Killing every time israel targets civilians in gaza without warning. Horrifying videos released over the past few days show hamas fighters seizing women, children, seniors, and their families. Among them are the wife and two young daughters of a father who told me just yesterday, they are my babies. For a parent, its the most horrific thought. Tonight, i would speak to a woman whos five Family Members were picked out from their homes and are now being held hostage by hamas. The hostages are reportedly being held in locations spread across gaza, which further complicates what the Israeli Defense minister referred to this morning as a planned full siege on gaza. He also promised a full blockade, saying, quote, no power, no food, no gas, everything is closed. We are fighting Human Animals and we act accordingly. Today, Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu warned that the images of devastation and destruction seen over the last few days are just the beginning. He says they have called up at least 300,000 Military Reservists since the start of the attack which could be in preparation for potential ground operation. So far, more than 1000 people have been killed in the fighting, including more than 260 people at a music festival, where members of hamas gunned down attendees and left their bodies strewn across the desert. At least 700 people are dead in israel, including at least 11 American Citizens, and more than 600 in gaza. Those numbers are going to rise, in part because all of the dead and missing are not accounted for, including American Citizens. And in part because this is now a tinderbox where the fighting is escalating with every hour that passes. There are also growing concerns tonight about this conflict expanding into bordering countries. Explosions were heard for several hours today in the border region between israel and lebanon. As israels air force said it was striking lebanese territory using combat helicopters. Lebanons hezbollah Militant Group says several of their fighters were killed, and they fired back. Also tonight, new concerns about irans possible role in all of this, after the Wall Street Journal reported that hamas Leadership Grain that can run directed them to launch saturdays surprise attack. That has been denied by other members of hamas as well as by iran. And the white house maintains theres no evidence of a direct link at this point. So, if you are sitting in the white house tonight, and i have sat in the white house on nights similar to this. The white house that is now lit with the blue and white of israel. You have been in a series of roving meetings since saturday morning. You have barely slept as you wait the absolute devastation being felt by a close ally. The fear of the Family Members with loved ones taken by hamas, and the American Citizens who may be among them. You are considering the need to move quickly, and how quickly you can move to reinforce the military needs of israel, to meet their requests, to do all of that without a speaker of the house, and without clarity, because we have never been at this moment before on whether congress has the authority to support additional aid. The president of National Security officials have been on the phone. I promise you, they are on the phone constantly, not just with their counterparts and israel but also with countries in the region, including those who have direct relationships with hamas, like egypt and qatar. You are also continuing to assess the role of not just iran but iranian proxies, including hezbollah. This is all in the mind of President Biden, as he prepares to speak to the country tomorrow afternoon. Starting us off tonight is msnbcs chief correspondent ali velshi in tel aviv, israel. Ali, thank you so much for being with us, and also for being on the ground, bringing all of us the reporting. So, tell us whats the latest and what you have been seeing over the past couple of hours. Well, im grateful to hear theyre gonna be able to give us a sense of what is going on, what people are thinking about. What is happening on the ground here its getting worse. Several things are happening. A few hours ago, we had incoming missiles from gaza, rockets from gaza. We heard the Iron Dome System working eight times in a row. Weve heard jets going down. We know that there have been constant attacks. Last night, 500 of them on sites that the Israeli Defense forces say are hamas Military Sites or operational sites. We also know that civilians are getting killed. The death toll in gaza has gone up. And as you said, hamas has said, if this happens again without warning, they will start executing hostages. And the hostages are central to this operation. The bottom line here is that there is a combination of grief and fear, and deep emotion in israel right now. Things that people say they havent felt since 1973. They called up 300,000 reservists. Now, they have already called up reservists because they have been having skirmishes in the west bank for ten months. So, they are actually short of reservists. They have sent flights flights to bring people who are in their reserves back to israel so they can be, they can join in the fight. Everybody is very, very scared about what happens next. Mostly, though, Benjamin Netanyahu came out here and warned folks in gaza to leave. They cant leave, as you know. And he says that what they are going to do two gaza is going to echo for generations. Well, that is a tricky military exercise, what do you do . How do you get into gaza especially when there are hostages there . Theres a lot of unknowns tonight, but its feeling worse. As you said, people cant leave their, because theres been a blockade on both sides. So, it is basically impossible to leave. I also wanted to ask you, ali, youve been covering the region for so long. Theres also been a back and forth today at the israeli lebanon border. Why does that matter . And what are you paying attention to over there . It matters because the last serious war that israel had was with hezbollah on the lebanese side. Hezbollah has proven military capability. Hamas didnt. I mean, what hamas did, theyre gonna be all sorts of questions as to who help them, who train them. They did not have to sort of capability. They have that now. Hamas has that, and thats a real war. So, on saturday, hezbollah sent a couple of rockets into israel. It was more of a sympathy, we are on your side thing. It was not a real attack of some sorts. It has been going on for a couple of days. Theres some incursions today. And israeli commander was actually killed in it today. So, they are very worried about whether or not hezbollah joins this fight because then israel will have a fight on its northern border and its southern border. And things are heating up in the west bank again. I think there have been four shootings at checkpoints just tonight. So, israel is now potentially looking at a fight on three sides in a country thats already strapped for reservists. You know, it is getting military aid from the United States, which is always has. But thats not what it needs. Israel doesnt need more sophisticated military ability. It just doesnt need a fight on three sides. So, they are worried about that. And the potential for expansion, thats concerning for all of us. Ali velshi, thank you for being there. Thank you for being with us tonight from tel aviv. And we look forward to watching more of your reporting throughout the evening. And, tonight, we learned President Biden will deliver a speech tomorrow after the terrorist attacks in israel, in as a response. And joining us now from the white house is john kirby, hes the National SecurityCouncil Scrutiny to for strategic communications. So, john kirby, i have known you for so long. We learned tonight that the president is going to speak tomorrow, which i know that means that its a very late night of writing, editing, for everyone who wants to get this right. What can we expect to hear from him tomorrow . I think youre gonna expect to he hear him make very clear, how much we do stand in support of israel. It will talk about the conversations that hes had with Prime Minister netanyahu, the importance of making it clear to the Prime Minister how solidly we stand behind them, the support that we are providing, and we would likely have to provide in coming days and weeks. And i think he you will also hear him talk very plainly about our concerns over americans there in israel. Obviously, we now have 11 families, American Families, whove got the worst news possible today. And yesterday. And we have some americans that are unaccounted for. And we are concerned that they could be among the hostages that hamas is holding. And i think you heard the president talk and very heartfelt tone about the importance to get all the information possible on these americans, get in communication with their families, and do whatever we can to get them home. It is so heartbreaking and horrifying to be in the white house tonight, and government, and talking about American Citizens you can identify, and try to get more information. Is there anything more you have learned . You mentioned 11. Are there any additional americans you have identified . Anything you have learned about hostages that may be held there since earlier today . No, i wish i had an update for you, jen. But we dont. Weve been working on this very, very hard, feverishly, with israeli officials. And obviously, we are hearing from lots of Family Members who are calling in and asking if they have anything on their Family Members. Thats also, that helps us get a gauge of how many are out there. I dont want to get to the numbers. But there are a number of americans who are unaccounted for. We dont know if theyre just lost or missing, or even hurt. We certainly dont know if theyre being held hostage. But that is a concern right now. There are many, many, many dual citizens living in israel. So, i would anticipate those numbers will go up. I want to ask you, i mean, i have worked for President Biden, spent a lot of time with him. You are working for him, and have worked for him for sometime. I know he is very hard at work on the phones. But hes also consuming these same horrifying images that we are all seeing. You are seeing members of the National Security team is saying, is also human being. How is he doing in this moment . Well, this is a grave situation. And the president understands that nobody has been a bigger supporter of israel or the israeli people than joe biden for sure. So, this is very painful for the president to watch and to see happening to a country and to a people who he initially loves and respects. Its painful and its hard for all of us here. And thats easy to say because im here on the north long, but obviously we know that the real pain and the real agony, there is suffering is going on where ali is tonight, inside israel, where people are really grappling with violence of an escalating nature every single hour. So, we are more mindful of that. And we want to make sure, and i think again, you will hear the president talk about this, the American People know how seriously we are taking this. And you are right, jen, he has been on the phone almost all day, certainly over the last couple of days, getting updates from his National Security team, talking to foreign leaders. He had a call this afternoon with the leaders of great britain, germany, italy, and france, the socalled quaint conversation, to make sure that we are all lashed up with our european allies and partners in terms of coordinating our efforts to support israel Going Forward. I know very much friends, from him, and all of you, the possibility that there are americans among these hostages, as well as the hostages from israel. There are nationalities being held. And i know the president has also said that he wants to help do everything he can to address this Hostage Crisis. Part of these conversations youve been having a National Security officials have been having have been with the qataris, egyptians, and others who do have direct contact with hamas. Is part of those conversations been about negotiating the return of some of these hostages . We have certainly been in touch with the partners in the region about what they can do to help with this Hostage Situation. And like you said, its not just americans that are of concern. There are many nationalities represented in the hostage population. We believe. And so, yes, we are having those conversations. I wont detail here where those conversations are going. But we are actively working in that space. Its a very, very sensitive situation right now, as in addition to the hostage taking, which is clearly part of hamas plan, theres a lot of violent fighting going on in and around there as well. Certainly, one of the ways to connect with hamas is through these counterpart through these other countries who do talk directly with them. We learned that the u. S. Is sending navy ships closer to israel. This has been confirmed. Youve been talking about this, as a show of support. There is also this question, and you and i have both dealt with this in the past, about the consideration of whether americans arent safe there, weather isnt ordered a departure, or the evacuation of americans, is that an active discussion thats happening happening within the administration at this point in time . Oh, yes, absolutely. I mean, the State Department is trying to keep in touch with as Many Americans as they can, make sure that they know consular access, administrative support is available to the through the embassy, keeping them informed about the Security Situation on the ground, making sure that they take the appropriate steps to look after their own safety. There are still many Viable Options for americans who may want to leave israel. Airport is still open. Not all commercial carriers are flying out of ben gurion airport, but many are particularly International Air carriers. And theres still some viable ground departures, if people want to leave israel via road, thats still possible as well. But we are actively talking, making sure that people know what the options are. We are thinking through whatever contingencies might have to occur. Youve spent a lot of time explaining Military Assistance to the public. I wanted to ask you, the reports that israel have requested, iron dome intercepts, small diameter bombs, ammunition, and others, are all of these requests, once that the president would be supportive of . We will hear more from him tomorrow on which of these he will be granting. There is a 21 first tranche. I say first tranche, as you know, we have been providing security since for quite some time. But since these attacks, theres already a new tranche of material go into israel, as you and i speak. I dont know that its arrived yet. But its definitely on the way. And it does include interceptor missiles, some artillery ammunition, and other types of munitions that we know, important for the Israeli Defense forces. And we are having active, almost intuitive conversations with israeli officials, particularly on the military side about what their needs might be Going Forward in the games and weeks ahead. And we will keep that conversation going to make sure that we can replenish their stocks as in the real time as possible because theyre obviously expending a lot of these munitions and some of these attacks. Before i let you go, i wanted to ask you about what we saw, the fire that was on the border of lebanon today between Israeli Forces and members of hezbollah. How concerned are you . And what is happening within the administration to kind of bring the temperature down there, or reduce the possibility of this escalating into a conflict beyond the Borders Of Israel . Certainly, we dont want to see and expand their, escalate at all. And we are concerned about what you are seeing there in the north of israel coming out of lebanon. I mean, hezbollah does not represent the lebanese people. And they know that. And i dont think the lebanese people want to be involved in this conflict. But we are watching this very closely. It is of concern. The first volley it was just a few rockets. There seems to be now a little bit more activity here. It is certainly not in israels interest to open up a whole new front here in this war that they are 14 fighting against hamas down in gaza. And you talk about especially, the Carrier Strike group that the president ordered in the eastern met, a big reason for doing that, obviously, to make sure that we can continue to defend our own National Security interests but, to send a strong signal to other actors and other Nation States that we will do what we have to do to protect our National Security interests, obviously to look after allies and partners, and to deter them from escalating t