hello. it's 10:00 eastern. i want to take you right to capitol hill. right now, the secretary of state testifying. and protests are under way. let's listen in. >> we will pause until the room is cleared. >> 3,500 kids dead. come on. i'm on army colonel, a former diplomat. i resigned on that war in iraq that you talk about. that was a terrible thing. and what we're doing right now is supporting israel's genocide. gaza is a terrible thing, too. >> secretary blinken, if you can continue. >> the president's request has four key elements. first, it provides for enduring support to israel and ukraine, two democracies under brutal assault, by actors determined to wipe the nations off the map. it will ensure that israel will continue to defend its people, by building up the support that the united states has surged since hamas' appalling slaughter. i know that several -- >> palestinians aren't animals. >> the committee will suspend. i again ask those in the audience, respect the people in the room and allow us to continue here. hear willing suspend until the disruption is removed. >> cease-fire now. cease-fire now. cease-fire now. cease-fire now. people are not animals. >> thank you, secretary blinken. if you can continue, please. >> several committee members who traveled to israel the last few week, heard from israeli, what they need to defend his people and prevent another attack like this one. that's what the supplement provides. 3.7 billion in security needs, including to help israel bolster its air and missile systems. and drawing down dod stocks and enhances the security of our embassy. as president biden made clear from the outset, while israel has the right and the obligation to defend itself, the way it does so matters. in our discussions with the israeli government, the president and i stressed the need for israel to operate by the rule -- >> why are we here -- >> the committee will suspend -- >> let them be at the table. why aren't they at the table? cease-fire now. cease-fire now. >> secretary blinken, thank you. you may continue. >> the president and i stressed in our conversations with the israeli government, the need for israel to operate by the law of war and in accordance with humanitarian law. for ukraine, president biden is requesting $16.3 billion, to support ukraine's defense. and to ensure that ukraine can sustain an economic base that its war effort depends on. this will rebuild the economy and offset the damage put on by russia and will invest in new industries and supply chain connected to the world. anti-corruption bodies. media, to be strong enough to deter and defend against aggressors beyond its borders, ukraine needs a resilience economy and a vibrant democracy within its borders. since russia lost the war, the robust findings provided by congress, has enabled ukraine to defend its nation. it helped make sure that russia's invasion -- >> committee will suspend. [ chanting ] >> cease-fire now. cease-fire now. cease-fire now. cease-fire now. [ chanting ] >> let gaza live. let gaza live. let gaza live. let gaza live. all the walls have got to go. from palestine to mexico, all the walls have got to go. from palestine to mexico, all the walls have got to go. from palestine to mexico, all the walls have got to go. cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> cease-fire now. >> palestine to mexico. >> cease-fire now. cease-fire now. >> if you're just joining us, we are watching a live hearing under way right now on capitol hill. this is in the senate appropriations committee. these protesters are inside that hearing room. and they interrupted the hearing with secretary of state antony blinken and defense secretary lloyd austin there to make their ways for the administration's $105 billion request for aid to both israel and ukraine. you can see the protesters being escorted out. they are chanting "cease-fire now." let's listen in a bit more. >> cease-fire now. cease-fire now. >> thank you. and before i turn back over to you, secretary blinken, i want to thank capitol police for their calm and professional manner. we all appreciate it. secretary blinken, can you please continue. thank you. >> to continue, since russia launched this war, the robust funding provided by congress has enabled the people of ukraine, in their courageous fight to defend their nation. it's helped make sure that russia's invasion is a debacle. it's rallied the world. sovereignty, territorial independence. our partners are making contributions to share the burden of assistance. turning our backs on their efforts would have lasting implications for our own security and own standing in the world. the conflicts in ukraine and the middle east have clear links. since we cut off the supply to the military, it's turned to iran for assistance. in return, moscow has supplied iran with advanced technology, which poses a threat to israel's security. allowing russia to prevail, with iran's support, will embolden moscow and iran. second, this funding will enable us to tackle the out toirn needs, as well as fight conflict in natural disasters in ukraine, in gaza, in sudan, armenia and other places around the world. food, water, medicine, other essential humanitarian systems, must be able to flow into gaza. civilians must be able to stay out of harm's way. a task that is more difficult as hamas uses human shields. helping prevent a worsening catastrophe, aligns with our nation's principles, including our belief that every civilian life is valuable, equally worthy of protection. without sustained relief, the conflict is much already likely to spread, suffering will grow and hamas and its sponsors will benefit by fashioning themselves as the saviors of the december desperation they created. providing immediate aid and protection for palestinian civilians is a necessary found ace. for partners in gaza that have a different future than hamas and are willing to make it real. this funding is critical to help competing our strategic rivals. this will support our partners to address threats from an increasingly assertive drc. it will uphold commitment to our allies. it will help countries in military and defense equipment made in america. the president's request is to provide all terntives to china's financing for the developing world. it will ease the impact of spillovers of russia's war. it will propose 2 billion in authorizations would generate almost $50 billion in capacity for the world bank and imf, an enormous return on our investment. demonstrating u.s. leadership in meeting urgent global challenges. the supplemental will make critical investments to protect the security of americans here at home. that includes the challenge of regular migration. strengthening our industrial base to make sure our military is ready, capable and the best-equipped in the world. and reremain the arsenal for democracy. $50 billion of the funding will replenish u.s. military stocks, strengthen our defense industrial base and will be spent through american businesses. each of these work together, for a stronger, safer, better future. let us come together and demonstrate to one another and to the world we can rise to this moment. i also hear very much the passions expressed in this room, and outside this room. all of us are committed to the protection of civilian life. all of us know the suffering that is taing place as we speak. all of us are determined to see it end. all of us know the imperative is standing up with our allies and parter ins, when their security, when their democracies are threatened. that's what's happening now. we stand with them, as we stand resolutely for the protection of innocent civilians. before i close, i would like to thank senators for their vote to send the president's nominee, jack lew to israel at this time. thank you very much, madame chair. >> thank you, secretary blinken. secretary austin, if you want to begin your testimony, please. if you could suspend until we have the rom cleared. >> thank you. secretary austin you may begin. >> ladies and gentlemen, good morning. thanks for the opportunity to discuss our urgent need for supplemental funding to strengthen our national security. on october 7th, hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,400 israelis and at least 36 americans, and took more than 200 hostages. it was the deadliest terrorist attack in israel's history. it was rule, painful and repugnant. and as former head of central command, it reminded me powerfully of the crimes committed by isis and iraq and syria. as president biden said any democracy would respond decisively to such a vile terrorist assault. i traveled to israel just days after the attack, to underscore america's ironclad commitment to israel's security. we fully understand that hamas does not represent the palestinian people. we mourn the loss of palestinian civilians. i repeat think made clear to israel's leaders that protecting civilians in gaza is a moral responsibility and a strategic imperative. democrats like ours are stronger and more security when we uphold the law of war and protect civilians. tensions remain high. first, we'll continue to protect american forces and citizens in the region. our personnel have come under repeated attacks in recent days by iranian-backed militia groups. these attacks must stop. at the president's direction, u.s. forces have conducted precision self-defense strikes on facilities in eastern syria, used by iran's irgc and its affiliates. if iranian-backed groups continue to attack u.s. forces, we will not hesitate to take further measures to protect our team. we raisd force protection measures across the region. and i've determined a high-altitude defense battery and patriot batteries. and we're floating security measures into israel. more interceptors for the iron dome system. we're coordinating closely with israel to secure the release of every man, woman and child seized by hamas, incluzing american citizens. as president biden told the families of the missing americans, we have no higher priority than the safe return of their loved ones. we provided military advisers to offer best practices for integrating hostage recovery into israel's operations. finally, we swiftly strengthen our force posture in the region to deter any state or nonstate actor from escalating this crisis beyond gaza. two strike groups are in the region. last week, a squadron complementing other squadrons in theater. all this underscores the president's clear warning. no government or group that wishes israel harm should try to widen this crisis. as we surge support into israel, we remain focused on ukraine. nearly 20 months into putin's failed campaign of conquest, the russian military has been badly weakened. ukraine's forces has taken back half of the territories sieged by russian invaders since 2022. that was made possible by bipartisan and principled leadership and our coalition of some 50 allies and partners. in israel and ukraine, democracies are fighting ruthless foes who are out to annihilate them. we will not let hamas or booten win. only firm american leadership can ensure that tyrants and thugs and terrorists are not enboldened to commit more atrocities. our actions today will shape the world that our children and grandchildren inherit. that's why we submitted a request. we are request $10.6 billion to help israel defend itself. supplemental will request $44.4 billion to help ukraine continue to defend itself against russia. and we're pledging to meet u.s. requirements in our submarine industrial base and to fulfill our requirements. this supplemental doesn't just help meet today's urgent challenges. it invests in our industrial base. we send our friends munitions from our stockpiles, the money to replenish our supplies strengthens our military readiness and we invest in american industry and american workers. it also holds true for funding for israel or ukraine, to procure now equipment off the production line. some $50 million would flow through our defense industrial base, creating american jobs in more than 30 states. these improve our capacities into the future. and help ensure we are ready to tackle security challenges worldwide. all that means is greater prosperity at home and greater security around the globe. finally, let me thank all of you for your leadership. your bipartisan support ensures we can defend america and stand by the allies and partners who magnify our strength. i'm deeply committed to working with all of you to enact a full year appropriation bill to keep america secure. as president biden said, american leadership is what holds the world together. if we fail to lead, the cost and threats to united states, will only grow. we must not give our friend, our rivals or our foes any reason to doubt america's resolve. i look forward to working with you to keep america prosperous and strong. >> would've been watching secretaries blinken and austin address the appropriations committee, testimony that was repeatedly interrupted by protesters in that hearing room. want to bring in ally vitale and courtney cubby with us. walk us through what we just witnessed. >> this was always going to be a highly charged hearing because of the geopolitical landscape. we watched the protesters covered up. you see on the screen, one of the things they are protesting. that sign saying no gaza genocide. we saw protesters put the hands up that you can see on the screen. the hands painted red, trying to tell the administration officials that in the protesters' minds, they have blood on their hands. at various points during these protests, you watched the chairwoman of the committee, patty murray, reference the fact that she's glad to see the passions within this room. at the same time, waiting for protesters to be cleared so these top administration officials can continue with their opening statements, explaining very reason why they are here. of course, this is a hearing that's now focused on two crises that the administration says are not divorced from one another. they are happening in different places. talking about the ukraine war and the israel/hamas conflict ongoing. those are the top things that were referenced by the administration officials, as they come before the appropriations committee not as they are asking for supplemental funds for both of the fights. they want those linked together. we've seen the house republican conference taking that in their own direction. and this week, we'll see them voting on israel specific aid, separate and apart from ukraine aid. this is one of the key, opening salvos for the brewing fight on the supplemental funds, ana. >> courtney, let's talk about what more they are asking for and how it would be used. what is it stake for the u.s. military? >> so, i mean, in a word, they are asking for more money. i think one reason that we're seeing this di tied together is lot of the money being used for ukraine and israel is going the weapons and equipment. we've been hearing about that for two years now. for ukraine. there is some overlap, though, on what the u.s. military is providing to ukraine and have been for two years now. and what they are providing to israel. air defense systems, rounds, ammunition. that's one of the reasons this is -- has been tied together today. where does that -- does that overlap -- the fact that the u.s. is providing so much to two different countries, both at war ght now. how does that impact the u.s.? does it impact u.s. military readiness? does it make the united states vulnerable, if the u.s. is forced into some conflict, which i have to say, ana, ever since october 7th, the u.s. officials are continually concerned about, is this growing into a larger regional conflict and the united states being drawn into it. that's one of the reasons that lloyd austin is up there today. senators will be asking questions like can the u.s. continue to provide at the same scale and pace? can they supply to israel, support israel in this fight, and then can the -- does this make the united states military vulnerable? >> thank you so much, courtney kube. ally vitale. let's turn a to what is going on in the middle east and gaza. another day of bombardments a day after israel ruled out a cease-fire. israel claiming to have hit 300 targets in the last 24 hours. military compounds in the web of underground tunnels belonging to hamas. the idf reports it as engaged in fierce battles with hamas, involving machine countries and tanks deep inside the gaza strip. the united nations is urging a cease-fire, calling it a matter of life and death for millions. israel's prime minister is rejecting the cease-fire calls, equating cease-fire with surrender. >> calls for a cease-fire are calls for israel to surrender to hamas. to surrender to terrorism and bar barry. that will not happen. >> let's go to israel and kelly cobiella. by all accounts israel is moving deeper into gaza, engaged in heavy fighting. they found one hostage yesterday. what else are you learning about israel's military movements right now? >> in the past three hours, the idf targeted outposts in the north of the gaza strip. they gave detail to what they said they accomplished, including killing hamas militants, anti-tank missile cells and confiscating numerous weapons, including guns and explosive devices. this is the latest update from the idf today. they continue to say they are hitting, as you said, some 300 targets overnight. those are air strikes, as well as operations led by ground troops, in the words of the idf. they said, they target the command centers inside tunnels. and also killed a top hamas commander who played a role in those attacks on october 7th. this is coming from the idf. we are confirm it. hamas says they are hitting -- striking back. and hitting idf targets in northern gaza. clearly, this does seem to be ramping up significantly. there are reports from journalists inside gaza. >> plumes of smoke in gaza today. kelly cobiella, thank you. joining us is douglas alavant, the director of iraq on national security council in the bush and obama administrations. thanks for joining us. here's how you phrase what israel's mil is facing as they push deeper into gaza. whenary forces engage at close range, intangibles matter more. a resident with a machine provided he isatnt and disciplined and familiar with the tunnel systems, may have an advantage in the close fight over a 20-year-old invaing infantry men with his 21st century kit. tell us more about what israeli troops are facing as they continue this campaign in gaza. >> sure. we have the caveat that wars are uncertain. attackers that they thought they established their goals and defenders who thought they repelled an attack easily. wars are uncertain. that's why we should avoid them at all costs. what we do know from recent history is, first, urban warfare eliminates or reduces the advantages of a modern 21st century military. when you get under ground, as any of us who have been in a subway system know, your telephones don't work. signals can't get out. all this technology you have becomes less capable. you go to a primitive basics of close combat. the urban environment keeps you from seeing your opponent at a distance. and modern militaries love seeing their opponents at a distance. they can kill them from far away and never put themselves in danger. the urban battlefield makes that much, much harder. wars are inherently unknowable. again, if recent history is any precedent, we should expect high casualties among the attackers and we should expect this to be long. measured in months, not days or weeks. >> i think we continue to get reports about what they consider victories, commanders attacking the launch sites or missiles or anti-tank w