your back. We are going to support you, we are going to help you, a time to call out iran. Dont ever forget, there would not be a hamas without iran, not a be a hezbollah without iran. We are going to have israels back no matter how many they release or how many rockets they send over to intimidate, and if any american or israeli is killed in the process there is hell to pay and they need to know that. Sandra some sound from the squad just took outside the capitol, a News Conference, a press conference, whatever it is that you want to call it, it was a couple members of the squad, ambassador, who stood up and calling for a ceasefire. You have seen Rashida Tlaib and others doing exactly that. New york times writes this on israel and the Progressive Jews feeling abandoned by left wing allies, jewish leaders and voters were taken aback that many ideological allies saw them as oppressors who should have blame. And democrat sympathies in the middle east, 49 with the palestinians. Less with the israelis, 38 . What is all of this telling you . Its shameful, flat out shameful. Squad act like the terrorists. Where is joe biden, why hasnt joe biden called out these terrorists, why hasnt joe biden called out the squad. Here they are, and they are basically mimicking pro hamas comments, mimicking what they are saying trying to justify the deaths, murders, rapes of what happened. They refuse to acknowledge the bloodshed and torture and the terrorists that have caused all of this. I dont know the people that elected them in, but i do know a president who is allowing them to say these things, he needs to step up. He doesnt need to go to the beach. He needs to call out the squad and tell them they need to stop the Terrorist Talk and Support America and israel and the freedom loving countries that want to see this go away. Sandra another update on the hostages, the mother and daughter released, the Prime Ministers Office in israel released a hebrew statement, we are attempting a translation here. We are so far we know the Prime Minister is saying in that statement, he was able to meet with them a short time ago, at a base in Southern Israel and they will be shortly met by their families. Wow, that is an incredible development. Appreciate you coming on with us. God bless both of them and the hostages we still need to get home. Sandra appreciate you joining us. Thank you. Thank you. John terrific news, great developments tonight. Israeli troops lined up in masses outside the border with gaza as they wait for the go ahead to carry out the Ground Invasion. Some Military Experts are warning it will be a bruising and bloody fight. One of those warning is the former cia director general David Patraeus, and former commander of centcom, he will join us next. Ghest job in the navy is a navy wife. And if youve made the deployments and youve been the wife at home, or youve been the spouse at home, you understand what im talking about. 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Now theyre focused on learning knowing that their data is secure. the first time you connected your Godaddy Website and your store was also the first time you realized. Well, we can do anything. Cheesecake cookies . The chookie manage all your sales from one place with a partner that always puts you first. we did it start today at godaddy. Com john israel is telling its soldier on the ground to be ready to invade the gaza strip. Military experts warn a Land Invasion will be bloody, brutal, especially for Israeli Forces, David Patraeus likened it to mogadishu on steroids. And what the end game is. General, you led the surge in iraq back in 2007. Any lessons from that that could be applied to the battle to come on the ground here . There are, john. Certainly what we learned about urban operations is how challenging they can be and in fact, i cant imagine more difficult set of contextual circumstances than the Israeli Defense forces will face if they go into gaza. Dense population, enemy does not wear uniform, will fight in the population, likely use 200 plus hostages as Human Shields, suicide bombers, improvised explosive devices high rises, its more difficult than anyone has confronted in a very, very long time. That said, i believe the Israeli Defense forces can accomplish the mission of destroying hamas, but there will be considerable casualties for israeli, civilians, and considerable damage and destruction to civilian infrastructure. Its inevitable in this kind of very tough urban fighting, that there will be that kind of destruction and that level of civilian casualties. And i guess the other lesson, john, is that we need to hear the vision for the answer to the then what question. And im sure, im confident, i know the israeli commanders, the generals that they are asking ok, we can do this, its going to cost a lot. But then what . Who is going to take over gaza . If you destroy hamas and dismantle the political wing, you own it. You broke it, you own it. They dont want to take it back over understandably, President Biden has rightly cautioned them against that. And so what entity could take over. Could there be a u. N. Mandate in a, some kind of interim international authority, would you possibly get palestinians in charge of that, the desirable outcome, but you dont they dont want to ride in on israeli tanks, if you will. And beyond that, whatever it is takes over is not going to be handing out huma assistance and restoring basic services and reconstruction and so forth, they are going to have to ensure that hamas and the Islamic Jihad cannot come back. There will be remnants, inevitably, and that task is very considerable. This is a Counter Insurgency campaign as well as humanitarian assistance effort. When you add that to the enormous challenges of the urban operation in the first place, i think you get a sense of just how difficult this is. John and i think on that last point, general, there was some lessons taken from the Battle Of Fallujah, the American Military had the insurgency on its knees and suddenly, oh, wait, no, stop, enter into negotiations, and then it all fell apart prompting the second Battle Of Fallujah. Even a third battle. John this is a region yep. And again, exactly right. And thats the other concern, obviously john and i know youve been asking the question, then what. But then what happens if hezbollah, with its 150,000 rockets enters the fray from Northern Israel and southern lebanon, that could be very, very challenging. It could overwhelm david sling and iron dome, and reassess in the 2006 war the level of damage done to them but they could feel compelled to enter this. E e shi something from syria, palestinians in the west bank demonstrating after the false report an israeli bomb did the damage to the hospital instead of Islamic Jihad rocket. There are shia militia that could cause problems for our own forces. We have seen drones in iraq and northeastern syria. Escalation potential is also of enormous concern and then we have to remember back to why all this began, and that was a horrific, barbaric murder and dismemberment of israeli bodies, over 1,300 of them, which would equate in our terms, our per capita, over 40,000 killed on 9 11 instead of the terrible 3,000 sustained and over 200 hostages, equate to about 5,000 americans being taken. So, the context here is just unim unimagineable and difficult. John difficult in the days, maybe weeks ahead. The Defense Minister says this is not going to be a rapid war. General, good to talk to you, thank you so much. Appreciate your expertise. Thanks for your reporting out there, john. John you bet. Sandra. Sandra Night Falls Over Gaza as israel readies its offensive. Tanks are lining up at the border, israeli official says the idf has the green light to go in. Mike tobin is live in israel. Whats happening right now . Well, we are following the latest developments with the very good news about a Hostage Release, the two americans, mother and daughter, judith and Natalie Ranan outside of chicago. Latest information is they are at a base in Southern Israel and already met with a retired Brigadier General who was brought out of retirement to work as a hostage negotiation Hostage Release specialist. So, the latest information is that the mother and daughter duo have met with him and they are en route to meet with family. So, its been two weeks since they were taken hostage, two weeks since the massacre of october 7th, and we have had an opportunity to speak with an israeli commando, americanborn, cant show his identify but tells us what it was like to fight in his own neighborhood. Basically what we did was anywhere from the gaza border to the settlement itself, when we identified terrorists coming in or going out with hostages we attacked them. That complicates things, cant call in an airstrike. Exactly. Dont know if anyone going out has civilians with them, every attack has to be precise. And times we went into a place and a terrorist was dressed as a soldier in order to confuse us, and surprise us. And you would have to make an instant decision. Exactly. Its a shoot or be shot. Even though im a fire support officer, because of the whole complicated situation that was going on over there, also took on an aspect of rescuing civilians. Your job is to paint targets. Rescue is not what you are trained for. You are right. But the situation wasnt what we, even though we trained for war, we didnt expect Something Like this. This wasnt war, this was complete massacre. Burning bodies, people being dragged through the streets naked, this wasnt war, this was a massacre. Have you had any time to deal with the emotions of what youve been through . So over the last couple of days we have been preparing for whats coming ahead and im just trying to make it out to the other side and later well have time to think about what happened really. Mike as night fell, another flurry of rockets here to the northern end of the gaza strip. The rocket fire was up and down the gaza strip as everyone watches, the troops massed along the border to see when the tanks will roll. Sandra. Sandra mike, thank you. Check back in with you soon. State department is issuing a Worldwide Travel alert saying growing antiisrael and antiu. S. Demonstrations could result in violence against americans. Alex hogan is live in london where thousands have taken to the streets in recent days in support of palestinians, alex, where are the protests happening today . Hi, sandra, we have seen a lot of protests here in london outside of downing street, but really have stretched across the world, taking place today in countries like france and pakistan, in egypt, even india, major protests spilling out into the streets and what we have seen in a lot of countries is that they often congregate outside u. S. And israeli diplomatic buildings. Take a look at this video earlier today in turkey, massive groups of people gathered there. Once again, protestors even lit israeli, u. S. And british flags on fire, and a similar sight earlier in places like tehran, iran, where protestors also set fire to american flags. And in jordan today, once again, thousands of antiisrael and antiu. S. Protestors gathered outside israels embassy. Earlier in the week as protests there turned violent, Police Actually had to use tear gas on these crowds. Today in indonesia and malaysia, massive groups of people gathered outside the u. S. Embassy, stepping on photos of u. S. President joe biden and Benjamin Netanyahu as well, and burning more flags as well. Today back in home in washington, d. C. , another day of demonstrations and protests, crowds are continuing to grow on the National Mall, more than 1,000 people there calling for a ceasefire, but then, overseas, the State Department is urging any american abroad really to take a lot of caution, that these demonstrations could create more dangers for americans abroad, potential attacks or even terrorism. What we are seeing in some of these embassies, yesterday, lebanon, the u. S. Embassy in beirut, urged any americans there to leave as soon as possible while commercial operations and options are Still Available for them. Sandra alex, thank you. John. John sandra, american ari spielman arrived in israel to study for his Masters Degree of environmental science, a few days later hamas attacked. Instead of leaving, he formed an Organization Operation mana. He joins us now. First question i have for you is when Everybody Else was getting out of town, why did you decide to stay . Because i felt like it was needed. Everyone was leaving, but i felt like i needed to do something. You know, i didnt want to go fight, i didnt want to join the idf but i wanted to help with the humanitarian aspect of it because the damage was massive and theres hundreds of thousands of people displaced in israel. John you heard about what happened on october 7th, the entire world was shocked, horrified by it. What clicked in your brain to say here is how i help . The first time i left my apartment after the attack was to go to the square, a main area in tel aviv near my apartment, and there was hundreds and hundreds of people collecting supplies. They just kind of spontaneously started going there and it really inspired me and made me think that i could do something, so i started going to sites and then met some other international students, so thats how we ended up making the organization. John i met a fella, noam lanear, the son of a famous air force pilot captured during the Yom Kippur War but did not make it, you are not from israel, you are here from the United States. You basically have no resources, how did you pull that all together . We actually just got nonprofit status a few days ago. We have only been doing it about a little less than a week, around that, how did we do that, a lot of adrenalin, not a lot of sleep, and mostly just we wanted to feel like we were doing something because sitting around in our houses was not productive and made us feel terrible. So wanting to go out, definitely drove us and the people back home helping out donating, its really helping because we are doing direct aid, bringing supplies to drop sites that go out to families of people who were impacted and people whose families are still being held. John we have all of these people from the south of israel and the area Around Sderot and other cities and towns, survivors from the kibbutz as well, and people from the north evacuated, including the entire town of kiryat shmona. There is a great need out there. Essential supplies for sure. Toiletries and nonperishables, and they need a lot of it. They are put in hotels. The people in the south near gaza, a lot of them were in communes and so they all worked, you know, there are not that many actual ones left. Most have incorporated and they still were, they worked on farms and most of their livelihood was from that and now hotels. And no way of making money. John have you seen whats going on in College Campuses in the United States. Antiisraeli demonstrations. What do you say to those people . Im an strong believer of free speech, start with that. But its important when you are calling for resistance, what resistance are you calling for . I think that there was protests in a day or two after the attack, i think that was horrible taste because thats not helping, thats not helping palestinians to support hamas. Hamas is a genocidal regime, does not want palestinian liberation, they dont want anything other than murder of jews and it hurts palestinians the most in gaza is hamas. And you can protest on campuses all you want but dont support hamas. Thats not free speech in my mind to support terrorism. John its great work that you are doing. Amazing to see somebody who just came in to study picking up this, you know, as we have seen israelis do across the country as well. Everybody is pulling together. Thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it. Sandra, Good News Story here in israel. Sandra indeed. By the way, on the two hostages just a little bit more information on what we are learning about their whereabouts after they were released by hamas, we are now being told through the Prime Ministers Office that the hostages are on their way to a Military Base in Central Israel and that the israeli army and Security Forces received those hostages, both pictured there, mother daughter from chicago area. They received them on the gaza border. All according to the Prime Ministers Office right now. Also an idf update happening right now, it just ended. Well see what we got from that, john, as the squad continues their News Conference that they said would be coming, its happening right now in washington, where they are calling, john, for a ceasefire. John calling for a ceasefire, ilhan omar, who immediately blamed israel for that explosion at the hospital, has walked that back, but Rashida Tlaib, also blamed israel for the explosion in gaza has left that tweet up, despite the fact that there is a tremendous amount of evidence to suggest that israel was not behind that. The president even said definitively last night in his speech that israel was not behind it. Back to the Hostage Release. The it was interesting when one of our guests earlier had to say about that as Judith And Natalie were released here. She believes this is a delaying tactic by hamas. They now still have 201 hostages, and she knows a lot about these organizations believes that hamas will sort of in a drip drip Drip Fashion Release those hostages to forestall the Ground Invasion that the idf is planning. And if you do have Hostage Releases, when it comes to the hostages, there is hope that delaying the Ground Invasion could win the release of more people, earn them their freedom and they will live. I think israel finds itself, sandra, in a difficult place here now. Do they go in and risk the lives of the hostages or do negotiations continue for their release. The one caveat to all of that, hamas has said its willing to release nonisraeli hostages. So, what about the israeli hostages . We dont know how they feel about that. Sandra all really good points. Bottom right of the screen, expected state Department Briefing top of the hour on the two hostages that have been released, and obviously the ongoing hostage situation, what is being done to help to secure more americans being held. We hope to get more detail on that and the two hostages released. The National Mall protests also are ongoing at this moment in washington as we are seeing these obviously, john, popping up, not just all over the country, but all over the world. And this is just part of the continued reaction, john, to that Hospital Attack and the way that that was broadcast and put out by the media in the hours that followed. John and this region has become inflamed by a false narrative that the global media was so quick to pick up on, even the United Nations picked up on it. Unbelievable, sandra. Sandra john, we wish you a safe trip home. Thank you from everything you have told from there. John i will be leaving here tomorrow, hang out the rest of the day. I have a procedure on my eye monday, tuesday, ill see you wednesday, sandra