Nightly News Full Broadcast - Oct. 14
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00:00 Americans out Israel striking targets inside Gaza today as
00:04 thousands of Palestinians try to flee the U.S. State
00:07 Department working to evacuate Americans out through Egypt,
00:11 but so far Egypt hasn't let them through and for Americans
00:15 trying to flee Israel, the first U.S. charter flight today
00:19 to bring them home horrific scenes inside of Gaza, a
00:22 caravan trying to escape hit children reportedly among those
00:27 killed throughout the territory emergency rooms overwhelmed one
00:31 hospital loan says it is sheltering 35,000 people and
00:36 now the UN says they're running out of clean water. What about
00:39 the hostages president Biden vows to do everything in his
00:43 power to free Americans held by Hamas.
00:46 >> I'm not going to detail that but there's a working like him.
00:54 >> But what are his options protests across the U.S. and
00:57 the world massive demonstrations in Chicago and
01:00 San Francisco dozens arrested in New York and the knife attack
01:04 in France that has the whole country on edge Americans
01:08 coming to Israel to fight why this soldier told me he needed
01:12 to be here and on this holy day for Jews one week since the
01:15 attack by Hamas powerful moments of reflection and
01:19 remembrance.
01:22 >> This is a special hour long edition of NBC nightly news
01:26 reporting tonight live from Tel Aviv Tom Yamas.
01:30 >> And good evening from here in Tel Aviv it was one week ago
01:36 that this country woke up to the horrific attacks by Hamas
01:39 that killed more than a 1000 Israelis tonight the country is
01:43 on the verge of a full-scale war with ground troops poised
01:46 to invade Gaza at any moment. Israel announced another
01:50 window today for those in northern Gaza to flee to the
01:53 South. Tens of thousands are trying to get out fleeing any
01:56 way possible this caravan trying to escape was hit Hamas
02:01 says it was Israel and children were killed. But we have no
02:05 independent verification of who struck it. The U.S. today
02:08 announced that for Americans trapped in Gaza there is now a
02:11 way out though it's through the southern border with Egypt and
02:14 so far they have not been let through and the first charter
02:18 flight for us citizens trying to flee Israel took off today
02:21 well, not essential personnel working at the embassy here
02:24 have been told they too can leave. We learned today that 29
02:27 Americans have now been confirmed killed by Hamas is
02:31 attack last week. President Biden late today speaking to
02:34 the leaders of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority as
02:37 the crisis here grows the region and the world on edge
02:41 waiting for what happens next.
02:45 >> Tonight all eyes on Gaza. As Israel prepares for an all
02:50 out assault on Hamas as the Israeli military announces
02:54 there will be an integrated and coordinated attack from the air
02:58 sea and land but still waiting to launch this has more than a
03:02 million Palestinians in northern Gaza try to make their
03:06 way South on foot even by carts pulled by donkeys the escape
03:11 from Gaza dangerous and deadly graphic video showing the
03:15 aftermath convoys a total of 70 people, including children
03:20 killed in missile strikes Palestinians saying these were
03:23 innocent lives killed by Israeli bombs.
03:26 American citizens are among those in Gaza trying to get to
03:30 safety. And tonight the United States is working to secure a
03:34 safe exit for them in the South at the raffle border crossing
03:38 in Egypt. The commute family is desperate for help 12 family
03:43 members, one as young as 4 all American citizens trying to get
03:47 out. We're constantly worried. I I don't think I've ever been
03:52 this worried in my life.
03:53 >> Tonight the efforts to evacuate Americans inside
03:56 Israel are also underway, including nonessential embassy
04:00 workers from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
04:02 As Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza Hamas
04:06 officials claim more than 20 hostages have been killed in
04:10 those same strikes. This as president Biden is vowing to
04:14 the families of Americans being held hostage in Gaza.
04:18 >> I sure that my personal commitment to do everything
04:21 possible everything possible return every missing American
04:25 to their families.
04:26 >> In Israel we were there as hundreds gathered demanding
04:33 that the hostages be brought home.
04:35 >> We're the center of Tel Aviv right now just outside the
04:38 Israeli military headquarters where hundreds of Israelis have
04:41 gathered demanding that they release the hostages inside of
04:44 Gaza, you can read some of the signs here. They said very
04:47 clearly bring them home while others are holding photos of
04:51 the people that have been kidnapped and disappear people
04:54 like Lady.
04:55 >> Abigail hi you is among those searching for loved ones,
05:02 her daughter's best friend Mia is still missing. How hard is
05:06 it to just not know.
05:07 >> For 7 days.
05:09 >> And back every day.
05:12 >> All along the border, the signs are clear Israel is
05:19 getting ready to go in tonight, Israeli tanks and soldiers
05:23 prepared for battle shy doesn't want us to use his last name.
05:27 He's an Israeli American called up to fight last week he went
05:31 to his synagogue in New York with his young children today,
05:34 he's on the front lines in Israel, a captain in the
05:37 military.
05:38 >> How did you explain that to them and how difficult was it
05:41 to leave.
05:41 >> To be honest and explain to them too much you can really
05:44 explain to an 8 year-old in fact I hope to God that he
05:48 doesn't see any of the footage because
05:50 it's it's absolutely horrific.
05:54 >> Shy is ready to do his duty, but knows that innocent
05:58 civilians will likely pay the price.
06:00 >> I know war is not fair and it doesn't really make sense.
06:04 >> How do you explain that because they're they're
06:05 Palestinian Americans are too.
06:06 >> Yeah, yeah, so to be honest.
06:09 I feel really bad for the Palestinians
06:13 because there are many Palestinians Gaza that are
06:16 innocent we always try to minimize civilian casualties,
06:19 but at the same time we have to understand that the night
06:22 against of the choice.
06:23 >> This war touching so many countries, including our own
06:28 back here the situation inside Gaza is growing even more
06:32 desperate food water and medicine are almost out and for
06:35 some the journey to the South where Israel says they must
06:38 evacuate to is just as dangerous as staying put
06:42 Richard Engel is near the Gaza border covering that for us
06:44 tonight and Richard there are very few safe places to go
06:47 right now.
06:47 >> Absolutely and even though this deadline that Israel said
06:54 has now passed Israeli officials are still urging the
06:58 people in Gaza city, the blacked out city that you can
07:02 see behind me to leave to leave now that they should do this
07:05 for their own safety. The Israeli military also
07:08 specifically ordered the evacuation of 3 hospitals in
07:12 Gaza city. The medical staff there are refusing saying
07:16 patients can't be moved shouldn't be moved and 35,000
07:20 people are now huddled at the ship a hospital which is the
07:24 main hospital in Gaza city. The men sleeping in the
07:27 parking lot women and children inside hoping that their safety
07:31 in numbers.
07:32 >> Israel has told Palestinians to evacuate Gaza city and head
07:38 further South in the Gaza Strip to save their lives.
07:41 Many are trying to leave now.
07:44 But that's not safe either.
07:46 This is what it looked like as people were driving on a road
07:50 they told was cleared for travel.
07:52 An ambulance was also hit.
07:57 >> And her family are heading out of Gaza city nonetheless,
08:04 but she doesn't know exactly where they're going or how
08:07 they'll get there.
08:07 We're dying and everyone is watching shame on you all the
08:13 Arab countries we were told to leave but where where to go she
08:17 asked.
08:18 They're shelling people on the roads to where we to go.
08:25 >> Eva is leaving a U.N. operated school in theory,
08:28 a safe place.
08:29 But the U.N. has also been told to evacuate and did
08:34 southern Gaza where Israel is telling Palestinians to go is
08:39 hardly a safe haven.
08:40 >> On you miss the main city in southern Gaza for the brunt of
08:44 Israeli airstrikes today.
08:45 Perhaps because Hamas launched an attack from there.
08:50 The militants say they broke through the border fence near
08:53 on units and attacked Israeli troops.
08:55 Israel says it has no choice but to go into Gaza to disarm
09:00 and destroy Hamas.
09:02 The group today released propaganda videos show its
09:07 preparation.
09:07 It's gunmen attacking with skill and precision
09:12 and manufacturing their own weapons, including shoulder
09:17 carried anti tank rockets. Hamas says this is what's awaiting
09:20 Israeli troops.
09:23 The video ends with Hamas fighters going down into their
09:26 tunnels getting ready for what's coming.
09:28 >> Richard we just saw there in your report both sides ready
09:32 for battle give us a sense of the scene there tonight.
09:35 >> Well in in Gaza that the city is blacked out there are
09:41 still people who are hunkered down in the city. But there is
09:45 a great deal of of anger, there's a great deal of
09:48 nervousness many people say that
09:51 they have no reason left to to to live they think that this is
09:55 it I've spoken with Palestinians who fear that
09:58 they're going to die tonight tomorrow. There's a real sense
10:01 of chaos when you're in a city, it's it's almost hard to
10:05 imagine unless you've you've been there and I've been inside
10:07 Gaza before as it's been attacked. You can't leave
10:10 you're under attack, you're ruled by Hamas you feel you
10:14 have nowhere to go you don't feel like you have a future.
10:17 So there is a sense of of absolute hopelessness and it's
10:21 not just that it's some abstract feeling of
10:23 hopelessness you're worried that at any moment now perhaps
10:27 tonight perhaps tomorrow, Israeli troops are going to be
10:30 rolling down the streets in in heavy armored vehicles is going
10:34 to be gunfights Hamas fighters can be popping out of titles
10:37 and you're stuck in the middle of it and all you've been told
10:40 leave go to the South. You don't know how to get there.
10:43 You don't know where to go once you're there and you're still
10:46 stuck in Gaza still stuck with Hamas fighters and still
10:50 potentially an attack because there were many airstrikes in
10:53 southern Gaza tonight so I think the overwhelming feeling
10:57 is fear and hopelessness.
10:59 >> You know with that sentiment and looking at the video that
11:03 we just saw in your report of Hamas preparing to repel an
11:06 Israeli invasion. You've covered wars all around the
11:09 world for us this is going to shape up to be a brutal and
11:12 very long bloody engagement.
11:17 >> It could be very long the last time that Israel went into
11:22 God Gaza like this and fought it was it was just in in Gaza
11:26 city I was there at the time in 2014. It lasted over a month
11:31 and what the Israeli forces did is they they went in and then
11:34 they focused on one particular neighborhood and they think
11:38 they flatten that particular neighborhood and they were able
11:41 to to occupy it hold it for for a period of time.
11:46 It didn't accomplish very much they they did set back a boss
11:50 is military capacity. They killed a lot of Hamas fighters
11:54 many civilians were killed but then Hamas came back a few
11:58 years later and was able to re arm what Israel says this time
12:02 it's going to do is going to be different. It's not going to
12:05 allow Hamas to just take a blow deplete some of its fighters
12:09 deplete some of its weapons and then regain its strength.
12:14 Israel says this time it wants it to be a definitive operation
12:17 that it's going to go in and that at the end of this
12:20 operation Hamas will no longer be governing the Gaza Strip.
12:24 If that is the goal. It could be a very long operation
12:28 because going in fighting with Hamas looking for hostages
12:31 potentially rescuing some is one thing going into topple
12:35 Hamas and and make it so that Hamas doesn't ever control.
12:39 The Gaza Strip again is a completely different
12:42 objective.
12:44 >> Richard Engel just outside of Gaza Richard you and your
12:47 team please stay safe tonight. President Biden had
12:50 conversations today with both the leader of the Palestinian
12:53 Authority Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
12:56 Netanyahu where he reiterated America's support for Israel.
13:00 I want to bring in NBC White House correspondent Monica
13:03 Alba now Monica let's talk about those Americans who are
13:05 still in Gaza trying to evacuate what are your sources
13:09 at the White House telling you about that.
13:11 >> Well Tom the State Department is actively working
13:13 tonight with other governments in the region to try and get
13:16 those estimated 500 to 600 Americans out of Gaza safely
13:21 they've directed us citizens on the ground to move South toward
13:24 the rough border crossing in Egypt, but there is no
13:27 guarantee at this hour that it will open up and the challenges
13:30 because of that possibility they are still urging Americans
13:33 to be nearby if they feel it's safe to do so since there may
13:36 be very little warning about when it may open and how long
13:40 that may last and U.S. officials are telling me it
13:42 could also be for a pretty limited time now president
13:46 Biden in phone calls tonight with Israeli Prime Minister
13:49 Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority president of us
13:51 stress the need to protect civilians in Gaza and to ensure
13:55 they have access to water food and medical care and of course
13:59 among those innocent civilians could be those hostages
14:03 believed to be held by Hamas that the U.S. government is
14:05 working so hard tonight to find Tom.
14:09 >> And Monica want to ask you about that because we cannot
14:12 forget that there are 15 Americans who are possibly
14:16 being held hostage by Hamas right now what is president
14:19 Biden saying about getting them out.
14:20 >> He says that that is his top priority right now to get those
14:24 Americans back home with their loved ones, but he's also
14:26 acknowledging just how difficult that will be and
14:29 stress that he couldn't share much more beyond this message
14:32 for the Hamas militants holding them hostage.
14:37 >> To those holding American hostages in Gaza, you say what.
14:43 >> I say we're going to do everything in our power to find
14:47 them.
14:48 Everything in our power.
14:49 I'm not going to go into the detail of that but there's a
14:54 we're working like a lawn.
14:55 >> The president spoke with the families of those who are still
14:59 accounted for on Friday talking to them for more than an hour
15:02 and calling the agony that they are experiencing right now
15:06 absolutely gut-wrenching.
15:07 >> And Monica obviously the situation is different for
15:12 Americans trying to leave where we are tonight Israel, what can
15:15 you tell us about those efforts.
15:17 >> And the first charter that was organized by the U.S.
15:19 government a flight left Israel yesterday on Friday landing in
15:23 Athens and more are expected today. While the State
15:27 Department is also exploring potentially other options for
15:30 getting Americans who want to leave Israel out including by
15:33 sea that's one option on the table and they're asking
15:36 anybody who needs more information to sign up for
15:39 their alerts in the coming days.
15:41 >> Monica Alba with a lot of new reporting for us tonight
15:46 Monica we appreciate it. We're also learning more tonight
15:49 about how terrorists from Gaza carried out that attack
15:53 against Israel the elaborate plan that was hatched by Hamas
15:56 and who's now the most wanted person by Israel to Hamas
15:59 mastermind raf Sanchez is live for us tonight. Raph what can
16:03 you tell us.
16:03 >> Tom Israel's military says it has launched an all out hunt
16:09 for Yahoo us in war the Hamas leader responsible for
16:12 Saturday's attack. They say he is there Osama bin Laden and
16:17 they are determined to find him no matter how long it takes.
16:21 >> Tonight Israel vowing to track down and kill the man it
16:28 holds responsible for the worst terror attack in the country's
16:31 history.
16:32 >> Yeah, yes in war is the leader of Hamas in Gaza and
16:37 Israel says the mastermind of Saturday's carefully
16:40 orchestrated slaughter.
16:41 >> He chose to send
16:44 the butchers
16:45 into our bedrooms to kill our babies.
16:48 And when they chose to go full front against Israel.
16:53 They signed their own death warrants.
16:58 >> Sin war knows better than most the value of hostages as
17:01 human bargaining chips. The son of Palestinian refugees he was
17:07 supposed to spend the rest of his life in an Israeli jail
17:10 after being convicted of terrorism.
17:12 But in 2011 he was freed in a prisoner swap Israel releasing
17:19 him and a 1000 other Palestinians to secure the
17:22 freedom of gilad Shaleen an Israeli soldier held captive by
17:25 Hamas in Gaza for 5 years today, sin war controls the
17:29 fate of the hostages.
17:31 Including yoni Asher's wife to Ron and their 2 little
17:36 daughters rise and a V of Iran seen here being blindfolded one
17:41 hand around her daughter's shoulder her mother next.
17:44 >> When I saw this video I couldn't believe what I'm saying
17:48 this was the beginning of the route.
17:50 >> Using a tracker app he followed the movements of his
17:53 wife's cell phone.
17:54 >> And I see the streets to see the streets name and I
17:56 recognize this is Gaza.
17:58 It was hard to believe.
18:00 >> If you could speak to the people who are holding your
18:03 family, what would you tell them.
18:05 >> Show some decency
18:07 show some respect.
18:09 If you are real soldiers.
18:11 You will let them go you will do no harm.
18:15 >> Israel says the attack was spearheaded by members of an
18:18 elite Hamas commando unit and that it's already begun
18:21 targeting them from the air inside Gaza. New documents
18:25 tonight obtained by NBC News show Hamas fighters carry
18:28 detailed diagrams highlighting the weak points of Israeli
18:32 tanks.
18:33 Israel has bitter experience in settling the score after 11 of
18:38 its Olympic athletes and coaches were murdered by
18:40 Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich games, the Jewish
18:45 state began a year's long worldwide hunt for those
18:48 responsible.
18:49 >> Now it's vowing to do the same to the men who committed a
18:58 far greater massacre.
19:00 >> We are going to destroy Hamas so that they can never ever
19:05 willed the sword of death over our heads again.
19:07 >> But killing Hamas is leader maybe the easy part.
19:10 Securing a long-term peace in Gaza will be far harder.
19:17 >> And the war is over.
19:18 >> Raph I want to go back to that Hamas mastermind I know
19:26 you've met him before what can you tell our viewers about him.
19:29 >> Yeah, Tom that's right 5 years ago sin war was involved
19:35 in this 2 prong effort to try to get Israel to loosen its
19:38 blockade on Gaza. One prong was he was organizing or helping to
19:42 organize these very large scale protests sometimes riots on the
19:46 ground and as part of that he invited a group of
19:49 international journalists of which I was one to meet with
19:52 him I can tell you he was very intense meeting the press is
19:56 not his comfort zone. He's a fighter more than a
19:59 politician and Tom he has not been heard from or seen since
20:03 Saturday's attack Israeli officials tell me they believe
20:06 he is underground in this network of tunnels that Hamas
20:10 runs underneath Gaza.
20:14 >> So what do you think is going to happen if Israel
20:17 doesn't evacuate this potential invasion of Gaza. If Israel
20:21 does overthrow Hamas what comes next.
20:23 >> Well Tom that is a question to which we have not heard an
20:28 answer from either Israeli political leaders or Israel's
20:32 military leadership. Israel certainly has the firepower to
20:36 overthrow Hamas but then who governs the Gaza Strip which is
20:40 home to 2 million people there are 2 obvious possibilities.
20:44 The first is that Israel was in control of the Gaza Strip
20:47 from 1967 until 2005 when it left and then after 2005 there
20:52 was this brief experiment where Gaza was run by the Palestinian
20:56 authority, the internationally recognized Palestinian
20:59 government which is in charge of parts of the West Bank.
21:02 But the Palestinian Authority is weak it has very little
21:05 credibility with the Palestinian public and Tom it
21:08 was ultimately overthrown by Hamas within just 2 years.
21:12 The Palestinian Authority in Gaza will they last any longer
21:15 this time.
21:16 >> Ralph Sanchez for us tonight wrath, thank you with so many
21:21 complex operations in play from invasions to extractions I want
21:26 to bring in NBC News military analyst retired 4 star U.S.
21:30 Army general Barry McCaffrey general thank you so much for
21:32 joining us the deadline as you know has come and gone now for
21:36 people of northern Gaza to get out talk to us about the
21:39 challenge of getting Americans out of Gaza, especially with
21:43 the looming threat of an attack.
21:44 >> Yeah, well it's a terrible situation obviously to the
21:48 masses the hundreds of thousands of guys and civilians
21:51 are now moving to get out of the combat zone to try and
21:54 extract the Americans from amongst that population will be
21:58 extremely difficult. It's unlikely that U.S. forces would
22:02 take part in a direct operation. It's more likely
22:06 that after the ground invasion of Gaza when the Israelis get
22:11 decent intelligence that then we'll see hostages rescued some
22:16 of them and Americans extracted.
22:18 >> And general want to talk about that potential invasion
22:23 that's going to happen into Gaza, the IDF has announced as
22:26 you know an imminent attack by air land and sea what can we
22:30 expect in the first phase of this ground invasion.
22:34 >> Well I think the IDF has no option but to respond to
22:38 Hamas clearly he strategic surprise they view themselves
22:42 as having a tactical victory.
22:45 Now the IDF is going to have to go in on the ground dominate
22:49 the street level.
22:50 Try and use rewards hostages. Tunnel rats and trying to
22:56 identify hostages but principally
22:58 thereafter the extermination of the structure of the Hamas
23:04 terrorist group.
23:05 A very very tough situation, you know, let's talk about
23:08 your guys.
23:09 >> I want to talk about that system of tunnels, you mention
23:14 it's underneath Gaza city. It's reminiscent of what the
23:16 Viet Cong had in Vietnam, but in an urban environment, how
23:20 those tunnels complicate the IDF operation.
23:23 >> Well, they're impenetrable by and large to overflying
23:29 sensors aircraft drones satellite systems. They're deep
23:34 there longstanding they're connected. The idea will have
23:38 to control the surface of the streets meaning eliminate 30,000
23:43 potential Hamas fighters and then go underground and try and
23:48 find these hostages it can be done, but it will be a bloody
23:53 mess.
23:53 >> General I think we all know the reality of the answer to
23:59 this question but with Israel planning to wage war by air land
24:02 and sea is there any way to minimize civilian casualties
24:06 given that so much of Gaza city didn't evacuate.
24:09 >> Well I think that the quick answer is of course the idea
24:14 will make every effort to not target civilians, many will
24:18 undoubtedly be caught up in the fighting. Hamas has refused to
24:23 allow many of these innocent civilians to flee the combat
24:27 zone. They're using them to protect their own fighters.
24:30 But the idea will use precision munitions will try and deal
24:35 with with armed hostile elements and we'll try and get
24:40 humanitarian aid in as the fighting diminishes but Tom
24:44 there's no 2 ways about it. This is an horrible situation
24:48 brought on entirely
24:50 by Hamas is criminal attack and the slaughter of hundreds of
24:55 Israeli innocence.
24:57 >> Retired 4 star general Barry mcafee for us tonight general
25:03 we thank you for your time still ahead. The deadly
25:05 Mideast violence giving way to global protest today the world
25:09 now taking sides also the Americans ready to fight for
25:13 Israel. Why us citizens are now rushing into danger.
25:24 >> We're back now live from Tel Aviv where the divisions in
25:27 this region are not playing out across the globe with protests
25:31 growing increasingly violent police in major cities now on
25:34 high alert and George Solis is with us tonight from New York
25:37 City which has seen huge protests over the past day.
25:40 >> That's right on the conflict may be thousands of miles away,
25:44 but this fallout isn't just being felt here in the U.S.
25:47 is also global with thousands of protesters gathering almost
25:51 daily.
25:52 >> From coast to coast, large protests erupting in cities
25:59 across the country.
26:00 Tensions rising one week after Hamas terrorists staged the
26:06 deadliest attack on Israel in a generation.
26:09 >> What is the message to the Jewish community not just here
26:12 in New York, but
26:13 nationally globally that's listening and wants to know
26:17 what what guidance what what to do next.
26:19 >> The message to the Jewish community and all who are
26:22 friends of the Jewish community and supporters of Israel is the
26:26 need for solidarity, nothing would make us happier than if
26:30 Hamas laid down their weapons and marched out of Gaza with
26:34 their hands in the air.
26:35 But in all likelihood that's not going to happen.
26:38 >> Thousands of people in the streets of cities like Chicago
26:45 Houston and Los Angeles where nbc's David noriega reports.
26:49 >> Here in La there are hundreds out marching in support
26:51 of the Palestinian people, many of them are Palestinians
26:53 themselves with a personal stake in this conflict, including
26:56 those who are struggling to stay in touch with their loved
26:58 ones in Gaza.
26:59 >> Moss me says her fiance is in Gaza.
27:02 >> I spoke with him last about 8 to 10 hours ago, but it's very
27:07 difficult to get through because there's no Internet as
27:09 you may know, and no electricity.
27:11 >> Overseas massive protests in Germany, Pakistan and India.
27:16 >> We want.
27:19 >> Today in London police deploying hundreds of officers
27:24 on this pro Palestinian demonstration with a warning
27:28 anyone showing support for Hamas would be arrested.
27:30 Law enforcement around the globe on high alert.
27:34 France mobilizing 7,000 soldiers after a man fatally
27:40 stabbed a teacher and injured 3 others. The attack being
27:43 investigated by anti terrorism prosecutors president Emmanuel
27:47 Macron saying the country had been a victim of Islamic
27:50 terrorism fit the U.S. emotions still high after days of
27:54 rallies.
27:54 New York demonstrators vowing to stay in the streets.
28:00 >> How many more days or how long.
28:02 We're going to be out in the streets every day as long as it
28:07 takes late Friday more than 60 people were arrested at a rally
28:11 and demonstrators making their way outside senator Chuck
28:14 Schumer's home. Some residents here remaining vigilant saying
28:17 safety is still a concern.
28:19 >> I'm Jewish I live in New York and I'm afraid of walking
28:23 around in your.
28:24 >> Tom there's ramped up security at synagogues like the
28:28 one behind me as well as other Jewish schools and businesses
28:32 not here at Temple Emmanuel senior leadership telling me
28:35 that for the first time in a long time they actually opened
28:38 their doors to journalists for services on Friday to show the
28:42 world that they feel safe and they are united through this
28:45 tumultuous time.
28:46 >> And George of officials said anything more about the threats
28:51 to the U.S.
28:52 >> Senior leadership officials Tom keep telling NBC News that
28:57 they continue to monitor online chatter about threats to
29:01 Israel, but it's strictly just that at this point there have
29:04 been nothing specific or credible still the NYPD has
29:08 been out in full force with uniformed officers are also
29:11 utilizing many tools at their disposal, including drones and
29:14 chopper at some of these large demonstrations we have seen in
29:17 the past days still law enforcement from around the
29:20 world is asking the public to do their part to stay vigilant
29:24 and to report anything that appears suspicious. Tom.
29:27 >> George Solis for us George we appreciate that report the war
29:32 clearly divisive across the globe and proving to be a major
29:35 challenge for president Biden, I want to bring in the press
29:38 moderator Kristen Welker tonight so Kristen the U.S.
29:41 has been extremely supportive of Israel's counterattack on
29:44 Hamas, but there's new reporting that the U.S. is privately
29:48 warning Israel to show restraint what more do we know about this.
29:51 >> Well time that's right the Biden administration is walking
29:54 a fine line publicly president Biden other top officials have
29:58 vocally supported Israel's right to defend itself with the
30:01 president strongly condemning the quote evil perpetrated by
30:04 Hamas at the same time the president and his team are
30:07 privately urging restraining conversations with their
30:10 Israeli counterparts. The secretaries of state and
30:12 defense visited the region this week making that case with key
30:15 leaders with 2 officials telling NBC.
30:18 Secretary Austin advised Israel to operate on a higher moral
30:22 plane than Hamas and to be careful to avoid deaths of
30:25 innocent civilians bottom line here the Biden administration
30:27 wants to limit civilian deaths and does not want this turning
30:31 into a broader conflict in the region Tom.
30:34 >> Yeah, Kristen as you know the conflict has also brought
30:38 on new criticisms of the Biden administration by his GOP
30:41 rivals. They're challenging him on his recent deal with Iran to
30:45 release billions of dollars in block funds in exchange for
30:48 detained Americans and now linking that move to the Hamas
30:51 attack. How is president Biden seen ahead of this.
30:54 >> Well, it's complicated Republicans in Congress and
30:58 those running for president have repeatedly criticized the
31:00 administration for its deal with Iran as you say to unfree
31:04 6 billion dollars for humanitarian aid in exchange
31:06 for the release of those 5 American detainees.
31:09 With some alleging without evidence that Iran use that
31:12 money to fund the Hamas attacks against Israel. The Biden
31:15 administration has repeatedly said Iran has not spent a penny
31:18 of that money yet with a top Treasury official telling
31:21 members of Congress this week the U.S. and Qatar have now
31:24 agreed to block Iran from accessing the funds as United
31:27 States continues to investigate
31:29 whether Iran had any direct involvement in the Hamas
31:32 attack. Now all of this comes as the GOP frontrunner former
31:35 president Trump is also facing backlash Tom after he called
31:38 has been a very smart and accused prime minister net
31:41 tanya who have not being prepared for the attack. Mister
31:44 Trump's GOP rivals are blasting him, including Florida
31:46 governor Ron de Santis who said quote it's absurd that anyone
31:50 much less someone running for president would choose now to
31:53 attack our friend and ally Israel and the bottom line here
31:56 it all underscores the war in the Middle East will be front
31:59 and center on the campaign trail time.
32:01 >> There is no doubt in Christian while we have you
32:04 hear all of this underscoring that right now we still have no
32:08 speaker of the House what's the latest reporting we have on
32:11 that.
32:11 >> Well I've been speaking with multiple Republican sources
32:15 from Capitol Hill and there's just a growing frustration
32:17 because they still don't know who their next speaker will be
32:20 and of course at issue they can't hold votes they can't
32:23 provide aid to Israel until they have a speaker in place.
32:25 So here's what we know conservative firebrand
32:28 congressman Jim Jordan was elected as the nominee on
32:31 Friday, but so far it's not clear he has enough votes to
32:34 win the gavel NBC News is reporting the Biden
32:37 administration is preparing to send a funding request to
32:40 Congress that would link money for Israel to more aid for
32:43 Ukraine and Taiwan and border security. But again none of
32:46 that can happen until a speaker is actually in place and adding
32:50 urgency to all of this the government shutdown is just
32:52 less than 40 days away Tom.
32:57 >> Oh my gosh, it's all happening so fast Chris we know
32:59 tomorrow meet the press you to be talking to minority leader
33:01 Hakeem Jeffries what can we expect from that conversation.
33:04 >> Well the big question is what role do Democrats have
33:08 here that's what I'll be asking leader Jeffries there's a
33:10 scenario where a handful of Democrats could join with
33:13 Republicans to form a governing coalition and that would be
33:16 notable because it would essentially weaken the power of
33:19 hardline Republicans who stripped speaker McCarthy of
33:22 his gavel in the first place still in this divided climate
33:25 that's really an uphill battle and it's hard to see that
33:28 happening time.
33:28 >> All right, Kristen welcome for us tonight right here on
33:33 nightly news Christian we appreciate it tomorrow morning
33:35 be sure to catch Kristen on meet the press we will
33:38 definitely be tuning in okay, we're going to be back from
33:41 Tel Aviv where the divisions in this region are now playing out
33:44 across the globe. The protests growing increasingly violent
33:47 police major cities now on high alert.
33:49 Stay with us.
33:51 >> And we're back from Tel Aviv as troops here are
34:01 preparing for what may be an all out ground invasion of Gaza
34:05 from southern Israel, the remiss in troops and tanks
34:08 there. But they're also building up forces to the
34:10 north where another of Israeli's enemies has bullock
34:13 is threatening its own action. We have reporters near both
34:16 borders tonight we're going to begin with Ellison Barber in
34:19 southern Israel. Also we know you've seen a buildup of tanks
34:22 and troops over the last few days, what you seen there right
34:25 now.
34:25 >> Yeah time we continue to see just a large amounts of Israeli
34:32 tanks headed in the direction of Gaza in the last 20 minutes
34:36 or so we've heard at least 9 artillery booms this area back
34:42 here this is Israel we have seen missiles at least one wave
34:46 of them coming from this direction headed towards Gaza
34:50 if you walk a little round with me here I can show you the
34:52 direction of where we're hearing those artillery booms
34:55 and where we then see the orange glow in Gaza so through
34:58 this area in this direction. This is where we're hearing
35:02 those booms at one point we heart heard what we would
35:04 describe as an artillery bombardment just rapid fire for
35:07 a brief period and then after that and after we have also
35:10 heard booms of rockets other things being launched
35:13 occasionally through the trees this way you can see the area
35:17 that is Gaza just light up with orange flashes at times it
35:21 sounds like a thunderstorm is rolling through Gaza, but it's
35:25 not at all that it is the sounds of war look we have
35:29 seen hundreds of tanks military vehicles over the last couple
35:35 of days as our team has been in this area reporting we've seen
35:38 a number of flatbeds again moving in the direction of Gaza
35:42 full of artillery as well as heavy moving machinery
35:47 machinery that we saw Israeli forces use similar to what we
35:52 saw them use when they went in to get Hamas militants out of a
35:55 police station that they were occupying in the southern city
35:59 of so the rot that stuff has been moving into the direction
36:03 of Gaza, we know that the idea has said that they are
36:08 preparing for a more expansive combat the only question is
36:12 exactly when it will happen they have said they plan to do
36:14 this by air by sea and by land this area here it has been
36:19 evacuated from civilians. All of the homes and we've been in
36:23 neighborhoods nearby it is relatively quiet because all
36:26 that is here are members of IDF they are again moving a lot of
36:31 equipment through here headed towards the border we hear that
36:34 constant little bit of a roll of artillery throughout the
36:37 evening. But on the whole it's been a bit quiet here in the
36:41 last couple of hours. The idea has been clear that they think
36:45 1.1 million dozens who are in the north part of Gaza that
36:49 they need to evacuate they have said to move South past the
36:53 Gaza River. The U.N. other organizations have called that
36:56 a mistake saying that it is very difficult for people to do
36:59 that remember Tom the situation in Gaza is this their only
37:03 power plant is out of fuel if people want to move South that's
37:06 incredibly difficult. We know that there have been convoys
37:10 that have been struck by airstrikes the Palestinian
37:12 health Ministry says those were airstrikes from Israel that
37:15 killed at least 70 people also we know that the only land
37:19 border that is possible to cross outside of Israeli
37:22 territory, the rafah border into Egypt on that has been
37:25 closed since Tuesday, Tom.
37:27 >> All right Ellison barb for us Ellison you and your team
37:32 stay safe out there even though it has been quiet as Southern
37:35 Israel braces for battle in Gaza, many in northern Israel
37:39 are preparing for interference from Hezbollah out of Lebanon
37:42 and this is Josh Letterman is on the border there in northern
37:45 Israel tonight and Josh as we talk to you about where you are
37:48 what kind of preparations have you seen there.
37:50 >> Well Tom the Israeli military is sending
37:55 reinforcements to the area that's near the border and in
37:58 fact today, I saw a column of Mercado battle tanks and
38:01 armored personnel carriers just a couple miles from Lebanon
38:04 and the troops there told me they don't know whether
38:06 Hezbollah is actually going to go all in on this but they
38:09 insisted they will be ready no matter what happens and as those
38:12 troops were doing maintenance on their tanks you could
38:15 actually hear small arms fire ringing out in the distance and
38:18 you can see smoke rising from the hills where mortars were
38:21 fired today into Israel from Lebanon, the military saying
38:24 they shelled sites in Lebanon in response Israel also said
38:28 that a terrorist cell tried to infiltrate from Lebanon in the
38:31 military saying and is really drone struck members of that
38:35 cell and killed them now this is all very worrying to Israel
38:38 because as bad as Hamas has been as bad as that terror
38:41 attack has been has has ball is actually seen as a much
38:43 stronger military force they're believed to have 10's of
38:47 thousands of advanced missiles that can literally target
38:50 anywhere in Israel Tom.
38:51 >> All right Josh Letterman for us Josh, thank you for that as
38:56 so many scramble to leave this region amidst the growing
38:59 violence, others are running towards the danger there
39:02 Americans bound by commitment to community country and faith
39:06 Megan Fitzgerald shares just a few of their stories.
39:08 >> As Israel ramps up its offensive against him off.
39:17 Calling up thousands of reservists to fight. Seems like
39:26 this playing out in airports across the U.S.
39:30 People answering the call leaving us to fight in Israel
39:34 and an emotional moment at La acts.
39:36 >> I just dropped my little brother off to go back to the
39:39 army in Israel and heartbroken and I'm so scared for him.
39:43 >> No way this already back in Israel.
39:45 >> So today's the day on the way to base documenting his
39:49 trip on social media.
39:51 >> Made my way up north to say bye to my grandpa and my
39:54 parents.
39:55 >> Leaving his job and life in New York didn't even wait for
39:58 the call.
39:59 >> She booked my flight to Israel before I got called back
40:02 send was going to happen.
40:03 There's no way that I was going to sit at home.
40:05 >> Andrew silverman was visiting his family in Chicago
40:08 last weekend then he heard what was happening in Israel and got
40:12 a call his close friend had been killed. We spoke to him
40:16 earlier this week.
40:17 >> And from there the rest of the day became about me trying
40:20 to get on a flight back to tell the news.
40:22 >> It didn't matter to Andrew that he had not been called up
40:25 he was determined to go.
40:27 >> It was important to me to come back as soon as possible
40:30 just to see what I can do.
40:31 >> His plans to return to college in Israel now on hold.
40:35 >> I think people are really using this as an opportunity to
40:38 come together and help each other.
40:40 >> Ruben bar you Dean sons at leaving behind his one year-old
40:44 son and pregnant wife in Texas.
40:46 >> He called me
40:47 to tell me.
40:50 I decide I'm going to Israel to rejoin my Army units.
40:55 >> And that quickly arriving in Israel and meeting up with his
40:58 unit.
40:59 >> It's really he's doing his duty.
41:01 And I'm extremely proud of him.
41:05 >> This sense of duty is at the heart of the Israeli Army and
41:08 its mandatory service.
41:10 >> Technically it's actually national service not
41:12 necessarily military service, the overwhelming majority do
41:15 go into Israel's military.
41:16 >> Most Israelis into the military at 18 and serve for 2
41:20 to 3 years typically after that they are automatically put into
41:25 the reserves which can continue into their 40's and beyond
41:29 ready to answer the call.
41:31 >> If an Israeli is living in America and she hears that her
41:34 unit was called up she might decide to drop everything go
41:37 and join.
41:37 Naturally if you're living overseas.
41:41 You're not required to come back. But certainly the idea
41:45 appears very ready to take on and everyone who's willing to
41:50 come back.
41:51 >> And then there are people like Josh Jacobson out of the
41:54 reserves and wanting to help he left the U.S. to see if he
41:57 could join up again and fight.
41:59 >> Just felt like
42:00 so weird to be in Boston when
42:04 when there's so much going on here and it's felt like
42:07 you know it's kind of my
42:08 my duty as part of the
42:11 collective
42:13 nation of Israel to to come back and just how.
42:16 >> Israelis coming together.
42:20 Leaving their homes around the world to answer the call.
42:24 Megan Fitzgerald NBC News London.
42:28 >> We think Megan for that still to come we're turning to
42:33 the day's other big story, the rare ring of fire solar eclipse
42:37 in the sky watchers who spent the day celebrating stay with
42:40 us.
42:48 >> We're going to turn out to some lighter news across the
42:50 U.S. Americans looked up to the skies to see something
42:53 spectacular rare solar eclipse called the ring of fire.
42:57 Dana Griffin has this story.
42:59 >> Across the U.S.
43:02 >> A stunning image that North America has witnessed only 5
43:07 times this millennium.
43:09 >> I mean it doesn't look real.
43:11 >> The annular solar eclipse or bring the fire happened when
43:17 the moon passes between the sun and Earth creating a fiery
43:20 orange ring around the moon shadow.
43:22 >> It's literally just this perfect rain and it's glowing
43:26 it's radiant I feel like a big dream about this for weeks to
43:30 come.
43:31 >> Thank you to the song bring a fire.
43:34 >> Depending on clear skies and location.
43:37 >> Well, this is a perfect ring of fire is just so Chris.
43:41 >> You likely got to see images like these from cloudy skies in
43:45 Idaho to Valley of the gods Utah and the state Aquarium in
43:48 Corpus Christi Texas.
43:50 >> In one particular location on Earth, it's normally 375
43:53 years between eclipses so it's rare that a person gets to
43:58 experience it in their lifetime in their specific location
44:02 nowhere else in the solar system do you get these types
44:04 of eclipses.
44:05 >> People driving hundreds of miles to get the best view.
44:08 >> We drove like 9 hours and we had to take a day off of work,
44:12 but we decided that was worth it.
44:14 >> In Los Angeles. Even a partially clips drew in a
44:17 crowd, many arriving hours early to get the best seats in
44:21 town at the Griffith Observatory.
44:23 >> It's a mob a happy mob that's actually engaged with
44:27 the cosmos.
44:28 >> No matter the age it's a really cool sight to see
44:31 viewers were over the moon. It's amazing. It's 9.24AM in
44:35 Los Angeles maximum eclipse making the sky just slightly
44:39 darker if you've got the right equipment or glasses.
44:42 >> It's pretty spectacular. Yeah, because the sun is never
44:47 fully covered observers must wear proper eye protection.
44:50 >> What do you think this was phenomenal. We're in the total
44:54 eclipse in 2017 in Wyoming and it was one of the best things
44:57 you've ever done and so the partially could be something
44:59 we're not going to miss.
45:00 >> If you miss this eclipse, no worries that totally clips
45:04 which will create complete darkness like we last saw in
45:07 2017 will occur again in just 6 months in the U.S. ideal
45:12 viewing locations will span from Texas to Maine.
45:15 >> Coming in April. A little training for her.
45:21 >> Excitement already building for an experience out of this
45:25 world.
45:26 Dana Griffin NBC News Los Angeles.
45:29 >> And when we come back from here in Tel Aviv, the power of
45:34 faith tonight the moments that brought people together today
45:38 here and across the world stay with us.
45:40 >> A
45:46 >> Finally tonight from here in Tel Aviv today was the first
45:52 Jewish Sabbath since the attacks last week. Today of
45:55 remembrance and of reflection at synagogues here and around
45:58 the world.
46:06 Tonight Jews across Israel and around the world are finding
46:11 solace in the Sabbath.
46:12 A day of rest and reflection now time to grieve to lean on
46:23 faith and search for courage in community.
46:26 >> Is a lot of comfort being with friends trying to find
46:31 hope in ourselves trying to pray with the belief
46:37 to find comfort.
46:39 >> In Tel Aviv debate, Daniel synagogue reopening today.
46:46 A handful of congregants like Edna Baromi Perlman finding
46:51 strength and song.
46:53 >> I feel that we're sort of like embracing each other with
46:56 the liturgy and the music and it's like therapeutic for me
47:00 totally therapeutic.
47:01 >> Rabbi mayor is Ari's mission is to give support during these
47:06 unimaginable times.
47:08 >> We're grieving in this point we lost people we lost people
47:12 in our community.
47:13 But in this point we have to hear the hope hope for victory
47:18 and at the same time to rebuild these when society the peace
47:22 process we need to peace.
47:24 >> And near Lebanon today, signs of faith in the field,
47:28 a soldier clutching the Torah amid uncertain days ahead will
47:32 be the joyous.
47:33 Across the globe this about it.
47:39 >> We have survived unspeakable trauma.
47:45 And we will survive this too.
47:47 >> In Washington DC prayers for peace.
47:51 >> In a moment where I have this week felt raw
47:57 and fragile with emotion.
47:58 Who I wanted to be surrounded by and who I felt could give me
48:08 strength.
48:09 >> In New York City with one of the largest synagogues in the
48:17 world.
48:17 >> I think there's something about coming together and
48:21 feeling that you know there's solidarity and strength and
48:24 unity. It's very important as an American and as a jail.
48:27 >> This is an important time for all of us as human beings
48:31 this is not just about Jewish people.
48:34 >> Back here in Israel, these candles, a reminder that even
48:38 in the darkest of times the light of faith can never be put
48:42 out.
48:42 >> That will do it for this special edition of NBC nightly
48:49 news live from Israel, I'm Tom yamas I'll be back for a special
48:53 primetime special on the war tonight at 08:00PM Eastern
48:56 right here on NBC News now, but for now good night.
49:01 >> Thanks for watching stay updated about breaking news and
49:05 top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social media.