The total number of dead around 1900, with more than 7200 people injured. To break down those numbers a little bit, the Israeli Government estimates that over 1000 israelis have been killed in the conflict and more than 2700 others have been injured. And Gazas Health Ministry estimates that 900 palestinians have been killed in gaza, with more than 4500 injured. Those numbers are sure to grow, as hamas continues to fire rockets into israel, and israel continues to bomb the gaza strip, where more than 2 million civilians live without the freedom to move beyond its borders. Today, nbc news Richard Engel got look at some of the israeli committees where residents have been evacuated. Israeli troops are still trying to secure the country. Four days after the worst Terror Attack in israels history. Today, moved into the village of kafaraza on the border with gaza. All the residents are gone. Either evacuated, killed, or kidnapped. There are still bodies everywhere. The israelis in body bags. Hamas gunman were left rotting where they fell. Next to the flags they brought to declare victory. Right now, Israeli Defense forces say they are amassing more than 36 360,000 reserve troops, as they prepare for a possible Ground Invasion of gaza. Complicating, that is the fact that israeli authorities believe hamas is currently holding at least 150 people hostage. And hamas has threatened to execute one israeli hostage each time israel bombs gaza without warning. And promising an isis style broadcast of the execution. Now, it is almost impossible to imagine the fear and the suffering those hostages are currently facing. By, now many of you have seen the terrifying images of israeli Concert Goers running for their lives on saturday, as armed hamas militants began firing on the crowd of civilians and taking hostages. People were ripped from their homes, some of them brutally murdered. Others dragged into cars to be taken as captives. The u. S. Government confirmed today, 14 american citizens have lost their lives so far. U. S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters, the number of americans believed to be missing, as a result of this war, is 20 or more. Today, the families of americans believed to be hostages held a Press Conference to urge the u. S. And Israeli Governments to take swift action and bring their Family Members home. One of the Americans Still missing is Hersh Goldberg cohen who witnesses say was loaded into a hamas vehicle, missing one arm, and wearing an improvised tourniquet. Other americans met even more tragic fates. This hostage moved into israel to dedicate his life to be finding peace between israelis and palestinians. One of the 14 americans killed by hamas. The last 24 hours have been filled with desperate pleas from the Family Members of these potential hostages, families that are hoping and praying that their loved ones are still alive. If anyone can hear me, if my daughter hears me, im begging you, please, be strong and know that we are looking, and we will not stop until we find you, no matter what. Get back our family. Get our loved ones. That should be the top priority, nothing else. Dozens of my friends, my neighbors, were killed. To my son, who grew up on the Kibitz Sagi He is an arms length away in gaza, evidently. But couldnt be farther for me. And our family right now. Tomorrow, secretary of state, antony blinken, will fly to israel, where he is expected to meet with senior Israeli Security officials and discuss what resources the u. S. Can provide. His visit comes as american aircraft carrier, the uss gerald ford has just arrived in the region to deter further attacks. Today, President Biden addressed the nation, condemning the terrorism of hamas, and making clear that america would remain a steadfast ally to israel. This is terrorism. Its an act of sheer evil. More than 1000 civilians slaughtered. Not just killed, slaughtered in israel. Among them, at least 14 american citizens. Killed. Parents butchered using their bodies to try to protect their children. So in this moment, we must be crystal clear. We stand with israel. We stand with israel. Joining me now, john kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security council. Hes also a retired rear admiral for the u. S. Navy. Admiral kirby, thank you for being here tonight. Let me just get right to it i know its a very busy day, and we appreciate your time. Could you tell us a little bit about whats happening behind the scenes to determine the status of these american hostages . Well, were working very very hard, alex, to do exactly that. The first step in doing that is, of course, hearing from the families themselves. They have been very important source of information. As they learn, or try to learn, the whereabouts of their loved ones. That helps us develop the pool of those who might likely be held hostage. Right, now its a small handful. But as Jake Sullivan our National Security advisor said today, its possible that some of these other unaccounted for americans could end up in the hostage pool. Number two, the second big step, is really keeping that communication open with our israeli counterparts. They are on the ground, theyve got better intelligence that we, do they have a better sense of the hostage situation. So, weve been obviously talking hour by hour with our israeli counterparts, to try to get more information. And then three, we have made it clear to the israelis, we are willing to provide our own Hostage Recovery expertise, advice and counsel, from federal law enforcement. From the u. S. Military. From even the u. S. Intelligence community, if that would be helpful. So, were in active communications with the israelis also about providing some advice counsel, expertise, that we have in Hostage Recovery. I know that President Biden was very clear today in his remarks from the white house, that the u. S. Would stand shoulder to shoulder with israel. He did issue a sort of, im not gonna call it a warning, there was a sort of caveat in what he said. Id love to play the sound back to you to get your thoughts on how we should interpret this. Can we take a listen. . We also discussed how democracies like israel in the United States are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law. Terrorists, purposely target civilians. Kill them. We uphold the laws of war. The law of war. It matters, theres a difference. Was that a cautionary note . Sounded to the israelis the idea that terrorists purposely target civilians and kill them, we uphold the laws of war, the law of war, it matters, theres a difference. Is the Biden Administration worried the Israeli Government may be violating the rules of war . Primarily, the president was making clear the difference, and the distinction, between what hamas is doing, the deliberate, indiscriminate butchery of innocent civilians in israel, now more than 1000 of them, literally murdered in the streets, in their homes, at a music festival. As compared to what israel needs to do to defend its citizens. So, look, i want to be very clear. We dont want to see one more single innocent civilian life taken or injured here, with one more family affected by violence and innocent civilians should never be subject to war. But hamas is placing these palestinians in gaza in greater risk and jeopardy because they are staffing themselves in headquarters in hospitals and schools and residential buildings. We know that the israelis are conducting aggressive operations, we understand the need to do that. But the president was making a case that, like the United States, israel is a democracy. Israel does respect the law of war. Israel does respect life and tries to operate in that way. Again, were going to be, obviously, staying closely aligned, closely lashed up with israel as they move forward, and making sure they have what they need to defend themselves. Yeah, i was just noting, i mean, the president was very clear about what he thought of hamasterrorism in slaughter of innocents. It was just the specific mention that democracies like the u. S. And israel are stronger and more secure when we act according to the rule of law. But let me ask you about the military assistance that the u. S. May be prepared to send over to israel. Can you talk a little bit more about that . Are there any concerns about the fact that the iranians may be behind these attacks, ultimately. And this could sort of end up being a proxy war between the u. S. And iran . Nobody wants to see this war, this conflict, expand or escalate. Thats the real principal reason why those naval forces were pushed into the eastern mediterranean, very capable Carrier Strike group, of course. A lot of capability on board those ships. Its a clear message of deterrence to any other actor, whether its a terrorist group, organization, or another nationstate that thinks that now is the opportunity to take advantage of whats going on in israel. Anybody with emnity towards israel, this is not the time to do that. And thats the message that the president was sending when he ordered the Carrier Strike group into the eastern mid. We dont want to see this conflict escalate. We dont want to see it expand. And we have, by the way, significant National Security interests of course in the region ourselves. We want to make sure that we can protect and defend those National Security interests, thats what this move is all about. Admiral john kirby, really appreciate the time and thoughts and the clarifications tonight. Thanks so much. Yes, maam. Joining me now on set, bobby gauche, Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Covering culture and foreign affairs, susan glasser, staff writer at the new yorker. Thank you for joining me tonight, folks. Let me just first get your thoughts on how the u. S. Calibrates its response here, susan. Number one, there are americans that are being held over there. Its a shocking act of brutality on the part of hamas. The israeli retaliation has been swift, it has been severe. It sounded like the president was a little bit concerned about israeli targeting of civilian infrastructure. I wonder what you think the primary calculations are for the Biden Administration right now . Yeah, no, absolutely. First of all, youre hearing a genuine message of outrage from President Biden today. I was very struck by that. In some, ways it was among the angriest ive ever heard him as the president. He was horrified, i think he just had his phone call with israeli Prime Minister netanyahu before he came out and spoke. The stories and the details that were getting of the atrocities on the ground there, you know, you wouldnt be human not to relate to the horror of whats unfolding. By the way, we may hear even worse things in the coming days. These have been active, in effect, crime scenes and war zones. Still, since saturday. So, number one, i think genuine outrage, genuinely wanting to say, we stand shoulder to shoulder with israel. Thats a very Important Message from the president. Were there to do what we can, militarily. There are so many questions. What does it mean that there is going to be an offensive operation now in gaza . Its very hard to answer the question of what the Biden Administration approach to it is. Because we dont know what the israeli approach to the conflict is. Of course, you know, this is a nightmarish situation in gaza, its almost impossible to imagine the israelis, even if they were determined to, that they could separate civilians and the targets of hamas. Lets talk about that, bobby. The sort of difficult calibration the Prime Minister netanyahu must make between this presumed Ground Invasion and the 150, maybe plus, hostages that are being held in locations unknown. What do you think, where do you think his interests lie, primarily, at this point. If he has to make a decision . Well, its an impossible decision to make. Youre asking someone to choose between getting justice for those whove already been killed, maimed, and also securing freedom for those who are being held hostage. The scale of this is unprecedented. I cant think, never mind in the Israeli Palestinian context, i cant think of any other Military Context in which, in modern times, there have been this many hostages held, and with the direct threat that, if you come in, we will execute these people. This is completely unprecedented. And you can imagine, as these images that susan referred to come up, you can imagine the sense of urgency, the sense of anger, the sense of rage. The israeli, the idf soldiers would not be human if they didnt feel a compulsion to go and avenge the fallen. This is the context in which bidens statement that you pointed out. Indirectly advising restraint. Thats the context. Weve sent an aircraft carrier, that is to restrain anybody else from getting into the fray. Sooner or later, biden is also going to have to restrain netanyahu from overplaying his hand. Friends dont let friends commit war crimes. Thats part of the friendship too. Certainly. I have to ask, susan and bobby, how and why, what the strategy for hamas is . In the words of one analyst in the new yorker today, this is a Suicide Mission for hamas as an entity. How does hamas even begin to survive something as brutal and horrific like this, as a legitimate organization, if you will. Well, first of all, the answer is, its not a legitimate organization. Lets just say that. Anybody who does this is not a legitimate organization. They have been, in fact, a listed Terrorist Organization of the United States since the late clinton era. They are, this is, barbarism. It is murder. There is no possibility of hamas being a legitimate organization. Thats very important to say. There seems to be a lot of confusion on that point. What was the strategy behind it . It does seem as though they decided to take an unacceptable status quo, and blow it up. They were not looking to have any way to get back across that bridge. They blew up the bridge behind them. I do think that it seems aimed certainly at provoking exactly the kind of outrage that is now occurring in israel. In the region. And here in United States. Well, but also, destroying gaza. Thats the other part of the calculation. Youre blowing up the bridge with your people still on it. To some degree, right . These people are hostages in many respects as well. I ran into a new senior former u. S. Official be other day. Who pointed that out to me. He said, look, you have to understand, even within gaza, if there is a legitimate way of taking public opinion, its very likely that hamas is not supported by a majority of the population. They have been victimized by these people who claim to be leading them. And this is not only not anywhere near a democracy in terms of what has hamas done to the people of gaza, and it has ruled. This is an intolerant theocratic state, in which you are not allowed freedom of speech, in which and expressions of dissent have been brutally punished inside of gaza. So, these people are also at the mercy, they didnt take a vote and decided to undertake this attack on israel. Bobby, your thoughts on the calculation, and well talk about irans involvement in this as well, because that factors into how hamas even began to do this. But the strategy is no strategy it seems. Well, hamas, this is consistent with what theyve done in the past. Theyre perfectly happy to see ordinary Innocent Gazan citizens being slaughtered. Thats why they put themselves in amidst those civilians, as Admiral Kirby just said. They dont mind sacrificing their people to their twisted idea of a cause. From there, narrow tactical perspective, well, we landed a blow. Thats a victory enough. We surprised and shocked the israelis, thats victory enough. We inflicted the single largest number of casualties on the state of israel on any single day in its entire history, including the wars that it is fought for, if you look at the world through that sort of very twisted lens that hamas has, all of these things amount to a victory. And if, in exchange for this victory, thousands, tens of thousands of gazans have died, thats a price hamas is willing to pay. And to start putting into motion a war that will result in untold numbers of casualties and destruction. Bobby ghosh and susan glasser, please stick around, i want to talk to you both about the growing concern that the warfare between israel and hamas Will Escalate into a larger regional conflict. Well have more on that, coming up next. Teeth sensitivity is so common. It immediately feels like somebodys poking directly on the nerve. I recommend sensodyne. Sensodyne toothpaste goes inside the tooth and calms the nerve down. And my patients say you know doc, it really works. She runs and plays like a puppy again. His 2s are perfect hes a brand new dog, all in less than a year. When people switch their dogs food from kibble to the farmers dog, they often say that it feels like magic. But theres no magic involved. dog bark its simply fresh meat and vegetables, with all the nutrients dogs need instead of dried pellets. Just food made for the health of dogs. Delivered in packs portioned for your dog. It