It is sunday, october 15th. Im alex witt. And im ali velshi. We are continuing to keep a close eye on the Israel Gaza Border after israel issued fresh warnings over the past 24 hours that suggest that it is preparing to launch the next phase of the war. According to three senior israeli officials we spoke with, israels Ground Invasion will begin soon, and Tens Of Thousands of soldiers have been ordered to capture gaza city with the ultimate goal of destroying hamas, the group that governs gaza and was responsible for last weeks attack. Overnight, nbc news crews captured tanks moving on the israel side of the border and reported Hearing Jones and fighter jets overhead. Israeli troops also continue to Surround Gaza as the countrys leaders escalated talks about its impending invasion. In a new Statement Released yesterday, the Israeli Defense forces, or idf, says it is preparing for an expansion of combat that will include, quote, an integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea, and land. Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu visited some of those soldiers along the border yesterday and was heard asking them, quote, are you ready for the next stage . Forces are also right now evacuating sderot, one of the israeli towns along the border attack by hamas last week. Its another sign that the Israeli Military is gearing up for its operation. And in this last hour, National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview that hes been informed by israeli officials that water pipes have been turned back on in Southern Gaza. That is a small bit of relief as the humanitarian crisis worsens inside of gaza. Earlier, israel offered Northern Gazans another three hour window safe passage to allow them to flee with the south. But with gaza closed off and safe shelters overwhelmed, civilians are now running out of places to go. Rockets are continuing to parts of gaza, destroying buildings and turning some neighborhoods into nothing more than piles of rubble. The United Nations estimates said about half of gazas 2 million residents have been displaced in just the past eight days. And one hospital in Southern Gaza has already taken in 35,000 people, while continuing to treat patients injured by the ongoing attacks. And as of this morning, at least 2300 people have been killed in gaza, and additional 1300 have been killed in israel. Meanwhile, the effort to get u. S. Citizens out of gaza appears to hit an impasse. The crossing that is along the border with egypt, it remains closed as a tentative deal to allow americans to pass through. With significant obstacles late last night. Joining us now on the ground in tel aviv is nbc news Foreign Correspondent kelly go via. And also with us, mayor and editor in chief of the jerusalem post. Kelly, lets start with you. What do we know now about israels preparations for the next phase of the war and the efforts to get americans out of the reach. Israeli Defense Forces have been talking throughout the morning about preparations for a ground offensive. One Idf Spokesperson told us that the military is ready as soon as the political order is given, as soon as the government says go in, they are ready to go. There are other indications that, you know, they are still prepping for the war. Theyre still prepping for the grand objective of what they hope to accomplish. But they have said that what they want to do is to eliminate hamas all the way to the very top. And to that end, overnight, airstrikes continued in gaza. The israelis say that they killed a Top Commander for hamas, who they say was part of, was responsible for the attack on one of the kibbutzim in the south, near the kibbutz. At the same time, airstrikes are hitting gaza, again, today. Hamas is also managing to fire rockets toward israel. The sirens have sounded a couple of times here today. Weve heard a couple of loud booms, intercepts, most of them, one rocket did fall in the tel aviv area. So, you know, rockets going in both directions this morning. In addition to that, the Israeli Military has decided to evacuate a town in the south. Its called sderot. Many people have already left sderot because it is so close to, i think, a mile of the gaza border. Israeli Defense Forces say its time for more people now to move out of that area. Keeping in mind that a lot of towns and neighborhoods in that region, in that military zone, essentially, were evacuated earlier in the week. There are evacuees staying all throughout israel, taken out of their homes, and just living off the kindness of people who have taken them in since saturdays attack. 300 People Killed overnight in gaza, according to gazan health officials, because of those airstrikes. And it difficult situation, as you guys have mentioned, on the ground. Its good to hear that the water and maybe back on and the south. People are saying, who have evacuated, theyre saying, look, weve left our homes, we left everything behind in the north. And we now dont have shelter, we dont have a place to sleep. We dont know where to go. Aid agencies did warn that that was going to happen, if you have a Mass Movement of people in such a short period of time without any humanitarian aid able to get into the country, that you may end up with people without shelter. There simply havent been enough time nor enough resources to set up any camps or shelter to take care of all of these people. Alex, ali . I want to ask you two questions. First of all, and perhaps most importantly, how confident leadership, idf, or political leadership, that any hamas militants that were inside of israel have either been captured, killed, we moved in some fashion . Thats the first part of the question. And secondarily, just give me a sense of what life is like in israel now eight days after the city . After this attack . I was listening to the intro. I thought i was in a Parallel Universe, as though the events of last week have never happened at all. We are talking about a massacre of 1300 civilians, children, infants, elderly, massacred in the most horrific, horrific of ways. And this country is still reeling. There are still families who dont know whether their loved ones are alive, being held in gaza, or if their body is lying somewhere in a field in southern israel. Its a country that is very much in trauma and very much in mourning. That is the atmosphere that we are in at the moment. As for the situation on the ground, we understand that about 1500 Hamas Terrorists have been eliminated when israel invaded the police that we have heard reports of individual terrace popping up here and there in southern israel, quickly being elevated by security forces. Its possible that there are others hiding out, just waiting for the opportunity to murder even more civilians. But we understand the ruling majority of those terrorists who entered israel were either eliminated or back in gaza holding the hostages that they took with him. You know, avi, ali and i have been sitting here talking about the horrors having to live with this. Can you just give me a sense of the emotional fragility of israelis right now . Even a practical approach to continuing life under these horrific circumstances of what happened this last week. It is extraordinarily difficult. A couple the devastation and the shock of having lost 1300 people in one day in a Surprise Attack that took place in israel, with the fact that 300,000 israelis have been mobilized for the reserves. These are men, women, husbands, wives, parents who have disappeared, devastating not only for the families, but the economy. The economy has essentially ground to a standstill. But we are resilient people. So, even if we have to go forward with a ground offensive, which looks likely as the stage, israel will prevail. Even if we are forced to open up a second front in the north that has ongoing bombardment, we will prevail. This is a country that wants nothing more than peace, nothing more than life. And thats what guide us every single day. Avi, ali velshi here. I mean this in the best way. When you heard the intro, and you felt you were living in an alternate universe, just a few minutes ago, we introduced i had just gotten off a plane, ive been in israel all week weve been talking to families, people who they believe have been taken hostage. We are showing the images of gaza, where this story is at the moment, because the attack on gaza is gonna multiply into a Ground Invasion. What is the Parallel Universe part . Well, i dont agree with that premise. I dont think that gaza is where the story is at the moment. I think its part of the story. And the other part of the story is taking place in israel, where families are still burying their loved ones. Or just the other day, i attended a funeral of a 23yearold young man who was killed after a gun fight with terrorists. And there were three other fresh graves in the same area. That is still the story that many israelis are living with at the moment. So, focusing on the gaza story only ive been watching our coverage. With all due respect, weve been covering all of those things. Have you seen our interviews with the families of people who have been held hostage, who escaped from the kibbutzim, the people who weve talked to who were at the super nova festival. I totally agree with you. There are many parts of the story that i feel like weve been doing that. Do you not . I absolutely agree that youve been doing that. But i have been part of that coverage, and i have been honored to have that opportunity. I was saying the intro to this section made us feel as though there is a very disproportionate part focused being put on one part of the story ignoring the other entirely. I appreciate that entirely. All right, nbcs kelly cobiella, avi mayer, like you so much. Joining us right now, former United States ambassador to syria, iraq, afghanistan, lebanon, kuwait, and pakistan. Mister ambassador, thank you so much for joining us. One of the most pressing concerns right now from an american standpoint is getting u. S. Citizens out of the region, especially those that are stuck in gaza, numbering a couple of hundred as part of the estimates. The United States, israel, egypt, they appear to reach an impasse in terms of getting americans outside of gaza via the rafah border crossing. But what do you think the United States can do to help actually get them out . Or is it just a waiting game at this point . I mean, weve been talking about the logistics of it. How do even manage that . The logistics of it. How do even it is going to b, really big challenge, alex. There is no doubt about it. In part not just the logistics at the border, but conversations with egypt, which of Course Blinken has been having. Theyre gonna have to navigate through gaza and through hamas. And whether hamas will even begin to consider this is a very open question. I would be worried that by identifying americans and that population that hamas will target them. Ryan, lets talk about the role that america can play at this point. 29 americans have been confirmed killed as a result of this war. And i can citizens are among those held hostage inside gaza. As you said, hamas has not traditionally been a willing negotiator. So, what role should the United States play and with who right now . I think the administration is doing a very good job on this thus far. Secretary blinkens visit to israel, which he made it completely clear where the United States stands. It stands with israel against this horrific, barbaric attack, set of attacks on israel. They also said that it is israels right to defend itself and respond to this. How its done is also important. I think were also gonna see a very delicate, balancing act proceed here that we do support israel. We do understand the enormity of this experience. But they have to work this in a way that minimizes damage, Collateral Damage to civilians in gaza. Ambassador, in addition to the impending invasion by israel of gaza, we have certainly seen some escalation in the north along israels border with lebanon. How do you see this changing the dynamic overall in the region . And how real are the fears that this conflict could expand, do you think, do you think hezbollah wants to be involved, or even capable of escalating tensions with israel than further right now . I think hezbollah certainly has the capability of escalating. They have an arsenal. We dont know how big it is. Its substantial. And they have used them in the past. I think the real question, though, its not so much for hezbollah or even hamas, it is to the east. Iran, iran is supporting both groups. And i think our warning that was typified by the dispatch of a strikeforce to the mediterranean, it was a warning to iran, as much as it is to any other protagonist. Be careful. Lets talk about that a little bit more, about the role that iran may have played in the lead up to this attack. Iran denied having direct responsibility for it, but its a strange denial and that perhaps they offered the training and the resources and the blueprint for it, and then they said, do whatever you want to do. From your extensive experience, ryan, in the middle east, what is your assessment, not just of irans role, but what is to be done about that . Unfortunately, we are in a weaker position with iran than we were several years ago when we were in the deal with them, which allowed for a certain amount of openness of relation between america and iran. Who are not there right now. No, we are not. And, again, were gonna have to see how tehran responds to all of this. Its not terribly irrelevant, whether weve got a smoking gun tying iran directly to the horrors of october 7th. They have been backing hamas for years now. They are a source of armament, supplies, and so forth. So, whether iran was aware of the exact specifics of this operation in advance, or assisted in any way with the planning, i think, is irrelevant. The backing of irans fair and to hezbollah. And trust me, on this one, iran is not taking these steps and arming these militias as a way of creating a space for peace between israel and palestinians. They have no interest in that. It is all about escalation. It is all about putting pressure on israel. Its all about killing israelis. Given your extensive experience in the region, its very easy to trust what you are saying. Our thanks to you, ryan crocker, former United States ambassador to syria, iraq, afghanistan, lebanon, kuwait, and pakistan. Our coverage of the israeli hamas war continues, next, with a Founding Member of the Democratic National assembly of palestine. This is msnbc. [car door slam] [camera shutter sfx] introducing neds plaque psoriasis. [camera shutter sfx] he thinks his flaky, red patches are all people see. Otezla is the 1 prescribed pill to treat plaque psoriasis. [ned . ] it can help you get clearer skin and reduce itching and flaking. With no routine blood tests required. Doctors have been prescribing it for nearly a decade. Otezla is also approved to treat psoriatic arthritis. Dont use otezla if youre allergic to it. Serious allergic reactions can happen. Otezla may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Some people taking otezla had depression, suicidal thoughts, or weight loss. Upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. [crowd gasp] with clearer skin, movie night is a groovy night. [ting] live in the moment. Ask your doctor about otezla. Heres why you should switch from chrome to duckduckgo. Duckduckgo is a browser you download to your mobile and desktop devices. Unlike chrome, the Duckduckgo Browser has privacy builtin. It comes with a private alternative to google search, which doesn■t spy on your searches, and it blocks cookies and creepy ads. And theres no catch. Its free. We make money from ads, but they dont follow you around. Our next guest is noor oudeh, join the millions of people taking back their privacy by Downloading Duckduckgo On Mobile and desktop today. Distinguished Palestinian Ellis who reached an historic milestone in 2012, when she became palestines first female government spokesperson. She is also a Founding Member of the Democratic National assembly on palestine and served as al jazeera Senior Correspondent in the west bank from 2006 to 2011. Noor, the last time youve been on the air, the last time you and i talked, it was when we could go, when we were first learning about what has happened. Tell me where you are on this right now . Everything that you have observed and what you are watching this morning . Ali, thank you for having me back. And i can tell you that the feeling of really being under attack is what has taken hold of all palestinians, not just those under bombardment in gaza, but even here. And ill give you an example. Today, two of my friends lost between them more than 30 of their loved ones, of their immediate family. And it is, what do you tell someone whos lost 17 siblings in one night while sleeping in their home . What do you tell someone whose family was obliterated in the house they took refuge in upon the orders of the israeli army . This is an ongoing pain, an ongoing story. And you are covering that so extensively. And for palestinians, there is simply no