& friends" with a fox news alert, again. the israeli defense forces say they have raided hamas' general security headquarters overnight. they are now surrounding other areas of interest in northern gaza. >> ainsley: this comes as the israeli government is reportedly considering flooding the terrorist group's tunnels with the mediterranean sea water. >> brian: you just want to find out if the hostages are there though, right? trey yingst is live in southern israel. trey? >> yeah, hey, guys, good morning. we are following this report from the "wall street journal" indicating that israel is considering flooding the tunnel network at least of northern gaza with sea water from the mediterranean sea. they have reportedly placed five large pumps near the camp in the northern part of gaza. and they are waiting to see if they will actually move forward with this plan. but it is significant to discuss because, if they do this, it would destroy the tunnel network but it also risks damaging significant infrastructure across gaza and possibly damaging the fresh water that civilians use to drink there. with that said, israeli forces still operating in the northern part of the strip, they say they were able to target hamas' general security headquarters overnight near the jabalia neighborhood. soldiers from two separate units locating rockets and weapons in this area before calling in airstrikes. israel is expected to complete offensive operations in northern gaza in the coming weeks. also in recent hours. israel ramped up its campaign against southern gaza. their efforts focused aren't the city of chan eunice. last night's airstrikes were some of the heaviest since the war began. a source in the southern city of rafah telling fox news that cell service was temporarily cut in gaza as the operation ramped up. now, amid this new push in the second phase of the war, the civilian death toll in gaza is rising rapidly, there are new concerns about the possibility of more iranian regional activity against israel and its allies. in a, quote, a spokesman for the foreign ministry in iran said no action against iran, its interest or advisory force also go unanswered a clear threat against israel and the united states in the region as we do know the israelis are striking hezbollah targets today in southern lebanon after new fire in northern israel. guys, back to you. >> brian: trey, are there corridors for people to escape out being they are moving south and everyone moved south? >> so the israelis have released a new detailed map that actually breaks down the gaza strip into hundreds of different sectors. and they are using both leaf let drops, phone calls, and alerts on this site to tell people to move to safer areas. the issue here is that no area in gaza is safe. they do have a small strip of land they say is a humanitarian safe zone. but, other than that, they are bombing the entirety of the gaza strip. so they're telling people to move south. but there are more than 2 million civilians in gaza and simply running out of places to go. >> steve: trey, regarding your lead story about how, according to the "wall street journal" it sounds like the israelis are thinking about flooding the tunnels with sea water from the mediterranean, but that could endanger the fresh water in gaza. is there a possibility that is just a head fake? hey, we're going to do this in hopes that they move people t of the tunnels? because the last thing israel wants is to be accused of destroying their water supply. >> yeah. we're so far into this conflict, 60 days in, it's challenging to know exactly what their think something behind this process because you raise a great point. some of the hostages that are still in gaza are likely held in the tunnel system beneath the strip. if they flood the tunnels they risk killing the hostages. it's incredibly challenging decision to make on top of the fact that they have already destroyed quite a bit of civilian infrastructure in gaza. there is this question about the day after the war. they will have to deal with a civilian population on their border that is facing a humanitarian crisis. so damaging the fresh water system in gaza will be another headache for the israelis to deal with and they will face renewed international pressure. even today the world health organization raising flags saying the situation in gaza is getting worse by the hour. and they need to remember that as the war continues, and the ground and air campaign continues against the strip, you have 2 million civilians that are living there. >> ainsley: that shows they are being strategic. they are trying to look at all the different scenarios how they can go in there and safely rescue these hostages. yesterday at the u.n. there was an event hosted by israel and several people that you know of, hillary clinton, and kristin gillibrand the senator and cheryl sandberg who used to be the coo of facebook. she also wrote that book lean. in she spoke to fox digital after the event. she also spoke during the event. there were 700 people there. there were also israeli officers sharing their experiences after recovering women's bodies after october r 7th. but, first, before i tell you what some of them said, listen to sheryl sandberg who had a message saying that rape is unacceptable. >> the world has to decide who to believe. do we believe the hamas spokesperson who said that rape is forbidden, therefore, it couldn't have possibly happened on october 7th? or do we believe the women whose bodies tell us how they spent the last minutes of their lives. this goes beyond politics. if we can't agree that rape is wrong, then we have accepted the unacceptable. then the question will be not what is happening in the middle east. but what is happening to our humanity. >> ainsley: the israeli officers can i share really quickly, steve. >> steve: yeah. >> ainsley: they found girls with broken pelvises. women and girls that were naked and covered in blood. women and girls with shooting wounds targeting their sexual organs. they had breath amputations. other parts of females amputated. naked women and girls in the showers with their hands tied behind their backs. >> steve: that's right. here's the thing. we know there were atrocities across the gamut on october 7th. here's the thing. keep in mind, the hamas people are holding a lot of women and children still and it sound like those women are being raped. yesterday at the state department, spokesperson matt miller said last friday, there were more women to be released but they couldn't come up with a list because, in the speculation is that those women who are being held by hamas now would tell the world once they were released that hamas is raping us right now. it's not just october 7th. that was terrible. but it continues. and so the suggestion for the department of state, foggy bottom is that that is why they pulled the plug on more hostages. >> brian: columbia university there is a big counteroffensive meeting. student at lump i can't host an event on the significance of october 7th. saying palestinian counter college students endorsing hamas' violent acts. quote. we will discuss the significance of the palestinian counteroffensive. see you all there. you can find out how to attend and the details on x. this is how crazy. it's not just the extremist group that want to tell you what you know to be the truth. it is right in up town new york city. >> steve: october 7th, according to those people, brian, counteroffensive by hamas. it wasn't a massacre -- of course it was -- but it was a counteroffensive. >> ainsley: in virginia jewish group deciding the art festival to not go ahead with lighting the menorah. governor posted on x in part. this is absurd. it's anti-semitic, and the organizers should reconsider. >> brian: on a separate note. we are not going to follow it. we know the truth. drill that into everybody's head smart enough to watch us. tomorrow night there is going to be another debate. meanwhile another event that some would say is bigger than that. that is president trump will participate with sean hannity in a town hall it find out what the president thinks about being so fafar up with everybody else trying to take a bite out of his lead with the iowa caucus weeks away. >> ainsley: going to be in davenport, iowa tonight at 9:00. and if you want to go to that event, you could go to hannity.com. >> steve: in the meantime right here on friends@foxnews.com. lawrence jones is having breakfast with friends. he is at the eggs up grill in clayton, north carolina. where they just realized they are on tv and starting to cheer for the guy from new york. [cheers] >> lawrence: it's because they know i'm really from texas, steve. so, everyone is talking about the primary today. i was talking to this young lady earlier today. and i go why did you get up so early? we appreciate it all these folks that come out early in the morning, you know, we are used to getting up this early in the morning. but then to put their clothes on, shoes on, get up. have some breakfast and talk with us. do you not see what is happening with the country? do you not see the inflation? i needed to let my voice be heard. so let's go talk with some of the folks here in north carolina. all right, brother, let's move. i want you to hear from that lady that told me that ma'am, so earlier, i was talking with you, and i told why did you get up so early and you said do you not see what is happening with the country? >> that's right. it's a mess. and we wanted to come out and let our voice be heard. >> lawrence: so y'all told me, look, trump is y'all's guy. why? >> i think we were in good shape in the four years that we had trump. and now we are really going down hill. inflation is killing us. basically the poor are really suffering. and it's hard to see anything happening positive. >> lawrence: ma'am, you are from california, you say it's hitting you, too? >> hitting us here, there, and everywhere. not just california. i supported trump since california in many ways i really think that this country has gone to shame a lot in these past four years. we want trump back, yes. i mean, i'm considering other people, but trump is definitely my guide. they know there is a republican primary going on. they like the other candidates. they are just still in trump's camp. we will be talking with folks all morning about the issues impacting them. i will send it back to you all in new york. [cheers and applause] >> steve: i love the place. the slogan back there is let me make you smile. let's do that for the next three hours, lawrence. [cheers and applause] >> lawrence: i told that to the producers how can we include that in the shot. >> ainsley: you have been there before. someone has been there on our show or do they have eggs up grill all over the country? i have seen that before? >> lawrence: yeah, so i was at one of the locations last week. and we decided to go to the one in north carolina. >> steve: awesome. >> ainsley: how quickly i forget. it was last week. >> brian: find out franchise details and maybe bay franchise at the end of the show. >> lawrence: we missed you yesterday. good to see you back on the couch. >> brian: as i come, in you go out. why is that? why do you keep traveling? [laughter] >> lawrence: that's right. i'm trying to be like you when i grow up. that's why. [laughter] >> brian: why does everyone think it's so funny. >> ainsley: walk while you talk, brian thinks he invented that you will be like him. >> i don't have the private jet yet. >> brian: neither i do. >> ainsley: takes rides on people's jets and say come get on my plane. he says okay. it's free. a botched shoplifting attack at macy's takes a tragic turn leaving one security guard dead. paul mauro on america's crime crisis. that's next. >> steve: plus, "fox & friends" sat down with the parents of evan gershkovich marking 250 days since he was wrongly detained in russia. >> evin prison. the prison designed to isolate and break you down. we want the u.s. government to do whatever it takes to bring evan home. >> steve: that "fox & friends" exclusive interview coming up today on our show. >> brian: you have wild video of a virginia home exploding as police were executing a search warrant. a live report on that investigation, next. ♪ with the freestyle libre 2 system, know your glucose level and where it's headed. no fingersticks needed. manage your diabetes with more confidence. freestyle libre 2. try it for free at freestylelibre.us if you're looking for a medicare supplement insurance plan that's smart now... i'm 65. and really smart later i'm 70-ish. consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan from unitedhealthcare. with this type of plan, you'll know upfront about how much your care costs. which makes planning your financial future easier. so call unitedhealthcare today to learn more about the only plans of their kind with the aarp name. and set yourself and your future self up with an aarp medicare supplement plan from unitedhealthcare. 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(engine accelerating) (texting clicks) (tires squeal) (glass shattering) (loose gravel clanking) ♪ [explosion] everyone sane a fox news alert. that home explodes rocking a northern virginia neighborhood last night as police were actually there standing in the yard. they were executing a search warrant. the scene is still roped' off this morning. >> alexandria hoff has been monitoring the scene overnight and joins us now. alex? >> this happened overnight. this is still the talk of the town. everybody is nearby in d.c. it's right over the bridge. we have seen reports from people two or three miles away saying their homes shook with this blast and visuals you saw absolutely stunning and horrifying. this explosion was the fiery conclusion to a three and a half hour barricade situation. police were initially called to this arlington home around 4:45 p.m. for reports of possible shots heard. now, according to an updated release by the arlington county police department this morning, quote: the preliminary investigation indicated the suspect discharged a flare gun approximately 30 to 40 times from inside his residents into the surrounding neighborhood. so, proprietorship to the blast, officers had obtained a search warrant for the home and attempted contact with the man inside using the phone and loud speakers that didn't quite work. around 8:25 p.m. police say the suspect discharged several rounds from what investigators believe was a firearm inside. it was during this time that the home exploded. during the process of the stand joff close neighbors were walked. only aware of one suspect being inside at the time. >> brian: that's horrific. 19 minutes now after the hour. >> ainsley: hand it over to carley for headlines. >> carley: shocking news here in this bob menendez story it. keeps on going. the gold bars found in new jersey senator bob menendez home during that september fbi raid are reportedly connected to an armed robbery that took place about a decade ago. according to court documents a new jersey businessman now accused of bribing menendez told police in 2013 that he was the victim of a gunpoint robbery where thieves made off with cash and the gold bars. they were returned to him and records revealed those bars had the same serial number as the one found in menendez' home. menendez has denied any wrongdoing and now faces up to 45 years in prison for bribery, conspiracy, and other charges. the family of the 9-year-old chiefs fan dubbed a racist by dead spin is considering suing the outlet for defamation. holden armistice parents sending letter to dead spin parent company demanding retraction and apology. holden and his father joined "jesse watters primetime" last week to discuss the damage that the article has caused. >> start position get me a little nervous if they go a little bit overboard it's a little scary. >> bub barks would you like an apology? what would you like from karen carronat dead spin. >> it's a little too late for that the damage is already done. shoplifting attempt turtle fatal at macy's at center city philadelphia. two disawrdz confronted a man trying to steal hats: one of the security guards dying at hospital jefferson not too far away and other treated for stab wounds. suspect arrested in a nearby neighborhood. he tried to flee on mass transit. bring in former new york city police department inspector general paul mauro. this guy and this macy's in center city has been started steal caps and hats somebody came over said don't do, that put it down. he came back later, stabbed him. >> this incident imports so many of the issues that we have been discussing about retail theft. first of all, let's use new york numbers. i'm more familiar with them. in new york, last year. over a third of all shoplifting was done by about 325 people. that's, i'm sure, something that can you map to philadelphia. there is going to be a very finite group that is doing this stuff day in and day out. it's interdictable. you just need the will. didn't used to be that way. we remember when it wasn't. you are going to get stuff like this if you don't enforce. there is no disincentive. >> steve: local abc affiliate checking their website they are reporting that the 30-year-old guy sounds like he has been involved in retail theft for a while. >> sounds like more of a low rent shoplifter for lack of a better turn. you get two varieties folks doing it. people living on the street. things like that. selling it sometimes for drug money. sometimes for other things. or you get the organize theft rings. can you generally tell from the target the organized theft rings tend to be targeting designer goods. >> steve: why would the guy come back. they said put the stuff down and he did. answered came back with a big knife and killed one of them. >> that's rare. and thankfully. this sounds to me like maybe a little bit of a more low rent thing. he seems to have taken something real personal here. this is what happens when we inculcate in thieves the idea that they have some right to do this kind of thing what you get met with when you take that away is righteous anger. they are actually upset about it. shouldn't have happened. you have to enforce with more than a summons. which is all they do down in philadelphia. they have to knock this out. meanwhile some poor guy is not going to get to have christmas with his family. >> steve: down in filly, the d.a. that guy. >> krasner. they reelected him. i don't know what to say to electorate that reelects somebody with that track record. i'm hoping they are going to wise up. with him in there, i wouldn't suspect any sea changes. >> paul mauro, thank you very much. >> thank you. >> steve: today university presidents from harvard and u penn and mit are going to testify before congress on the surge of semitism on college campuses. jewish student calling on yale donors to take action. plus, lawrence is having breakfast with friends in the ttar heels state. look at that flipping pancakes, lawrence. ♪ ♪ hillsdale was founded in 1844 we're passing on