In gaza over the last 24 hours. And the rise in attacks on u. S. Forces in the middle east. What the white house says about the possibility iran is involved. Our Richard Engel is in israel for us. Also tonight, the terrifying moments in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines plane. An offduty pilot accused of trying to shut down the engines midflight. The pilots who subdued him. Youll hear the call to the tower. The 83 counts of Attempted Murder he now faces. New details in the fatal stabbing of a synagogue president in detroit. Police today saying they dont believe it was motivated by antisemitism. Have they zeroed in on a suspect . After failing twice to elect a speaker the house gop meeting Behind Closed Doors tonight. The nine new candidates battling it out. The massive pileup in louisiana. About 100 vehicles involved. Was it caused by socalled superfog . And the children of war. The boy marking his ninth birthday as a hostage. His familys message to the world. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with lester ho good evening. There are breaking developments tonight on the hostage front. Two elderly israeli women, the latest hamas captives to be freed. The group says nurit cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz were let go for compelling humanitarian reasons. The two women seen tonight in this egyptian Tv Video Clip as they were handed over to israeli officials. Their release and that of two americans on friday raising hopes for the families of the other nearly 200 including as many as 20 americans that may be held hostage. Against that backdrop israel today stepping up its Bombing Campaign against targets in hamasoccupied gaza. Israels Defense Minister saying, it may take a month, two or three, but at the end there will be no more hamas. Well, according to four u. S. Officials, the Biden Administration is urging israel to hold off its expected Ground Invasion in gaza to allow more humanitarian aid into the territory and more time for Hostage Negotiations. Our chief Foreign CorrespondentRichard Engel leads off our coverage tonight. Reporter first it was two americans. Now two israeli hostages are free. Taken out of gaza and loaded into ambulances tonight on the egyptian side of the border. Hamas Freed Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz. Their release, like with the American Mother and daughter last friday, was facilitated by the red cross. Before hamas began to release hostages we spoke to a senior hamas official who said the group was willing to free civilians. Well, if you stop the aggression, it can be implemented in the next hour. Reporter tonight we interviewed him again. He told us hamas wants to talk and is open to negotiations. So where do we go now . Stop the aggression, open the borders. We are ready to release all. We dont need to have anyone in our houses. Im talking about open migration, opening the borders, discussing our rights to get rid of this siege and occupation, and everything is on the table to be discussed. Reporter at the white house President Biden was asked about a potential ceasefire and said hamas has it backwards. Hostages out first. We should have those hostages released and then we can talk. Reporter today israel raised its estimate saying there are 222 hostages in gaza. U. S. Officials say 10 americans are still unaccounted for. Israel has thousands of troops positioned all around gaza, ready for an invasion that could come at any time. But now multiple u. S. Officials say the Biden Administration is encouraging israel to delay it, to allow more time for Hostage Negotiations and to get in humanitarian aid. Its our view that the Israeli Defense forces, steve, need to decide for themselves how theyre going to conduct operations. Were not in the business of Dictating Terms to them. Reporter as hamas continues to launch rockets toward israel. The Israeli Military says it attacked militants from hezbollah as they tried to fire an antitank missile into israel from lebanon. And israel is not stopping its air campaign into gaza, striking 320 targets in the last 24 hours in retaliation for hamass Terror Attack that killed 1,400 israelis including hundreds of civilians. This newly released video from the october 7th attack shows the group killing two israelis as they drove along the highway. Inside gaza, medical Officials Say more than 5,000 palestinians have now been killed. With people digging through the rubble to try to pull out survivors after airstrikes. And richard, theres news on the humanitarian crisis in gaza. I understand a third truck convoy getting through. Reporter yes. About 50 trucks so far have made it from egypt into gaza. But they didnt take in any fuel. Theyre not being allowed to take in fuel. And the fuel is badly needed to keep the generators running at the hospitals. And tonight one hospital in gaza city has gone dark. The power run out. Lester . Richard engel tonight. Thank you. Among the hostages believed to be held by hamas is Hersh Goldberg polin, a 23yearold with dual israeliamerican citizenship who was at that Music Festival when the terrorists attacked. His parents flew to new york today to press the United Nations for help getting the hostages released. I spoke with them a short time ago. Let me first if i can get your reaction to there have been another two hostages released. Of course the americans on friday. Does that raise your level of hope . I would say on the one hand we look for hope wherever we can grasp at it. So in some ways a little bit. Bottom line is when all 200plus are released, in our case obviously were most concerned about our own son whos wounded, thats what were hopings going to happen. Reporter its now been 17 days since Jonathan Polin and Rachel Goldberg have heard from their son, hersh. The 23yearold was last seen in this photo on the left, hiding from hamas in a bomb shelter near the Music Festival. Witnesses say hershs arm was blown off in an explosion. He then applied his own tourniquet before being driven off in a hamas truck. He needs a certain kind of surgery, and he needs heavy doses of antibiotics. I dont know that hes getting either one of those two things. Reporter hersh is a dual u. S. Israeli citizen. I first met his parents in jerusalem, where they now live. They came to new york to plead for the United Nations help in freeing the hostages. There are hostages from somewhere between 30 and 40 countries. There are elderly. There are babies. There are critically wounded. This is a global humanitarian issue that we want to raise at the United Nations and have leaders of the world join together and scream to solve this humanitarian crisis. I saw the control room youve established in your living room there. Have you heard any more information that specifically gives you a timeline of where he might be or what the circumstances might be at this point . We really havent. We really havent. And remember, lester, we dont know that he didnt die on that truck 17 days ago when he was abducted because theres been no proof of life for any of the hostages who are being held. So none of us know. So your most Important Role right now is to keep his name out there and keep this story out there. We have one mission. Bring him home and get him the treatment that he needs. Immediately. Like time is running out. And every Single Person should know that. We just keep hoping that somewhere somehow hersh knows that not only are his parents and his siblings fighting for him but that there is a world of people out there who are pulling for him and pulling for all the hostages. And i hope that they sense that sense of good in the world. Their strength and focus is inspiring. There have been an increasing number of attacks on u. S. Forces in the mideast involving iran. And tonight the pentagon is moving more resources to the region. Courtney kube reports with late details. Reporter tonight, with growing threats to the u. S. Military in the middle east, the pentagon making significant moves, including reinforcing the air defenses, rerouting the uss Eisenhower Carrier Strike group to the waters off iran, and telling more u. S. Troops to be ready to deploy. After at least six attacks threatening u. S. Troops in as many days in iraq, syria, and the red sea. The u. S. Blaming iran and their proxy groups. We know that iran is closely monitoring these events and in some cases actively facilitating these attacks. Reporter u. S. Officials say troops would not go to war in gaza and the goal is to deter a larger regional conflict. Nbc news recently had an exclusive look at that deterrence. This is the hms prince of wales. Its englands newest and biggest warship. Right now were out here to see how the british navy and the u. S. Navy and u. S. Marine corps are all working together. That includes u. S. Marine corps ospreys and f35s that are practicing landing on the deck of this british carrier. U. S. Sailors, u. S. Marines, royal navy sailors, Royal Marines have operated alongside each other for years. Right now were focused on deterring any actor, whether its iran, whether its one of the nonstate actors. Reporter and just today the u. S. Took down two drones targeting American Troops at al tanf in southern syria. There were no casualties. Lester . Courtney, thank you. Tonight an Alaska Airlines pilot is under arrest, charged with trying to bring down a commercial airliner on which he was a passenger. Lets get more now from tom costello. Reporter held tonight in an oregon jail, 44yearold Alaska Airlines pilot joseph emerson, booked on 167 charges including 83 potential counts of Attempted Murder. The fbi and local Police Allege emerson was off duty, riding in the cockpit jump seat, Flying On Horizon Air from everett, washington to San Francisco sunday night when he suddenly tried to pull the engine Fire Suppression controls to shut down the engines at cruising altitude. The pilot and copilot stopped and subdued emerson, removed him from the cockpit, then diverted the plane to portland. Weve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit. We want Law Enforcement as soon as we get on the ground in portland. With 83 people on board its definitely frightening that someone is struggling like that up in the cockpit. Reporter Law Enforcement sources do not believe there is any connection to terrorism or the events in the middle east. But today the faa issued an alert to all airlines for crews to maintain vigilance and situational awareness. Other recent cases of pilots attempting or succeeding in crashing planes include China Eastern last year, german wings, egypt air, and possibly Malaysia Airlines 370, still missing. In 2018 a Maintenance Worker took an empty Horizon Air Jet on a joyride before crashing and killing himself. Now investigators must determine the motivation behind emersons alleged actions. This is not the actions of a rational human, much less a highly trained pilot. Reporter pilots over 40 must undergo physical exams every six months and disclose Mental Health issues and medications. Full Mental Health evaluations are not part of that. Emersons last physical was last month. Lester . Okay, tom costello, thanks. Were learning much more tonight about the killing of a detroit Synagogue Leader who was found stabbed to Death Outside her home on saturday. Jesse kirsch has late details. Reporter after wellknown detroit jewish leader Samantha Woll was stabbed to death, tonight police still have not announced any arrest. For now investigators considering multiple persons of interest. We are just short of calling one of the people a suspect. Reporter the 40yearolds sudden death sparked fears of a potential hate crime. But police do not believe antisemitism was the motive. Were not ruling out anything. Were going to go where the information and the evidence takes us. And right now the evidence does not take us there. Reporter investigators say early Saturday Woll was found dead near her home, stabbed multiple times just hours after she left a wedding around 12 30 a. M. Weve heard from sources that she did not have any defensive wounds. Did she leave this wedding alone . Yeah, i cant get into that. And your sources, you know, im not going to confirm or deny that at this time. Reporter at the crime scene Authorities Say they found a trail of blood leading to wolls home, where they believe she was attacked. Investigators adding there were no signs of forced entry. Wolls alleged murder leaving friends and family griefstricken. Mourning the synagogue president who wanted to bring people together in divisive times. It seems like we need her now more than we ever did. Yeah. How do you make sense of that . I dont. Theres nothing about this loss that makes sense. Jesse joining us now. Did authorities give any indication about a motive . Reporter investigators have not publicly shared any motive so far. But police stress they do not believe that anyone else is at risk. Lester . Jesse kirsch, thank you. Now to the crisis at the capitol, where nine congressmen who want to be House Speaker are taking part in a Candidate Forum tonight. Then tomorrow republicans will select their next nominee after the two previous candidates, jim jordan and steve scalise, were rejected. This stalemate has been going on for almost three weeks now. In 60 seconds the horrific scene on a highway. Dense fog and smoke causing a massive pileup in louisiana. More than a dozen injured. Well have more right after this. Living with hiv, i learned i can stay undetectable with fewer medicines. Thats why i switched to dovato. Dovato is a complete hiv treatment for some adults. No other complete hiv pill uses fewer medicines to help keep you undetectable than dovato. Detect this most hiv pills contain 3 or 4 medicines. Dovato is as effective with just 2. If you have hepatitis b, dont stop dovato without talking to your doctor. Dont take dovato if youre allergic to its ingredients or taking dofetilide. This can cause serious or lifethreatening side effects. 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Reporter this was the scene on interstate 55. At least 21 people were taken to the hospital, including three in critical condition, according to hospital officials. This is a very demanding scene. This is a taxing scene for our first responders. Reporter the cause of the 100car wreck likely a combination of dense fog and smoke from at least three wildfires burning in louisiana that reduced visibility in the area to near zero. Its known as a superfog. Superfog is when you have foggy conditions near a fire. We get the Water Droplets on all the debris thats in the air from the fire, and that makes the smoke even more dense and the fog so thick its horrendous for travel. Sometimes down to zero visibility. Reporter that fog has now lifted. But tonight many are still recovering from a crash unlike anything theyd seen before. Look at this. Reporter priscilla thompson, nbc news. And up next, the Discovery Police made as they searched for the suspected killer of a judge in maryland. S disease. 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His wife and son at home. Now the u. S. Marshals service is offering a 10,000 reward for any information leading to argotes arrest. Are you concerned hes dangerous . Obviously, hes committed a heinous act. We want individuals to report if they see him. But we do advise that they dont approach him. Reporter according to officials, the suspected killer has ties to multiple states including florida and new york. Were going to catch this guy. Its just a matter of time. Reporter in Divorce Proceedings last thursday judge wilkinson ruled that argotes exwife would get sole custody of the couples four children with no visitation rights. Argote has no criminal record, but police say they were called to his house twice for alleged domestic violence. No charges were filed. And last year his exwife requested a protective order. But it was dismissed after two weeks. Now a manhunt is on. While wilkinsons colleagues mourn a judge dedicated to the public good. He treated everyone with respect in the courtroom. He acted with dignity at all times. And he always made decisions based on intellect and honesty. And it is an example that we all need to follow. Reporter to honor that commitment in Washington County this week court is still in session. Stephanie gosk, nbc news. Theres good news to tell you about. Olympic legend mary lou retton, the family of the gold medalwinning gymnast who spent weeks in the icu with pneumonia says she is now out of the hospital and recovering at home. Rettons daughters raised more than 450,000 through crowdfunding to pay for her care. And up next the outpouring in israel for a boy held hostage on his birthday. But it did change her. She developed agitation that may happen with dementia due to alzheimers disease. She started yelling. Pacing around. Kept repeating the same questions. She got agitated often. So we asked her doctor for help. 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Reporter ohad munderzichri is spending his ninth birthday as a hostage, one of more than 20 children being held in gaza according to israel. Also hostages, his grandparents, avraham and ruthi and his mother keren. She wanted to have a child for many years. And he brought lots of happiness and light to the family. Reporter they were snatched from Kibbutz Nir Oz On October 7th and havent been seen or heard from since. What has this been like for your family . A horror movie or something. Reporter this is what ohads birthday should look like. Instead, his Family Gathering to plead for the safe return of a boy they say is smart, kind, and like his Uncle Rui A Fan of English Soccer Team liverpool. Roi was killed in the attack, buried this week with the jersey of the team he adored. We loved him. We still love him. Reporter ohads birthday marked with balloons across israel and at events around the world like this in london. Happy birthday dear ohad family and friends sending balloons skywards, hoping that just maybe a little boy in gaza might see them and know that he is loved. Raf sanchez, nbc news, metzer, israel. And thats nightly news for this monday. Thank you for watching, everyone. Im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night. Right now at 4 30, 30,000 people set to attend one of the biggest conferences San Francisco has seen in decades. But are businesses ready . Were live in the city for how theyre bracing for that impact. Good afternoon. Im jessica aguirre. Welcome