Hello and welcome. Joining us here in the United States and All Around The World as we continue at breaking News Coverage of israel at war. Im melissa church. Keeping up on strikes on gaza saying it severely degraded hamas. Coming two days after they launched a large scale attempt. They do acknowledge israelis are not yet in full control of their territory along the border with a gaza. Overnight hamas also claiming to have launched a Missile Attack on the Southern Israeli city. The militants say 100 rockets were fired and in response to Israeli Sanctuary had thenesses. And this all comes as hamas now claims to be holding more than 100 hostages in gaza including five ranking israeli officials. Well inside israel, the death toll from hamas multipronged attack has now climbed past 700. At least 260 were killed at the Music Festival. Showing the bodies of some of the victims from that festival near the israel gaza border. That site is one of many targeted i sunt. She joined us live. Benjamin netanyahu is warning of a long and difficult war ahead. So what is the latest on the air strikes overnight . And of course the hostage crisis, gripping the country as it comes to terms . And the rockets that we have seen overnight has continued to intensify according to the ambassador to the u. S. Thousands of rockets fired from within gaza into israeli territories. Many of them intercepted at the defense system, but some have made landfalls hitting targets including where an Apartment Building is said to have been struck by a rocket fired from gaza. But of course, we have also seen the intensification of those strikes, by the idf on the gaza strip according to the idf. These strikes have been targeting hamas positions it in particular hamas command centers. Of course, this is a densely populated area, and its higher for civilians to be caught in the crossfire according to the idf. Some 500 targets were struck overnight in gaza. But where she been learning more about these situations within israeli territory. In fact, in the last jury moments, we have given you the key updates from that briefing from the international spoke person who says their idea is still fighting along those territories, infiltrated by the hamas fighters over the weekend there about seven to eight sites where they are engaged in fighting with hamas operatives and fighters on the ground. Of course, this according to the idf has taken more time than they expected. They had anticipated that they would be in a better place this morning than they are at this current point in time. According to the idf, there may still be areas where hamas fighters are infiltrating into israeli territory. Thats a key for them to secure those areas that have been regaining control over those border areas. Now as you heard from Benjamin Netanyahu, the israeli Prime Minister, speaking over the weekend. Thats certainly the focus of what has the first phase of israel the. Attack. And of the hostage situation, we know, of course, hostages were captured by hamas and taken into gaza. Hamas claims more than 100. At it this stage, they are not saying that they are putting a target. The efforts put in place by the idf to rescue these hostages has proven complex as they have been taken into gaza. What where she seen in the past typically, a response of finding the idf when it comes to the air strikes on gaza. This has added a layer of complexity because its believed many of these hostages have been dispersed around gaza, so there is concern the Israeli Citizens, as well as Palestinian Civilians, will be caught in the crossfire. Of course, in order to extricate these israeli civilians, these hostages, it is anticipated that a large Ground Presence by the idf will be necessary. Now of course, this is in anticipation that the idf will carry out a more fierce Military Response. We know, of course, according to Benjamin Netanyahu, that they are setting up their offensive preparations and it is anticipated again that they could well be a Ground Offensive in gaza launched. Its unclear when this will take base and no indication that it is imminent to say the least. While the question of when and if this will happen. Now of course, when it comes to the gaza strip, this is a deeply complex issue we are talking about. A very small enclave, density populated under the land, sea, air blockade enforced since 2007. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his cabinet has come to the decision to cut off the supply of the electricity in order to stifle hamas operations. But as you can imagine, this will have a severe humanitarian impact as well. So there is a lot at stake here and all eyes will be watching what is next for the Israeli Military as it progresses into the next phase of response to saturdays attack by hamas. Cnn bringing us the very latest. Thanks for joining us live from london there. Among the hostages that are taken by hamas militants, young people who were celebrating a jewish holiday at a Music Festival near the gaza border that the hamas gunman who stormed the site didnt just take hostages. They also murdered hundreds of festival goers. P we caution you they were about to show how graphic they were when they visited that site. Reporter what happened just off this quiet border road was a massacre. The bodies of the perpetrators still remain. While the fate of many victims is unknown. Organizers of the super nova Music Festival say that thousands of young revelers have gathered to celebrate the end of the holidays. Just after 6 00 a. M. , hamas militants launched a bloody attack. And so we are just now on the approach to where that dance party was taken place . Vehicles that have been shot up, the bodies of at least one, two hamas fighters. I think there are more down this way. Many of the victims spent hours in hiding. Waiting to be rescued, love calling for their loved ones. Its been difficult to get a precise number. Reporter now a voluntary group that handles Human Remains says at least 260 bodies have been found at the festival site. The government here took a bold step, releasing an image of scores of body bags in a tent where investigators were tasked with identifying them. So you can see over here the body of at least one person. I dont think you want to get too close to it. Its pretty graphic. Reporter active fighting continues along the stretch throughout the day as Israeli Military forces poured in. So were seeing a bunch of tanks being brought down this way. You can also hear a steady stream of booms. Apparently rockets, landing in the distance in that direction. And certainly a feeling that people are on high alert. We were told no Uncertain Terms that they need to turn around. Clarissa ward there for us. Hundreds of young people were killed and were taken hostage. Joining me now is ruby chan. And he is a citizen of the u. S. And israel who is serving in the defense forces. And he is now missing. He joins me from israel. Thank you so much for talking with me on this very difficult time. No, thank you for having me and lending all the voices. And now your son was serving in the Idf Armed Core at the Gaza Border On saturday when this attack took place. He is now missing in action. When were you told he had been taken hostage and what all did the Israeli Government tell you about what happened to your son . Are they keeping you updated . Yes. Just to be more precise. So what we have been updated is from the idf. It is the defense forces. And a command of that is in charge of notifying the first relatives of those that are missing in action and that is the exact definition. It means since saturday morning, no one has been able to identify him. No one has seen him in the hospital. And he is also not one of the deceased. Meaning he and his team have basically vanished. Meaning missing in action. What would you like to share with us about your son . Yeah, so he mass won the full kid. As said, hes in the u. S. Culture. A big basketball fan. He grew up adoring kobe bryant, which was a bit difficult to me as im a New York Knicks fan, but you know, thats how kids are. And his younger brother, hes suppose to celebrate his bar mitzvah, which is the jewish ceremony from turning a kid into a man. That was suppose to happen on saturday. We are all playing and hoping that we will be able to celebrate this together with we certainly hope that happens. Your son as you mentions is a receive similar six. What is your message to the Prime Minister and to joe biden . And indeed i would like to take this opportunity to reach out to President Biden. If i would have had the opportunity to talk to him, id tell him about a young kid like myself growing up in the American Public education system. And in the morning, we would all stand up and pledge allegiance to the flag. And the behind that was the american values. And now we all believed in. Saying that if myself or my family would be in danger, United States will be behind us. What im asking today from the president of the United States is that kid, 40 years ago that would put his hand on his chest and continue saying one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. To back up, to be able to back up those words. And for that kid 40 years ago and for all kids, waking up today across the United States of america. Back up those words and pick up the phone. Call who you need to call. You have multiple american citizens being held captive in gaza. Please pick up the phone. Call these people, explain to them the demands they will be treated to the prisoner of law and allowed the event cost to visit these pows and make sure they are safe. That is what im asking for President Biden not to take a second to be behind, but lead like youre suppose to. Is the greatest nation in the world for the values of liberty and justice, and help us here that we are in danger and need the u. S. To help us and protect our people. We hope your son comes home safely. Thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it. Thank you for having us. And there is much more to come here on cnn as we continue our breaking News Coverage of israel at war. Well be right back. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has vowed mighty vengeance on hamas after a highly coordinated surprised assault over the weekend. Netanyahu has warned israel is now preparing for a long and difficult war as the death toll rises into the hundreds on both sides. This video obtained by reuters shows idf soldiers, patrolling a city on the israel gaza border. A spokesperson for the Israeli Defense forces tells cnn they arent in full control of all border areas yet. And the military is working to secure the border while hunting down any operatives in israel. While much of the world is reacting to the hamas attacks with the shock and outrage, one is celebrating the military groups actions. The iranian president is able to say his country supports the palestinian nations legitimate defense against what he calls the regime of israel. And over what role they might have played in the coordinated attacks on israel. The staid media says that they were saying israel and their reporters are responsible for endangering the securities of the countries in the middle east. It is a manifestation of resistance and standing up against the regime. The palestinian soldiers and all palestinian groups in the Islamic Group should be graduated for this victory. The u. S. Is sending Military Assistance to israel and lloyd austin announced sunday that a u. S. Carrier strike group is headed to the eastern sea. And the u. S. Is also sending in more fighter jets to the region. The u. S. Officials say the purpose of the Military Assistance is to deter any e pangs of the fighting beyond israels borders. We have more now from washington. The u. S. Is sending the Carrier Strike group on ford and the Carrier Strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean sea as they watch the beginnings of the war unfold and promising to carry out the Widespread Campaign in gaza. It includes the carrier itself as well as the destroyer is not to get involved in this fighting or take part in any way in their campaign against gaza. Its a message to others in the region outside of israel. Joe biden said telling them not to get involved as they are trying to exploit this opportunity without naming them. And it is clearly a message to lebanon and backed militias in syria. Not only is the Carrier StrikeGroup Heading from the western med to the eastern med, but also several more fighter jets that are heading to the region. Now those fighters wont go to israel, but the other areas where they are based again as a warning to iran to not try to take advantage of the situation. Israel we also learned from the u. S. Official has requested certain arms from the United States. In particular precision guided munitions as well as Iron Dome Intercepters. Those are the two that the u. S. And israel has used at this point, carrying out the air strikes in gaza using the precision guided munitions, so it makes sense that they are requesting more of that. And ine credibly busy intercept, pretty much the moment began on the rocket fire. Iron dome has played a Critical Role there and israel is looking for more of the Iron Dome Intercepter missiles. Of course, they have their own stocks in it and they use those, but there is also an understanding that israel could tap into the u. S. Stocks, some of which is in israel in that event of an emergency. And lloyd austin and the counterparts, spoke for a Second Con Secttive Day On Sunday and it seems they will be keeping up the e steady cadence of Communications Just to make sure the u. S. Is giving israel what they have and what they want and what it needs. Joe biden and many of the Biden Administration promising full support for israel. Cnn in washington. And the president of the Israel Democracy Institute and a former member who will join me now near tel aviv. Thank you so much for joining us. And thanks for having me this morning. And what is your initial response to news of the Surprise Attack of hamas involved with the coordinated attacks by the land, air, and sea . And we were surprised and they declared war on israel, a horrific war that will include the goals of the killing families, youth, and basically killing as many israeli civilians as possible as part of the broader going of hamas to destroy the state of israel. It sounds horrific are, but there is a plan that is supported by them and the terrible atrocities that are now being surfaced where the discovery on the entire families and mothers, three kids, girls, boys, the old people and all those survivors were both killed, slaughtered, taken hostage to gaza. So it is a general cycle and that organization and supported by iran, perpetrated a horrific attack and to continue to perpetrate such attacks just a few hours ago with dozens of operatives in Southern Israel. So the fighting, they will continue to go on and there is only one way to deal with it and it is basically to absolutely destroy and crush hamas capabilities and to launch any kind of war fair. The previous doctrine of what we could do to live side by side next to this tiger or a monster and hopefully that it will retain itself. This has failed and israel is now going to embark on a new path and a path that means we need to basically crush their capabilities and this would be hard and long. Right and in this stage, there is no evidence that iran is behind this . I understand your speculation on that point given the history here. And so i want to ask you though that you want their money in an ongoing basis that they accomplished hamas and jihad as a front base to try to, again, implement violating israel. Specifically on this attack whether iran knew when and where and the tactics that i dont know for sure. So given the specifics of this operation and we have never seen hamas. How was it possible and so many people involved. How is it possible they didnt see this attack coming . Why was that initial response to the attacks so slow that even they are asking these questions . And look, those are excellent questions and obviously we will have to think about them very seriously and develop the responses because there was both an intelligent failure and an operations failure. But right now, it is not the time to delve into the first ones in those questions. Right now is the time to Restore Security and respond back forcefully. And There Will