[sirens] bret: new explosion of violence rocking southern israel overnight as hamas launches a fresh barrage of missiles over the region. the militant group has claimed to have shot with 100 rockets in the latest attack. i am jon scott with continuing coverage in the work of israel with a special edition of "fox news live". the newest attack coming hours after israel formally declared war on hamas for the unprecedented surprise attack on israel saturday morning. the declaration prompted the u.s. to move warships and aircraft near to the closest middle east ally. there is no current plan for u.s. troops to intervene. the death toll continued to climb at this hour, 700 have died in israel and 400 killed in gaza. several americans are among the victims of the hamas attack. trey yingst is live on the ground in southern israel with more. >> good evening as we speak from the distance is really fighter jets are targeting parts of the gaza strip, they are hitting different hamas positions in high-rise buildings that are used by the group to plan and execute according to the israeli military these type of attacks. we know israel is preparing for a ground invasion and the strikes often of the first thing that you will see by a military like israel. back in 2014 they struck similar neighborhoods that they're hitting tonight before sending thousands of ground troops. that's part of what we've seen today staging operation. the troops headed to the border in tanks and apcs preparing what could be a prolonged operation inside of the gaza strip. is is really prime minister benjamin netanyahu has made clear he will not stop until the organization is destroyed. we expect the coming days to be very difficult and violent for the region. israelis bracing for more rocket fire and more cross-border attacks. we've seen tonight and even the towns we were reporting in earlier today have hamas militants in them engaging is really soldiers that got better. it's a challenging situation for the israeli army. but the mind of israelis remain on those killed. they watched as funerals took place across the country and they still worry about loved ones some of whom were captured and taken into the gaza strip. jon: what about the rockets most recently launched are there any signs that they were destructive from the hamas point of view, effective? >> the city south of here took a direct hit from a rocket earlier tonight. also hamas claims they launch for the 100 rockets towards israel's main airport the ben gurion airport. just outside of the city of tel aviv israel's second-largest city. it did not appear the hamas was successful in reaching the airport but what they're trying to do is disrupt the flow of air traffic into israel as a number of carriers have already started to cancel their flights into the jewish state over concern this is quickly escalating into a larger conflict and another rocket fire from lebanon earlier today is railing is responding to that in the region bracing for more days to come. the concern this can be a corrugated attack not only from factions inside of gaza but iranian backed groups across the region including lebanese militant group hezbollah. as a fight continues here in southern israel top officials are meeting by the hour trying to determine the next steps and what the operation will look like in gaza but remember they do not want to pull all their forces to the south out of fears that a northern operation could be needed as well and the possibility of a multi-war conflict. jon: what about the border situation, tens of thousands of gaza palestinians crossed the border each day to go to work in israel. has that been completely sealed off as a result of the violence? >> totally sealed off. reporter asked the spokesperson for the israeli military earlier today about that very question how will people cross to go to their jobs. gazans that work in israel it is crossing the open the northern crossing close to where were at right now in the spokesman replied with a question what crossing because it was completely destroyed. were talking about a massive turnover that thousands of people across israel back into gaza each day and journalists entered the gaza strip entering the same terminal. when they started the separation into israeli territory they took over the building and it was ultimately destroyed in the fire fight to regain control. jon: more economic misery from the palestinians for sure at the hands of hamas. trey yingst, thank you. let's bring in danny tears a strategic planning for the israeli defense forces central command. the indications ashtray was just telling us the israeli forces of airpower to take out hamas infrastructure. everybody knows a ground invasion is coming. is that days away, weeks away, is there any way to know? >> were trying all the time to do the best we can and not to harm the people in gaza but that's the thing the army doesn't know exactly how to do and after they attack the civilian in a very cruel way even crueler than isis and we are thinking the next steps will be to get inside of gaza but will do it later when we know we are harming on the basis of hamas and they cannot stand in front of the israeli army. jon: we know hamas is not reluctant to sacrifice its own palestinian residents enter further its aims. it makes you wonder about the hostages the israeli hostages, some americans possibly other nations as well. it seems like the future could be very grim. >> we know they are in the hands of the very cruel people. we have to handle our mission and everything could doing something like this to israel. jon: so much has been made of the tunnels, israel has gone and before and destroyed tunnels the hamas uses for sneaking into israel and sneaking goods in from egypt. do you have a good handle on where the majority of these tunnels are right now. >> the tunnels are not easy because what israel did in the past between gaza and israel in gaza and egypt but we cannot handle the tunnels under gaza itself is very easy to dig underground and the shelters to move from place to place where israel can see them in the aircraft of israel but we have special units and they know how to handle these things. jon: given the number of rockets that have been fired, thousands of them at israel. those are primarily made there in gaza. are you going to be able to locate the factories and workshops where those were built in take them out? >> i think we already did it. the first targets of the israel air force were in workshops making the rockets and we still know that they have thousands of them underground in some places in retrying of the time to locate the places that they're shooting from and in the past the infrastructures and now it is a war and we will do everything to stop against israel and to let them know this is a wrong way to handle their own people. if the shooting at the school it's not a school as an army base. if the shooting from a clinic, it's not a clinic it is an army base and we have to destroy all the infrastructures. jon: we know difficult days ahead, we wish you well. the former head of strategic planning for the israeli defense forces. >> thank you. jon: growing concern that some of the hostages hamas has taken our american citizens, white house correspondent peter doocy explain to president biden and his team are responding. >> officials here are aware of the reports of israeli counterparts at some of the hostages held in gaza right now our american citizens. >> we will be closely core native working with our israeli partners on making every effort to bring those people back safely that said this is the situation as you heard the israeli say is likely to play out for some time. i do think were to be wrestling this for a while. >> former national security advisor thinks are specific assets of president biden can and should be deploying. >> we have hostage rescue teams and special forces that need to be shipped immediately to get on the c-17's and c5's to prepare to rescue the market citizens. you have to have fbi hostage rescue deployed to israel and i recommended this last night to save the israelis but we need to do it to save americans now. >> on a biden benjamin netanyahu call president biden conveyed additional assistance for the israeli defense forces is now on its way to israel with more to follow over the coming days. the leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to ensure no enemies of israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation. the secretary of state is out today denying that $6 billion the u.s. unfrozen for iran directly funded the hamas attack. >> when any money coming from that account can only be used for medical supplies for food, medicine and though saying otherwise are misinformed or misinforming and it's wrong either way. iran has always used and focuses funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like thom thomas. >> president biden did not talk about this or anything else on camera today. we did notice music coming from the area of the rose garden throughout the afternoon. white house officials tell us president biden in the first lady were hosting a barbecue for executive resident staff. jon: peter doocy, thank you. let's bring in matt shoemaker an intelligence officer with the defense intelligence agency under president trump. the reporting of the wall street journal suggests that iran was the primary driver hide this attack in iran convened a meeting of hezbollah and hamas operatives in beirut and gave the green light for this last monday. the wall street journal knows all of that now why didn't the united states in the israeli defense forces ahead of time? >> thank you very much for having me on. that is the question of our printed certainly the intelligence organizations around the world are going to play catch-up with regards to this and it's a smear on their face if journalists in the wall street journal over in america know this before the cia or dia where i used to work new about this first before they did, with regards is really rather extraordinary because mossad generally speaking israeli intelligence organization is considered one of the top organizations in the world. sometimes better in certain particular areas then even the americans with the british. it's rather astonishing that hamas was able to do this in iran was able to coordinate this and train them and equip them all under our noses. jon: there will be time for the accommodation and finger-pointing later, now that it appears israel is at war and it appears there will be an invasion of the gaza strip imminently. in terms of planning and operation like that, give us some sense of how difficult that will be. >> indeed. in regards to what the israelis will focus on doing they need to come up with a strategic plan with the strategic goal of what exactly they want to achieve, the israeli defense minister yesterday gave indications about what they wanted to do which essentially was to go back into gaza itself. israelis have not been inside of gaza's 2006 they actually left it largely to its own devices for good or for ill. from what the israelis are saying at the past woody for hours it indicates that they are developing plans to invade into gaza itself. from there once we understand the strategic objectives they are going to be able to do the operational and tactical planning in order to achieve the strategic objectives. at the moment it seems like take out as many as the terrorist as they possibly can rescue the hostages and from there we will have to see what the israelis want to do. the ball is certainly in their court. jon: the $6 billion that the u.s. leased to iran as a result as part of the hostage exchange recently the hostage deal. there are some who are arguing that we had a freeze that money and take it back even a man's bad behavior in the circumstance. would you advocate such a thing? >> yes 100% absolutely, eight days a week, primarily, number one i'm running for congress partially based off of this very issue where people don't seem to understand a government the role that their decisions make in life, the fact that the $6 billion is earmarked for humanitarian purpose means absolutely nothing. it frees up $6 billion elsewhere from a different pot of money that the iranians can now used to fund terror. it is great that is a distinction without a difference in that people are playing legalistic games in order to change whatever objective they are. $66 billion is one of the worst ideas i imagine in terms of granting access to the iranians. jon: the secretary of state was defended the pot of money. thank you. >> i expect nothing less than that. jon: we'll b you're probably not easily persuaded to switch mobile providers for your business. but what if we told you it's possible that comcast business mobile can save you up to 75% a year on your wireless bill versus the big 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would delay critical aid for her longtime ally. joining is now florida congressman carlos gimenez a member of the house armed services committee. we appreciate your time tonight. what about the speaker boat, do you think the attack on israel has clarified the minds of many in congress and that they might put the old issues behind them to get a speaker elected? >> i think the timing could not be worse. the whole episode has really been a disaster with the publican party. now at a time when our best ally in the middle east needs action from congress we cannot do anything until we get a speaker. for for me the next beaker should be the speaker that we had. we should never have removed the speaker. isaac is a lot easier to convince eight people then it is 210. i would hope that we can come to that decision quickly and i hope the former speaker reconsiders and puts his name in the hat. i think you will have a lot of support. jon: he says he won't. if you are going with the two who have thrown their hat in the ring do you think that can be decided on wednesday perhaps? >> i am not sure i think there is a lot of people like me that feel we should not be dictated by 4% of our caucus and 96% of our congress voted for kevin mccarthy to remain a speaker import% voted him not to. 100% of democrats voted him not to. again i would hope the speaker would reconsider, put his name and the hat and we can move on to get past episode and put them back where he belongs. jon: you mentioned your on the armed services committee, former national security advisor robert o'brien under president trump. you might've heard or suggested that we should have hostage rescue military team standing by as well as fbi hostage rescue teams and get them on planes and get them over to israel right now, what do you think of that idea. >> i think that is a good idea. if american citizens are being held hostage by hamas and gaza. it is the duty of americans to rescue them. if our israeli partners can do that, fine but i think they will have their hands full so i don't think it's a bad idea to have our own personnel and delete teams over there to help rescue americans because that is the duty of government and the duty of government is to protect us whether we are here or abroad. i think that is a good idea. jon: you would be okay with american boots on the ground in gaza. >> in order to save americans and rescue americans, absolutely. i would be okay with american boots and gaza not to fight a war for israel i think israel could take care of itself but if israel needs assistance in rescuing americans, i think american troops should be there and able and willing to assist israel in rescuing our citizens from hamas in the terrorist. i am okay with that. jon: now that we know gerald ford carrier battle group has been dispatched to the mediterranean off the israeli coast some of those teams might already be on board, i guess we don't know. >> i guess we don't it's unfortunate that the only member of congress that got a briefing with hakeem jeffries the minority leader, we don't have a speaker so were left in the dark a little bit. hopefully we get further information. can i make a comment about what secretary of state said about the $6 billion. all government money is spendable. so your previous guest was absolutely right. all the iranians are good to do say we will take money slated for medicine, humanitarian stuff in their country and say $6 billion thank you very much we're going to use it to fund terrorism and do other nefarious things and thank you the united states for buying this food and medicine that we're going to buy anyway so now we have $6 billion to do the other stuff. the real problem with what's happening is that this administration has really loosened up but a lot of the sanctions. there is data that indicates that iran has been making 70% more on its oil and then it was during the trouble administration. that is billions and billions of dollars all due to the fact the biden administration being easy on iran trying to negotiate a deal with terrorist we should never negotiate with terrorists. jon: republican carlos gimenez thank you for joining us. let's bring in fox news contributor hi ron skinner. where do you see the situation now. we know that israel is expected to go on the ground and gaza. how is this going to play out and how will this end. >> big questions you are asking this is a widening war by the minute. and the idea of israel going and forced into gaza with lots of civilians and palestinians are armed up, the palestinian diligence suggests a lot of bloodshed. we've already seen a lot of bloodshed so that by itself is something we are prepared for at least in terms of our thinking. but other actors in militant organizations beyond hamas and islamic jihad such as has has bullock will make this a multi-front war. hezbollah has much more advanced airpower than hamas, that changes the calculus of one battlefront of this conflict that is one side of the kinetic part. other parts of the war are troubling as well and have huge implications for all parts of the world. the saudi israel peace deal that has been in negotiation for quite a while has to be put on ice while the war is going on. it'll be difficult to extend the abraham accords which donald trump put forth as president to saudi arabia under these conditions since the war has taken place the saudi's have come out with a lukewarm statement really in defense of the palestinians saying their rights have been violated. that is not what washington wants or tel aviv so we have a lot going on politically, geopolitically and militarily as well. jon: the belief is that iran did not want to see the peace accords between israel and the saudis and that is why they fomented this attack. we will have to say goodbye. kiron skinner, we appreciate your time. thank you. we'll be right jon: fighting in israel and gaza intensifying overnight as a militia group clashes with israeli forces. a mix of air and ground fighting rocking both regions. israeli officials say they are making progress through airstrikes in the gaza strip, this as hamas continues to launch a fresh barrage of missiles in israel. the newest attack coming after israel formally declared war on hamas for the unprecedented surprise attack on israel saturday night. the declaration prompting the united states for warships and aircraft closest to the middle east allies. there is no plan for u.s. troops to intervene. the death toll continues to climb at this hour. more than 700 israelis have died. several americans have also been killed in u.s. officials suspect hostages were taken during the assault. trey yingst is on the ground with southern israel with more. >> airstrikes continue in the distance fighter jets targeting hamas positions inside of the gaza strip. what we see tonight is what we saw back in 2014 during operation's yucatán which lasted 61 days between israel and gaza. operation salt tons of rocket fire into southern and central israel. the rocket fire compared to what is taking place over the past few days here is not as much. according to the israeli military more than 3200 rockets have been fired into the jewish state inside of gaza. we know during the operation in 2014 over 4000 rockets were fired to give you a sense of how drastic and severe the escalation was this weekend. israeli troops continued to stage on the gaza border, they are waiting for the border to enter gaza. i do expect that to come in the days ahead i do be incredibly challenging for israeli soldiers as they operate in this highly dense area. the population density of gaza is some of the highest in the world, there are many civilians and noncombatants amid the fighting that they will face ended up be a challenge not only the fighting environment but the fact that there are dozens of israeli soldiers and civilians taken captive by his moss and islamic jihad. according to hamas are being held in the tunnels where the fraction told the rockets and the weapons and ammunition. the days ahead will be difficult and violate in israel must prepare itself for the possibility that this turned into a multi-front conflict that would include lebanon and possibly other arenas. jon: trey yingst. thank you. let's begin jonathan a special correspondent for the jewish chronicle newspaper in the uk. this attack comes for years after the young co-poor war when israel's neighbors thought they were going to wipe it off the map in israel turned the tables and did very well in that battle and not so well for israel this time. it was a surprise attack and israel was bloodied very badly as a result. >> i think there is no doubt that israel is intending to win this war. just as it did with the yom kippur war 50 years ago. it does not mean it's good to be easy or quick. of course we know there are many casualties and that is why the comparisons are being made not just because the near anniversary of where this took place but the element of surprise is an enormous factor. what happened when hamas invaded to go over the border from the gaza strip into israel as israel was taken completely off guard to see that number of terrorist pouring into israel through what was considered an impenetrable border has left israelis in shock not just citizens but politicians and military leaders and they were playing catch up. it's even thought that now there still terrorists within the country in the army is still clear and areas. let me say in the 5:00 a.m. hour in israel you can expect the number of dead will rise dramatically in the next few hours as rescue medical get on the gaza border those villages should be clear of terrorist in these coming hours. you need to be prepared for more horrific images when people get into those areas which are right on the gaza border and people have been fighting for their lives. jon: the villages have not been entered until now. >> the army has been engaging with terrorist around the gaza area and they have been trying to clear them so the aims of the army have been playing catch-up and neutralize the terrorist inside of the country. some have come to the ground and hidden themselves there have been gunfights and deaths over hours and hours since infiltration which means that was a first stage the country needed to undertake. after that they are going to be looking at gaza and david been saying there are israeli civilians and soldiers who had been captured and taken back into gaza and according to ham hamas, they will be also potentially at risk if israel goes into gaza if it continues airstrikes and if it has a ground incursion into gaza. hamas has been known to hide into civilian populations into gaza itself. a get a use israeli citizens now as a human shield. that is something that is really military will be aware of going in there. >> horrible days and weeks ahead. we'll be right jon: our coverage continues on the war and israel. joining us republican senator marsha blackburn. we just lost our connection to senator blackburn. we will try to reestablish that and bring you her thoughts with israel's war with hamas in a few moments. jon: chaos erecting israel brings not just a physical toll the mental one as well let's check in with fox's medical contributor doctor marc siegel. so many in israel are saying they are stunned, shocked, appalled at how easily apparently hamas is able to pull off this attack and how the americans felt about the 9/11 attack. >> exactly, israel i don't want to say they got used to all the rocket fire from coming across the southern border but studies have shown a prolonged implication in terms of mental health to begin with. depression, anxiety post pneumatic stress. now you added the key part. i been in israel and i know has a narrow border but you feel reassurance when you see the military and the police and you see a comfort level. the idea that this happened on israeli soil with the border being porous and gives people a lot of discomfort and the shutdown of their homes and their schools and hamas is still there. hamas knows this, the word terrorism, terror means fear, not bombs, hamas is using fear of video images from the killing of grandmothers in the very young people and naked bodies and of disfiguring bodies. they are deliberately doing that to create this sense of unease. it is having short-term effects, long-term effects posttraumatic depression, very concerned about the mental health of this country they have to secure the border. >> there is also the problem the horrific problem of the hostages not even a good number and a good count of how many hostages have been taken alive and into gaza. who knows what they will be doing to these people and that has to be a huge part of the mental torment to come. >> some are americans were hearing by reports. that's why american military presidents in the east mediterranean is building up. we don't know what can happen with hostages and benjamin netanyahu has said that's the first priority get hostages. i agree with that believe strongly. it turned out what is going on in terms of the wounded 2135 wounded, our producer on the ground, 360 in critical condition. that is between life and death their nicus, multiple surgeries, there is a plea for blood donation all that can should be giving blood at this time. we hope we can save as many 360 as possible. in the main thing keeping us from continuing and keep the shutdown to get the hostages back. jon: there are some members of congress who exhorted the israelis not to respond insane we can't have any more violence, what do you think about that doctor. >> i think they have to respond one of the mistake secretary blinken on the talkshow saying this is a terrorist attack not to governments going at each other, let's not forget hamas is the official government of hase after they showed prime minister pulling out in 2005, they represent gaza. of course israel has to respond and we have to be involved if we have hostages there. we await to americans in the region to try to get them out of there safely. if we don't respond with force to force this will be a lot worse and continue, that's only responsive makes sense. jon: doctor marc siegel. thank you. we'll be right ah, these bills are crazy. she has no idea she's sitting on a goldmine. well she doesn't know that if she owns a life insurance policy of $100,000 or more she can sell all or part of it to coventry for cash. even a term policy. even a term policy? even a term policy! find out if you're sitting on a goldmine. call coventry direct today at the number on your screen, or visit coventrydirect.com. we're here today to set the record straight about dupuytren's contracture. surgery is not your only treatment option. people may think their contracture has to be severe to be treated, but it doesn't. visit findahandspecialist.com today to get started. jon: our coverage continues on the war in israel after the hamas surprise attack. joining us now noah and is really actavis who served as the first special envoy for combating anti-semitism indeed legitimate. israel is a small country and everyone knows somebody who has been affected somehow by this terrible attack. what are the worst stories that you yourself have heard? >> israel is a small country in less than 10 million people and the size of new jersey were dealing with something that is similar to the united states 9/11 were pearl harbor with a few differences, around 9/11 p.m. pearl harbor the enemy was far away the enemy we had to chase down in cages and caves. and this was in her home and bedrooms among children and we know exactly where the enemy is. and what needs to be done to take care of this problem. everybody that i know know somebody that was affected in someone way or another the stories are horrific. i personally am praying for my members of the family that are fighting hamas on the borders and within israel right now as we speak. what we are witnessing now, what had happened israel in the past few days is nothing short of the worst day in jewish history since the holocaust. this is the largest number of jews that have been slaughtered in one day since the holocaust. as a special envoy for anti-semitism and delegitimization of israel i have been warning for a very long time that the slow arose and of israel standing in the world the fake news and demonization and dehumanization vilification of israel is going to allow for a massacre. this is sadly what were seeing right now. jon: as israel goes into gaza to route at the terrorist there certainly going to be civilian casualties and you know what's going to happen during the major media organizations are going to put them on the front pages and lead the big newscast in the criticism of israel is going to start to mount. is your country ready for that? >> this is a time of history my country should care what the world is saying but of course we do care. israel can do no right in terms of some fractions of american society. as we look at rashida tlaib that the watering down what happened in the past couple days and equivocating it and using what about is them when you talk about a massacre of women, children and the elderly babies that are kidnapped, i don't know if you see the video of the 2-year-old that is in the hands of hamas, when you are equivocating that in any way shape or form you yourself are the problem, this is what were dealing with right now it is terrific to see representatives american representatives engaged in such linkage. jon: as israel prepares its response we know there are airstrikes going on on gaza right now. >> were hamas gets cleaned on the palestinian people and they actually benefit for instance getting clean water which they barely have right now and gaza. >> this is what we've been saying the palestinian people are oppressed by their own people and hamas. hamas, just so we're clear is radical islamic genocidal hell-bent on one thing only and that is destroying, killing and slaughtering as many jews as they possibly can. i'm not making this up. and i'm not making this up many, many years in the hamas charter they have been saying this for a very long time they are not hiding that they are about slaughtering jews. israel needs to do what it needs to do and every single right to defend itself. right now there is pretty much support from wall-to-wall and this event is self-evidently horrible that the support is there and we could continue to do what we need to