Live. As you look at gaza. The Death Toll Climbing to 70, with hundreds wounded according to israeli officials those the official numbers as of now. Hamas militants launched a surprise simultaneous rocket and Ground Attack at the break of dawn on saturday. Israeli Officials Say hamas fired about 2500 rocket into the. Infiltrated israels borders by land in sea but israel certainly heading back with retaliatory airstrikes in the gaza strip. Palestinian Health Officials at least 198 people have been killed. More than 1600 injured. Israels military said, the palestinian fighters penetrated at least three military installations. Those at the ahrens border crossing, the zakim base as well as the Gaza Division headquarters at rain. In front of hamas, has taken israel hostages. Israels Prime Minister says the President Biden as well as Secretary Of StateAntony Blinken says the u. S. Fully supports israels right to defend itself. So right now our reporters and analysts around the world are standing by on this very latest on all of this Breaking News. Were gonna go right to nbcs rob sanchez, hes in the city of that is in southern israel. Rough, welcome. The last time i saw, you there was active fighting going on, not far behind. You near helicopter. Theyre waiting to ferry people to hospitals as needed. Tell me whats going on right now . Well, alex, i dont know if you can hear it, west of where we are, we can hear the explosions as the Israeli Military strikes inside the gaza strip, the trees in between me and, cant see exactly. But we can presume that these are either israeli airstrikes, or Israeli Ground forces, carrying out these continuing wave of strikes inside gaza, in response to this Surprise Attack that has taken israel so badly. By the surprise catching them as we are just outside the fighting continues. Inside the city of surat. Israeli Ground Forces continuing to face off against palestinian gunmen there. Some of the images we have seen coming out of this city over the course of the 12 hours or so, this has been going on. They are like a nightmare for israelis, they cannot wake up from. We are seeing footage of squads, of heavily armed palestinian gunmen. On the streets, taking people hostage, marking marching them barefoot through their own neighborhoods, and then we are seeing some of those captives appearing inside of gaza, theres one particularly harrowing video of a woman inside of gaza, she is, if tied shes bloodied, she is terrified. Shes being forced into the back of a captured Israeli Military vehicle. The israeli army is confirming that there are both civilians and Military Personnel among those captives inside of gaza. Alex, it was that factor that is the key dynamic in terms of figuring out what comes next. Israel will go to almost any lengths to get its people back. We can imagine its wing very, very heavily on is really decisionmakers from when Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu on downwards. This is not only an attack that has seen on enormous loss of life, there are at least 70 israelis dead. We suspect the real number may be much higher. This is a hostage situation. There are hostages asians unfolding inside of israel, much, much bigger scale than israelis inside of gaza. And the Israeli Intelligence military and Security Apparatus will be figuring out right now what is the best way to get those people back. Alex, those strikes were hearing inside of gaza appear to be taking a devastating toll there. The Palestinian HealthMinistry Says at least 200 people have been killed in the last couple of hours by israeli strikes. As you know alex, there are 2 million civilians who live inside of gaza. They are sealed in by the Israeli Security border on two sides by the egyptian border, on the third side, in the Mediterranean Sea on the fourth side. There is nowhere to run. There is nowhere to hide. And if it is the case, that israel launches a full scale ground defensive into gaza, we can expect that as well already a truly devastating death toll is going to rise further. Alex . Rough, do you have any idea the witness intel on how these hostages are being taken across the border from israel into gaza . I will say that i read one account, i believe its attributed to the associated press, that they would be taken on motorcycles. And brought back that way. Does that make sense to you . Does that seem realistic . Have you seen that . We havent seen that with our own eyes, alex, but it makes sense. And i will tell you key thing to understand here is in the early hours of today, israel completely lost control over the border that separates israel from the gaza strip. It is normally one of the most secure tightest, one of the most militarized borders in the world. It is guarded by watchtowers, by a highly sophisticated border wall. And israel was caught completely bulldozers in some places alex as i said, earlier some of them literally flying over the wall with paragliders and hang gliders, and landing in the heart of israel. To carry out this attack. Alex . It is absolutely extraordinary, and you anticipated my question on, now we know that there were bulldozers used to help tear down that will. Tell me how fortified that wall is one would assume that there would be the ability for israel on its side of the border right there to keep that border properly fortified. Did something not be in place . Was something that placed . Did something that work . Its because its hard to understand how the strength of these are a as really minister was not able to fight back against this incursion. It is baffling, alex. Its almost impossible to understand. There has clearly been an intelligence failure on a major, major scale. That the israeli and Security Apparatus was not able to detect. The preparations for this large scale, Surprise Attack. Alex, honestly, having been here all day, with the rockets exploding overhead, the air strikes, the iron dome. There has clearly been fao your of imagination on behalf of Israeli Security officials. That it just seemed inconceivable that palestinian gunmen in such large numbers, in such a brazen way, could cross that border, and seize control of israeli towns and cities. The fact that you are talking 12 hours into this attack, and israel is still not in control of more than a dozen, it seems, communities across the gaza border, if you had told me this 24 hours ago, alex, i wouldve told you it was completely implausible. It is now the reality that people who are living through. Alex . Again, im trying to figure this out. Are we talking about single gunman, or groups of gunman, that are literally running across the border . What does this look like right now . So, early this morning, it was large swaths of gunman. Some of them, as you said, on the backs of motorcycles. Alex, one detail that just gives you a sense of how prepared they were, but also the scale of this. There were hamas affiliated palestinian journalists, who effectively, embedded with these militant squads. As they crossed over into israel. They were broadcasting live. Inside of Gaza On Social Media explaining that they were inside israeli kibbutz, inside of israeli towns. I spoke to Israeli Security official earlier. He said at, minimum, at minimum there must of been hundreds of gunman involved. Here theres no other way for palestinian fighters to be engaging Israeli Forces in so many places simultaneously. And i do think, its a case, that once this dam broke, it really broke. The Israeli Military lost control of the border. And well the first wave of militants who came through may have been the highly trained, most Elite Fighters from hamas and his law matured. It seems to become a freefall after the freefall after that. And potentially anyone with a weapon, anyone with a motorcycle, anyone, frankly, with the desire to see the other side of the fence, could search through. It is now israel using all of its air power, its ground power, its trying as a First Priority to regain control of these israeli towns and cities. As a second priority, alex, it is rescuing these hostages from inside of gaza, and then on a third priority, it is inflicting, in the words of Benjamin Netanyahu, the israeli Prime Minister, a massive, massive price on the militant groups who carried out this attack. Alex . It is extraordinary reporting from you, raf sanchez. Thank you so much. We appreciate you a lot. Joining me right now, illinois congressman raja kristin murthy, intel and congressman, welcome. Given your position on the intel committee, are you getting briefings via a classified or otherwise right now about the situation . Were getting some were not getting classified briefings until we return to washington early next week. And you can imagine there are a lot of questions that we have to ask of our own Intelligence Community about this. Those questions would be what . What is it, i guess, im gonna ask, this question. You heard Ralph Sanchez say, it was a lack of imagination on behalf of the Israeli Intelligence or Defense Forces to conceive of what has happened to them today. Somewhat rudimentary by association when you think about the military capabilities. Of israel. To what extent is the u. S. Also not at fault, but unaware of this . Is this something you would expect our intelligence to have known about . And if it didnt, what happened . I dont know, alex. Thats part of the set of questions that well have to ask. Well also want to know, you, know who was backing the hamas affiliates in this particular case. Did iran have anything to do with us . Is that something that you are hearing about . Iran . We have Julie Tsirkin on capitol Hill Reporter there is as one republican lawmaker who was saying, i believe, from the senate, who is saying that he believes iran was involved. Is there anything to indicate that is a fact . I am not aware of specific evidence there. Thats among the questions that well have to ask. Were also going to be asking, or ill be asking, whats going on with hezbollah . We would fear that hezbollah would take advantage of the situation in attack from lebanon as well. Of course, what are the real motives here too. And how do we get those hostages back from israel. Im sorry, from gaza strip. Dozens and dozens of civilians and soldiers have been taken. You know, some people say that what was really going on here was an effort to destroy any chance of peace. Because theres peace talks happening right now, or discussions between israel and United States, Saudi Arabian others, as well as palestinians with regard to future arrangements. Hamas and terrorists dont want anything like that to happen. So, thats part of the issue as well. What happens to those talks between israel and saudi arabia now . Is there a chance they could continue . Will they go on pause . Will they potentially completely fall apart . I hope the last thing you said doesnt happen. I think, right now, obviously, israel is going to be 100 percent focused on responding to what has occurred today. Of course, over the medium and long term, i hope that we can go back to this broader discussion, because, obviously, if that doesnt happen, i think the terrorists win and we cant let that happen. Even at the same time that we stand with israel, shoulder to shoulder, and its right to defend itself right now. Congressman, does the fact that the United States currently does not have a sitting ambassador to israel, does that cause concerns at all about how the u. S. Deals with this . It does. On the other hand, i think that theres going to be direct, high level talks. And im going dialogue between our intelligence committee, their counterparts in israel, and of course, between President Biden and the Prime Minister and his government. We need to have a presence there. We need to have an investor in israel. Were gonna have that person held up. Because as you can tell. That person is extremely important. In helping us with a various efforts in israel. And of course, dealing with terrorists in trying to engineer peace longterm. How do you, i will say at this very preliminary stage, sir, how do you envision the u. S. Role to play out right now . In the immediate term we will be providing intelligence. We will be gathering intelligence, collecting intelligence, trying to do everything we can to help the israelis do, at least, two things. One, recover those hostages. That is priority number one for the Israeli Government right now. And then to, helping to prevent any further attacks, helping to clear israel of the terrorists. That is probably uppermost in the minds of the Israeli Government. We would probably help them to whatever extent possible in those endeavors. One last question, what do expect the United States to be involved in any physical way with helping that recovery . Be providing support, militarily. Equipment, or even further . I do not think that we would actually have a direct role in the combat. And the israelis are extremely capable on their own. However. They may request to certain types of intelligence, certain types of equipment. I suspect that the Biden Administration will do everything in its power to provide whatever they need at this time. Illinois congressman roger christian, our friend. Thank you so much for joining us on this important tuesday. Coming up next, the timing on this attacked and why hamas may have acted now. New york times peter baker will be joining me when we are back in 60 seconds. In 60 seconds. And get rewarded. Get 50 off any footlong when you join Subway Mvp Rewards. So many all star options. Its just for subway mvps right . You catch on quick herbert. Join now and get 50 off any footlong. Are you tired of clean clothes that just dont smell clean . You cDowny Unstopablesbert. Inwash Scent Boosters keep your laundry smelling fresh waaaay longer than detergent alone. If you want laundry to smell fresh for weeks, make sure you have Downy Unstopables inwash Scent Boosters. This is american infrastructure, a prime target for cyberattacks. But the same aipowered security that protects all of google also defends these services for everyone who lives here. 17 past the hour. We are back to the Breaking News from The Middle East. Some dramatic scenes following the deadly hamas attack on israel, at dawn, today. We are bringing you video of a building coming down in gaza as these merely military is responding with pretty severe retaliatory strikes at this time. Lets bring in a man box convene, host of a man here. As well as New York Times correspondent and msnbc political correspondent. Good to see. Both ayman, help us understand who these hamas militants are. How can they be capable of coordinating such a sophisticated attack on israel . What support do they have from other states in the region, typically . That is a very good question. I think were gonna learn more about this specific operation in the days and weeks as it becomes more apparent, both to Israeli Intelligence and certainly to western intelligence, as well. Hamas, as you know, consists of two major wings. A political wing and a militant wing. Certainly the militant wing responds to the political wing. Their main backer, both in terms of Financial Capabilities and, perhaps, even technical know how has been, according to western and Israeli Intelligence, lee iranian government. Irans various Security Apparatuses. Whether it is iranian intelligence, security services, or the revolutionary guard. More importantly, over the, years hamas has tried to broaden its k technical capabilities. Weve been talking about some of the rockets that were fired. When they started flying those rockets in nearly 2000, they were mostly crude pipe bombs made at home. Over the years theyve been able to smuggle and more sophisticated missiles and rockets that are reaching deeper and further into israel. In terms of the coordination of the tack, i think that is what really has caught most people, certainly israelis, offguard. The ability to infiltrate israel across the border. That level of sophistication, weve never really seen that before from hamas. Weve seen the determination. They are certainly express the desire to do that. Over the years they have demonstrated more aerial capabilities, including drones. At one point even demonstrated that they had aquatic forces to be able to a