The chicago area mother and her 17yearold daughter feared kidnapped we spoke to their family what do you want your sister and your niece to know right now . We want to hug you, and we want you back home their last text before the terrorists broke in. And back home, the Major Development in the house, Republicans Nominating Steve Scalise for speaker over trump ally, jim jordan, but the major hurdle he still faces. Our Special Edition of nightly news begins now. Announcer this is nbc nightly news with lester holt reporting tonight live from israel. Good evening, everyone, and welcome. Almost five days after Hamas Terrorists launched their horrific assault on israel, theres a growing sense tonight this war is about to enter a new phase. Israel has been massing its troops and weapons on the border with the gaza strip, and there is widespread expectation that a Ground Invasion may begin soon this comes as israel prepares the way with an air assault on targets in gaza. The casualties are mounting on both sides. At least 1,200 in israel have been killed while 1,100 in gaza are dead, and the state Department Said today the number of americans killed has risen to 22 as the probability of an Israeli Ground operation grows. There is increasing concern about the fate of hostages being held by hamas in gaza, as many as 150 of them including some americans. Tonight Secretary Of State Antony Blinken is headed to the region he echoed President Biden saying he will tell israels officials that the u. S. Has israels back, and despite deep political fissures in israel recently, today political factions joining together a show of solidarity in the face of war tonight, anticipation growing in this intensifying mideast war. Terrified israelis taking cover as rockets fall to earth. One striking this hospital while israel keeps up the pressure on hamas in gaza with an unrelenting bombing campaign, people there taking shelter in a crowded hallway during one bombardment. Israeli forces saying they hit over 200 targets today in just one neighborhood they call a nest for Hamas Terrorists, and the pieces are now falling into place for a potential Ground Offensive. Israeli troops preparing to enter gaza to topple hamas leadership while tonight at the white house, President Biden speaking to Jewish Community leaders, talking about the scourge of antisemitism and why he took his children to see a Concentration Camp years ago. I wanted them to see that you could not not know what was going on and pressure growing on the president to take action on behalf of americans who are among the estimated 150 men, women, and children kidnapped by Hamas Terrorists who are threatening to execute their captives on camera. Folks, theres a lot were doing, a lot were doing. I have not given up hope im bringing these folks home. Tonight the family of 17yearold american Natalie Raanan and her mother judith feared they are among the hostages. We want the u. S. To help us find its citizens judith and natalie. These two are natalies aunt and grandmother. Natalie just graduated high school in suburban chicago they were in touch with her as hamas gunmen were outside their door were they on the phone or texting you they were texting us, because the orders were that no one should speak they should stay quiet so that hamas will not hear them and try to take them hostage. The last text was from natalie at 12 18 noon on saturday saying that theyre hearing shooting out of the apartment. We love you all, but were okay later natalies grandmother went to the apartment she and her mom were staying in the door to the backyard was broken. Its glass door, so they broke it, and i think from there they came into the house. Youve been feverishly making phone calls to israeli and american officials. What have you been able to learn . Nothing at all. Nothing no one has a hint of what where they are. What do you want your sister and your niece to know right now . I want them to know that were doing everything in our power to bring them back we do not forget them. Were very worried about them we love you, and we want to hug you, and we want you back home. In gaza tonight, so many say they have nowhere to run as israeli Retaliation Strikes flatten entire blocks this woman at a hospital where two of her children are injured saying her son is dead after their apartment was hit. Theyre just children. Why are they at fault . My children were playing in front of me suddenly the ceiling collapsed, she said back in israel, the first funerals were held for the hundreds of young Israeli Concertgoers massacred by hamas, and new images tonight showing the sheer brutality hamas unleashed. This image posted by israels Prime Minister showing a childs bedroom covered in blood, and this video shows Hamas Terrorists walking through an israeli village after slaughtering people. Their bodies in the streets. 25yearold Leal Fishbein and his family were at a kibbutz when their horror began, cramped inside a roughly 9x12foot shelter room like this one with his mother, 94yearold grandmother and her caretaker, and hamas gunmen roaming their town four of you and two dogs in this tiny room for 22 hours can you tell me what that was like . I use the word, you know, hell. Eventually Israeli Soldiers rescued them. He showed us where he was shot as they all escaped. When we walked toward the kibbutz, toward the kibbutz gate, we were shot, and then i felt my hip was hurt we i dived into the ground with my mother. The soldier yelled, are you alive, and i said, yes. His sister had been sheltering nearby, but they have not seen her since. She is among the missing. So, your belief is she was kidnapped . I feel it as her brother and just feel it in my body, yeah. What gives you hope that youll see your sister again i dont know. Im not counting on my i dont know we dont know yeah, we just dont know. How are you doing as a family right now . My mother is broken my grandmother, she is starting to realize about my sister, whats happene exactly and painful for everyone for everything here. It is painful how many people here are seeking answers. As i said off the top, Israeli Forces are massing in the south right now near the gaza border, a buildup that signals an impending Ground Offensive may not be far off. Richard engel is there tonight. Reporter israeli troops were caught off guard by hamas surprise Terror Attack now theyre taking the initiative Israeli Forces are streaming south and digging in to target the Hamasrun Gaza strip with artillery, tanks, and soldiers. The Ground Offensive could start at any time for the last five days, israel has been bombing gaza to weaken hamas and has cut off the power and water. Israels Defense Minister promises whats coming next will reshape gaza forever. We will reach all places, he says hamas wanted to change the situation it will change back 180 degrees, and they will regret this moment. As the Military Buildup picks up pace, israel has declared the entire area around gaza a military zone israel has brought in enough tanks and armor for a fullscale ground war and is now mobilizing the more than 360,000 reservists called up for National Service a new phase of this conflict is about to begin, and there will be many casualties for israeli troops, the risks are high hamas plan for saturdays murderous rampage into israel for a year, its gunmen showing a level of training and savagery that shocked israel and the world. New footage shows hamas Gunmen Paragliding into that Music Festival on saturday morning hamas has also prepared for israels Ground Invasion and says it welcomes it. Hamas has a network of tunnels and booby traps and knows the ground far better than israel. For the 2 million civilians in gaza, the risks are even higher. Gaza is one of the most densely Populated Areas on earth streettostreet fighting could kill thousands, and hamas is also holding an estimated 150 hostages there. The United States is fully backing israel and is already sending planeloads of weapons. The u. S. Has sent warships to the Eastern Mediterranean as a warning to hamas allies, hezbollah and lebanon and iran, to sit this one out. Made it clear, made it clear to the iranians, be careful. Reporter but will attacking gaza destroy hamas as israel hopes, or further radicalize the population locked inside what many describe as the Worlds Largest prison wherever hamas is located, wherever their terror capabilities are located, thats where we are going to find them reporter israel says it has no choice but to go in, that no nation could accept terrorists next door willing to slaughter women and children and take hostages as human shields. Richard, if this Ground Offensive happens, what is the military mission whats the end game they would expect . Reporter the end game is to topple hamas, but it seems difficult to imagine how a Ground Invasion is going to overthrow hamas in gaza unless israel is willing to reoccupy the gaza strip, and theres little appetite for that, so mostly its punitive, lester all right, Richard Engel tonight, thank you. Also this evening, were getting a more complete picture of how the Hamas Terrorists began their deadly assault raf sanchez is in southern israel tonight with that. Reporter tonight, new details about the opening moments of hamas Surprise Attack and new questions about the failure to stop them. Terrorists arrived at the gates of kibbutz beeri just before 6 00 a. M. On saturday. Unable to get through, they lay in wait for israeli civilians to arrive today we walked through those same gates. This is the main entrance to the kibbutz. Following a trail of horrors spread across this kibbutz, a small israeli farming commune. The scenes of destruction here are just staggering. The Israeli Military says 40 hostages were held in this house, six soldiers were killed trying to liberate them, and ultimately you can see the house completely burned down. Reporter some houses frozen in time from the moment of the attack, and lying nearby, a gopro the killers brought to record their deeds nbc news obtaining these Images Released by hamas showing the bodies of dead Israeli Soldiers that were subsequently beheaded. This footage shows families from beeri being marched barefoot from their homes only to be murdered soon after. The bodies of more than 100 civilians were found here including many children, some of them still lying in silent rows it took israels military two days of intense fighting to regain control. Every time that we saw that we clean the area, and everything was silent, suddenly another 12 or another 20 would go out. Reporter tonight, there were combat troops on every street, but the painful question, where were they when hamas attacked do you feel your response here was too slow i dont use with feeling now. I use with a mission we need to save the people, to protect our land, and to switch to attack reporter and how did Israeli Intelligence miss signs of hamas preparations including training on paragliders, and even building a mock town to practice their Attack Questions that will haunt israel for generations to come. And raf joining us now from ashdod. Raf, what more do we know about irans possible involvement in the planning of this attack . Reporter lester, two sources tonight tell nbc news that american intelligence shows iran was surprised by the attack, which suggests they werent informed in advance, but the Biden Administration has not yet reached a firm conclusion about irans possible role, lester all right, raf sanchez, thank you. In 60 seconds, deadly violence in the middle east exposed deep divisions in the u. S. Inside the Culture Clash at home right after this the hamas Terrorist Attack on israel and the escalating war it sparked have led to heartbreak, anger, and tension in the United States Many Americans are on edge as rhetoric gets heated and misinformation spreads. Stephanie gosk reports. Reporter at times this week the hostility between proisraeli and propalestinian groups has spilled out on the streets, and the israelipalestinian conflict has always fueled intense debate, but after hamas indiscriminate killing of so many innocent people, the tension in the u. S. Feels heightened College Campuses are a flash point. In the hours after the attack, Student Groups at harvard released a letter saying they hold the Israeli Regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence former harvard president Larry Summers called their message morally unconscionable the university, like many other universities, move very slowly to condemn hamas terror. Reporter under pressure by summers and others, the universitys president condemned hamas saying the letter did not speak for the school since then multiple groups have withdrawn their signatures from the letter terror is beyond the pale there is only one legitimate position with respect to terror. Reporter is it possible right now to be both horrified by these attacks and also publicly critical of the Israeli Government of course reporter a position we heard at a rally. Im here to give support and a voice to the people without a voice. Reporter columbia Grad Student Nora Suleman is palestinian. I do not support hamas at all, right . I support the palestinian right to resist i dont support the slaughter of innocent people on either side. Reporter at rutgers these jewish students are concerned antiisraeli sentiment could fuel antisemitism. Ive been hearing the tone of its less of israelis are bad but more of jews are bad, and thats really scary. Reporter the worry words can be dangerous. Thousands of miles away or right here at home stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york coming up, republicans nominate a new house speaker, but can Steve Scalise get the full support he needs and stop the Party Infighting . Next in washington today, House Republicans moved closer to picking their new speaker, nearly nominating Steve Scalise of louisiana. Ryan nobles is at the capitol, and, ryan, scalise has the momentum, but is it a sure thing reporter its not right now, lester, and scalise, the majority leader, did win that Close Internal republican vote for the job, but he would need almost every member of the republican conference to vote for him on the floor in order to lock up the speakers job and right now several republicans say theyre not prepared to support him at this stage. As a result that vote is delayed, and the republicans are going to wait until they have the votes locked up before moving to the next step. Scalise, of course, almost lost his life after being shot at a congressional Baseball Game in 2017 he was diagnosed with a treatable form of blood cancer in August Lester and, ryan, if scalise does become speaker, hes got a long to do list facing him. Reporter yeah, thats right whoever is the speaker is going to have to deal with the looming Budget Showdown and, of course, questions over additional aid to israel and ukraine and a looming border crisis, and just today a group of new york republicans say that theyre going to file a resolution to expel the embattled congressman, george santos, this after santos was hit with a new round of charges related to Campaign Finance violations of course, lester, none of this matters if there isnt a speaker of the house, because no votes can be cast. Lester all right, ryan noble, thanks. Coming up, a country forever changed as families face a grim reality after an attack likened to israels 9 11 finally tonight, as Kelly Cobiella reports, the terror here has left this country forever changed. Reporter the sounds are imprinted on nearly every israelis mind after hamas terror descended on the desert. The attack has shaken the country to its core every one of us knows somebody who is taken in captivity. Reporter at least 1,200 people murdered in a country of just under 10 million, the equivalent of over 40,000 dead if it had happened in the u. S. , and scenes echo 9 11, which reshaped the United States forever. Nothing is normal we are worried we are angry reporter this region is no stranger to war half a century ago, the Yom Kippur War left the country deeply scarred now its different. No place feels safe. It was something else, something unbelievable we are not used to being so vulnerable. Reporter this mother of two spent hours in a safe room at her home. She says the army never came for them. They escaped on their own. Has this changed everything in your mind this was the first time that we left the kibbutz, and as we drove through the gate, i said, i dont think im coming back. I dont think i can still live here. I dont feel safe in my home, and thats something that has never happened to me reporter tonight, hope for peace feels shattered. The options on the ground remain as bitter as ever before. Kelly cobiella, nbc news, tel aviv and it appears more dark days lie ahead. Thats nightly news. Thank you for watching im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night im raj mathai. Next on nbc bay area news tonight, we dont see this too often, a car chase in the east bay. Our chopper was overhead. Well show you the dramatic ending and where those people fled. Also, the war between israel and hamas intensifying. Were joined by our nbc correspondent on the ground in tel aviv. What he is seeing tonight. Plus we heard the bombs. Thats
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