of intensified fighting between israel and iranian-backed hezbollah militants in southern lebanon. earlier this week, there was serious fires in northern israel caused by rocket fire and prime minister netanyahu was up near the border today saying israel is prepared for intense action in southern lebanon if necessary. jose? >> raf sanchez in jerusalem for us this morning. thank you so very much. appreciate it. up next, breaking developments in hunter biden's federal gun trial. his ex-wife has just taken the stand. plus, new developments in trump's effort to get the gag order against him in the hush money trial lifted. you're watching "jose diaz-balart reports" on msnbc. ld you're watching "jose diaz-balart reports" on msnbc. rn you need... ...without the stuff you don't. so, here's to now. boost. upset stomach iberogast indigestion iberogast bloating iberogast thanks to a unique combination of herbs, iberogast helps relieve
israel since october 7th and during the war in gaza. as you mentioned, this is also coming at a time when the fighting between israel and the iranian-backed militant group in southern lebanon hezbollah has been intensifying. earlier this week, there were serious fires in northern israel caused by rocket fire. prime minister netanyahu is under domestic pressure to be seen to be doing something in the north. israel's government has said that the window is open for now, for a diplomatic solution, for hezbollah to pull back from the border, to stop firing. if it doesn't, israel will move ahead with a military offensive in southern lebanon. that really has the potential to unleash a war that could be far, far more devastating than what we have seen in gaza. hezbollah is a larger, much more powerful group than hamas. there was a deadly war between
here and hoping for some positive development out of this. and they also still believe this is something that could happen. it's just a matter of when and how, which of course is very complex, chris. >> so, josh, let me ask you about northern israel, the ongoing clashes between israeli defense forces and hezbollah, which appears to be escalating in recent weeks. now some members of netanyahu's coalition, the same people who oppose a cease fire in gaza are calling for outright war in lebanon. tell us what's happening there? >> over the last several days, we have seen fires erupting in northern israel. you're seeing the pictures of it right now, as a result of rocket fire coming from lebanon. we should say the back and forth between israel and hezbollah has been going on for months since the start of israel's war in gaza. we have talked about it on the show plenty of times, and there has been a cycle of repeated concern that this could go beyond this tit for tat back and forth into an actual all-out war.
according to the israeli military area. and it comes as we've been watching this kind of slow simmering conflict between israel and hezbollah over the course of the last eight months. now, over the last week or so there's been a slight uptick. it seems in the pace and the scale of the attacks going in both directions. actions in terms of israeli strikes in lebanon, as well as hezbollah rocket and drone attacks in northern israel. but beyond the attacks themselves, what has also really a brought more attention to this or these wildfires that were sparked in northern israel over the last couple of days as a result of that rocket fire from hezbollah as well as at least one israeli interceptor missile that sparked one of these fires, thousands of acres were burned in northern israel and it has really brought back a attention to the unsettled situation in northern israel where about 60,000 civilians, at least i have been displaced from their homes and their are growing calls to restore security there so they can return to their homes. and
said israel is getting close to a decision to launch a widespread campaign against hezbollah. such an action target iran backed group bigger and better armed than hamas draw extensive rocket fire deep into israel far greater than what was unfolded the past eight months along the northern front. on israel's southern front intensive military operations continue in gaza. other diplomatic efforts reach a cease-fire agreement hamas. the biden administration remains hopeful such a deal could happen in the coming days or weeks and is calling for the world to put new pressure on hamas to accept the terms. >> i'm not going to to negotiate with hamas in public. a proposal transmitted to hamas we will await hamas' response through official channels. >> the administration also indicated that the national security council was in touch today with the u.s. embassy in beirut after a shooting incident took place toward the compound this morning. reports indicate a lone gunman exchanged fire with lebanese
israelis who have been displaced in the north under repeated rocket fire, even today, very heavy rocket fire from the north, from hezbollah, unless it restores its regional deterrence, notjust local, state of israel is becoming in large areas uninhabitable. so when president biden, when the us administration say that hamas is now in such a position that it does not have the capability to carry out an attack anywhere near the tragedy is that we saw on october the 7th, in that guarantee from him not enough, somewhat you saying there? how. somewhat you saying there? now, hamas is not _ somewhat you saying there? now, hamas is not capable _ somewhat you saying there? now, hamas is not capable of _ somewhat you saying there? firm-n", hamas is not capable of doing that, that is true. and i believe there should be... a contradiction to my own government in israel, i believe there should be a morning after programme, the government has not done that so far. but even that morning after scenario has to take into account that hamas
ceasefire further if all the hostages can get out, but israel can't sign on a piece of paper that says hamas basically wins the war, because in order to win, hamas only has not to lose. by not losing, it can emerge from the tunnels, even if you put in an interim government with some kind of international involvement, hamas would slowly be able to assassinate anybody who assumes responsibility — they have done it repeatedly — whether it would take two years, five years, but for the tens of thousands of israelis who have been displaced in the south, that won't do. for the 80,000 israelis who have been displaced in the north under repeated rocket fire, even today, very heavy rocket fire from the north, from hezbollah, unless it restores its regional deterrence, notjust local, the state of israel is becoming in large areas uninhabitable. so when president biden, when the us administration say that hamas is now in such a position that it does not have the capability to carry
a long ceasefire, and even consider extending that ceasefire further if all the hostages can get out, but israel can't sign on a piece of paper that says hamas basically wins the war, because in order to win, hamas only has not to lose. by not losing, it can emerge from the tunnels, even if you put in an interim government with some kind of international involvement, hamas would slowly be able to assassinate anybody who assumes responsibility — they have done it repeatedly — whether it would take two years, five years, but for the tens of thousands of israelis who have been displaced in the south, that won't do. for the 80,000 israelis who have been displaced in the north under repeated rocket fire, even today, very heavy rocket fire from the north, from hezbollah, unless it restores its regional deterrence, notjust local, the state of israel is becoming in large areas uninhabitable. so when president biden,
in their 80s. >> we are sorry we couldn't save them in time. >> reporter: the idf says they died during an israeli operation months ago, and vowing to investigate difficult questions amid unconfirmed hamas claims they were killed by israeli fire. families of hostages now pressing the government to make a deal, including the parents of hersh goldberg polin. >> everyone in the region is ready for our suffering, agony, and misery to stop. it doesn't matter which side. >> reporter: inside gaza, the strikes and the suffering continue. with time running out for children like ahkmed who has cerebral palsy and needs surgery he can't get in the strip, where the health care system all but collapsed. last night, flames across northern israel after rocket fire from militants in lebanon, raising fears that without a deal soon, the war in gaza may spread across the region. >> raf sanchez reporting from
prime minister benjamin netanyahu's coalition: the increasing pressure on netanyahu not only coming from different parties but also from the general public who, once again, took to the streets over the weekend calling for a deal. on the battlefield, israeli forces launched a new operation in central gaza this afternoon as they go after hamas cells that regrouped in recent months and overnight the israeli military announced it had confirmed the deaths of four israelis who were being held by hamas in gaza. >> we are thoroughly examining the circumstances of their death and checking all possibilities. we will present soon their findings first to their families and then to the public. >> with activity continuing on the southern front, israeli alertness remains high in the north amid new rocket fire from hezbollah that sparked widespread fires along the border with lebanon. gillian? >> gillian: trey yingst in tel aviv for us tonight.