Tonight. We have been discussing this hour this report from reuters that the nation of qatar has been trying to organize a sort of hostages, prisoner swap, trying to arrange some sort of Diplomatic Initiative to get wome hostages and children who are being held by Hamas Terrorist Group exchange for female prisoners who are being held in israeli jails. Reuters have actually reported that not only is qatar working on that. They are working on it in coordination with u. S. Government. We have been trying to get confirmation that the u. S. Government is involved in any such effort to try to arrange such kind as walk. I dont have an answer for you on that. But i do have this from an msnbc spokesperson just tonight on the air. Weve been working excuse me, we are working around the clock to confirm missing u. S. Citizens whereabouts, and would be relentless in our efforts to secure their freedom. If confirmed, they are held by hamas, but we will not comment about diplomatic implications. So, there you have it. Since shortly after the news first broke of hamass attack on israel early saturday morning, msnbc has been bringing you coverage around the clock, 24 7, that full Team Coverage continues now, with the last word with lawrence odonnell. Good evening, lawrence. Good evening, rachel. Im gonna pick up on a point that you race with congressman dan goldman, but as you reported, he was in israel over the weekend with his family. And they managed to get out. And he described how people are leaving israel now. Were gonna have Matthew Miller from the State Department joining us. Im gonna pick up on exactly that point, what the State Department can do to help people, americans, who do want to get out of israel . It is stunning, actually, how many dont, how many want to stay there. They believe its their duty to stay there and will stay there. We will be covering all of that. Thanks, lawrence. Thank you. Thanks, rachel. Well, we are continuing our live special coverage of the situation in israel and in gaza. Israels Defense Minister said today i have given an order that gaza would be under complete siege. Israel is threatening to cut off the electricity that its applies to gaza, which is about 80 of the electricity in gaza. Israel will also cut supplies of food and water too gaza. At least 900 people have been killed in israel and more than 600 people in gaza have been killed, at least 11 american citizens are among the dead, according to a Statement Today by president biden, who also said that its likely that american citizens may be among those being held by hamas. Today, hamas issued this threat. From this hour onwards, we announce that every targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without warning, we will regretfully meet with the executn of one of our enemys civilian hostages, and we will broadcast this under duress in audio and video. Israels Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu said this today. Translator i know we all want this to end right now. But it will take time. I promise you, Israeli Citizens, at the end of the war war, all our enemies will know that it was a terrible mistake to attack israel. What we will do to our enemy in the next days they would remember for generations. Israel has called up 300,000 Military Reservists in the largest mobilization of reservists in israeli history. Earlier tonight on msnbc, National SecurityCouncil Spokesperson john kirby described some of president bidens day. He has been on the phone almost all day, certainly over the last couple of days, getting updates from his National Security team, talking to foreign leaders. He had a call this afternoon with the leaders of great britain, germany, italy, and france, the socalled quaint conversation, to make sure that we are all lashed up with our european allies and partners as well, in terms of coordinating our efforts to support israel Going Forward. Joining us now is Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department. And i just wanted to begin with something that was raised in the last hour. Congressman dan goldman was in israel over the weekend with his family on a personal visit. And they got out, they managed to get out eventually. And it raises the question of what the State Department can do to help americans currently in israel who are trying to get out . Well, i will say that we are in close touch with american citizens who are in israel, including those who want to get out. We encourage everyone who has traveled to israel to enroll in our safe traveler enrollment program, where they would receive realtime updates. There are still flights that are operating from the airport. Its possible also to exit by land. There are a number of carriers have suspended flights, but there are others who are continuing to operate. So, we would urge people to avail themselves of the options that do exist, to get out of israel if they choose to do so. And also, to be in touch with our Embassy Interest Alum for any other options. This is a Military Matter now. But everything involving israel in this kind of situation always remains a diplomatic effort. What has the secretary of states day like today . I will tell you, not just today, but really over the last three days since these Terrorist Attacks were first launch on israel. He has been on the phone with counterparts across the region, first with counterparts in israel, talking to the president of israel, the Foreign Minister of israel, to make sure that we do everything we can to support israel, and give them what they need, get them what they need to fight back against hamas brutal terrorist attack. The second thing that hes done, hes been in contact with leaders in the region to try and do two things. One, to send a message to anyone who might be hostile to israel, just sort of the thing that this is not the time to enter this conflict. So, anyone that might have a relationship with others who are hostile to israel, the secretary has been communicating with him to try and get messages through. The third thing hes been doing is to try and get messages to others in the region, that they have a way to press upon hamas that now, that now is the time to release any and all hostages that they are holding. We have seen hamas take women, children, elderly Israeli Citizens from israel. And a secretary has been working to do everything he can to ensure they are released. As you have watched the events unfold, the coverage, and where the American Media is covering this for the last three days, what point do you think Needs Emphasis . Or what would you like to say, as you are sitting there watching some of this coverage, what do you want to say to the tv screen . What do you think people should know . You know, its hard to say. I will say, but i think i have been struck personally, like probably most people have been struck by the images weve seen out of israel. Just the sheer brutality that hamas inflicted on the state of israel, on Israeli Citizens, and on american citizens. We know that there are at least 11 american citizens who are already dead. There are others that are missing. We saw hamas targeting children, targeting civilians, targeting as i said, elderly citizens. And i think that americans that see that, reactor that this really. America also has been the victim of vicious attacks, more times than we would like to remember. So i think we recognize a lot of these images and understand that israel needs to do everything it can to defend itself. There was a diplomatic effort underway in the Biden Administration to bring saudi arabia and israel closer together in a way that, in theory, would prevent what we have seen there over the last three days. What happens to that now . You know, it would still be a priority for us Going Forward. Obviously, our focus right now is on addressing the immediate situation at hand, addressing the crisis in israel. And as i said, doing everything to make sure israel has what it needs to defend itself against these brutal Terrorist Attacks. But thats what the secretary said over the weekend when he was on with the press and other shows. There are really to pass forward for the region. One is a path of greater integration, greater stability, where israel has normal, healthy productive relationships with its neighbors. And the other is the path, unfortunately, that the region has been on for sometime, which is towards conflict and instability. We have seen greater stabilization through israel normalizing relations with its neighbors. Its something we have encouraged, and its something that we have worked on. But hamas has always been opposed to that. Iran has always been opposed to that. Hezbollah has always been opposed to that. Terrorist groups are sponsors of terrorism in the region, and have always opposed greatest ability. And so, there are really two paths, theres either the path offered by hamas, or the path of greater stability. And we know which path we are gonna try to pursue. There is a republican block in the senate on the confirmation of an ambassador to israel. What has that done to the United States ability to respond to whats been happening there since saturday morning . I would say that we have seen a number of our ambassadors being held up unnecessarily, being delayed unnecessarily. It looks like our ambassador nominee to israel, jack lu, former white house chief of staff, former treasury secretary, we get a hearing next week. We will encourage his swift confirmation, as we would encourage the confirmation of other ambassadors in the region, and other nominees who work in these critical posts, who have been held up too long, because, really, when you do see a crisis strike, and crises to strike all around the world, there is no substitute for having a confirmed ambassador who speaks for the president of the United States, who can go in and talk to the leaders of that country, and have the leaders know that they are speaking on behalf of the highest levels of our government. And i know that this is a Military Issue in your State Department. But senator tuberville, republican senator, of course, has been famously, world famously now, blocking virtually all military promotions above a certain rank meaning that they have to be confirmed by the senate. So, there is no confirmed, for example, Chief Officer in the navy. The navy sending our biggest Aircraft Carrier to the region is part of this response. What does that do . And what are other countries saying to you, to the State Department, about whats happening with our military . I would say that all of these holds and unnecessary delays potentially hurt our ability to protect the countrys National Security. They are capable people in these jobs now. There are capable people who can step up and serve. But when you cant give the people who the president has picked, who senior members of the military, who the secretary of state, and in our case, has picked to serve these positions, it does hurt our ability to do the jobs of the American People have asked us to do on their behalf. So, all we have ever asked is that the senate treat our nominees fairly, that they give them votes, and that they consider them based on their record, and not based on extraneous issues. That goes to nominees for the State Department. It goes for our nominees across the National Security space. Iran is seen as one of the primary movers behind this, and supporters of this attack on israel. How does the administration communicate with iran in a situation like this . We have always had the ability to get messages to iran when it is in our interest to do. So we dont talk about those messages or those channels. But we do have the ability to get those messages to iran. And i will say, i would just note without going into any detail what the president said in his first remarks on this on saturday. He said to anyone in the region who is hostile to israel, that is considering action against israel, and against the interests of israel, now is not the time to do so. Matthew miller from the State Department, thank you very much for starting off our conversation at this hour tonight. Really appreciate it. Thanks, lawrence. Thank you. And joining us now from tel avivs ronen bergman, staff writer for the New York Times magazine. He is the author of rise and kill first, the secret history of israels targeted assassinations. What explains how the Israeli Military could have been so surprised by this attack, so taken off guard . I think that the coverage of some of the communications of hamas is some details becoming known to us. It wasnt perfect, to see moderate on that. Israel is monitoring these massive efforts in gaza, trying to have surveillance especially over hamas. Israel knew that hamas would attempt to launch such a crisis strike, in general, but they did not know. By far, they underestimated the hamas ability to Cross Defense and launch this sophisticated, and im saying that regrettably, this attack. The military intelligence, the general Secret Service did not supply any alert. The u. S. Intelligence is dependent on israel in covering those areas. So, the u. S. Was blind as well. And i think that there is no other way but to describe this as the worse intelligence blunder, fiasco in the history of israel, second only maybe to what happened exactly 50 years, to the day, before last saturday, in october 1973 when israel did not know that egypt and syria were to launch a preemptive strike. There is a striking similar characteristics between the two fiascoes. And theyre not sure if israel learned a lesson in the first. And here we see the consequences of the second. And at this point, are israelis in any public way holding anyone responsible for this, for the Intelligence Failure as it is something that is being played at the responsibility of mission yahoo, or is the country just more unified or aimed at selfdefense . The country has been divided. This is what we see after a year of severe political crises, clashes, protests, and the legal judicial coup. Overall, the leaders of the Intelligence Community repeatedly warned netanyahu that the enemy sees this crisis as a weakness of israel. And the enemy might try to use this sign to launch an attack. Netanyahu, the outcome should have been netanyahu taking this to the legislation, introducing legislation. But netanyahu did the exact opposite. And he continued what was described to him as serious threats to the National Security of israel. So, a lot of people see netanyahu as the one responsible. But, of course, asking, and this is more on a tactical level, how come we didnt know . How come israel missed the signs, the intelligence, knowing the needs to be created, when you have hundreds of people, hamas militants, trained for at least a year, many in the look. And israel until the last hour the warning of those signs as well did not reach. Israel did not know anything. Israel was very self assured in its ability to know everything that is happening in the gaza strip. The area is very densely populated, but not a very big area. Israel was very confident that nothing can happen. And if it happens, no one can Cross Defense. I think those two components, the trusting of the intelligence, and trusting the massive fence that was built there, put israel in some sort of fatigue or sleep, the Israeli Defense establishment thought nobody would be able to draw this defense. And hamas proved that those two were wrong. Israel could not trust its intelligence, and the defense was demolished in a matter of seconds. Ronen bergman, thank you very much for joining us at this early hour from israel, really appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Our breaking News Coverage continues right after this break. Break. Oh, no bye, bye cough. Later Chest Congestion. Hello 12 hours of relief. 12 hours . hmmm, ok. Not coughing at yoga. Antiquing not coughing . Not coughing at the movies . hashtag still not coughing . aaah. Oww mucinex dm gives you 12 hours of relief from Chest Congestion and any type of cough, day or night. Its not cough season. Its always comeback season. Limu emu doug [bell ringing] and doug says, you can customize and save hundreds on Car Insurance with liberty mutual. he hits his mark center stage and is crushed by a baby grand piano. Are you replacing me . With this guy . Customize and save with liberty bibberty. He doesnt even have a mustache oh, look a bibu. 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