Organization hamas, a group whose stated purpose was to kill jews. This was an act of sheer evil. That was part of president joe bidens speech yesterday, promising that the United States will stand with israel following the horrific hamas tear terror attacks. Meanwhile the president also confirmed there are americans among the dozens of hostages being held by the terror organization. Well have the latest on the efforts to freedom. And then on capitol hill farright republicans could create more chaos in the house by rejecting a plan from the Biden Administration to combine aid for israel and ukraine into a single package. Good morning, and welcome to Way Too Early on this wednesday, october 11. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us. And we have a busy day, and well begin this morning with israel ramping up its strikes against hamas. War planes hammered neighborhood after neighborhood along the gaza strip yesterday. Retaliating to the surprise attack hamas launched over the weekend that killed hundreds upon hundreds of people. Now, Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu is vowing to destroy the terrorist organization. Israel ordered a total siege of gaza, stopping the entry of food, fuel, and medicine. The only remaining access route from egypt was also shutdown yesterday because of the nearby strikes. Israel says it has now regained controls of the areas hamas attacked over the weekend. This as the Israeli Military has summoned 360,000 reservists to join the fight. Thats roughly 4 of the countrys total population. Meanwhile, there are all signs the war is beginning to escalate into neighboring countries. Yesterday there were exchanges of fire along the israeli borders with both lebanon and syria. According to officials more than 2,000 people have now lost their lives in the israelhamas war. Israel Defense Forces say at least 1,200 israelivise been killed since the fighting saturday morning. Health ministries in gaza and west bank say that more than 900 palestinian lives have been claimed there. 14 americans are confirmed among the dead. Theres fear that number will continue to rise. President biden yesterday confirmed there are also americans who are being held hostage by hamas. Its not clear exactly how many were taken captive, but the white house says at least 20 americans are still missing. Israeli Officials Say that between 100 and 150 people are being held captive. Hamas has threatened to execute those people if israel bombs civilians in gaza without warning. Families of the missing americans are now sharing what they know and are asking both the israeli and u. S. Governments to do more. I normally dont use my phone on the jewish sabbath, but it was an emergency and i needed to know where my son was. So i turned my phone on i believe at 8 23 in the morning, and when i turned it on there were two texts in a row from hersch at 8 11. The first one said i love you, and immediately also at 8 11, it said, im sorry. So i knew immediately wherever he was, it was a terrible situation. I took it to mean i love you, and im sorry because whatever is going to happen is going to cause you tremendous pain and worry. I know that he was injured in a gun battle i mean they were all civilians at a music festival, and they were fish in a barrel sitting in this bomb shelter. Terrorists came to the door. They were throwing grenades in, shooting machine guns. Some really heart wrenching accounts yesterday. Joining us now from tel aviv nbc correspondent Kelly Cobiella. Give us the latest what youre hearing in israel and in particular the efforts to bring some of these hostages home. Reporter yeah, first off, jonathan, the u. N. Sorry, the European Union is now calling for a humanitarian corridor in gaza and an end to the blockade of food, fuel, and water, drinking water. The u. N. Says the situation is really deteriorating quickly there, that shelters are overcrowded, there isnt enough drinking water. There isnt enough food. And the u. S. The National Security advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed the u. S. Is actually in talks with egypt and israel about opening some sort of safe passage so that the civilians inside gaza can get out as that bombardment continues. And it is continuing yet again for a fifth day today in gaza. The number of dead rising on both sides. Here in israel as you mentioned families are still trying to search for their loved ones. Weve spoken to a number of families over the past several days, another relative just this morning whose family was in when gunmen attacked. Last night we spoke to the parents of two daughters 22 and 25 years old. Theyre from l. A. Theyve been living here for the past 14 years. They were at that music festival. One of their friends survived. She told us that all of them rushed into a shelter when they heard bombs. They then heard gunfire. There was a crush to get into the shelter. The friend who survived was crushed under bodies. She says she then heard grenades, gunfire. The gunmen lit a fire at the front of the shelter trying to kill the people who were taking shelter inside. And the parents of those two girls still havent heard where they are. Theyve heard nothing from them since saturday morning. Theyve handed over dna. They did that on sunday, and theyre now simply waiting for a phone call to find out whether their daughters were captured or were killed. And this, jonathan, is the kind of just horrible limbo that so many families are in right now waiting handing over dna, waiting for a phone call as authorities here in israel try to identify hundreds of bodies, jonathan. A situation difficult even to fathom. Nbc news correspondent Kelly Cobiella reporting live for us from tel aviv. Thank you. And well continue to have live reports from israel throughout the morning. Elsewhere, United States intelligence had no sign that a hamas attack on israel was imminent. White house National Security advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed the lapse in intelligence yesterday. The Israeli Government has placed a high premium on its Intelligence Capacity as it relates to hamas, as it relates to the west bank, as it relates to hezbollah. And why it is that they did not have warning from this is not a question that i can answer from this. What about u. S. Intelligence . Was there anything that crosses your desk that would suggest this was coming . We did not see anything that suggested an attack of this type was going to unfold anymore than the israelis did. And it had been about a week prior that sullivan had said the middle east was as quiet as its been in decades. Really stunning admissions, ryan, from the white house podium, from the National Security advisor. What is your reaction to that, and what do you think may have happened . There seemed to be some chatter maybe israelis were too reliant on technology and not enough on human sources. Im not sure you can be too reliant on technology, but its Proof Technology is not a solution in and of itself. The israelis have the most cutting edge artificial intelligence. Its basically a Surveillance State the way they interact, what it also speaks to is the total imeshment. And we can throw that forward and know there are going to be many more bloody scenes in this war. When you have civilians used as human shields, you have all those hostages now to be used as levelerage in what comes next. You know its going to be bloody no matter what happens. Ryan, you write in your wheel house here the technology, thats how its used for intelligence, but now whats your sense how technology will be used for the battles ahead particularly the siege of gaza were to come. What role could it play in that in trying to retrieve these hostages . This is where they really are specialized. So, of course, when israel makes strikes against gaza, there are civilians casualties, but they dont go out searching for civilians. They arent out there massacring babies and families, so this allows the israelis to limit if damage outside of targets theyre trying to hit. Of course, dont forget weve seen those exchanges across the israeli border. Israel is better arm than hamas. This is not just a war or siege that might be occurring in the guzza strip in coming days. It might be on multiple fronts. So the Israeli Technology is going to help them eventually win and contain the situation, but there is going to be a heavy civilian cost. We have to become prepared for that, and then the situation with these hostages, we just dont know. We need to prepare for situations like live streamed executions on social media platforms. Thats the sort of tools that hamas now has available for itself in the face of all that. Truly horrific. In fact, the Israeli Government put out warnings yesterday telling parents to keep their kids off of phones and Social Media Apps in case those executions are indeed live streamed. Global correspondent for axios ryan heath, really appreciate you being with us this morning. Still ahead on Way Too Early well have more on the conflict in israel and also take a look at some of the other stories making headlines this morning including new federal charges for republican congressman George Santos of new york. Pretty stunning ones at that. Plus, prosecutors are trying to force Donald Trumps legal team to reveal their Defense Stratsagy in the federal election case months before the trial. Well explain how and why it might impact the case. Those stories and a check on the Weather Forecast when we come right back. R forecast when we c right back rsv is in for a surprise. Meet arexvy. the first fdaapproved rsv vaccine. Arexvy is used to prevent lower Respiratory Disease from rsv in people 60 years and older. Rsv can severely affect the lungs and lower airways. Arexvy is proven to be over 82 effective in preventing lower Respiratory Disease from rsv and over 94 effective in those with these health conditions. arexvy does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients. Those with weakened Immune Systems may have a lower response to the vaccine. The most common side effects are injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and joint pain. Rsv can be serious. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about arexvy today. Rsv . Make it arexvy. When the murrays discovered gain scent beads, they fell in love with the irresistible scent. Huh, huh, so did their dog roger. Gain scent beads keep even the stinkiest Stuff Smelling fresh. Theres something going around the gordon home. Good thing gertrude found delsym. Now whats going around is 12hour cough relief. And the giggles. The family that takes delsym together, feels better together. Welcome back. As we turn to some of the mornings other top headlines, federal prosecutors hit embattled congressman George Santos with an array of stun new criminal charges including we fraud and identity theft. The new accusations were made in a 23count Super Indictment that laid out how the ne republican charged his donors credit cards repeatly without authorization while distributing the money to his campaign and personal bank account. Prosecutors say santos also lied to the federal Elections Committee and the public about the financial state of his campaign. Santos is due back in federal court in two weeks, but the fresh revelations against him have attracted a large field of candidates seeking to take his house seat. Candidates from both sides of the aisle. Yesterday former democratic congressman tom suozzi launched his own bid for the seat. And he wants to bring back sanity and reason to washington. Santos declined to comment on the new charges. Meanwhile, special counsel jack smith is pushing Donald Trumps lawyers to reveal their possible Defense Strategy for the upcoming Election Interference Trial against their client. This is the federal case. In a court filing yesterday smiths office asked that the former president s attorneys be forced to confirm whether or not they plan to go with an advice of counsel defense when the trial begins, slated to start in march. Since trump was charged earlier this year, his lawyers have repeatedly claimed that the former president was simply relying on bad legal advice when he tried to overturn his 2020 Election Loss to joe biden. In smiths filing he argues if trumps legal team is planning on using that defense, then prosecutors should be given access to more communications between the former president and the attorneys he plans to blame. Judge Tanya Chutkan has given trumps lawyers until friday to respond. Elsewhere Robert F Kennedy jr. Is mounting a white house bid after he left the republican party. The super pac says he raised 11 million in just six hours following the announcement. It said its in talks with elon musk for support but theres no word on yet potential contributions. Steve garvey the former allstar Major League Baseball player and now a Republican Ahas announced hes running for senate in california. Still ahead well turn to sports, more on baseball, this time the action on the diamond. The Major League Baseball playoffs continue, and one of the leagues best teams is going home after just three games. Plus hockeys back. Happy about that. And well give you a recap of opening night. Thats all straight ahead. Reca opening night. Thats all straight ahead. When better money habits® content first started coming out, it expanded what i could do for Special Olympics athletes with developmental needs. Thousands of Bank Of America employees like scott spend countless hours volunteering to teach people how to reach their financial goals. It felt good. It felt like i could take on the whole world. We used to struggle with greasy messes. Now, we just freak, wipe, and were done with mr. Clean clean freak, conquering messes is that easy. Clean freaks mist is three times more powerful, and it works on contact. Clean freak, just freak, wipe, done. Rangers are going to the championship series. You heard it, the Texas Rangers are going to the alcs for the First Time Since 2011 after their fifth straight win in these playoffs. A Solo Home Run hit in the first by corey seager put the rangers ahead early. Starting pitcher Nathan Uvalde was brilliant and the rangers cruise to a 71 victy at home to a complete sweep of the Baltimore Orioles in the alds. Texas will now await the outcome of the twin astros series. Lets go there now to mississippi and houston with a 9run win yesterday. Including a pair sent into the upper deck by jose abreu. He kind of had a down season but coming in at the right time. Will someone please stop them . Theyll Looko Closeout the twins tonight in game four. Both of theional Division Series matchups resumed this evenin that was both in game three. The philadelphiallies will host the atlanta brave that series is 11. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers will look to avoid elimination on the road against the arizona diepdened backs. Also the nhl is back. It opened up with a trio of games. Whily touted rookie beat the Chicago Black hawks beat the pittsburgh penguins. Time now for the weather and lets go to meteorologist Angie Lassman up there at 30 rock with the forecast. Angie, hows it looking . Hello, my friend. Looking soggy in some spots across the country. Even into the weekend were going to vp an unsettled forecast. Its the rain across parts of the gulf coast. Southern texas to the Florida Panhandle thats where were seeing the bulk of that rain. By the time we get through thursday 1 to 3 inches is going to be likely. You can see those higher amounts in the darker red. That focused more towards portion of florida which will likely still see some of that rain working through, the tail end of it at least getting through tomorrow. We wake up to frost advisories rather with 18 Million People impacted from virginia to minnesota. We are dealing with some chilly, chilly temperatures this morning so jackets, the extra layers are needed for sure. Weve got 47 in detroit, 48, and so an extra layer is going to go a long way. We look all the way to the coast to see coast to coast storms today. Look what happens as we get into the Higher Elevations of rockies here for thursday were going to see snow for the forecast, also see rain and potential for strong storms will be out there across parts of the central plains. By the time we get into friday it moves over portions of of the great lakes and midwest. And then of course saturday like crockwork were once again going t