murdered my people. >> we appreciate your personal story and sharing it. thanks so much for your time. >> thanks to all of you for being with us today. we continue to follow the breaking news all day here on n. "news central" is next. ♪ hello, everyone. i'm kate bolduan. here with john berman and sara sidner. thank you for being with us. we are following more breaking news out of israel. and the build up to the next stage as the idf describes it. you're looking, we're showing you pictures from moments ago as israel continues large scale strikes in gaza today. u.s. secretary of state antony blinken is on the ground in israel right now and bringing with him a powerful message of totally support for israel. saying hamas brings to mind the worst of isis. blinken confirmed also there's at least 25 americans that have been killed. he said the biden administration is working closely with israel to locate and rescue the more than 100 hostages taken by hamas. >> on that front, secretary blinken met with israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu as israeli authorities say they believe the hostages are likely being held underground in gaza. blinken had this message for israel and the world. >> the message that i bring to israel is this. you may be strong enough on your own to defend yourself, but as long as america exists, you will never, ever have to. we continue to work closely with israel to rescue the people kidnapped by hamas. we'll be working to keep the conflict from spreading. there is no excuse, no justification for these atrocities. you heard the prime minister say it, this is -- this must be a moment for moral clarity. >> israel is amassing ground forces just outside gaza. a short time ago our team saw israeli howitzers firing into gaza. and a senior israeli official declared electricity, water and fuel will not be restored to gaza until all the hostages are e released. >> in gaza the humanitarian crisis is growing more dire hour by hour. at least 1,300 people have been killed more than 300,000 are now displaced. more than half a million men, women and children are without access to water. parents sifting through rubble to find food scraps because that's been generators will soot of fuel. hospitals will soon become morgues because of the blockade. we begin with becky anderson, who is live for us in tel-aviv. >> reporter: the secretary of state, antony blinken and benjamin netanyahu really standing shoulder to shoulder today. the u.s. secretary of state pledging total support for israel. and saying, i quote here, as long as america exist israel will never stand alone in defending itself. this is what prime minister benjamin netanyahu had to say. >> president biden was absolutely correct in calling this sheer evil. hamas is isis. and just as isis was crushed so too will hamas be crushed. and hamas should be treated exactly the way isis was treated. they should be spit out from the community of nations. no leader should meet them. no country should harbor them. and those that do should be sanctioned. >> so what happens next is the big question. where does the war go next and what sort of price will be paid by the hostages, by the israelis, and, of course, by the citizens of gaza. president hertog also spoke today and i was at a press conference he addressed the media. he gave no indication what israel's plans are for a ground incursion. only suggesting, i quote him, this will be a long and drawn out campaign against hamas. the u.s. has warned israel that they must abide by the rules of war. and there's been much concern about the possibility of a policy of collective punishment on the citizens of gaza. deplored just today in a statement by the united nations. and it was a very frustrated president hertog who took questions about that. he is clearly concerned about the possibility of international support waning the higher the death toll goes. but he talks about this as a position of war, though absolutely suggesting and saying -- describing what israel will do as abiding by the rules of war but he described this as a war and as a complete tragedy. so i think what we are seeing here build is secretary of state antony blinken coming in absolutely pledging total support for israel here. but they are aware here in israel of the potential for real concern about what happens next. the effect on civilians and how that might affect international support for the next phase of this conflict. >> becky anderson in tel-aviv. thank you very much. let's get closer to the front lines right now. let's go to the israeli coast. jeremy diamond is there. we can show people on a map where he is it's along the mediterranean there. jeremy, tell us what you are seeing in the situation as israeli troops mass closer to the border. >> yeah, from where we are, john. what we've been hearing all morning is the steady of rumble of air strikes. israeli air strikes hitting gaza, which is right behind me, effectively. you have ashkelon just south of me. let's look at what antony blinken and benjamin netanyahu are saying when they talk about the barbarity of hamas' attacks and describing some of the gruesome scenes in the israeli communities infiltrated by the hamas terrorists. they're laying the ground work for what is to come. explaining the rational for what we are going to see in the next phase of the israeli military campaign because the next phase of the campaign, whether it's a ground invasion, whether it's much more severe air strikes on gaza, it's going to result -- in particular if it's a ground invasion, in additional casualties. both israeli troops as well as palestinians inside of gaza. we know there are heavy civilian casualties. so we are hearing a rational for the cost in terms of military as well as civilian casualties that will undoubtedly result from the next phase of the campaign. what we also heard from netanyahu is echoing the sentiments of the israeli public including the reservists more than 300,000 of which have been called up one of the largest mo mobilizations in the country's history. i spoke with them yesterday about why this call up feels different. listen. >> every person has lost someone. >> been in amsterdam till wednesday morning, monday morning i came here to enlist in the army and fight. >> very emotional moments. >> very emotional moments, yes. >> when you see children die, it's -- it's like an animal. >> reporter: and you can hear the emotion in the voices of all of thosevis as they were answering either their call up or some of them frankly didn't get orders but started to show up to bases across israel where they'll receive additional training before gearing up for whatever comes next. we still do not have an official order for an invasion here but the signs of preparations for a potential invasion are all around when you drive up and down the gaza strip on the israeli side. we have seen formations of artillery guns, in nic robertson was today, we have seen tanks driving up and down. yesterday we were in a field where there were about two dozen armored personnel carriers facing directly in the direction of gaza just six miles away. >> jeremy, in also part of the immediate and urgent decision making and planning that is happening now is how to locate and how to recover and rescue the 100, 150 hostages that are believed to be in the gaza. we heard tony blinken say -- the words he used in talking about it were terror tunnels is how tony blinken talked about it today standing next to netanyahu. we also heard from the idf, reason dictates, tell us more, that the hostages are likely being held in those terror tunnels. >> yeah, that's right. i also think what's significant is we heard tony blinken talking about the coordination between the united states and israel on this very issue. and the support both intelligence, surveillance, but also most notably perhaps special operations support. and that suggests that there is at least some discussion of some kind of special operations mission to try and rescue these hostages if indeed they can identify exactly where they are being held. that would be an extremely risky mission, of course, but we know there are no current active negotiations with hamas for the release of those haostages. that's because israel and hamas are in different places about what the conditions would be for the release of hostages. israeli said no food, water, electricity or fuel will be going into gaza until the hostages are released. we know in the past when hamas has held hostages or captives in terms of soldiers, for example, when an israeli soldier was held he was released for 1,000 palestinian prisoners held in israeli prisons, including some responsible for terrorist attacks that killed israeli civilians. so there's a total mismatch, of course, of where those negotiations could begin. there's also no doubt weighing on the minds of israeli leaders the fact that a ground invasion could potentially result in the deaths of some of those hostages. so a lot of considerations but very notable that the united states and israel are working closely on that issue. >> jeremy diamond we should note it took five and a half years for that soldier to be freed by hamas. so a very, very long time. thank you to you there in ashdod and becky anderson in tel-aviv. with us now is retired lieutenant mark hurling, who has spent a lot of time in israel. general, one of the questions we have is what would a ground invasion of gaza, i have a map here of gaza, what would that look like? there is some history here. in 2014 there was a 50-day conflict after hamas kidnapped three israeli teens in the west bank, there was 50 days of fighting, including a ground incursion into gaza, including fighting right here near gaza city. what have we seen in the past and how would that instruct what happens now? >> john, it's a great intro. you citing the operation protective edge which took place in 2014. as you said, it took 50 days, and during that period, israel mobilized 75,000 soldiers compare that to today. in that operation, the idf attacked on three axis, two in the north, one in the center and one in the south of gaza. it was three divisions of troops, a joint operation, air, land and sea. israel lost 66 soldiers and six civilians. and the, you know, estimated the palestinians lost 2,100 dead. now that was an estimate. we've already seen those kinds of losses in this campaign already and a ground invasion hasn't even started. again, i'll point out, we're talking about 2014, that was a decade ago. and since that time, hamas has basically been left alone inside of gaza. you can see they've prepared the operation. i think they are more tactically savvy, although they are still a terrorist group. you can bet, as jeremy was saying, those underground tunnels that were so ubiquitous during the 2014 war and caused some problems to the israelis are going to be much more immense and many more miles of them under ground. they are going to be fighting from under ground and they probably had a very good plan, since there were indicators that they were taking hostages for a purpose. they have a good plan of putting them in locations that could be booby trapped. that could be waiting the israeli forces. and what i say, having fought in urban operations, you know, philosophers over the years have said war is hell. fighting in an urban terrain is war is hell in your worst nightmare. everything about fighting in if an urban environment, especially a place like gaza has real challenges to the invading force. >> let me explain why. you can see a population density map of gaza. this is where gaza city is. 25,000 people per square mile. what does that compare to? los angeles, you can see here is 5,000 people, almost 6,000 people per square mile but three or four times more dense than los angeles. so what kind of challenges does that pose for the israelis? >> you know, john, i've been watching the news reports on various cable channels. and those who have never fought in an urban terrain will talk about the anti-tank missiles that hamas has, the rockets they have, the ability to booby trap and to have rubble in the area which will prevent tanks and personnel carriers moving. those are all the tactical issues. but i will tell you, when you're fighting in the an urban terrain, everything is compounded by rubble in the streets. the inability to look around corners, the so-called 90 degree fight. the inability to communicate, the challenges with logistics getting into your troop. if israel is planning a 50-day or more operation, they have to resupply the x-amount of thousands of soldiers they're sending into gaza. and that's difficult when your supply lines are interdicted. in addition you have the operational considerations of number one, the entire world is watching. and the israeli force is doing their best to live up to the laws of land warfare. but you have a population of, as you said, 2.2 million citizens, most of which are not palestine or hamas fighters, they're mostly trying to get out of the way and that's very difficult. everything about combat in the cities is hard. one more thing i'd add, john. the majority of the reservists that we're discussing with your reporters on the scene, those individuals were probably in their early teens during the last hamas fight. so this is all new to them. they're going to have a force going in that will have very few people who are familiar with the environment of hamas and any time you send new recruits into combat, it's more challenging. >> not to mention the scale here is unprecedented and there are 100 to 150 hostages. general mark hertling, thank you so much. >> i was thinking of the conversation you were having with hertling. mike mccall has said about the effort needed to the get the hostages out. the way he described it to reporters is we have special forces good at this, hostage rescue teams but it's going to be difficult going house to house like fallujah in 2005 when they used them as human shields. putting a fine point on what you are talking about. >> it's the population density here is so much more than that type of situation. you're talking about an area that is much more built up certainly more than fallujah ever was. >> his perspective was great on that. as we know what started as a terror attack has sparked a now growing humanitarian crisis on both sides of the border. in israel and gaza. a warning as we talk through this, these images are disturbing. right now we know air strikes continue from israel into gaza, large scale strikes. israel trying to target hamas but we have seen innocent palestinians are getting caught in the middle. this is after one israeli air strike in gaza. we have images of men trying to rush to pull someone from the rubble and loading that person on a stretcher. and then this happens. >> the women's anguish of it all, their pan, so definite. hospitals in gaza are overwhelmed, fears they're going to become morgues. children in gaza being caught and getting caught in the middle of all of this. this young little girl, in a gaza hospital, crying. someone trying to comfort her. dried blood appearing on her and you can see the very clear injuries on the young children in hospital beds. even without the air strikes, the search for resources is becoming harder and more scarce in gaza. this man you see, he was searching through the rubble for his belongings and also food. he has said he was trying to find leftover lentils and rice because he doesn't know how he was going to provide food for his children right now. we are getting a clearer picture of the horror of the hamas attacks. one man who survived the assault at the music festival spoke to christiane amanpour. let me play this for you. >> it was an animal slaughter. it's like they take animals to one place and shoot them all. and then the policemen got shot and they run away. they killed one of the terrorists but got shot and runaway. one second, sorry. then they drop the first grenade. drop inside. it was exploding. >> yes, and then there is this from the kabutz. outside body bags lined up, israeli soldiers preparing to move those who were murdered. you can see a boot sticking out of one of the body bags. and this we want to show you is what has happened in the israeli city, people running for their lives as the sirens ring out warning of incoming rocket fire from gaza. a rocket hit a supermarket there, we do not know if anyone was injured or killed in that attack but clearly the common what you see on that man's face and so many other places, the terror inflicted on so many people. what started as a terror attack by hamas, a brutal horrific terror attack is threatening to become a humanitarian crisis on both sides of the border. coming up, the white house is faced with a dilemma on how to respond to the atrocities, things you have seen with your own eyes in video that kate has just described without escalating the conflict further. live pictures out of gaza itself. you can see there have been strikes this morning. the smoke still billowing there as we have seen on every single day since this hamas surprise attack occurred. we have more reporting for you ahead. these are live pictures once again you're looking into gaza and several places where smoke is billowing from air strikes this morning. we should talk about what's happening in the region right now, secretary of state antony blinken is in the region. he has just had a press conference not long ago, standing next to benjamin netanyahu, showing full support for israel as it deals with what was a surprise attack and the aftermath of that. we know that palestinian officials are calling for help from the world to try to set up hospitals in gaza as they began to run out of fuel, which would mean the hospitals go dark as they are trying to treat hundreds of patients there. israel says they will not reopen the electricity, the water or the fuel until hostages held by hamas are returned. >> this morning secretary of state blinken is promising israel fault will never falter. telling benjamin netanyahu there's overwhelming bipartisan support for israel security but the republican house is paralyzed right now. really can't do anything. there is no speaker. the republican conference nominated steve scalise yesterday but he does not have the full votes. the votes on the house floor to win the gavel, at least not yet. with us now is republican congressman from new york, mike lawler. i read in punch bowl, quote, mike lawler has all but closed the possibility of voting for steve scalise. no chance you're voting for scalise? >> we need to get to 217. i met with leader scalise last night. and one of the things i said is you have to get everybody back in the room. the whole point yesterday was we never should have left the room until we had 217 votes to go to the house floor. so i think it's imperative we're supposed to get back together around noon, 12:30 today and meet and try to resolve this. the biggest challenge to me, and you see the list of people who are saying that they won't vote for him, is not much has changed since eight folks teamed up with 208 democrats to remove kevin mccarthy as speaker. unless you address the root cause here and the challenge, we're going to be dealing with the same problem. so my objective is, we need to get a speaker, we need to get 217 votes on the house floor, so we can get back to work on behalf of the american people. that is the objective. there are a lot of challenges from spending to the border to obviously the crisis in israel, and so on. there's a lot of work to do. we need to elect a speaker. we need 217 votes to do it. and we need to do it quickly. >> again just to be crystal clear on this, you did talk to scalise last night and the house republican conference is meeting later today. would you vote for scalise on the house floor? >> we need 217 votes. and it's incumbent on steve. he got the majority of the conference yesterday to get 217 votes. and so, unless you deal with the challenges within the conference, it's very hard to get there. you have a bunch of people saying they will never vote for him. i'm not saying i will never vote for him, but this is a challenge and you got to get to 217. >> got it. i want to move on to israel right now if i can. the republican front runner for the presidential nomination, donald trump, over the last 24 hours has actually been critical of israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. we'll play a little bit of sound, some different moments of him. he's criticizing netanyahu for action he took years ago when the u.s. hit iran but also talking about preparedness and other things here. listen. >> i'll never forget that bb netanyahu let us down. that was a very terrible thing. i will say that. when i see sometimes the intelligence, you talk about the intelligence or you talk about some of the things that went wrong over the last week, they've got to straighten it out because they're fighting potentially a very big force. and they said, gees, i hope hezbollah doesn't attack from the north because that's the most vulnerable spot. you know, wait a minute, hezbollah is smart, they're all very smart, the press doesn't like when i say it -- >> congressman, what do you think of that during this moment when israel is in crisis? >> look, i'll let the former president speak for himself. my focus is on helping the israeli government, making sure that they have the resources they need financially, militarily from an intelligence standpoint, and doing everything we can to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. they are at war with a terrorist organization. hamas backed and funded by iran is hell bent on wiping israel off the face of the earth. we need to do everything we can to support israel to make sure that they eliminate hamas. period. if hezbollah or any other bad actor wants to get engaged in this war, they will regret that. i think it's imperative we speak with one voice, united in had r support for israel and the israeli people. and we make sure we are doing everything we can to get american citizens home. right now you have over 20 americans that were killed, you have thousands of americans that are seeking to get out of israel and come back to the united states right now. i have hundreds of constituents of my own, i've been arguing with the white house for days, about the need to get military planes in to help evacuate american citizens. there's a lot to deal with. we can go back and look at intelligence failures, et cetera, down the road. but right now, the focus has to be on winning this war and supporting israel. >> and i have heard you call for u.s. military assistance in getting your constituents out. there are still a lot of americans there who do want to get out. congressman mike lawler, we appreciate you being with us. thank you. kate? >> we have more coming up. cnn's coverage continues. we'll be right back. the power goes out and we still have wifi to do our homework. and that's a good thing? great in my book! who are you? no power? no problem. introducing storm-ready wifi. now you can stay reliably connected through power outages with unlimited cellular data and up to 4 hours of battery back-up to keep you online. only from xfinity. home of the xfinity 10g network. here s and all of our stuff where we want to go. but, our cars can't take us e with unpaid tolls. vehicles with overdue, unpaid tolls may not be able to renew their registration until outstanding balances are paid. payment assistance is available. visit bayareafastrak.org/ase so go pay your unpaid tolls y and keep your wheels on the ! government is clarifying statements made, claims made yesterday that children were found decapitated following the hamas terror attack saturday. the biden administration is also walking back a statement that president biden made about pictures of terrorists beheading children. matthew chance is in jerusalem joining us now. some clarification needed on thi this. what are you learning here? >> reporter: yeah. some clarification being given as well by the israeli government. an official highly placed in the israeli government told me they're not able to confirm that babies were decapitated. that dreadful story we've all been sort of hearing about in the hamas attacks. but they are saying that decapitations happened as well as other what they described as isis-style atrocities by hamas militants as they attacked israeli settlements. what authorities in israel are saying now, we're not going to confirm whether these people, men or women, were soldiers, civilians, adults or children, so that's the clarification given to us at this point. you know, in this dreadful story. we have to bear in mind, of course, many, many children have been killed. the means by which they were killed is in some ways irrelevant. and that's what the israeli government wants to do now is focus on that crime, that aspect of what's happened. and so, yes, a lot of confusion as you can imagine. there's still areas where the israeli authorities have not retrieved everybody's remains. there's still areas in the kibbutz, near the gaza strip where they've not been properly cleared out yet and not allowed to get into yet. we've come to the medical facility in jerusalem, one of the country's biggest hospitals where we've been speaking to a couple of witnesses and people who were injured as a result of those hamas attacks. there have been 100 people or more in this hospital that have been treated as a result of those attacks and all of them have these incredibly compelling tragic stories to tell, kate. i think you are reminding everyone of the finer, important point which is children killed and murdered at point blank range, which should not, cannot, will not be lost in the telling of all of this. thank you so much, matthew. we're just getting some pictures in right now of secretary of state antony blinken's visit to tel-aviv. these are live right now. he is being cheered by israelis there. you can't see blinken in this frame, i don't think. but he, we are told, is delivering some kind of supplies -- there he is. >> right behind that man -- >> yes. behind there. look, antony blinken has got a -- let me listen. >> we saw it -- >> mr. secretary, how do you feel about this -- >> supplies there being moved just for a second. we'll try to listen in once he gets settled and set here. there he goes. >> all right. i thought he was going to take some questions there. would have been good to listen in. we'll still try but what's interesting. not an inch of space at this moment between the united states and israel in this conflict. >> this is my father. >> good to meet you. >> we are survivors from the music raid. we were with lots of friends. >> so sorry yn. >> yes we lost a lot of our friends, close friends, family members. there's a lot of people that we know that are kidnapped and now in gaza. we went through horror, really. i'm just like -- i'm 24. and i never imaged something like this would happen ever at a dance, a music festival. we celebrated love and we danced. and it was amazing. and then the rockets started and gun shots everywhere. we managed to escape. but there were a lot of friends that didn't. and there were a lot of friends that are kept captive now in gaza. >> we were saved by miracle. but there were a lot of friends that aren't. >> i know. >> thank you for being here. it's really important. if there's any way to help, like first priority, first priority are our friends and family that are now in gaza. we're strong here, we're powerful here -- >> we feel that. >> -- in this place now in tel-aviv and everywhere. thank you. thank you very much. >> we're thinking of them and trying to do everything we can. >> i know. >> we want to bring them home. >> i know. thank you so much for being here and speaking to me. >> i'm sorry you have to go through this. >> it means a lot. >> thank you so much. >> thank you. >> i admire your strength and also telling your story makes a big difference, too. the world needs to hear this. >> thank you. >> thank you. we will -- we're there with you, we're there for you. >> we see. >> thanks. >> thank you. >> extremely touching where you have these two were at that music festival on the border. you can just hear the sorrow. she got a chance to speak with the secretary of state. as he goes to visit the area. she said she is 24 years old. she's got friends missing. she wants the hostages to be a priority. and he stood there, looked her in the eye, hugged her, hugged the young man she was with, both of them at the music festival. >> just the power. the power of that image. of the secretary of state meeting this woman. >> love will win all. >> what you're doing is incredibly powerful. and the unity you're showing. >> we'll be stronger. >> this is my fourth funeral. i just came from it. fourth friend who lost their kid. the number one thing that all parents say is finishing the seven days of mourning. we're going to -- we're not stopping our lives. our goal is to build again. that's why we're raising the money. this is not a short term thing. we'll be rebuilding and helping the families. we now have every large tech company adopting one of these towns and rebuild it. we're not going to wait for the government because the government is not going to be doing it. we're going to adopt the families and we're busy now with making sure we win. statement getting geared for the help and rebuild the company these are the amazing people doing it 24/7. >> and feirst responders, reall. >> yes. >> first responders before the government. >> we're getting support from the americans. not just the government. >> yeah. >> the bond that we feel between americans and israelis, the shared values, the shared beliefs, the shared way of living, the shared belief in freedom and the way of living is so strong. >> the outpouring of support has been incredible from the united states and again, it's very, very heartfelt. you can count on it. we'll be there. >> thank you for the visit. 12k3w4r >> thank you so much. >> we heard the aircraft carrier people were standing in the streets -- not because we feel like we're not strong. i was an air force pilot we know what we can do, we're not afraid. but the fact we got american support visibly is so meaningful to people. people know the bond is so strong. this is something that we've always prided ourself and now we feel it. >> i said earlier, we know that israel takes pride, rightfully, in being able to defend itself by itself, and you always will. but you don't have to because you're not alone. >> thank you. >> as you know, tom that was here, a very good friend, one of the most amazing representatives of the united states. new old ambassador tom is unbelievable. he was such a good friend. >> i agree with you. 12k3w4r such a person. >> thank you. >> thanks for sharing this. >> thanks so much. >> secretary of state antony blinken there really being swarmed by israelis. that 24-year-old woman at the music festival sobbing saying thank you for being here. which is a message bigger than one person right now. it really symbolizes the relationship between the united states and israel which has entered this very different stage over the last few days. this complete support from the united states government. >> the fact that tony blinken is there. this happened saturday, it is -- >> uncertain. >> -- uncertain what the future holds in the growing days. and he's on the ground. feel all the love. >> the visit is everything. yeah. as we listen in to each person, he can't take three steps. and i think we should mention, it is highly unusual that someone would have this kind of access to the secretary of state of the united states of america. in a war zone. >> they go from singing the national anthem to cheering usa. >> cheering usa. >> it needs to be said. the relationship between israel and the united states up until last week, there had been some tension. >> there was tension inside of israel. we had tension and the united states was trying to thread the needle, figure out -- >> but when the existential crisis that faces israel all the time is as stark as it is today -- >> they've made it very clear. >> -- all of those tensions go away. >> antony blinken noted before his step father was a holocaust survivor and you can see that his aides are trying to get him out of there, and he was having none of it. >> and the impact that he has had on his call to service for tony blinken and the impact of his stepfather being a holocaust survivor and what it meant for him, and that is a remarkable moment to see. >> it is remarkable. we will be right back with you in just a bit. usa! usa! >> this is antony blinken at a israeli donation center who took a brief moment to bring goods to donation center and he was swarmed by israelis not only for the u.s. presence, but for his presence, including from a woman who survived the music festival and she said, thank you for being here, and then you heard the israeli national anthem, and the chants of "usa" and it was an extraordinary moment. >> yes, nobody gets that close to the secretary of state antony blinken. and now, there is a delicate balance of trying to avoid the u.s. becoming embroiled in a wider regional conflict in the middle east is growing. priscilla alvarez is going to join us from the white house the tell us what you can about this difficult position that president biden may find himself in. >> well, sara, it is a difficult balance, and the resounding message has been expressing outrage over this conflict, but signaling they do not want to see this escalate, and that outrage and that support is intentional, and the president we learned gathered with the advisories tuesday before the speech on the conflict where they wanted him to include detail on the appalling detail of the attack, and he called it sheer evil, and this is underscoring deep emotional reaction from the president and the white house while being forceful about the u.s. response and of course stending a stern warning to anyone looking to get involved in it. take a listen to what he said to the jewish community leaders yesterday. >> already we are surging additional military defense systems to replenish the iron dome, and we are sending more fighter jets to that region, and made it clear, made it clear to the iranians, be careful. >> reporter: now the white house wants to avoid being embroiled in a foreign conflict, and behind closed doors, he has made it important to the advisers that they get it right, and any miscalculation could be consequential. priscilla. >> thank you, priscilla alvarez for breaking that doubt. and now, the black smoke, and israel is conducting a large scale strike on hamas, and the idf is also preparing for the next stage. what that means, stay with us, and we have reporters on the ground throughout the region. cnn's coverage continues in a moment ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ get 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