voters polled signaling new concerns over president biden's age good evening i'm jon scott and this is a special two-hour edition of the "fox report." ♪ ♪ jon: those stories in a moment but first the latest from the war front in israel. idf portions advancing further into gaza today trading fire with terrorists overnight as aerial bombardments continue here at home calls grow for a cease-fire and more protests. as the war enters its fourth week, we have team coverage steve harrigan as well as defense troops storm gaza mark meredith with attacks in the middle east and alexandria huff is tracking the biden administration's response after pro-palestinian demonstrators vandalize white house but we begin with alex hogan live on the ground in southern israel. alex. >> hi onidf has taken out nearly 2500 hamas targets. this is things like infrastructure, ammunitions warehouses and, of course, those tunnels but here tonight along border we have rocket attacks by israel by the direction they were headed we know those were headed toward central israel and that means, of course, residents across the country running for their shelters. now back in gaza advancements continuing with israeli troops making it all the way to the mediterranean shoreline this comes after it was able to encircle gaza taking more of that area to continue to rain down air strikes military says it will hold line now. it is also encircled gaza to create a line that only civilians can pass through. idf spokesperson daniel thanked hundreds of doctors and paramedics who are also along troops to intensify ground forces and protect those who have been -- working but even in the south there's new problems for civilians who have gone there and trying to flee evacuations through the rafa crossing were suspended on saturday after friday israeli air strikes on an ambulance and claims hamas using that vehicle as a cover and qatar foreign ministry today is warning that any hostage release will require a period of calm and pause of israeli attacks. but that is a difficult thing for israelis to hear given the repeated attacks that we're seeing the mother of one hostage today -- >> abduction which was now nearly one month -- >> i see her in my mind but then my mind keeps wandering to lie down and put her head. where is she eating is she sleeping, have water or fresh air, does chef air at all? >> those are the questions those are the concerns those are the constant thoughts of families who have not heard any word from their loved ones again 242 hostages jon with so many of the families volunteered and loved ones here wondering what life has been like for them in the last month. jon. jon: hamas terrorists released a handful but that's it and so many people still stuck somewhere there in gaza probably underground. reporter: what we're hearing from intelligence and from analysts who are examining those tunnels they say that is most likely where they are it's a very desperate dire condition, given that these people have been likely underground in whether or not they know how much time has even passed being that they might not have seen sunlight for last month a very, very difficult situation we also know that that will also lead to the long-term psychological impact on top of what we're seeing we talk with a woman today who -- did survive the attack on october 7th but she still hospitalized she says that the psychological issues the trauma of what she's lived that is only just starting to hit her now. jon. jon: understandable. alex hogan in southern israel alex thank you. hezbollah is blaming the israeli defense forces for a strike that killed multiple civilians in lebanon. the iran backed terror group is threatening to retaliate with attacks on israeli civilians. chief international correspondent steve harrigan is live in northern israel with that. steve. >> jon you can real feel tensions rising here and they are rising because of a single incident on the attack on a vehicle in lebanon. we have widely different explanations of exactly what happened an one hezbollah lawmaker said inside that vehicle was a grandmother and three young children who were killed by israeli strike. the israelis getting very different explanation, they say there was an attack on a vehicle that was used to transport terrorists and investigation still is underway. so really no clear explanation as to what exactly happened. but it is still spiraling the -- rocket fire from lebanon in response to that, and israeli forces say that they will continue to respond to all attacks. >> regarding lebanon we attack on the basis of intelligence information and we will continue to attack that is our mission. >> so the form those attacks are taking are barrages of rockets headed towards towns in northern israel already tens of thousands of people have left their homes here. but places like getting hit on a daily basis multiple explosions, some cars blown up, some houses as well no report on casualties but people are being told to go in their bunkers there's also a warning about possible infiltration that there might be attempts by hezbollah fighters from lebanon in the north to cross over the border and now attacks inside northern israel. jon back to you. jon: so horrors on october 7th could be repeated that's what they're afraid of, steve. reporter: that fear is widespread. we've heard it from residents. we have heard it from school teachers and fear of repeat in the north. jon. jon: all right steve harrigan on israel border with lebanon in the north steve, thank you. u.s. central command records 31 drone strike attempts against u.s. military facilities in the middle east. that number jumping just as the uss eisenhower arrives in the red sea. mark meredith is live at the pentagon with more on that. mark. reporter: jon, good evening to you. u.s. officials remain on high alert for possible additional attacks on u.s. or coalition forces who are serving in the middle east. since mid-october, just a few weeks ago since then we've seen more than 30 of these attacks carried out on service members serving in syria and iraq. so far, no u.s. service members have been killed in these attacks. but the sheer amount and brazenness of the attack is worrisome for pentagon officials so far militia carrying out attacks is show nothing sign of letting up and administration is eager to avoid broadening this conflict but is also willing to do what's necessary to protect americans across the middle east. >> the attacks, the threats coming from militia aligned with iran are totally unacceptable. and we will take every necessary step to protect our people. >> the pentagon continueses to move military assets including drones to the region and uss eisenhower arrived in red sea after passing through the canal and eisenhower wrapping up training exercises out in the mediterranean. this weekend lawmakers are also urging pentagon to use its expertise to assist israel but to help israeli military leaders limit civilian casualties we heard today from senator jack reed who chairs senate arm services committee he says preventing civilian deaths could go a long way to stop the war from growing any larger than it already is. >> we are trying as i said to help israel focus and refocus its efforts to be more precise in its targeting and to give less of a rational for some people would attack israel on political rounds. >> this week the defense secretary lloyd austin he's getting ready to get back on the road but this time not going to the middle east. instead indo pacific scheduled to make at least three stops in india and indonesia and timing of this trip jon is notable because you've got president biden getting ready to meet with the chinese counterpart president xi in san francisco a little more than a week from now. jon. jon: so that, that -- meeting with the chinese, that's going to be a high-stakes event. chippings said to have their fingers in what's beginning on in the middle east right now, mark. >> jon i would imagine we're going to see more of a public effort during that meeting out in san francisco to try to get the world community to rally behind some sort of peace agreement. but whether or not the chinese are willing to play ball on this issue or other issues whether ukraine or press defense issues, that's yet to be seen. jon. jon: it's remarkable there's 31 attempted attacks on u.s. forces in the middle east. none successful, obviously, but only takes one to do severe damage. is the pentagon confident they can continue to perry these attacks? >> well they certainly been throwing all of their resources to make sure they're able to do that while there's no u.s. service members killed there was a civilian contractor few week ago that was running to shelter in place and essentially suffered some heart attack or medical episode later die just because of the fear of what's going on. so, of course, these attacks whether they're happening in real time, or just the fear of them can certainly have a real impact. jon. jon: an american casualty that's very, very sad mark meredith at the pentagon thank you. for more on all of this let's bring in chris, a u.s. marine who served in iraq and afghanistan. he also trained alongside the israel defense forces. he's also running for congress in ohio, as a republican -- but let's talk about the israelis so you know their methods you know they've got gaza encircled what comes next? >> well jon, first, thanks for having me on. but what i think we'll see next reminds me a lot of what we saw with u.s. proxy forces in syria against isis when we had them pushed back up against the cliffs and they were hiding out in the tunnel there is. and by encircling them and israelis allowing noncombatants out you can begin to separate the innocence from the combatants and then focus any conflicts on those who want a conflict. >> you have seen all of the criticism directed at israel -- for the civilians that have died in gaza. first of all are the claims accurate do you think and secondly, how do you feel about that? how do you answer those criticisms? >> i will say from our perspective many of our allies would we always want to take those claims seriously until they're investigated. but given the track record that hamas and hezbollah have, it's really not that believable. so we will investigate it. i imagine all the way to finding final facts. but at the same time, it's really important to remember that -- hamas chose this conflict. and if hamas stopped fighting today, there could be peace. but if israel stopped fighting today, there would be no more israel. jon: well put. the tunnels -- one of the suggestions that i've heard is that israel could actually flood the tunnels. but it is very dry area where do you get all of that water? pump it out of the ocean? >> i think -- the geography makes it possible but i think -- as well when you consider the risk to folks inside -- it would be a tactic they have to use in a selective manner and i think -- the combination you see today of the arab bombardment with -- precise operations that would happen in those tunnels they could use selective flooding to at least eliminate or segment off combatants again from places where they know innocence are held. >> but they don't know the israeli defense forces don't know how far the tunnels extend where they go, what connects with what? it would be awferlly difficult it would steam to randomly start flooding them and hoping for the best. >> you're right, jon that's why i say selective. so they would have to use tactics and techniques appropriate to what they know about that portion of the tunnels system. and the last they know more they need to enhance their understanding using things like ground penetrating radar, or perhaps other images capabilities so they can flash out their understanding of what's going on under there. >> given as you said hamas tendency to, you know, exaggerate or lie flat out lie about casualties civilian casualties. among the palestinian people -- do you think that some of the protest underway right now in the united states and elsewhere around the world are ill informed or are they going based on propaganda do you think? >> i -- i absolutely do. and while i think we all know that war is a nasty thing. it is clear why this conflict started, and it is clear how it could end. but i don't believe we'll see hamas withdrawing their violent barbaric behavior any time soon puts a lot on the shoulders of the israeli defense forces. >> well they've said they want the e religious of israel that is their stated goal it's in their chartser. charter. >> absolutely jop it puts it in your hands to defend yourself, your nation and your people. >> as the israelis continue this encirclement of gaza city what do you think will happen? they're trying to starve hamas out? >> no jon. i think as i referenced earlier when u.s. proxy forces isolated isis what you saw was they went down to a point of desperation and discomfort, but then they surrendered in mask when is they knew they have no other choice. so the encirclement and isolation is critical but they always have the choice to come out and surrender. >> lieutenant colonel chris who trained with israeli forces. thank you. >> thank you, jon. jon: so president biden is spending quiet weekend at his delaware beach house as pro-palestinian demonstrators vandalized the white house with red paint. alexandria huff is life in the beach delaware with more. alexandria. >> hi jon yeah. a hundred miles away from the white house things have been quiet here in the beach that was not the case back on pennsylvania avenue. not last night, not by a long shot where pro-palestinian protesters smeared paint and attempted to climb exterior rod iron gates of the who is and fox news learned that one arrest in that was made. the demonstrators voiced anger for the president support of israel and lack of support for a cease-fire and senator bernie sanders weighed in on that. >> i don't know if you can have a cease-fire permanent cease-fire with an organization like hamas which is dedicated to turmoil and chaos and destroying the state of israel. >> so instead white house has been pushing for a humanitarian pause of fighting in gaza to help aid get in and hostages get out. so far israel has tushed down this idea believing that only hamas will benefit from a pause. >> mr. president -- any progress on the new mediterranean pause? >> yes. >> so he says yes gives thumbs-up there and secretary of state antony blinken met with benjamin netanyahu and asked what progress might mean. >> israel raised important questions about how humanitarian pauses would work. we've got to answer those questions. we're working on exactly that. in fact we agreed that our teams would get together they're doing just that including today to work through -- the specifics, practicalities of these pauses. reporter: secretary blinken speaking there from baghdad during a surprise visit and another unannounced stop to the west bank to meet with palestinian authority president mahmoud abbas and arab leaders trying to pursue -- persuade u.s. and blinken there to back a cease-fire in gaza and spokesperson matthew miller stated, quote, the secretary reaffirmed the united states commitment to the delivery of life saving humanitarian assistance and resumption of services and palestinians must not be forcibly displaced so secretary of state blinken in turkey tomorrow president biden going to continue on here in delaware for at least part of the day. he's going to speak on bidenomics, infrastructure before returning back to the white house. >> alex i wonder about if there's been any reaction from the white house about that threat from the defense minister of iran. who said that the united states is going to get hit hard if there is not some kind of pause in the fighting in gaza. any reaction from the president or the white house or they just letting that one lie for now? >> well jon that's something that's interesting we have not heard from the president outside of that thumbs-up and that yes we got yesterday and not heard from the white house at all this weekend. secretary blinken, he did speak at length today during the two visits. about keeping americans safe, and that being his number one job no we did not hear from the president or white house on that. jon: alexandria huff with the president in beach delaware alex, thank you much more ahead on the "fox report" new shock biden/trump swing state polling creates a stir in political circles today new hampshire congressman and hamas war and more when we return. t-mobile f. las vegas grand prix chose t-mobile to help power operations for one of the world's largest racing events. mlb partners with t-mobile to advance how the game is played. and t-mobile's network helps aaa stay connected nationwide... to get their members back on the road. now's the time to see what america's largest and fastest 5g network can do for your business. jon: former president donald trump preparing to take the stand tomorrow in his new york civil fraud trial. this comes after trump two eldest sons took stand last week and trump eldest daughter ivanka expected to testify later this week. new york attorney general letitia james suing trump and codefendants alleging they had trump assets on financial documents medical record to obtain better terms from four commercial loans. she's looking for 250 million dollars in penalties trump and his family say the lawsuit is politically motivated. a new poll from "the new york times" spells trouble for president biden in 2024. the current president now losing to former president trump in head-to-head polls from five of six swing states. brian yen has more on what this could mean for the biden campaign. >> jon good evening. a year before the 2024 presidential election, a "new york times" poll find former president trump beating president biden in five of the six key battle ground states winning by an average of 48 to 44% among registered voters. trump takes nevada, arizona, pennsylvania, georgia and michigan biden only wean is in wisconsin by just two points stunningly trump cut biden lead with black and hispanic voters in half. the president's favorable among nonwhite voters under 45 plummets by 33 points support from nonwhite voters over 45 is down 13 points. the poll bolsters trump front runner status in the gop presidential primary yesterday trump was the fan favorite here at the florida freedom summit where he touted endorsingments from florida senator rick scott and seven florida state legislators including five who flipped their support from governor ron desantis. >> said sir he's a republican i don't care if he's a republican and we hit him hard now he's leak a wounded fallings bird from the sky. >> today desantis campaign announcings iowa popular and influential kim renolds will endorse at a rally in des moines right now governor desantis is trailing ahead of the january caucuses yesterday i asked desantis if the personal and often crude jabs between him and trump would continue. >> you know i'm done with all of the trivialities it is not something that we immediate to be concerned about. we need to be concerned about looking forward and winning and leading. desantis plus four other candidate expected to be in miami on debate stage and trump will not be instead hosting rally across town in hiliea. >> brian, thank you. for more on this potential race let's bring in new jersey congressman jeff van drew a member of the house judiciary committee congressman thanks for being here. do poll numbers surprise you in any way? >> they don't surprise me. let's understand where we are and where we were. under president trump, we had a strong military, strong defense, strong foreign policy. strong borders, strong economy. all things people care about we vrnght interfering with our