This morning. Less than two weeks after hamas Terror Attacks sent israel plunging into a new weir, President Joe Biden is now in that country to show solidarity with our middle eastern ally. The president touched down in tel aviv about an hour ago when he was greeted on the tarmac by Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu. The two men as you see shared an embrace. The two are set to hold talks throughout the day as tensions in the war start to spill outside israel and gaza. Last night propalestinian protesters clashed with police in parts of the west bank, lebanon, turkey, and jordan all in response to a deadly blast at a hospital in gaza. The Palestinian HealthMinistry Says more than 200 people were killed there, but israeli and gaza officials are both blaming the other side for the deadly violence. That blast has already forced changes to the president s schedule. Just as biden was departing for israel yesterday the king of jordan canceled a planned summit between himself, biden, the Palestinian Leader and the president of egypt. In a statement jordans Foreign Minister wrote, quote, a summit would not be able to stop the war now. That explosion at a Gaza Hospital has killed hundreds of people under investigation as we speak. It happened in gaza city in the northern part of the territory that was placed under an Evacuation Order by israel last week. Hamas, which launched terrorist attacks that setoff this war, immediately blamed israel for the explosion. Israel for its part says the explosion was caused by a misfired Rocket Launched by another terrorist group, one known as iam jihad. Prior to arriving in israel president joe ben released a statent that read that he was, quote, outraged and deepl saddened by the explosion, adding that he immediately spoke to Prime Minister netanyahu and the king of jordan and directed his National Security team to continue gathering evidence about what exactly happened. Meanwhile, Israels Defense Forces overnight shared video on social media claiming that it was proof that the explosion was caused by a failed Rocket Launched by that Islamic Jihad group. And just a few minutes ago as President Biden sat down with Prime Minister netanyahu during that bilateral meeting in israel, the president was urged to say this by the press pool. Quote, based on what ive seen it appears as though it was done by the other team not you who told netanyahu, suggesting indeed it was not an israeli rocket but rather one that came from inside gaza. The president added, quote, but theres a lot of people out there, not sure. The president did not take any questions from reporters as theyre being moved out. Joining us now live from tel aviv is Senior National correspondent from nbc news jay gray. And in Washington White House reporter for the Wall Street Journal ken thomas. Jay, lets start with you. As the president begins his visit today hes only on the ground for a few hours, touched down a short time ago. Youre following the aftermath of that explosion. The president suggesting u. S. Intelligence suggesting it came from gaza, it already inflameled much of the arab world. Give us the latest on the ground there. Reporter yeah, i think you make a good point there, jonathan. Its the image driving us now, the image of the president hugging on the tarmac with the leaders of israel and several of them who greeted him there, the images of an area that has been air attacked for days by Israeli Forces and now with an explosion at the hospital. That is pushing both sides of this right now, and its not in a good direction obviously. We know that hundreds are dead. As you summed up expertly, hamas blaming israel during an air strike and there were dozens yesterday. Israel saying it was that failed Rocket Launch by Islamic Jihad. Look, the biggest concern and one of the main reasons that the president made his trip was to try and keep violence from spreading into a wilder Military Conflict here. Thats going to be a much more difficult task now, especially since that summit with all his arab counter parts has been canceled due to a period of mourning. So thats not going to happen. They are meeting right now to president and israel and discussing what comes next. But remember the other side of this trip as well, jonathan. He was here to try and facilitate some humanitarian aid getting into gaza and helping all those caught in the middle of this. Its not clear where that stands right now. That was one of the primary tenants of the president coming here and gefting food and water. And you wrote about this tightrope that President Biden has to walk when it comes to supporting israel but also noting humanitarian concerns, trying to prevent this war from escalating. His job just got that much harder because of this explosion. No matter whos at fault the narrative of such has already injured much of the region. Its going to be hard for the president to appear as an honest broker. I think the fact the meeting in jordan is not happening makes it much more of a challenge for him to appear on one handstanding shoulder to shoulder with americas ally in israel but also then meeting with arab leaders to then talk to them about ways we can get humanitarian aid into gaza and open that border crossing. I think also just the larger question is how do you contain this war and how do you send a message to iran and to hezbollah that they cannot open a Northern Front in this war . I think all of this is complicated by the explosion. And what the perception is going to be is the u. S. Going to look like its putting the thumb on the scale or giving israel a Green Light To Go Into Gaza and perhaps you would then have mass civilian casualties. I think thats the tightrope the president is walking right now. An incredibly fraught moment and tricky made more so by this lebanons militant Group Hezbollah has now called for a day of unprecedented anger after that explosion at the gaza city hospital. Hezbollahs statement follows days of rising tensions between the group and israel since the war began. Fights have broken out along the lebanese Israeli Border thats left soldiers and operatives dead on both sides. Axios reporting this mornings as a result of that fight the white house has been discussing the possibility of using Military Force if hezbollah attacks israel in a more significant way. Thats according to three u. S. Officials and one israeli official who had knowledge of the situation. The Biden Administration has sent messages to hezbollah to third parties and made it clear warning hezbollah not to intervene. According to axios any decision by the u. S. To use force will depend on scope of the possible hezbollah attack and israels ability to respond. Jay, tell us a little bit more about the regional concerns here. Theres real worry this could become a two front war. Yeah, i think theres absolute worry that continues to grow. I want to say, jonathan, so does the amount of troops dedicated to israel. The volley over the two sides have increased the last couple of days with soldiers on both sides lost, and this was something a fear from the very beginning of this conflict, something the white house has made clear could bring in involvement from u. S. Forces, and it continues to escalate. So, yeah, it is a big concern and one being watched very closely obviously by everyone involved. Senior National Correspondent for nbc news, jay gray live for us in tel aviv, thank you. Stay safe. Ken, youve covered joe biden for a long time, and you know his style and how the message he prefers to deliver behind the scenes. Give us a sense if you will reporting youve done about what his talks with israeli Prime Minister netanyahu will be today. Two men we saw them briefly speak publicly. The president of course expressing solidarity with the israeli people, giving his heartfelt condolences in the aftermath of those Terror Attacks. Delivering a subtle message, though, about the need to keep humanitarian concerns in gaza in mind. What do you think will happen when cameras are off . He said publicly that hamas is not representative of all the palestinian citizens there. I think behind closed scenes hes going to ask some hard questions about what netanyahus intentions are and what steps theyre going to take to try to abide by the International Law and the rules of warfare. But i think he needs to get some assurances from netanyahu at least privately that there will be some efforts at restraint, that there wont be an attempt to just go all out and just, you know, cause a massive amount of damage and pain and suffering to civilians. But at the same time, you know, he also needs to be able to work with arab leaders. Hell be making phone calls from Air Force One on the way home to some of those leaders, to the leaders of egypt and jordan. But, you know, longterm the real question is can they contain this and can they prevent this war from spiraling out of control. White house reporter for the Wall Street Journal providing us excellent analysis to start us off. Thank you for joining us. Still ahead on Way Too Early, we of course will have much, much more on President Bidens visit to israel and take a look at some of the other stories making headlines this Morning Incleeding heavy losses for the russian army in ukraine after kyiv launched a large scale attack with new american provided technology. Well tell you about that, plus well show you the new videos from the Department Of Defense showing chinese pilots harassing u. S. Pilots. Those stories and a check on the weather when we come right back. E weather when we come right back. Welcome back. 5 14 a. M. Eastern now. The Department Of Defense released new videos showing the chinese militarys aggressive actions against u. S. Surveillance aircraft. This previously unreleased footage shows footage from the past two years. The dod says u. S. Pilots were harassed while patrolling lawfully in International Airspace in unarmed reconnaissance planes. In one incident a chinese fighter fires four rounds of flares. Youre seeing those now. Other videos show chinese pilots dangerously close to u. S. Military planes at times just 20 feet away from american aircraft either laterally or below a u. S. Anwhile, russia is suffering heavy losses on the battlefield. Were learning that Russian Troops launched a large scale assault last week on a small eastern city in ukraine and it didnt go well. Ukraines military said it destroyed dozens of russian tanks and other armed vehicles and killed hundreds of Russian Troops while losing very little territory. The ukrainian spokesman said that a russian assault was every bit disastrous as to the one in february. Meanwhile, ukraine has also claimed a major strike on russian airfields thank tuesday the United States which supplied the longer range missiles used secretly. The delivery now providing kyivs forces with the ability to strike russian targets far behind the front lines. Now, so far the missiles were able to hit nine russian helicopters, an air defense system, an Ammunition Warehouse in Eastern Ukraine and these were the Systems Ukraine had asked for many months. The u. S. Has provided them. Already being put to good use. We turn now back to the war in the middle east. The u. S. Treasury department is slated to announce new sanctions against the lears of hamas. U. S. Officials are telling axios that. The Terrorist Organization relies onlobal Financial Networks to fund its operations. The new sanctions aimed to increase pressure on the countries that host the groups assets. Hamas has long used ngos and charities to fund raise and move money Around The World. It also generates revenue from secret Investment Portfolios and a network of global assets estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Thats according to the u. S. Treasury department. Coming up next on Way Too Early, more on this mornings breaking news. President biden meeting with israeli leaders right now as the country wages war on hamas. Plus, well go through the latest legal action in Donald Trumps federal election interference case. And the new Prison Sentences for rioters who stormed the capitol in hopes of Keeping Trump in power after the 2020 election. Thats all straight ahead. s al. Im adding Downy Unstopables to my wash now. Ill be smelling fresh all day long. [sniffs] still fresh. Still fresh get 6 times longerlasting freshness, plus Odor Protection with Downy Unstopables. Listen, your deodorant just has to work. I use secret aluminum free. Just swipe and it lasts all day. Secret helps eliminate odor, instead of just masking it. And hours later, i still smell fresh. Secret works ohhh yesss. Welcome back. Were keeping an eye on President Bidens movements in tel aviv, but lets move to the stories here at home. Earlier this week u. S. District court judge Tanya Chuttian ruled trump and other parties in the case could not make public statements targeting witness and the special counsel. Now, her ruling is only a partial Gag Order Meaning Trump is still allowed to claim the prosecution against him is political, and he can still criticize political opponents. The former president claims the decision will hurt his ability to effectively run for president again. Elsewhere several january 6th rioters have been convicted to sentences this week. Powell has apologized for her actions in court saying she became obsessed with Keeping Trump in power. On january 6th powell summoned other rioters to help her push through a police line. She then smashed a window at the u. S. Capitol and attempted to organize rioters to, quote, take the building. Powell will serve more than four years in prison. Another newly sentenced rioter is former candidate for governor of michigan, a man named ryan kelly. Kelly will spend 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building and grounds. Federal prosecutors say he helped Breach Scaffoldings and stirred up the mob. Cing fundraising appeals that kelly made two years after the riot suggesting january 6th was a socalled false flag event. Meanwhile, republican congresswoman debbie lesko of arizona says shell not run next year. She cited she wanted to spend more time in family as her leading factor in her decision as well as the washington stubbornness as the House Of Representatives remains at a standstill with no elected speaker. She was elected back in her district in 2018 after winning a special election to fill a vacant seat left by the former representative who will have more on the ongoing struggle to elect the speaker a little later in the show. Now its time for the weather. Angie, hows it looking . Good morning, jonathan. Weve got a couple of spots were dealing with rain and even the great lakes as we get through the day today, thats going to be where we watch even tomorrow the storm system working slowly but surely but bringing plenty of rain from michigan to the Tennessee Valley tomorrow. Look what happens as we inch closer to friday. We round out the workweek with a system moving farther to the east and parts of the north east and midatlantic. Now, as we look ahead to the weekend unfortunately the i95 jinx continues as were calling it at this point. Five out of the last ten for washington, d. C. , and unfortunately on saturday and sunday it does look like some moisture will be moving in. The good news on sunday it looks like those showers will be tapering back, so you will get dryer time. It doesnt necessarily mean its going to be all that sunny and will remain windy through the weekend. As were looking at it right now were expecting the highest amounts of rainfall to be firth door the north. Places like bost could pick up 0. 3 . Half an inch expected for new york and about a quarter for philadelphia. I know thats not what a