 I'm Jeff Smith. It is morning in Tel Aviv. Day 37 of the Israel Hamas war and a big turning point. It appears in this battle. The IDF says after less than four weeks of fighting inside Gaza, Hamas has now lost control of the North Gaza Strip. However, Hamas still maintaining a hold on the Shefa Hospital in Gaza City, below which they maintain their terror headquarters and top infrastructure and underground offices. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister both defiantly vowing last night to keep on pressing ahead with the offensive despite growing pressure and concern over the mountain Palestinian death toll. The security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against Israel. Let me tell you what we won't have. We won't have Hamas. What also won't exist there is some kind of civilian administration who educates their children to hate Israel, to kill Israelis, to eradicate the state of Israel. We cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre. We can't have that. We'll need to have something else. And this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world. I hear some of them and I ask myself, I ask them, from where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war? 1500 troops, civilians, women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles. And it happened only a month ago. You all saw it. And I'd like to say to these European leaders who are criticizing us, the state of Israel and the Israeli people in 2023. This isn't 1943. We have the ability, as well as the duty, to defend ourselves on our own. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Meanwhile, attacks continue in the north for idea of soldiers recovering from their wounds after being seriously hurt by rocket fire and bomb attached drone strikes. Let's go live to I-24 News correspondent Robert Swift in northern Israel, where Hezbollah drone incursions are a constant and growing threat. Robert, what's the latest? The latest is that the IDF conducted airstrikes last night, hitting sites inside Syria at about 3.30 in the morning, and hitting sites inside Lebanon at about just before midnight. Both of these were in response to attacks that occurred. The attacks in Syria were towards the Golan Heights when two rockets were fired there earlier in the evening, and a series of attacks have originated from Lebanese territory, with anti-tank teams at one point attempting to fire into Israeli territory. And as you mentioned, a series of drones infiltrating into Israeli airspace, and the Israeli military making its response to that clear with these airstrikes. Tell me more about the IDF response to these drone incursions, which are happening frequently daily now. Many of these drones have explosives attached to them. They are seriously hurting soldiers. How does the IDF respond to those kinds of attacks, and what's the response to the IDF attack? As you say, these drones, they are, they can be lethal. They are either equipped with weapons such as explosives, or they can be used again for surveillance purposes, which in itself is a threat. Now the first series of drones which infiltrated yesterday evening, that was one of them was intercepted over an Israeli village, whilst two other drones attempt to infiltrate into the territory at the same time were intercepted just over the Lebanese border. Now the Israeli military has a variety of options that can take in response to this. It can attempt to locate the source of the the drones, essentially using electronic warfare means to detect the operator of the drones and then to strike them, or it can simply, you know, make a retaliatory response using airstrikes, using artillery to hit back at Hezbollah units along the border in a less direct, but still nonetheless strong response to the drones. All right. Live in northern Israel, Robert Swift with the latest this morning. Thank you so much for that report. Let's bring into this conversation IDF Colonel retired, Miri Eisen, who is now the director of the International Institute for Counterterrorism at Rachman University. Miri, thank you so much for being with me. I want to, before we begin this interview, I want to play another sound bite from that press conference, very important press conference hours ago from the prime minister and the defense minister where the defense minister of Israel talked about the evolving threat and the violence and attacks between the IDF and Hezbollah and the threat from Hezbollah. Here's what you have Garland had to say. For you, what would be that grave mistake that if Nasrallah makes that mistake Israel will attack? What will be the red line? Because your position that was published in the past that perhaps Israel should take a preemptive, preventive strike. If you hear that we had attacked in Beirut, then you will understand that he had crossed the red line. What is your reaction to that answer? And I guess the questions about how deep into Lebanon the IDF is willing to counter attack. Jeff, isn't it the question that we all want to understand right now? This is not just an Israel Hamas war. Hamas started this horrific war. We are going against Hamas. Hezbollah in Lebanon has joined in from day one, but they've joined in at a low level. And the question here is, are they Hezbollah going to choose to up the level of intervention? They have been attacking inside the state of Israel from October 7th. They have been firing rockets and mortars and anti-tank missiles. As Robert was describing before, they've added in drones, payloads, UAVs, all of the different capabilities. And together with that, the other Iranian Shiite proxies have been firing into Lebanon as well. We have had casualties on the in the north. It's not in Lebanon. It's in the north in Israel from these attacks. We have been very good, very fine at trying to stop that. There have been casualties both injured and wounded. So when you say what is the red line, that is behind every single decision now inside Israel is that the actions that we're taking inside the Gaza Strip against Hamas, Hezbollah is choosing yes or no to use it as a threat against Israel. Just think of the irony that we have the one horrific, atrocious terror organization in its actions, as it did from the south. And we have a second, much more, I don't want to say capable, but armed terror organization in Lebanon in a very similar way, part of the population in the population outside of the population, yet again, not sovereign, who is consistently attacking us from Lebanon. And so in this situation, Israel has to decide what we'll do. We have enough capability to do both. The question is always going to be, what is our aim? What do we want to do? What does the world look at this as if it is Israel's problem and not the entire international community's problem? Stay with us for a second. I want to bring into this conversation here in studio, our senior correspondent Owen Alderman. Owen, I also want to eyes towards, of course, Israel continues to guard the northern border and deal with the ever constant threat from Hezbollah. The south continues to be a focal point. And there is, there does seem to be, as I mentioned before, a turning point with Israeli leadership saying Hamas has totally lost control of North Gaza. We see this humanitarian quarter's opening for longer and longer. Hamas' grip on the population appears slowly to be loosening. And yet, perhaps today in the hours to come, there might be a decisive battle in the tunnels underneath this massive hospital where soon, in the next few hours, perhaps, babies, children, amputees, the elderly will have to be evacuated. Give us your sense of how this may unfold and the impact domestically and also for a global audience. Dramatic, delicate and obviously really difficult. But Jeff, first of all, welcome back. Thank you so much. I mean, horrible circumstances, of course, but we're at the channel are thrilled to have you back. Your new viewer, understand Jeff, was a longtime anchor of ours and came back, I guess, got called up by reserve for reserve duty in a sense. Not the first person from the Lost Tribes of I-24 news to come back. But Jeff, welcome back. And Speaker, I think for everybody in our newsroom, we're thrilled to have you back. Of course, horrible circumstances. And speaking of horrible circumstances, obviously, the injured people achieve a hospital, the terror bases that were cynically and cruelly and criminally dug under the hospital in the difficult situation for the military in handling this. Look, the military is obviously going to have to be very, very careful here. They by all accounts are, but there's no margin for error, not little margin for error. I would say no margin for error between being able to be able to take this important military target, but without causing civilian casualties, some of the most vulnerable people there. We understand that civilians who took shelter in the hospital, healthy civilians who went there as a place of refuge, if you will, in northern Gaza, have by and large left. So the people there are the people who, in a sense, are the most difficult to do. The most highly vulnerable people who have that mobile. Exactly. First thing to caution viewers, I think none of us should believe all of the information coming out of Gaza. It's an important caveat in the day to day of this war. It's even more important now with Chief of Hospital to try to be very, very careful and understand and vet and listen to trusted sources about exactly what the situation is inside that building. Because there's a lot of uncertainty. There are a lot of actors who have an interest for various reasons in either giving misleading information or intentional disinformation. So we all have to be very, very careful. But you're right, Jeff, it's an important milestone in the war. This is Hamas's Pentagon. But I think it's been said over the last 24 hours and it bears repeating, this is not the end of the process and the end of the task. And while it's true that above ground in northern Gaza, the military feels confident enough in saying that Hamas has lost control of the territory. It's obviously an important objective of this war, right? The whole point of this war is for Hamas to lose control of the territory. But there are still potentially the terror tunnels underneath and the infrastructure underneath. And of course the hospital where the task has not been completed because of just how difficult and delicate and dramatic it is. And then of course there's the question of the entire southern part of the Gaza Strip where there hasn't been significant military activity for the obvious reason that that's where the civilians have gone. But what exactly does the military do and how does it handle that? Because to really end Hamas's political and military control of the Strip, the objective is to end it for the entire Strip. And to what degree can that be done without a bigger Israeli military presence south of Wadi Gaza? I want to bring also into this conversation, I'd like to introduce correspondent Ariel Osaran, who is live for us in southern Israel, near the city of Steyrout. Ariel, the IDF and Israeli leaders saying that they will begin evacuating high-risk patients, babies, from Shefa Hospital today, perhaps a big public indicator that the battle for Hamas's headquarters underneath the hospital, maybe the hour maybe at hand, any sense of how deep and deadly this battle may become, how many Hamas terrorists are hiding out still in the area or simply we just have no idea. Right, Jeff. So first of all, welcome back to I-24 News. Nice having you back in our ranks. Now I will say regarding the situation in Shefa Hospital, it does appear to be a crucial moment for Israel's military offensive moving forward. I agree with Owen that this isn't where the war against Hamas is going to end, even if the stronghold in and under the Shefa Hospital is taken over. But it's also a moment of truth for the war and public opinion. I mean, everything regarding the hospitals, specifically Shefa Hospital has been gotten a lot, has been getting a lot of international criticism, a lot of public attention. And that has also been, as the fighting has approached the hospitals, that has also appeared to be what's changing the public opinion, at least of the leaders away from Israel and support of its military offensive. Now just in the past hour, there have been reports of multiple clashes around areas surrounding hospitals in the Gaza Strip, but really fighting all across the strip we're hearing and seeing air strikes as well as artillery strikes. Now regarding claims yesterday that Israel is surrounding and circling the Shefa Hospital yesterday, the IDF spokesperson, Danielle Agari, referred to this issue saying that it is not encircled and also referred to the issue of evacuating babies from the hospital. Let's take a listen to what IDF spokesperson said exactly on this issue. The east side of the hospital is open on Elwadi Street for the safe pass of Gazans who wish to leave the hospital. We're speaking directly and regularly with the hospital staff. The staff of the Shefa Hospital has requested that tomorrow we will help the babies in the pediatric department to get to a safer hospital. We will provide the assistance needed. Thank you Ariel so much for that live update, again shaping up to be a very important milestone day perhaps in this war against the Hamas terror organization. Thank you Ariel. Let me bring back Colonel Miri Aizur. Miri, as Owen mentioned before here in studio, we talk often and analysts talk often about what happens the day after Gaza. Before that, there's a question of what happens the day after North Gaza, because once the Hamas has lost control of North Gaza, the IDF may have full command of North Gaza and eventually the battle under Shefa Hospital will commence and then it will end. But then so many Hamas commanders, correct? And from low level to high ranking, if they've moved south, we can assume Hamas fighters are trying to sneak in with the humanitarian corridor south. They may try and regroup in the south of Gaza. What is your assessment perhaps on after North Gaza? What does the IDF, what does Israel do with the threat that may emerge newly from the southern part of the strip? Jeff, as I'm sitting here and listening to the amazing people also as they're reporting, when we said that this is a war that is not like any other, it's unprecedented. When we talk about the preparations that the genocidal terror organization Hamas did over the last, I'm going to say decade and the years in the last two, three years, look at what they prepared. They prepared that underground subterranean area and we've shown the maps before. It's not just under the northern Gaza strip and there's that question. So how do you take care of it? So let's be clear, this has to do with 2.2 million people who live there and the Hamas, tens of thousands of terrorists who are embedded in the population and under the population and the choices been made to first do it step by step. Why step by step to save people's lives? I know it doesn't feel like enough to some of the European leaders and everybody looks at us with disdain and I'm saying there is no military who would ever send in both their soldiers and in the way that we're doing so to be able to save lives. And I'm not cynical about that, but you're absolutely right. This is the northern Gaza strip. And as Owen said so correctly, that still means that hopefully I'm hopeful that the 2.2 million people are in the central southern Gaza strip. But that means that tens of thousands still minus I would say five to six thousand terrorists that many are still both in the central and southern Gaza strip, including the main leaders. We haven't heard the main leaders voices. They are deep in hiding. And in that sense, they're hiding under and within that civilian population. Let's take it one step at a time. I know that seems hard for people, but I want to remind us all over 230 Israeli hostages. They've been there for over five weeks. Those hostages are what for the Hamas top terrorists? That is their get out of jail card free. It is their protection. And so we're looking at this step by step to try to see how we get to hostages, how we make the Hamas, give the hostages back and in doing so in a way that Hamas themselves, not only are the ones who understand how much they've lost, but sadly that the Palestinians in the Gaza strip have to see that the way that Hamas shows that the actions that Hamas did are actions that cannot be tolerated, not by Israel, not by the international community, but by the Palestinians themselves. This is very harsh and yes, it will have another stage looking towards that central and south. Colonel, you mentioned the hostages. I want to ask, there's so much speculation, so much reporting in Israeli domestic media, in Palestinian media, in global media about negotiations with Hamas about the return of perhaps up to 100 hostages, the children and the elderly primarily, the demands that Hamas would have to release hostages, not all of them, but only a select group of them. What would Israel have to do? Would there be a pause in fighting? Where do you stand on those talks that appear to be active over the release of some hostages for some kind of pause in fighting and perhaps field delivery? Jeff, sadly in that sense, I come from not just the issue of an institute for counterterrorism, but having looked at terrorists my whole life, I don't believe them, and in this case, what they would be doing, and I want every single hostage home right now, I cannot imagine both being a mother, a daughter of any of this going on, and the Hamas should release them right now, and I'm going to be my royal politic. They won't. They view them as their own safeguard. They view them as a way to negotiate. They view them as that's why they did this initial attack is to take all of these hostages in an unprecedented attack. If it was up to me, it's not in that sense. I breathe in deep, and I say I'm avoiding the photographs right now that you're showing on the side screen. It breaks my heart to see that. As we look at it right now, we cannot believe Hamas. We're all aware that not only Hamas took hostages on October 7th, Palestinian Islamic Jihad has let out separately. They seem to be all over in that sense, different areas in the Gaza Strip. We have to breathe in deep, the best way to pressure. It's not easy to pressure Hamas into letting out the different hostages is through the military pressure, is through pressuring them at where it hurts them, the terrorists. And to do so, if they let out 100 in a humanitarian pause, that's fine. But you do need to understand that means that the other 140, we don't know the exact numbers, they've never said though, what happens to them? That's a worst kind of scenario. And we're already in the worst kind of scenario of this being an ever-ending. They hold hostages of Israel. So there is no easy way out. I don't have a nice answer for our viewers, nor for myself. I say to continue with what we're doing, to hug the hostages, to the families, to be there with them. They know that we're there and that Israel is trying to do everything. But we cannot believe Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They are terror organizations who view the hostages in the most cynical way. Colonel Miriah Eisen with a personal and professional assessment here. Thank you so much for your thoughts this morning. Always with you, thank you. And also a crucial meeting of Arab leaders on the ongoing war. Let's listen to what the Saudi foreign minister had to say after a crucial conference involving some of the top Arab leaders on the Israel Hamas war. United Nations Security Council has clearly shown that it is unable to live up to the expectations of the international community and that reform is absolutely necessary. But I believe that with the collective will of the Arab world and the Muslim world, and as His Excellency the Secretary generally pointed out, the number of countries and the size of these countries, we have the weight to be able to push in that direction. And I am sure that we will do all that we can, and that with the instructions that we have received from the leadership of these countries now that we will be taking a very, very strong message. Well, let's talk for a minute about international pressure, but specific to the Arab world after that conference and reports perhaps of there wasn't a unanimous opinion among even Arab leaders on the pressure they want to put on Israel, on the desired outcome they want to see in the situation. But there does seem to be a push for a ceasefire. What is your assessment on the meeting, on the soundbite we just heard perhaps on growing pressure from the UN to take more decisive action? Well, first we'll start with the Arab Islamic summit, Jeff, and then we'll go to wider international public opinion. We're in my opinion actually a little bit different than the conventional wisdom. After that, that summit, look, of course the Saudi foreign minister needs to say that. And we, of course, it's not pleasant for people here in Israel to see Mohammed bin Salman shaking hands with Ibrahim Raisi. That said, I and I said this from the very beginning of the war, but it's been confirmed by plenty of evidence since, including the reports about the Saudis not agreeing to some of those provisions that were offered at the summit yesterday to cut ties with Israel, freeze the Israeli use of airspace for flights and so forth. Again, I continue to be optimistic in the medium term about Saudi Israeli normalization happening. I think it's core, my sense is it's core to Mohammed bin Salman's vision. It's an important thing for him to do to show as serious he is about that vision. Because if he wants to quiet the skeptics who don't actually believe that he really, really, really wants to open up and liberalize Saudi Arabia, the way to do that is take that ultimate step of normalizing with Israel. It's obviously more costly now than it was before the war. But again, in a sense, the costs are the whole point in terms of showing the seriousness he needs to bear the cost in order to make the impression he wants to make. That's a wider international public opinion. Go back to something Ariello Saran told us, that this issue of the hospitals and the issue of the next few hours is his view, what's really, really potentially turning the tide in international public opinion or a factor in turning the tide in international public opinion against Israel. Jeff, it may just be that the pressure will taper off. That it will go down. The IEF says this is not a battle achieved further than the war is over. There may be active fighting in Gaza for a full year, if not more. Right. And a lot of people in Israel don't see that as a realistic goal because of international pressure. But I want to put out a different opinion. Look, we are used in our wars to seeing the pressure be cumulative and go up in a graph. I'll try to show it in my hand. Go up the graph like this with a slope of one. Or even in some cases to look a bit like a COVID graph where it goes up like this. It may be that the graph, if you go back to your Econ 101 class, looks more like the marginal returns graph where the pressure goes up like this in the first days of the war and then starts to taper off. Right. And as the fighting continues, it may in a sense, Jeff, day to day in terms of incrementally become less destructive, less casualty prone, after the big air strikes of the beginning, after the big shock of the first few days, after the shock of the beginning of the ground campaign, after I fear, but I of course, like all this hope, not the shock of what may happen in the final battle for Shiba Hospital. Of course, maybe Israel, one objective of the military should be to actually be able to take those tunnels and bunkers intact to be able to show the world what was there. But maybe just maybe the incremental pressure and the incremental increase of pressure will start to taper off and we actually won't see the cumulative effect of pressure in the second month, the way we saw it in the first month in giving, so in fact, the sand in the diplomatic hourglass actually starts to go down more slowly. Really interesting analysis. Thanks Owen for that insight. We'll go out for a break, but we have more live coverage of course all day here on I-24 News. More tea, we have live coverage in the north and the south of Israel, more expert analysis from our own team of dedicated and expert correspondents and security analysts. Stay with us, more to come right here on I-24 News. Ten hundred people murdered and more than 3,000 injured and the war with Hamas continues. We bring you first-hand testimonies from the front lines, from those who survived and all the records of the atrocities by Hamas. Follow us as Israel fights terror from the south and north. Get the inside scoop on what's going on. Only on I-24 News. News 24, this hour, I'm Jeff Smith. It is morning in Tel Aviv, day 37 of the Israel-Hamas war, and a big turning point. It appears in this battle the IDF says after less than four weeks of fighting inside Gaza, Hamas has now lost control of the north Gaza Strip. However, Hamas still maintaining a hold on the Shefa Hospital in Gaza City, below which they maintain their terror headquarters and top infrastructure and underground offices. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Minister both defiantly vowing last night to keep on pressing ahead with the offensive despite growing pressure and concern over the mountain Palestinian death toll. The security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against Israel. Let me tell you what we won't have. We won't have Hamas. What also won't exist there is some kind of a civilian administration who educates their children to hate Israel, to kill Israelis, to eradicate the state of Israel. We cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre. We can't have that. We'll need to have something else. And this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world. I hear some of them and I ask myself, I ask them, from where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war? 1,500 troops, civilians, women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles. And it happened only a month ago. You all saw it. And I'd like to say to these European leaders who are criticizing us, the state of Israel and the Israeli people, in 2023, this isn't 1943, we have the ability as well as the duty to defend ourselves on our own. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Meanwhile, attacks continue in the north for IDF soldiers recovering from their wounds after being seriously hurt by rocket fire and bomb attached drone strikes. Let's go live to I-24 News correspondent Robert Swift in northern Israel, where Hezbollah drone incursions are a constant and growing threat. Robert, what's the latest? The latest is that the IDF conducted airstrikes last night, hitting sites inside Syria at about 3.30 in the morning and hitting sites inside Lebanon at about just before midnight. Both of these were in response to attacks that occurred. The attacks in Syria were towards the Golan Heights when two rockets were fired there earlier in the evening. And a series of attacks have originated from Lebanese territory with anti-tank teams at one point attempting to fire into Israeli territory. And as you mentioned, a series of drones infiltrating into Israeli airspace and the Israeli military making its response to that clear with these airstrikes. Tell me more about the IDF response to these drone incursions, which are happening frequently daily now. Many of these drones have explosives attached to them. They are seriously hurting soldiers. How does the IDF respond to those kinds of attacks? And what's the response to the IDF attack? As you say, these drones, they are, they can be lethal. They are either equipped with weapons, such as explosives, or they can be used again for surveillance purposes, which in itself is a threat. Now, the first series of drones which infiltrated yesterday evening, that was, one of them was intercepted over an Israeli village, whilst two other drones attempt to infiltrate into the territory at the same time were intercepted just over the Lebanese border. Now, the Israeli military has a variety of options that it can take in response to this. It can attempt to locate the source of the drones, essentially using electronic warfare means to detect the operator of the drones and then to strike them. Or it can simply make a retaliatory response using airstrike, using artillery to hit back at Hezbollah units along the border in a less direct but still nonetheless strong response to the drones. All right. Live in northern Israel, Robert Swift with the latest this morning. Thank you so much for that report. Let's bring into this conversation IDF Colonel retired, Miri Eisen, who is now the director of the International Institute for Counterterrorism at Rachman University. Miri, thank you so much for being with me. I want to, before we begin this interview, I want to play another sound, but from that press conference, very important press conference hours ago from the prime minister and the defense minister, where the defense minister of Israel talked about the evolving threat and the violence and attacks between the IDF and Hezbollah and the threat from Hezbollah. Here's what you have Garland had to say. For you, what would be that grave mistake that if Nasrallah makes that mistake, Israel will attack? What will be the red line? Because your position that was published in the past that perhaps Israel should take a preemptive, preventive strike. If you hear that we had attacked in Beirut, then you will understand that he had crossed the red line. What is your reaction to that answer? And I guess the questions about how deep into Lebanon the IDF is willing to counter attack? Jeff, isn't it the question that we all want to understand right now? This is not just an Israel Hamas war. Hamas started this horrific war. We are going against Hamas. Hezbollah in Lebanon has joined in from day one, but they've joined in at a low level. And the question here is, are they going, are they, Hezbollah, going to choose to up the level of intervention? They have been attacking inside the state of Israel from October 7th. They have been firing rockets and mortars and anti-tank missiles. As Robert was describing before, they've added in drones, payloads, UAVs, all of the different capabilities. And together with that, the other Iranian Shiite proxies have been firing into Lebanon as well. We have had casualties in the north. It's not in Lebanon. It's in the north, in Israel, from these attacks. We have been very good, very fine at trying to stop that. There have been casualties both injured and wounded. So when you say what is the red line, that is behind every single decision now inside Israel is that the actions that we're taking inside the Gaza Strip against Hamas, Hezbollah is choosing yes or no to use it as a threat against Israel. Just think of the irony that we had the one horrific, atrocious terror organization in its actions as it did from the south. And we have a second, much more, I don't want to say capable, but armed terror organization in Lebanon in a very similar way, part of the population, in the population, outside of the population, yet again, not sovereign, who is consistently attacking us from Lebanon. And so in this situation, Israel has to decide what we'll do. We have enough capability to do both. The question is always going to be, what is our aim? What do we want to do? What does the world look at this as if it is Israel's problem and not the entire international community's problem? Stay with us for a second. I want to bring into this conversation here in studio, our senior correspondent Owen Alderman. Owen, I also want to eyes towards, of course, Israel continues to guard the northern border and deal with the ever constant threat from Hezbollah. The south continues to be a focal point. And there is, there does seem to be, as I mentioned before, a turning point with Israeli leadership saying Hamas has totally lost control of North Gaza. We see this humanitarian corridors opening for longer and longer. Hamas' grip on the population appears slowly to be loosening. And yet perhaps today, in the hours to come, there might be a decisive battle in the tunnels underneath this massive hospital, where soon, in the next few hours, perhaps babies, children, amputees, the elderly, will have to be evacuated. Give us your sense of how this may unfold and the impact domestically and also for a global audience. Dramatic, delicate, and obviously really difficult. But Jeff, first of all, welcome back. Thank you so much. I mean, horrible circumstances, of course, but we're at the channel are thrilled to have you back. Your new viewer, understand Jeff was a longtime anchor of ours and came back, I guess, got called up by reserve for reserve duty in a sense. Not the first person from the Lost Tribes of I-24 news to come back. But Jeff, welcome back. And speak, I think, for everybody in our newsroom. We're thrilled to have you back. Of course, horrible circumstances. And speaking of horrible circumstances, obviously the injured people achieve a hospital. The terror bases that were cynically and cruelly and criminally dug under the hospital in the difficult situation for the military in handling this. Look, the military is obviously going to have to be very, very careful here. They by all accounts are, but there's no margin for error, not little margin for error. I would say no margin for error between being able to be able to take this important military target. But without causing civilian casualties, some of the most vulnerable people there. We understand that civilians who took shelter in the hospital, healthy civilians who went there as a place of refuge, if you will, in Northern Gaza have by and large left. So the people there are the people who, in a sense, are the most difficult to live. The most highly vulnerable people on that mobile. Exactly. First thing to caution viewers, I think none of us should believe all of the information coming out of Gaza. It's an important caveat in the day to day of this war. It's even more important now with Chief of Hospital to try to be very, very careful and understand and vet and listen to trusted sources about exactly what the situation is inside that building. Because there's a lot of uncertainty. There are a lot of actors who have an interest for various reasons in either giving misleading information or intentional disinformation. So we all have to be very, very careful. But you're right, Jeff, it's an important milestone in the war. This is Hamas's Pentagon. But I think it's been said over the last 24 hours and it bears repeating this is not the end of the process and the end of the task. And while it's true that above ground in northern Gaza, the military feels confident enough in saying that Hamas has lost control of the territory. So obviously an important objective of this war, right? The whole point of this war is for Hamas to lose control of the territory. But there are still potentially the terror tunnels underneath and the infrastructure underneath. And of course, the hospital where the task has not been completed because of just how difficult and delicate and dramatic it is. And then of course, there's the question of the entire southern part of the Gaza Strip where there hasn't been significant military activity for the obvious reason that that's where the civilians have gone. But what exactly does the military do? And how does it handle that? Because to really end Hamas's political and military control of the Strip, the objective is to end it for the entire Strip. And to what degree can that be done without a bigger Israeli military presence south of Wadi Gaza? I want to bring also into this conversation, I'd like to introduce correspondent Ariel Osiron, who is live for us in southern Israel, near the city of Steyroud area. The IDF and Israeli leaders saying that they will begin evacuating high-risk patients, babies, from Shifa Hospital today, perhaps a big public indicator that the battle for Hamas's headquarters underneath the hospital may be, the hour may be at hand. Any sense of how deep and deadly this battle may become, how many Hamas terrorists are hiding out still in the area, or simply we just have no idea? Right, Jeff. So first of all, welcome back to I-24 News. Nice having you back in our ranks. Now I will say regarding the situation in Shifa Hospital, it does appear to be a crucial moment for Israel's military offensive moving forward. I agree with Owen that this isn't where the war against Hamas is going to end, even if the stronghold in and under the Shifa Hospital is taken over. But it's also a moment of truth for the war and public opinion. I mean, everything regarding the hospital, specifically, Shifa Hospital has been getting a lot of international criticism, a lot of public attention, and that has also been, as the fighting has approached the hospitals, that has also appeared to be what's changing the public opinion, at least of the leaders, away from Israel and support of its military offensive. Now just in the past hour, there have been reports of multiple clashes around areas surrounding hospitals in the Gaza Strip, but really fighting all across the Strip. We're hearing and seeing air strikes as well as artillery strikes. Now regarding claims yesterday that Israel is surrounding and circling the Shifa Hospital yesterday, the IDF spokesperson, Daniela Garry, referred to this issue saying that it is not encircled and also referred to the issue of evacuating babies from the hospital. Let's take a listen to what IDF spokesperson said exactly on this issue. The east side of the hospital is open on Elwade Street for the safe pass of Gazans who wish to leave the hospital. We're speaking directly and regularly with the hospital staff. The staff of the Shifa Hospital has requested that tomorrow we will help the babies in the pediatric department to get to a safer hospital. We will provide the assistance needed. Thank you, Ariel, so much for that live update. Again, shaping up to be a very important milestone day perhaps in this war against the Hamas Terror Organization. Thank you, Ariel. Let me bring back Colonel Miri Eiser. Miri, as Owen mentioned before here in studio, we talk often and analysts talk often about what happens the day after Gaza. Before that, there's a question of what happens the day after North Gaza because once the Hamas has lost control of North Gaza, the IDF may have full command of North Gaza, then eventually the battle under Shifa Hospital will commence and then it will end. But then so many Hamas commanders, correct? From low level to high ranking, they've moved south. We can assume Hamas fighters apart are trying to sneak in with the humanitarian corridor south. They may try and regroup in the south of Gaza. What is your assessment perhaps on after North Gaza? What does the IDF, what does Israel do with the threat that may emerge newly from the southern part of the strip? Jeff, as I'm sitting here and listening to the amazing people also as they're reporting, when we said that this is a war that is not like any other, it's unprecedented. When we talk about the preparations that the genocidal terror organization Hamas did over the last, I'm going to say decade and the years in the last two, three years, look at what they prepared. They prepared that underground subterranean area and we've shown the maps before. It's not just under the Northern Gaza Strip and there's that question. So how do you take care of it? So let's be clear. This has to do with 2.2 million people who live there and the Hamas, tens of thousands of terrorists who are embedded in the population and under the population and the choice has been made to first do it step by step. Why step by step to save people's lives? I know it doesn't feel like enough to some of the European leaders and everybody looks at us with disdain. And I'm saying there is no military who would ever send in both their soldiers and in the way that we're doing so to be able to save lives. And I'm not cynical about that, but you're absolutely right. This is the Northern Gaza Strip and as Owen said so correctly, that still means that hopefully, I'm hopeful that the 2.2 million people are in the Central Southern Gaza Strip. But that means that tens of thousands still minus I would say five to six thousand terrorists that many are still both in the Central and Southern Gaza Strip, including the main leaders. We haven't heard the main leaders voices. They are deep in hiding and in that sense, they're hiding under and within that civilian population. Let's take it one step at a time. I know that seems hard for people, but I want to remind us all over 230 Israeli hostages. They've been there for over five weeks. Those hostages are what for the Hamas top terrorists? That is their get out of jail card free. It is their protection. And so we're looking at this step by step to try to see how we get to hostages, how we make the Hamas give the hostages back and in doing so in a way that Hamas themselves not only are the ones who understand how much they've lost, but sadly, that the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have to see that the way that Hamas chose, that the actions that Hamas did are actions that cannot be tolerated not by Israel, not by the international community, but by the Palestinians themselves. This is very harsh and yes, it will have another stage looking towards that Central and South. Currently, you mentioned the hostages. I want to ask there's so much speculation, so much reporting in Israeli domestic media, in Palestinian media, in global media about negotiations with Hamas about the return of perhaps up to 100 hostages, the children and the elderly primarily, the demands that Hamas would have to release hostages, not all of them, but only a select group of them. What would Israel have to do? Would there be a pause in fighting? Where do you stand on those talks that appear to be active over the release of some hostages for some kind of pause in fighting and perhaps fuel delivery? Jeff, sadly, in that sense, I come from not just the issue of an Institute for Counterterrorism, but having looked at terrorists my whole life, I don't believe them. And in this case, what they would be doing, and I want every single hostage home right now, I cannot imagine, both being a mother, a daughter of any of this going on, and the Hamas should release them right now. And I'm going to be my real politic. They won't. They view them as their own safeguard. They view them as a way to negotiate. They view them as that's why they did this initial attack, is to take all of these hostages in an unprecedented attack. If it was up to me, it's not in that sense. I breathe in deep, and I say, I'm like avoiding the photographs right now that you're showing on the side screen. It breaks my heart to see that. As we look at it right now, we cannot believe Hamas. We're all aware that not only Hamas took hostages on October 7th, Palestinian Islamic jihad has let out separately. They seem to be all over in that sense, different areas in the Gaza Strip. We have to breathe in deep the best way to pressure. It's not easy to pressure Hamas into letting out the different hostages, is through the military pressure, is through pressuring them at where it hurts them, the terrorists. To do so, if they let out 100 in a humanitarian pause, that's fine. But you do need to understand that means that the other 140, we don't know the exact numbers, they've never said though, what happens to them. That's a worst kind of scenario. We're already in the worst kind of scenario of this being an ever-ending. They hold hostages of Israel. So there is no easy way out. I don't have a nice answer for our viewers, nor for myself. I say to continue with what we're doing, to hug the hostages to the families, to be there with them. They know that we're there and that Israel is trying to do everything. But we cannot believe Hamas or Palestinian Islamic jihad. They are terror organizations who view the hostages in the most cynical way. Colonel Mary Eisen with her personal and professional assessment here. Thank you so much for your thoughts this morning. Always with you, thank you. And also a crucial meeting of Arab leaders on the ongoing war. Let's listen to what the Saudi foreign minister had to say after a crucial conference involving some of the top Arab leaders on the Israel Hamas war. United Nations Security Council has clearly shown that it is unable to live up to the expectations of the international community and that reform is absolutely necessary. But I believe that with the collective will of the Arab world and the Muslim world, and as His Excellency the Secretary generally pointed out, the number of countries and the size of these countries, we have the weight to be able to push in that direction. And I am sure that we will do all that we can and that with the instructions that we have received from the leadership of these countries now, that we will be taking a very, very strong message. Oh, and let's talk for a minute about international pressure, but specific to the Arab world after that conference and reports perhaps of there wasn't a unanimous opinion among even Arab leaders on the pressure they want to put on Israel, on the pressure, on the desired outcome they want to see in the situation. But there does seem to be a push for a ceasefire. What is your assessment on the meeting, on the soundbite we just heard, perhaps on growing pressure from the UN to take more decisive action? Well, first, we'll start with the Arab Islamic summit. Jeff, then we'll go to wider international public opinion. Or my opinion, actually a little bit different than the conventional wisdom. As for that summit, look, of course, the Saudi foreign minister needs to say that. And we, of course, it's not pleasant for people here in Israel to see Mohammed bin Salman shaking hands with Abraham Raisi. That said, I, and I said this from the very beginning of the war, but it's been confirmed by plenty of evidence since, including the reports about the Saudis, not agreeing to some of those provisions that were offered at the summit yesterday to cut off ties with Israel, freeze the Israeli use of airspace for flights and so forth. Again, I continue to be optimistic in the medium term about Saudi Israeli normalization happening. I think it's core, my sense is it's core to Mohammed bin Salman's vision. It's an important thing for him to do to show as serious he is about that vision. Because if he wants to quiet the skeptics who don't actually believe that he really, really, really wants to open up and liberalize Saudi Arabia, the way to do that is take that ultimate step of normalizing with Israel. It's obviously more costly now than it was before the war. But again, in a sense, the costs are the whole point in terms of showing the seriousness he needs to bear the cost in order to make the impression he wants to make. That's a wider international public opinion. Go back to something Arielo Saran told us, right? That this issue of the hospitals and the issue of the next few hours is his view, what's really, really potentially turning the tide in international public opinion, or a factor in turning the tide in international public opinion against Israel. Jeff, it may just be that the pressure will taper off. Not that it will go down. The IEF says this is not a battle achieved further than the war is over. There may be active fighting in Gaza for a full year, if not more. Right. And a lot of people in Israel don't see that as a realistic goal because of international pressure. But I want to put out a different opinion. Look, we are used in our wars to seeing the pressure be cumulative and go up in a graph. I'll try to show it in my hand. Go up the graph like this, with a slope of one. Or even in some cases, to look a bit like a COVID graph where it goes up like this. It may be that the graph, if you go back to your econ 101 class, looks more like the marginal returns graph, where the pressure goes up like this in the first days of the war, and then starts to taper off, right? And as the fighting continues, it may in a sense, Jeff, day to day in terms of incrementally become less destructive, less casualty prone, after the big airstrikes of the beginning, after the big shock of the first few days, after the shock of the beginning of the ground campaign, after, I fear, but I, of course, like all this hope not, the shock of what may happen in the final battle for Shiba Hospital. Of course, maybe Israel, one objective of the military should be two, to actually be able to take those tunnels and bunkers intact, to be able to show the world what was there. But maybe just maybe the incremental pressure and the incremental increase of pressure will start to taper off, and we actually won't see the cumulative effect of pressure in the second month, the way we saw it in the first month, in giving, so in fact, the sand in the diplomatic hourglass actually starts to go down more slowly. Really interesting analysis. Thanks so much for that insight. We'll go out for a break, but we have more live coverage, of course, all day here on I-24 News. We have live coverage in the north and the south of Israel, more expert analysis from our own team of dedicated and expert correspondents and security analysts. Stay with us. More to come right here on I-24 News. This is a very active scene and we need to get in the car as we're talking. More than 100 soldiers and civilians have been kidnapped. Tell us we don't know what to do. We just don't know anything. Entire families, including babies and children and elderly were butchered in their beds. Awaken the giant and we are ready and we are strong. Everyone is showing up. This is the unity. Joining us on I-24 News at this hour, I'm Jeff Smith. It is morning in Tel Aviv, day 37 of the Israel Hamas war and it may be that we are just hours away from a crucial, critical battle. First, the IDF says that after less than four weeks of fighting inside of Gaza, Hamas has now lost control of the North Gaza Strip. However, Hamas still maintains a hold on the Shefa Hospital in Gaza City below which they maintain their terror headquarters and top infrastructure and underground offices. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Minister both defiantly vowing to keep on pressing ahead with the military offensive to take the Hamas headquarters despite international pressure for a ceasefire and concern over the mountain death toll. The security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against Israel. Let me tell you what we won't have. We won't have Hamas. What also won't exist there is some kind of civilian administration who educates their children to hate Israel, to kill Israelis, to eradicate the state of Israel. We cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre. We can't have that. We'll need to have something else. And this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world. I hear some of them and I ask myself, I ask them. From where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war? 1,500 troops, civilians, women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles. And it happened only a month ago. You all saw it. And I'd like to say to these European leaders who are criticizing us, the state of Israel and the Israeli people in 2023. This isn't 1943. We have the ability as well as the duty to defend ourselves on our own. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Thousands of civilians have fled the massive Shifa Hospital complex over the weekend already. The IDF saying that today they will begin evacuating the highest risk, most vulnerable patients from the Shifa Hospital, including babies, premature babies, incubators, cancer patients, amputees. They will help them evacuate safely through humanitarian corridors. Perhaps a key public indicator that the actual battle for Hamas' headquarters below the hospital may begin in the hours to come. Let's go live now to the south of Israel with I-25 news correspondent Ariel Oceran. And I'll tell me more about Hamas' headquarters, exactly where it relates to the hospital itself. I mean, how close are terrorists with guns hiding out next to cancer patients and kids? And how can the IDF negotiate this battle? Right, Jeff. So it's believed that some of the offices of Hamas are not only under the hospital, but some specific offices are also on the floor of regular offices in the Shifa Hospital, the biggest of the 35 hospitals inside the Gaza Strip. And this illustrates the complexity of Israeli forces operating in the Gaza Strip. As you mentioned, as the battle continues to deepen inside Gaza, the IDF issuing a statement just a short while ago explaining, describing the recent activity in the hours overnight, this included a significant concentrated effort in the Shati Camp, which is just northwest of Gaza City and north of Shifa Hospital, which is on the coast. This includes for one, just for example, in one of the fights, a Givati force identified a civilian population in a building, tried to facilitate their exit as they were facilitating the exit of these civilians. Hamas terrorists opened fire on the Israeli forces who were securing the safe evacuation of the civilian population. And the Israeli forces obviously returned fire to the origin. This is just one example of how Hamas is using human shields, not only in the hospitals. The evacuation and the battle to come perhaps in the hours ahead. Thank you so much for that live update, Ariel Osiron. Let's go in studio now to our guests, Daniel Shek, the former Israeli ambassador to France and the political commentator. And still with SI-25, the senior correspondent Owen Alderman, Owen Awana, start with the press conference hours ago last night with the Israeli Defense Minister and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already discussing what will happen to Gaza, the governance of Gaza after the war itself, the Prime Minister saying that, talking about the possible return of the Palestinian authority or a Palestinian government to Gaza, what's your reaction to what he said, the implications of it, and obviously already politics perhaps coming into the equation. Yeah, maybe. You say already talking about it, Jeff. And in a sense, you're right, right? We're not at the day after yet. As you said, we may be hours before even the biggest battle of the war. By the way, as Ariel Osiron correctly reminded us, Hamas is, according to the Israeli military, not only under the hospital, but inside the hospital, right? As Ariel said, with its offices and with its terrorists inside the hospital wards themselves, an important thing for us to keep in mind. And I can only hope that in this very delicate and difficult situation, the Israeli military will take control of the hospital if it feels it needs to, in a way that will still be able to expose exactly what was there, right, for the entire world to know. After the press conference, you're right, it was the authority that will not be named, right? Because Netanyahu never actually used the words, Palestinian authority. In Israeli media, it's being read, and let me just do it again, you'll check out to say about this, being read is ruling out the return of the Palestinian authority to Gaza. I read it differently because that's not what Netanyahu said. He didn't say we are against the Palestinian authority returning to Gaza, and again, didn't even use their name. We are against an authority returning to Gaza that does A, B, and C, right? And to me, that's not ruling it out. That's the beginning of a negotiation, right? For Israel to use the ability for the Palestinian authority to come back to Gaza, a goal that the international community and the Biden administration really wants to see. And Israel now holding the keys to Gaza wants to use those keys as leverage to get the Palestinian authority to do things that Israel has for a long time wanted it to do, right? And rightly so, changing the education system, the payment of terrorists and so on and so forth, or of former terrorists and so on and so forth. So that's how I see this as the beginning of a negotiation rather than ruling out the PA's return. Your initial assessment to Netanyahu's remarks on Palestinian governance in Gaza after the war. Well, Jeff, let me first adjust your question a little bit. You said that he was talking about what will happen after the war. Actually, he only spoke about what won't happen after the war. He did not make a proposition about who is going to rule, what is going to be the regime, who is going to take care of security, who is going to take care of water, gas, all the civilians. He didn't. He just ruled out Hamas. And I might have read this a bit less sophisticated manner than my friend Owen. I think he ruled them out. Now, maybe he ruled them out in order to negotiate it. I'm not sure that he meant to, you know, if you look at the history, he has he's in a strange situation because on the one hand he is being quoted and he can't deny this as having said we have to weaken the Palestinian Authority and strengthen Hamas. Clearly, that's not a message that can work anymore. So now he stuck with I can't have Hamas and I didn't want the Palestinian Authority. So what exactly do I do? So maybe there is this slightly sophisticated analysis that Owen shows that he's going back on his, you know, I'll still weaken the Palestinian Authority, but I, you know, I don't have another choice. So I will allow them to go into Gaza. The thing is that he didn't make a real proposal. And I think that you can't talk about Netanyahu speaking about the exit strategy, the political exit strategy until he makes such a proposal. Just ruling out all the other things is not good enough. No specifics as of yet. Meanwhile, attacks continuing the North, four IDF soldiers are recovering from their injuries after being seriously wounded by rocket fire and drone strikes with bombs attached to the drones from Hezbollah. I 24 news correspondent Robert Swift is in Northern Israel where Hezbollah drone incursions are a constant and growing threat along with rockets. The Israeli military has conducted a series of airstrikes overnight with the first of these being an airstrike just before midnight in Lebanese territory in response to fire that originated from there towards the Mount Dov area of Israel. A little later in the evening at around 3.30 overnight, Israeli jets also struck what they, what the Israeli military described as terrorist infrastructure inside Syria. This was in response to an earlier rocket attack. Two rockets were fired from Syrian territory into the Golan Heights and the Israeli military has is essentially showing that these attacks are its form of response to a series of incidents that took place yesterday evening. There were two drone infiltrations, a number of rocket attacks and an anti-tank team attempted to maneuver into position to fire in this Stoula area. These different attacks that took place over the evening represent a slight uptake in the level of action that's taken place here on Israel's northern border. And as well as the these attacks, there was also an uptake, an increase in the heat of the rhetoric between Israeli leaders and Hezbollah leaders. With Israel's defense minister Yohav Galant making clear that if Hezbollah was not careful, if it did not avoid making what he described as a grave mistake, then the citizens living in Beirut could very soon end up living like those who are inside Gaza right now, fleeing from their homes and waving a white flag in his words. Now he made these comments following the second speech of the war from Hezbollah chief Nazrallah, who among other things essentially stressed the need for the unity among the Shiite groups and Hamas who are battling against the Israeli forces. And this together, both these attacks and this rhetoric is perhaps what caused US Secretary of Defense to stress the fact that he was concerned that Israel needed to make sure that the conflict here, that this escalating war is limited just to the Gaza Strip. That Israel has the freedom of action there, but the US does not wish to see this explode into a wider regional war. Joining the discussion as well, I'd like to introduce Senior Defense Correspondent Jonathan Regov as part of our panel in studio. I want to ask about the images we may see today in the hours to come. We know that these humanitarian corridors that the IDF has set up and expanded the hours. We have seen thousands, tens of thousands of civilians and families take advantage of these humanitarian corridors under IDF protection, waving white flags, carrying white flags, these images being broadcast in Israel and around the world showing that they are civilians, that they give up, that we have no issue with, we have no fight with Israel. We have a waving white flag, keep us safe. We may see something similar today with hospital patients. We don't know how the IDF is going to exercise this operation to evacuate hospital patients, but there are still civilians in the hospitals. We still may see white flags to indicate civilians leaving, civilians on their way out. Every picture tells 1,000 words. How do you describe the impact of those images, the power of those images of white flags as civilians leave their homes, leave their communities? How is that being played domestically? What's the impact do you think of those images? It has the impact that Israel wants to portray, saying we have nothing against the civilian population, against the Gaza population. We want them to flee, not because we want them to escape, but because we want them to be safe, because this area, and right now it's the northern Gaza Strip, is a fighting area, is an area where fighting will take place and we don't want the civilians to flee. We want them to be safe. This is exactly as opposed to what their own leaders, the Hamas leaders are doing, in which they're actually preventing them from leaving. This is the image that Israel wants to portray. Is it echoing around the world? I'm sorry to say that the answer is no, but I don't think it's because Israel is not doing a good job about this simply because people have their opinions, and that's it. People are saying even that Israel masterminded these images of people butchered and people with their heads cut off and so on, saying that it's sort of a Hollywood movie that Israel masterminded. Therefore, will this really change a perception that people have around the world? No. Does that mean that Israel doesn't have to do it? Absolutely no. This is something that Israel has to do because Israel wants to portray the image that we are protecting the Gaza civilians as opposed to Hamas. There are multiple ways, multiple lenses to view these images of civilians carrying white flags leaving north of Gaza. We may see these images repeat in the hours to come when the Shefa battle begins, the evacuation. There are many ways to view the purpose and the impact of those images. Yeah, there are two different stories to tell. Jeff, I hope in a minute you'll be able to tell me if we can put up the sound bite from Defense Minister Joav Galant from yesterday. But there are two different stories to tell about the humanitarian quarters and the white flags. One story is the story that Jonathan Regev just told. This is a tragic consequence of the fighting. It's heart-rending and it's tragic, but this is a picture that is showing how the picture you're just seeing on your screen, of course, how the Israeli military is trying to separate the civilians from the battlefield, minimize the harm of the civilians, do its best to comply with international humanitarian law. That's a story you hear from the podium, from Daniel Higari, the IDF spokesperson. I'm sure from all of the professionals, I'm sure this is the view of the lawyers within the Israeli military. I also think, by and large, it's a story we hear from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But there's another way of looking at these pictures. Do we have the sound bite from Joav Galant? Maybe we can put it up. We do want to play that first. Let's play it first because I think it'll make my point. Well, let's listen to Joav Galant, Israeli Defense Minister. Citizens of Lebanon, I can see the citizens of Gaza waving white flags as they move south. Hezbollah is pushing Lebanon into a possible war. It is making mistakes. It is the citizens of Lebanon that will pay the price of these kinds of mistakes. What we are doing in Gaza, we can do in Beirut. I hope that Hezbollah will behave and that Nasrallah will stop provoking us because this aggression is unacceptable. When Israel throws its strongest elite brigades into the fight against Gaza, this is evidence of its inability and failure to present an image of victory. Columbia. So going back to Joav Galant, Jeff, what he said. The fourth story, again, as we just discussed, is Jonathan Regev just prevented, a tragic consequence of the fighting, trying to minimize harm against civilians. But there's another way of looking at this and there's another story. That this is the goal, right? The pictures of the civilians fleeing and the pictures of the white flags, that's the real goal here because that's the deterrent, right? Imposing harm on the broader population in Gaza in order to warn and deter foes abroad, right? And we just heard it from Joav Galant. So that argument is that the deterrent is conquest. The deterrent is to show that the civilian population pays the price, right? As a way, as an achievement by Israel, right? As a goal by Israel, as an objective by Israel, as something that Israel wants, right? As a tool to deter other enemies around the Middle East. Jeff, that's a very incriminating thing to say. Because again, the idea is not to try to impose cost on the civilian population. The goal and the requirement and the obligation under international law is to try to not impose a cost on the civilian population. And when the defense minister goes on air repeatedly and makes comments like that, Jeff, I'm worried that it is incriminating for him. I don't think that's actually Israeli policy, but it's what he's presenting as Israeli policy. Look, there's going to be an investigation here by the International Criminal Court. It's inconceivable that after a war like this, including, of course, the October 7th massacres, which are, of course, war crimes and very likely crimes against humanity. But once the ICC enters an event, it investigates the entire event at both sides by definition. There are going to be investigations here. And the question is going to be about what was the intent of Israeli policymakers in bringing about the pictures that we've been seeing on our screens and the people fleeing. And I think it's extremely important for the Israeli government and Israeli policymakers and leaders to be consistent about what is happening and why. And once you have a defense minister over and over and over again, say, point blank, we, it is an achievement for Israel to cause, to create costs on the civilian population and to cause these pictures because that is what we are the tool that we are then using after that achievement to deter others abroad. Very dangerous. And I should say dangerous for Gallant personally, because the ICC doesn't target countries, it targets individuals, and I am concerned about how a prosecutor, some down the line, is going to be looking at these statements. Daniel Shek, I want to bring you into this analysis as a former professional diplomat. And now a commentator, your thoughts on this discussion. Obviously, Gallant's warning specifically to Beirut with an eye on Hezbollah. There's also an eye, of course, militarily towards attacks from Syria, from Iran, from Yemen, what the destruction of the IDF can bring, what can be wrought. Diplomatically, politically, these images of the white flags, of making sure civilians are safe as they leave. What's your assessment of what we're discussing here? Well, of course, it makes sense to warn Hezbollah again and again that, and to warn the Lebanese state or whatever is left of it, that this is not a war between Israel and Hezbollah. This will be, if it deteriorates, it will be a war between Israel and Lebanon. And that makes sense, because Hezbollah is part of the state now. It's no longer an independent militia that can do what it wants. And the Lebanese can say, look, we're sorry, we don't control them. However, first of all, I agree completely with Owen. This puts Jov Gallant at risk, absolutely. And there is a third reading to these images, which has to do with another story that we've been covering here quite a lot. And those are the demonstrations around the Arab world and around the Western world that fuels hatred among Arab supporters of Hamas or of Palestine. These images hurt. If you're a proud Arab or Muslim, these images hurt. And these are the kinds of images that, on the Israeli side, show maybe generosity, maybe power, all sorts of things. But it shows the exact opposite on the losing side. But what alternative would there be, Daniel? I mean, if Israel is trying to... It's just an analysis, because this is what we're doing. What is the impact of these images of the white flags and people fleeing Gaza? So I'm just saying, we heard two readings. There's also a third one. I just want to also add that targeting the Lebanese state, targeting military targets of the Lebanese state, or dual-use targets of the Lebanese state, might well be permissible to war against this ball. And of course, I think you agree with that. That's not what I was talking about. By the way, of course, that's not what you have gone on with, necessarily talking about it. Yeah. Jonathan, I want to ask about this battle to come with the IAF saying that today we will begin evacuating patients, specifically mentioning babies, but evacuating patients from Shifa Hospital. That the battle for Hamas's headquarters, as Owen has alluded to, the Hamas terror Pentagon. In Shifa Hospital, underground, Shifa Hospital, it's expected to begin. Is there an idea, perhaps, on how that battle can be waged with Hamas gunmen, perhaps booby-trapping hallways or corridors or passageways, next to patients or hostages, hundreds of hostages perhaps held underneath the tunnels? How can a battle like this be waged, unprecedented perhaps in modern human history, with such a profound terror infrastructure within and underneath the hospital? Yes. And when the other side obviously has an advantage, because they know the tunnels, the IDF maybe has a vague idea of what it looks like, but clearly not a clear idea. There may be hostages there who, of course, will be put first in line. It's a very difficult battle. There are many entrances, many exits in the hospital, outside the hospital, are there tunnels leading to other places within Gaza City, within the Gaza Strip? We can assume, but we don't know for sure. It's a very difficult battle. It's a difficult battle. It will be a costly battle. It has to be said, and it will be a difficult thing, but something that has to be done unless, if you want to eradicate Hamas or at least take away all of their military capabilities, their main headquarter is something that you have to deal with, period. There's value in preserving. Go ahead, Daniel. I'd like to say, again, this is not a judgment. Just an analysis. I talk to a lot of foreign journalists and foreign diplomats. I am not convinced that Israel's message that Shifa Hospital is above all the headquarters of Hamas has completely worked. I think it is still considered first and foremost as a hospital, and therefore as a place that is protected by the Geneva Convention. Again, I don't know what to do about it, but I think there will need to be some very solid proof, maybe images, maybe once they go in, maybe that will work. For the moment, it's not yet working. That was actually my next question to Jonathan, which is exactly Daniel's point here. The value on preserving, as much as possible, the terror infrastructure underneath and around the hospital, it may be easier if the idea has the option of demolishing, destroying tunnels as they've done with other tunnel branches throughout North Gaza, but the value in preserving this. How important is that? Is it possible to do a two thing? It's extremely important because the images we're seeing now are 3D images. We don't have the real images, of course. Just for the discussion, say that the Shifa Hospital is completely evacuated and say that you know for certain that there are no hostages underneath. Beautiful. You demolish a place, right? No, because just as we said here, the world needs proof that this place is a terror headquarter and not a hospital. Because if you don't present that proof, then as far as the world is concerned, Israel bombed the hospital, period. Unless you show that proof, that will be the case. And there's also a question, where do you evacuate the sick, the patients? Where do they go? Where do they go? Do you bring them to an Israeli hospital? Maybe that's the very best PR move. But is it possible? Will they be considered as hostages then? Or as patients? It's a really complicated dilemma. Yeah. We're almost out of time here. Daniel Shek, Owen Altwin, Jonathan Recker. Thank you so much for your analysis here. Again, the idea of saying that today they will commence the evacuation of patients from Shifa Hospital, the biggest hospital in Gaza, beneath which Hamas, as the idea has conclusively shown and demonstrated time. And again, with evidence, the terror headquarters, the Pentagon of the Hamas terror group inside that hospital complex underneath the ground there, the evacuation of patients to begin shortly, perhaps the battle for control of Hamas headquarters will follow that. We're going to have live coverage all day long for you here on I-20 News and also more coverage of the situation in the south as possible attacks continue on the northern border. Stay with us. More head on I-20 News. Over 1,300 people murdered and more than 3,000 injured and the war with Hamas continues. We bring you first-hand testimonies from the front lines, from those who survived, and all the records of the atrocities by Hamas. Follow us as Israel fights terror from the south and north. Get the inside scoop on what's going on only on I-24 News. Seeing and we need to get in the car as we're talking. Within 100 soldiers and civilians have been kidnapped. Help us. We don't want to do it. We just don't know anything. Entire families, including babies and children and elderly were butchered in their beds. Awaken the giant and we are ready and we are strong. Everyone is showing up. This is the unity. Pointing us on I-20 News at this hour. I'm Jeff Smith. It is morning in Tel Aviv day 37 of the Israel-Hamas war. And it may be that we are just hours away from a crucial critical battle. First, the IDF says that after less than four weeks of fighting inside of Gaza, Hamas has now lost control of the North Gaza Strip. However, Hamas still maintains a hold on the Shefa Hospital in Gaza City below which they maintain their terror headquarters and top infrastructure and underground offices. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Minister both defiantly vowing to keep on pressing ahead with the military offensive to take the Hamas headquarters despite international pressure for a ceasefire and concern over the mounting death toll. Security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against Israel. Let me tell you what we won't have. We won't have Hamas. What also won't exist there is some kind of civilian administration who educates their children to hate Israel, to kill Israelis, to eradicate the state of Israel. We cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre. We can't have that. We'll need to have something else. And this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world. I hear some of them and I ask myself, I ask them, from where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war? 1,500 troops, civilians, women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles. And it happened only a month ago. You all saw it. And I'd like to say to these European leaders who are criticizing us, the state of Israel and the Israeli people in 2023. This isn't 1943. We have the ability as well as the duty to defend ourselves on our own. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Thousands of civilians have fled the massive Shefa Hospital complex over the weekend already. The IDF saying that today they will begin evacuating the highest risk, most vulnerable patients from the Shefa Hospital, including babies, premature babies, incubators, cancer patients, amputees. They will help them evacuate safely through humanitarian corridors. Perhaps a key public indicator that the actual battle for Hamas's headquarters below the hospital may begin in the hours to come. Let's go live now to the south of Israel with I-24 News correspondent Ariel Oceron. And I'll tell me more about Hamas's headquarters, exactly where it relates to the hospital itself. I mean, how close are terrorists with guns hiding out next to cancer patients and kids? And how can the IDF negotiate this battle? Right, Jeff. So it's believed that some of the offices of Hamas are not only under the hospital, but some specific offices are also on the floor of regular offices in the Shefa Hospital, the biggest of the 35 hospitals inside the Gaza Strip. And this illustrates the complexity of Israeli forces operating in the Gaza Strip. As you mentioned, as the battle continues to deepen inside Gaza, the IDF issuing a statement just a short while ago explaining, describing the recent activity in the hours overnight, this included a significant concentrated effort in the Shatikamp, which is just northwest of Gaza City and north of Shefa Hospital, which is on the coast. This includes, just for example, in one of the fights, a Givati force identified a civilian population in a building trying to facilitate their exit as they were facilitating the exit of these civilians. Hamas terrorists opened fire on the Israeli forces who were securing the safe evacuation of the civilian population. And the Israeli forces obviously returned fire to the origin. This is just one example of how Hamas is using human shields, not only in the hospitals. The evacuation and the battle to come perhaps in the hours ahead. Thank you so much for that live update, Ariel Osiron. Let's go in studio now to our guests, Daniel Shek, the former Israeli ambassador to France and the political commentator. And still with us, senior correspondent Owen Altman. Owen, I want to start with the press conference hours ago last night with the Israeli Defense Minister and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu already discussing what will happen to Gaza, the governance of Gaza after the war itself. The Prime Minister saying that, talking about the possible return of the Palestinian authority or a Palestinian government to Gaza, what's your reaction to what he said, the implications of it? And obviously already politics perhaps coming into the equation. Yeah, maybe you say already talking about it, Jeff. And in a sense, you're right, right? We're not at the day after yet. As you said, we may be hours before even the biggest battle of the war. By the way, as Ariel Osiron correctly reminded us, Hamas is, according to the Israeli military, not only under the hospital, but inside the hospital, right? As Ariel said, with its offices and with its terrorists, inside the hospital wards themselves, an important thing for us to keep in mind. And I can only hope that in this very delicate and difficult situation, the Israeli military will take control of the hospital if it feels it needs to in a way that will still be able to expose exactly what was there for the entire world to know. After the press conference, it was the authority that will not be named, right? Because Netanyahu never actually used the words Palestinian authority. In Israeli media, it's being read, and let me just do it here again, you'll check it, say about this. Being read is ruling out the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. I read it differently because that's not what Netanyahu said. He didn't say we are against the Palestinian Authority returning to Gaza, and again didn't even use their name. We are against an authority returning to Gaza that does A, B, and C, right? And to me, that's not ruling it out. That's the beginning of a negotiation, for Israel to use the ability for the Palestinian Authority to come back to Gaza, a goal that the international community and the Biden administration really wants to see. And Israel now holding the keys to Gaza wants to use those keys as leverage to get the Palestinian Authority to do things that Israel has for a long time wanted it to do, right? And rightly so, changing the education system, the payment of terrorists, and so on and so forth, or a former terrorist, and so on and so forth. So that's how I see this, is the beginning of a negotiation rather than ruling out the PA's return. Your initial assessment to Netanyahu's remarks on Palestinian governance in Gaza after the war. Well, Jeff, let me first adjust your question a little bit. You said that he was talking about what will happen after the war. Actually, he only spoke about what won't happen after the war. He did not make a proposition about who is going to rule, what is going to be the regime, who is going to take care of security, who is going to take care of water gas, all the civilian. He didn't. He just ruled out Hamas. And I might have read this a bit less sophisticated manner than my friend Owen. I think he ruled them out. Now, maybe he ruled them out in order to negotiate it. I'm not sure that he meant to, you know, if you look at the history, he has, he's in a strange situation because on the one hand, he is being quoted and he can't deny this. As having said, we have to weaken the Palestinian Authority and strengthen Hamas. Clearly, that's not a message that can work anymore. So now he's stuck with, I can't have Hamas and I didn't want the Palestinian Authority. So what exactly do I do? So maybe there is this slightly sophisticated analysis that Owen shows that he's going back on his, you know, I'll still weaken the Palestinian Authority, but I, you know, I don't have another choice. So I will allow them to go into Gaza. The thing is that he didn't make a real proposal. And I think that you can't talk about Netanyahu speaking about the exit strategy, the political exit strategy, until he makes such a proposal. Just ruling out all the other things is not good enough. No specifics as of yet. Meanwhile, attacks continuing the north, four IDF soldiers are recovering from their injuries after being seriously wounded by rocket fire and drone strikes with bombs attached to the drones from Hezbollah. I, 24 News correspondent Robert Swift is in northern Israel, where Hezbollah drone incursions are a constant and growing threat along with rockets. The Israeli military has conducted a series of airstrikes overnight, with the first of these being an airstrike just before midnight in Lebanese territory in response to fire that originated from there towards the Mount Dov area of Israel. A little later in the evening at around 3.30 overnight, Israeli jets also struck what they, what the Israeli military described as terrorist infrastructure inside Syria. This was in response to an earlier rocket attack. Two rockets were fired from Syrian territory into the Golan Heights. And the Israeli military has is essentially showing that these attacks are its form of response to a series of incidents that took place yesterday evening. There were two drone infiltrations, a number of rocket attacks, and an anti-tank team attempted to maneuver into position to fire in the Shadulla area. This, these different attacks that took place over the evening represent a slight uptake in the level of action that's taken place here on Israel's northern border. And as well as these attacks, there was also an uptake, an increase in the heat of the rhetoric between Israeli leaders and Hezbollah leaders. With Israel's defense minister Yoav Galant making clear that if Hezbollah was not careful, if it did not avoid making what he described as a grave mistake, then the citizens living in Beirut could very soon end up living like those who are inside Gaza right now, fleeing from their homes and waving a white flag in his words. Now he made these comments following the second speech of the war from Hezbollah chief Nazrallah, who among other things essentially stressed the need for the unity among the Shiite groups and Hamas, who are battling against the Israeli forces. And this together, this, both these attacks and this rhetoric is perhaps what caused US Secretary of Defense to stress the fact that he was concerned that Israel needed to make sure that the conflict here, that this escalating war is limited just to the Gaza Strip, that Israel has the freedom of action there, but the US does not wish to see this explode into a wider regional war. Joining the discussion as well, I'd like to introduce Senior Defense Correspondent Jonathan Regov as part of our panel in studio. I want to ask about the images we may see today in the hours to come. We know that these humanitarian corridors that the IDF has set up and expanded the hours. We have seen thousands, tens of thousands of civilians and families take advantage of these humanitarian corridors under IDF protection, waving white flags, carrying white flags, these images being broadcast in Israel and around the world, showing that they're civilians, that they give up, that we have no issue with, we have no fight with Israel, we have a waving white flag, keep us safe. We may see something similar today with hospital patients. We don't know how the IDF is going to exercise this operation to evacuate hospital patients, but there are still civilians in the hospitals. We still may see white flags to indicate civilians leaving, civilians on their way out. Every picture tells 1,000 words. How do you describe the impact of those images, the power of those images of white flags as civilians leave their homes, leave their communities? How is that being played domestically? What's the impact do you think of those images? It has the impact that Israel wants to portray, saying we have nothing against the civilian population, against the Gaza population. We want them to flee, not because we want them to escape, but because we want them to be safe, because this area, right now it's a northern Gaza Strip, is a fighting area, is an area where fighting will take place and we don't want the civilians to flee, we want them to be safe. This is exactly as opposed to what their own leaders, the Hamas leaders are doing, in which they're actually preventing them from leaving. So this is the image that Israel wants to portray. Is it echoing around the world? I'm sorry to say that the answer is no, but it's not, I don't think it's because Israel is not doing a good job about this, simply because people have their opinions and that's it. People are saying even that Israel masterminded these images of people butchered and people with their heads cut off and so on, saying that it's sort of a Hollywood movie that Israel masterminded. Therefore, will this really change a perception that people have around the world? No. Does that mean that Israel doesn't have to do it? Absolutely no. This is something that Israel has to do because Israel wants to portray the image that we are protecting the Gaza civilians as opposed to Hamas. There are multiple ways, multiple lenses to view these images of civilians carrying white flags leaving north of Gaza. We may see these images repeat in the hours to come when the sheaf of battle begins the evacuation. There are many ways to view the purpose and the impact of those images. Yeah, there are two different stories to tell Jeff. I hope in a minute you'll you'll be able to tell me if we can put up the sound bite from Defense Minister Yoav Galant from yesterday. But there are two different stories to tell about the humanitarian quarters and the white flags. One story is the story that Jonathan Raghav just told, right? This is a tragic consequence of the fighting. It's heart-rending and it's tragic. But this is a picture that is showing how the picture you're just seeing on your screen, of course, how the Israeli military is trying to separate the civilians from the battlefield, minimize the harm of the civilians, do its best to comply with international humanitarian law. That's the story you hear from the podium from Daniel Higari, the IDF spokesperson. I'm sure from all of the professionals, I'm sure this is the view of the lawyers within the Israeli military. I also think by and large the story we hear from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But there's another way of looking at these pictures. Do we have the sound bite from Yoav Galant? Maybe we can put it up. We do want to play that first. Let's play it first because I think it'll make my point. All right, let's listen to Yoav Galant, Israeli Defense Minister. Citizens of Lebanon, I can see the citizens of Gaza waving white flags as they move south. Hezbollah is pushing Lebanon into a possible war. It is making mistakes. It is the citizens of Lebanon that will pay the price of these kinds of mistakes. What we are doing in Gaza, we can do in Beirut. I hope that Hezbollah will behave and that Nasrallah will stop provoking us because this aggression is unacceptable. When Israel throws its strongest elite brigades into the fight against Gaza, this is evidence of its inability and failure to present an image of victory. So going back to Yoav Galant, Jeff, what he said, the fourth story, again, as we just discussed, as Jonathan Regev just prevented, right, a tragic consequence of the fighting, trying to minimize harm against civilians. But there's another way of looking at this, and there's another story. That this is the goal, right? The pictures of the civilians fleeing and the pictures of the white flags, that's the real goal here because that's the deterrent, right? Imposing harm on the broader population in Gaza in order to warn and deter foes abroad, right? And we just heard it from Yoav Galant. So that argument is the deterrent is conquest, to say. The deterrent is to show that the civilian population pays the price, right? As a way, as an achievement by Israel, right? As a goal by Israel, as an objective by Israel, as something that Israel wants, right? As a tool to deter other enemies around the Middle East. Jeff, that's a very incriminating thing to say. Because again, the idea is not to try to impose costs on the civilian population. The goal and the requirement and the obligation under international law is to try to not impose a cost on the civilian population. And when the Defense Minister goes on air repeatedly and makes comments like that, Jeff, I'm worried that it is incriminating for him. I don't think that's actually Israeli policy, but it's what he's presenting as Israeli policy. Look, there's going to be an investigation here by the International Criminal Court. It's inconceivable that after a war like this, including of course the October 7th massacres, which are of course war crimes and very likely crimes against humanity. But once the ICC enters an event, it investigates the entire event at both sides by definition. There are going to be investigations here. And the question is going to be about what was the intent of Israeli policymakers in bringing about the pictures that we've been seeing on our screens and the people fleeing. And I think it's extremely important for the Israeli government and Israeli policymakers and leaders to be consistent about what is happening and why. And once you have a Defense Minister over and over and over again, say point blank, it is an achievement for Israel to cause, to create costs on the civilian population and to cause these pictures, because that is what we are, the tool that we are then using after that achievement to deter others abroad, very dangerous. And I should say dangerous for Galant personally, because the ICC doesn't target countries, it targets individuals. And I am concerned about how a prosecutor, some down the line, is going to be looking at these statements. Daniel Shek, I want to bring you into this analysis as a former professional diplomat. And now a commentator, your thoughts on this discussion obviously Galant's warning specifically to Beirut with an eye on Hezbollah. There's also an eye, of course, militarily towards attacks from Syria, from Iran, from Yemen, what the destruction of the IDF can bring, what can be wrought. Diplomatically, politically, these images of the white flags of making sure civilians are safe as they leave. What's your assessment on what we're discussing here? Of course, it makes sense to warn the Hezbollah again and again that, and to warn the Lebanese state or whatever is left of it, that this is not a war between Israel and Hezbollah. This will be, if it deteriorates, it will be a war between Israel and Lebanon. And that makes sense because Hezbollah is part of the state now. It's no longer an independent militia that can do what it wants. And the Lebanese can say, look, we're sorry, we don't control them. However, first of all, I agree completely with Owen. This puts Yav Galant at risk, absolutely. And there is a third reading to these images, which has to do with another story that we've been covering here quite a lot. And those are the demonstrations around the Arab world and around the Western world. That fuels hatred among Arab supporters of Hamas or of Palestine. These images hurt. If you're a proud Arab or Muslim, these images hurt. And these are the kinds of images that, on the Israeli side, show maybe generosity, maybe power, all sorts of things, but it shows the exact opposite on the losing side. But what alternative would there be, Daniel? I mean, if Israel is trying to... I'm not saying it's good or not. I'm just... The impact of it. Yeah, I'm just... It's just an analysis because this is what we're doing. What is the impact of these images of the white flags and people fleeing Gaza? So I'm just saying, we heard two readings. There's also a third one. I just want to also add that targeting the Lebanese state, targeting military targets of the Lebanese state, or dual-use targets of the Lebanese state, might well be permissible to war against this ball. And of course, I think you agree with that. That's not what I was talking about. By the way, of course, that's not what you have Galant was necessarily talking about either. Yeah. Jonathan, I want to ask about this battle to come with Yahyaf saying that today we will begin evacuating patients, specifically mentioning babies, but evacuating patients from Shefa Hospital, that the battle for Hamas's headquarters as Owen has alluded to, the Hamas terror Pentagon. In Shefa Hospital, underground Shefa Hospital, it's expected to begin. Is there an idea, perhaps, on how that battle can be waged with Hamas gunmen, perhaps booby-trapping hallways or corridors or passageways, next to patients or hostages, hundreds of hostages perhaps held underneath the tunnels. How can a battle like this be waged? Unprecedented perhaps in modern human history, with such a profound terror infrastructure within and underneath the hospital. Yes. And when the other side obviously has an advantage, because they know the tunnels, the IDF maybe has a vague idea of what it looks like, but clearly not a clear idea. There may be hostages there, who, of course, will be put first in line. It's a very difficult battle. There are many entrances, many exits in the hospital, outside the hospital. Are there tunnels leading to other places within Gaza City, within the Gaza Strip? We can assume, but we don't know for sure. It's a very difficult battle. It's a difficult battle. It will be a costly battle. It has to be said. And it will be a difficult thing, but something that has to be done, unless if you want to eradicate Hamas or at least take away all of their military capabilities, their main headquarters is something that you have to deal with, period. There's value in preserving. Go ahead, Daniel. I'd like to say, again, this is not a judgment. Just an analysis. I talk to a lot of foreign journalists and foreign diplomats. I am not convinced that Israel's message that Shifa Hospital is above all the headquarters of Hamas has completely worked. I think it is still considered first and foremost as a hospital and therefore as a place that is protected by the Geneva Convention. Again, I don't know what to do about it, but I think there will need to be some very solid proof, maybe images, maybe once they go in, maybe that will work. For the moment, it's not yet working. That was actually my next question to Jonathan, which is exactly Daniel's point here. The value on preserving as much as possible, the terror infrastructure underneath and around the hospital, it may be easier if the idea has the option of demolishing, destroying tunnels as they've done with other tunnel branches throughout North Gaza. But the value in preserving this, how important is that? Is it possible to do it? It's extremely important because the images we're seeing now are 3D images. We don't have the real images. Of course, say just for the discussion, say that the Shifa Hospital is completely evacuated. And say that you know for certain that there are no hostages underneath, beautiful. You demolish a place, right? No, because just as we said here, the world needs proof that this place is a terror headquarter and not a hospital. Because if you don't present that proof, then as far as the world is concerned, Israel bombed the hospital, period. And unless you show that proof, that will be the case. And there's also a question, where do you evacuate the sick, the patients? Where do they go? Where do they go? Do you bring them to an Israeli hospital? Maybe that's the very best PR move. But is it possible? Will they be considered as hostages then? Or as patients? It's a really complicated dilemma. Yeah. We're almost out of time here, Daniel Shek, Owen Altman, Jonathan Regger. Thank you so much for your analysis here. Again, the idea of saying that today they will commence the evacuation of patients from Shifa Hospital, the biggest hospital in Gaza, beneath which Hamas, as the idea has conclusively shown and demonstrated time. And again, with evidence, the terror headquarters, the Pentagon of the Hamas terror, terror group inside that hospital complex underneath the ground there, the evacuation of patients to begin shortly, perhaps the battle for control of Hamas headquarters will follow that. We're going to have live coverage all day through here on I-20 News and also more coverage of the situation in the south as possible attacks continue on the northern border. Stay with us more ahead on I-20 News. Over 1,300 people murdered and more than 3,000 injured and the war with Hamas continues. We bring you first-hand testimonies from the front lines, from those who survived, and all the records of the atrocities by Hamas. Follow us as Israel fights terror from the south and north. Get the inside scoop on what's going on. Only on I-24 News. News this hour on Jeff Smith in Tel Aviv already rocked 37 of the war this time from the north, a rocket sounding out in alarm minutes ago. It is day 37 of the conflict and it could be a crucial battle approaches us in the hours ahead. The IDF says after just a few weeks of fighting inside Gaza, Hamas has lost control now of the entirety of the north Gaza Strip. We have live images now from the Gaza border and also in the north where Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon remain a constant threat. Hamas in the south still maintains a hold on the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Below that hospital is where the IDF has conclusively demonstrated they have an intensive network of tunnels and offices and buildings where they maintain their terror network headquarters underground and also within the hospital office complex themselves. Last night Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Minister defiantly vowed to keep on pressing ahead with the military offensive despite international pressure. The security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against Israel. Let me tell you what we won't have. We won't have Hamas. What also won't exist there is some kind of a civilian administration who educates their children to hate Israel, to kill Israelis, to eradicate the state of Israel. We cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre. We can't have that. We'll need to have something else. And this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world. I hear some of them and I ask myself, I ask them from where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war 1500 troops, civilians, women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles. And it happened only a month ago. You all saw it. And I'd like to say to these European leaders who are criticizing us, the state of Israel and the Israeli people in 2023. This isn't 1943. We have the ability as well as the duty to defend ourselves on our own. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Meanwhile, the threat continues to grow in the north. Minutes ago, another rocket alert siren blaring out the Israel-Lebanon border. And four soldiers today still recovering from their injuries after being wounded by rocket fire and drone attacks this weekend. Let's go live to I-25 News correspondent Robert Swift, who is in Northern Israel now. Robert, tell us about the latest rocket attack that appears to have happened just minutes ago. That's right. It was about 20 minutes ago that rocket alarms went off in the Israeli community of Gornotah Galil. This is in the western end of Israel's northern border. And this attack breaks 13 hours of silence overnight. There was a series of security incidents, including drone infiltrations, rocket attacks yesterday. And then there was a brief period of quiet afterwards. Now, overnight, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes both in Syria and in the Lebanese border in response to the attacks that took place yesterday. Tell me more about the threat from the north. There are daily attacks, including drones, to have bombs attached to them, explosive drones that are attacking soldiers in their positions. Rocket fire continues. How is the IDF responding? And is there a sense that the Hezbollah is not deterred by the IDF response? Hezbollah has a series of different weapon systems that it can use, whether it be rockets, drones, or anti-tank weapons. Of those three, the latter is probably the most dangerous. It's caused the most casualties since the war began. The Israeli military is essentially attempted to deter Hezbollah by striking these teams. Any Hezbollah units that get close enough to the border to try an attempt on attack, the Israeli military is attacking them, either with artillery, with jets, or with drones of its own. And this represents, say, a tactical threat to Hezbollah. They do not appear to be deterred, but it certainly destroys those teams on the ground as they attack. All right. Thank you so much for that update live for us in the north of Israel. Let's go in studio with I-24 News senior correspondent Owen Alderman and Raphael Urashalami, a former senior intelligence officer in the IDF and analyst. Thank you so much for being with me. I want to start with you, Raphael, but your sense on this battle that may be hours or days away in the Shifa Hospital complex, how important do you think is it and is it even possible for the IDF to preserve the Hamas headquarters, the network of tunnels and offices and weapons caches that are underneath the hospital to show the world, to show journalists, to show world leaders what Hamas was doing under a hospital, or is that or realistically may not that be possible, may it come down to being able to destroy the tunnels once the hostages, if the hostages are there once they're removed or may it come down to being able to bomb the tunnels instead. So, so far we have to limit ourselves to attacking around and under and to avoid touching this hospital. The ideal situation will be to be able to evacuate as many innocent people as possible. We are in direct contact with the staff and the director of the hospital. The IDF is giving them instructions for the safety of the patients and the staff, leaving a very large corridor towards the east to escape, to evacuate. We're going to help today to evacuate the babies, little children. We hope to evacuate more people. There are also people who are not even sick. They're just to refuge in the complex because they feel safer there. Knowing the IDF will most probably not strike the hospital. We have one advantage that makes it a little less complicated is that this hospital was built by an Israeli firm, by Israeli architects. So, we have all the plans we know where everything is and we know that there are many terrorists in the complex itself. That makes it extremely, extremely difficult and so far we have only to congratulate the IDF for its restraint and for its high moral standards to do try and avoid all these collateral damage. There will be in the end, I'm afraid, some collateral damage is unavoidable even if we take all the precautions possible. I don't see how, but then it will be limited and according to the rules of engagement of war, if there is a minor collateral damage but you have suppressed a major threat that could cause the loss of many more lives, then it is justified by the rules of engagement and the protocol number one of the Geneva Convention. Rafael, we've seen, horrifically, IDF soldiers had been killed in Gaza because some of these tunnels and the shafts, they were booby-trapped offices were booby-trapped. Do you think that there are bombs and booby traps that are throughout the hospital complex or underneath the hospital and how can the IDF deal with that? Absolutely and the IDF deals with all kinds of means. We have dogs, we have robots, we have sensors, we have a lot of technological means to deal with the problem but the danger is there. It slows down, of course, the progress but I think the main obstacle is not that. The main obstacle is the presence maybe and most probably of Israeli hostages there and as we approach and as the pressure grows on the terrorists this might endanger the hostages. It also prevents us from using some means we could like asphyxiate the terrorists or we could gas the terrorists inside the tunnels but we have hostages there. So this is the problem. On the other hand the pressure might be such that some of the terrorists might surrender, lay down their weapons or negotiate their free passage out of there by giving us hostages. Oh and I want to ask about something a previous guest has said with us giving his dispassionate analysis speaking with foreign diplomats and lawmakers from other countries he said that he in his assessment Israel has not done a good enough job presenting to the world's eyes that under this hospital is the Pentagon of the Hamas terrorist network that this is that they're compound their headquarters is within and underneath this hospital despite the evidence presented despite the the overwhelming evidence presented. It's not penetrating kind of the world's lens. What do you make of that in assessment with the battle that is surely to come over the in the Shefa Hospital complex? Well I hope it's not entirely true and I do think when you read news reports about what's going on in the hospital there's always or almost always a reference to this right an explanation of what the Israeli government and military are doing. But look I share the disappointment and the frustration Daniel Higari gave a briefing a few weeks ago where he laid this all out stood at the podium used the 3d drawings we've been playing over the course of the morning over the last few hours here in Israel showing the Shefa Hospital Shefa Hospital showing exactly where and how Hamas is using the facilities not only under it but also within the hospital itself as we've been saying. The briefing simply almost wasn't reported on by the international media in fact despite fact it was done for them and in English with all the drawings there are a few explanations of why maybe one mistake that the spokesperson made is that they used only the 3d drawings and didn't provide any documentary evidence that is something that a journalist could go out and verify there's so much distrust of the Israeli military and the information it presents less because of what's happening during this war more journalists say because of what's happened in the past when the military has said things that over time didn't prove to be true trustworthy Higari by the way has referred to that right and the incident of the alaq the hospital about why he didn't come out in the opening minutes and opening hours after those false rumors had been spread and instead waited a period of time because he said he felt it was important to re-establish the spokesperson units credibility at any rate I'm not an intelligence officer I don't know what can be shared and what can't be shared without hurting Israel's operational capabilities but if there is something that journalists could hold on to as a verifiable piece of evidence and not a 3d drawing it's possible that would have helped Israel's ability to make its case and would have in a sense forced journalists hands to go out and verify that and report it beyond that I'm not sure there's much more that was in the capacity of the Israeli government or military advocates to do except for the very very important point that you're coming back to rightly so for the course of the last few hours preserving the evidence if and when the military is there so at least after the fact that can be shown and again the idea of saying that it will today begin the evacuation of the most vulnerable patients from the chief of hospital building let's go live now to the south of Israel where I'm joined by 25 newest correspondent Ariel Oceran Ariel in recent days the rocket fire coming out of Gaza from from Hamas into Israel has slowed considerably rocket fire seems to be picking up from from the north even today already rocket from from the north across the the border with Lebanon in the south it's been slowing down does Hamas still have rockets in their arsenal do they have rockets but no no fuel is there an assessment perhaps on the rocket threat that remains from Hamas well Jeff that is an important question because as the ground operation began to Friday before last we have seen a decrease somewhat decrease in the amount of rocket fire coming out from Gaza towards Israel today at quarter to seven a.m. that's about just three and a half hours ago there was a rocket launched towards Kisufim that is one of the border communities here but indeed you know it's not compared to the opening the first few days are not even the opening hit that saw more than 3000 rockets launched just within a few hours now that isn't to say that Hamas does not still hold the capability to launch rockets on a daily basis towards civilian populations across Israel including Tel Aviv but indeed it would appear that they are trying to preserve their arsenal given that it we know that no matter how long this takes whether one month one year or a decade they will be able to launch rockets until the final day that is their strategic goal to show that they can fire until they're dying breath so to speak and so we will continue to see rocket launches continue to come out from Gaza but indeed this as Israel's ground operation advances this does hinder the capability to launch rockets now as you mentioned earlier about the evacuation of hospitals so yes after over the weekend the IDF facilitated the evacuation of two hospitals today is expected to happen in the Shifa hospital according to the IDF over the weekend between not only the IDF but also according to latest UN figures between 200 and 220,000 Palestinians made their way south of Wadi Gaza over the weekend and in a special announcement today by the IDF saying that the humanitarian corridor has been extended from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and that will include between between from 10 a.m. to 4 there will be a eastbound route available for safe evacuation from the Shifa hospital that will connect to the main route going down that Salahadin the main route in the Gaza Strip as part of the daily facilitation of Israel's evacuation of residents from northern Gaza to make their way south all right Ariel thank you so much for that update as the humanitarian corridors continue today with even expanded hours and opportunities to flee to safety for Palestinian civilians in Gaza meanwhile around the world there have been massive anti-Israel protests in major cities and world capitals in recent days more than 300,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marching through the city in London demanding an immediate ceasefire many of these demonstrators claim Israel's committing war crimes claim Israel's targeting civilians and they are demanding an end to occupation what's happening is a notoriety and I think any way that it's tried to paint in another way is terrifying and we shouldn't be standing for it and I think it's really important that this many people have come out today to show that we're not standing down and a ceasefire needs to happen and we won't rest until until that happens. Cruella, Provoman's comments have caused a lot of division and it's a shame because I know what we're seeing here at this march is so many people being really grateful to see Jews here, those Jews really grateful to be part of a collective of other people. We're here trying to liberate everyone Jewish freedom and Palestinian freedom are interrelated. Joining us now is Jonathan Sassardadi, I-24 News UK correspondent in London. I want to ask Jonathan these images in any way are they taking aback British politicians and lawmakers, authorities in London were they surprised in any way or shocked or disheartened by the size of the crowds, the actions of the crowds, the words and slogans that were being chanted or was this what they were expecting from this anti-Israel demonstration? Most Britons expect this sort of thing because this is what happens every time there's any kind of military action on the part of Israel against terrorism or other forces in the region. I think it's become expected that thousands will take to the street. It wasn't just about Israel either. There have been similar large protests over the years whether it was the war in Iraq or other engagements. I think what's different this time is the ferocity of the feeling about specifically Israel's actions in Gaza. And there's a very British attitude towards how this is being policed. There's been a bit of a controversy because the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has actually spoken out this time which is this is the unusual part. She called these marches hate marches which was very controversial. She wrote a piece in The Times newspaper last Thursday in which she said that they should be banned. She's been appealing to the police to ban them. The police have to apply to her to have them banned and the police refused to do so saying that they felt they could police this effectively. What happened I think this weekend is that it all reached a peak because today is Remembrance Sunday. Yesterday was Armistice Day. These are two of the most important days in the British calendar in the sense that that's when fallen soldiers are commemorated. We don't really have a July the 4th or anything like that in the UK. So this is perhaps the moment when Britain's come together the most in quite a solemn respectful moment to pay their respects to those fallen. And there was a worry that this really shouldn't happen at the same time. That's why she spoke out. She said and also there are fears of anti-Semitism and the fact that many British Jewish people are absolutely afraid to go out on the streets of Central London during these protests because they see the crowds as aggressive and threatening and intimidating. So the thing that I think we're seeing is this very British policing. The police say we can keep a lid on it as long as we keep the people against the Palestinian protests and the Palestinian protesters apart as long as we keep them away from the sanituf where the remembrance ceremony is going on. Then we can police this and there won't be violence. But you know that's like saying if Jews stay at home there won't be violence because that's what's actually happening at the moment. And I think that many people are actually behind Salah Braverman in what she said. But many are absolutely in sense that they feel she's poured fuel onto this fire. What does all this mean in your personal view for the future of Jewry in the UK? So we've had many times over the years especially in recent years when British Jews have been afraid. They've thought about their future in the country. Obviously things are a bit different now partly because of the massacre that happened in Israel. Israel has traditionally been seen by diaspora Jews around the world as a safe place to go when things get bad. But then Israel is exactly where the massacre took place. And so there's this problem, this tension in people's minds over whether anywhere is safe in the world for Jews at the moment. British Jews do have generally a very good day to day life here in the UK. But then moments like these make them wonder how easily that could change, how quickly it could change. I mean it's no exaggeration to say that more than ever I've had so many conversations with people about whether Jews should have a mezuzah on their door which might make them stand out to people passing by. Whether you can wear a mug in David or a kippah in the streets or whether you might put yourself at great risk of some sort of attack. Certainly to go into one of those crowds in central London and express views that are different to theirs about what's going on in Israel politically or even religiously. I think might be a risk to people. I've seen some fairly scary videos of people trying to do that around the world. So I think that as ever this is the eternal problem that Jews have to wrestle with in their minds. And there is always looming large that idea that in the past many of our relatives left it too late to flee when anti-Semitism was around them. And of course nobody wants to feel that over exaggerating but nobody wants to fall into that trap again. Thank you so much for that analysis Jonathan Sastradati today in London. Back here in studio Owen I want to ask your assessment. I mean we heard this in London. We've heard this in these kinds of protests around the world in the United States and college campuses in major cities. These protesters want to see happen because some you can go through the sound bites in the interview. Some are demanding a ceasefire and then to hostile these to violence. And the slogans they're chanting about globalizing the Intifada and from the river to the sea they're at odds. You cannot have a ceasefire and also demanding an end to you know you didn't ride Middle East to expand the Intifada to support Palestinian jihadists. There isn't a clear sense of what these protests are specifically calling for besides what I would think is just an anger and even a hatred of Jews in many respects. Well you're absolutely right. I mean listen 300,000 people in the streets Jeff obviously are going to get lots of different opinions. But you're also right that the movement it seems to me has done a fairly poor job right of policing itself and of establishing guidelines of what it sees as the right kind of messaging to do exactly what you're talking about to have a more targeted message that could potentially be more effective. But look as I've said before in our broadcast their extremism their excesses are Israel's and pro-Israel groups opportunity right to conquer the political center to try to isolate these protesters where they should be isolated as fringe as extreme while we embrace the broad political center. Now I will say this too, listening to what Jonathan Satcher Dottie was saying and how he's explaining how British Jews are processing this Jeff, how different the situation is there than what you seems to be like in the United States. For American Jews there's the sense of betrayal right of having worked for so many left-wing causes and liberal causes over the course of a century and having those who those American Jews Jewish liberals worked with simply in a sense betray their partners and take extreme positions on this conflict that are insensitive that minimize or reject or deny the massacre of October 7th. And there's that sense of betrayal what would I hear Jonathan Satcher Dottie saying is something different this always happens right now it's more extreme because the situation is more extreme but this always happens we always have to take stock of our situation our day-to-day lives are good we always have to step back and see the bigger picture there's not the sense of betrayal in Britain the same way there seems to be this deep sense of betrayal and crisis among American Jewish liberals. Interesting point there yeah Satcher Dottie pointing out this is a repeat of something cyclical unfortunately for the Jewish people time again every generation or so. I want to end by asking Rafael about the threat from the north because we have had rocket fire today from the north this Rala speech yesterday as we expect a battle for the Shifa hospital compound for the Hamas headquarters within it to begin in the hours or days to come this week and this Rala again threatening from the north do you expect more intense period of violence from the north more intense rocket fire or what do you move your assessment of Hezbollah's response perhaps this week with what will happen in Gaza City. Hezbollah is slowly but surely upgrading its provocations towards Israel it feels emboldened by the fact that the Israelis reply in a moderate way so I personally think it's the wrong message I am hoping that we are preparing a pre-emptive strike under Hezbollah and that the timing is left to the army whenever it will be the best time to do so like maybe when we have strengthened our positions in Gaza when we are more in control of the area even though we'll still be fighting there but we'll feel more solidified in our positions then even a pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah would leave them with tens of thousands a hundred thousand or more yes exactly and not pre-emptive strike leave them the same so might as well strike so that doesn't change the the difference is that we if we take the initiative and we strike first and we strike hard this initial strike is a message sent also to the Lebanon to the Iranians who have to understand something what did we lose on the 7th of October we lost the fact that our intel is not maybe the best intel that we can have there are things we don't know for instance right now we don't really know what's in Mr Nasrallah's head nobody knows what he's intending to do maybe he doesn't know himself but we lost this intel advantage we also saw that deterrence doesn't exist we don't have any deterrence as towards the Hamas and we see that the Hezbollah is not deterred at all they do what they want they shoot at us freely so if we have no intel and no deterrence what's left the strike we have to strike to eliminate the threat thank you so much for that analysis Owen as well in studio we're going to have more live coverage all day long here in i-24 news from the north of israel as the threats continue and attacks continue from Hezbollah and in the south of israel where along the israel-gaza border it's day 37 of the war stay tuned more coverage here on i-24 news thanks for watching officially in a state of war this is a very active scene and we need to get in the car as we're talking within a hundred soldiers and civilians have been kidnapped we just don't know anything entire families including babies and children and elderly were butchered in their beds awaken the giant and we are ready and we are strong everyone is showing up this is the unity who's this hour i'm jeff smith in tel viv already on day 37 of the war this time from the north a rocket sounding out on an alarm minutes ago it is day 37 of the conflict and it could be a crucial battle approaches us in the hours ahead the idf says after just a few weeks of fighting inside gaza hamas has lost control now of the entirety of the north gaza strip we have live images now from the gaza border and also in the north where hezbollah attacks from lebanon remain a constant threat hamas in the south still maintains a hold on the shefa hospital in gaza city below that hospital is where the idf has conclusively demonstrated they have an intensive network of tunnels and offices and buildings where they maintain their terror network headquarters underground and also within the hospital office complex themselves last night is really prime minister benjamin netanyahu and the defense minister defiantly vowing to keep on pressing ahead with the military offensive despite international pressure the security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against israel let me tell you what we won't have we won't have hamas what also won't exist there is some kind of a civilian administration who educates their children to hate israel to kill israelis to eradicate the state of his world we cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed by some is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre we can't have that we'll need to have something else and this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world i hear some of them and i ask myself i ask them from where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war 1500 troops civilians women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles and it happened only a month ago you all saw it and i'd like to say to these european leaders who are criticizing us this state of israel and the israeli people in 2023 this isn't 1943 we have the ability as well as the duty to defend ourselves on our own and that's exactly what we're going to do meanwhile the threat continues to grow in the north minutes ago another rocket alert siren blaring out the israel-lebanon border and four soldiers today still recovering from their injuries after being wounded by rocket fire and drone attacks this weekend let's go live to i-24 news correspondent robert swift who is in northern israel now robert tell us about the latest rocket attack that appears to have happened just minutes ago that's right it was about 20 minutes ago the rocket alarms went off in the israeli community of gornota galil this is in the western end of israel's northern border and this attack breaks 13 hours of silence and overnight there was a series of security incidents including drone infiltrations rocket attacks yesterday and then there was a brief period of quiet afterwards now overnight the israeli military conducted airstrikes both in syria and in the lebanese border in response to the attacks that took place yesterday tell me tell me more about the threat from the north there are daily attacks including drones with to have bombs attached to them you know explosive drones that are attacking soldiers in their positions rocket fire continues how is the idf responding and is there a sense that the hezbollah is not deterred by the idf response hezbollah has a series of different weapon systems that it can use whether it be rockets drones or anti-tank weapons of those three the latter is probably the most dangerous it's caused the most casualties since the war began the israeli military is essentially attempted to deter hezbollah by striking these teams any any hezbollah units that get close enough to the border to try and attempt an attack the israeli military is attacking them either with artillery with jets or with drones of its own and this this represents a say a tactical threat to hezbollah they do not appear to be deterred but it certainly destroys those teams on the ground as they attack all right thank you so much for that update live for us in in the north of israel let's go in studio with i-24 new senior correspondent owin alderman and rafael urshalmi a former senior intelligence officer in the idf and analysts thank you so much for being with me i want to start with you rafael but your sense on this battle that may be hours or days away in the shefa hospital complex how important do you think uh is it and is it even possible for the idf to preserve the the hamas headquarters the network of tunnels and offices and and store and weapons caches that are underneath the hospital to show the world to show journalists to show world leaders what hamas was doing under a hospital or is that or realistically may not that be possible made come down to being able to destroy the the tunnels once the hostages if the hostages are there once they're removed or you know it may come down to being able to bomb the tunnels instead so so far we have to limit ourselves to attacking around and under and to avoid touching this hospital the ideal situation will be to be able to evacuate as many innocent people as possible we are in direct contact with the staff and the director of the hospital the idf is giving them instructions for the safety of the patients and the staff who are living a very large corridor towards the east to escape to evacuate we're going to help today to evacuate the babies little children we hope to evacuate more people there are also people who are not even sick they're just to refuge in the complex because they feel safer there knowing the idf will most probably not strike the hospital we have one advantage that makes it a little less complicated is that this hospital was built by an israeli firm by israeli architects so we have all the plans we know where everything is and we know that there are many terrorists in the complex itself that makes it extremely extremely difficult and so far we have only to congratulate the idf for its restraint and for its high moral standards to do try and avoid all these collateral damage there will be in the end i'm afraid some collateral damage is unavoidable even if we take all the precautions possible i don't see how but then it will be limited and according to the rules of engagement of war if there is a minor collateral damage but you have suppressed a major threat that could cause the loss of many more lives then it is justified by the rules of engagement and the protocol number one of the Geneva convention rafael we've seen horrifically idf soldiers work had been killed in Gaza because some of these tunnels and the shafts they were booby trapped offices were booby trapped do you think that there are bombs and booby traps that are throughout the hospital complex or underneath the hospital and how can the idf deal with that absolutely and the idf deals with all kinds of means that we have dogs we have robots we have sensors we have a lot of technological means to deal with the problem but the danger is there it slows down of course the the progress but i think the main obstacle is not that the main obstacle is the presence maybe and most probably of israeli hostages there and as we approach and as the pressure grows on the terrorist this might endanger the hostages it also prevents us to from using some means we could like asphyxiate the terrorist or we could gas the terrorists inside the tunnels but we have hostages there so this is the problem on the other hand the pressure might be such that some of the terrorists might surrender lay down their weapons or negotiate their free passage out of there by giving us hostages oh and i want to ask about something that a previous guest has said with us giving his dispassionate analysis speaking with foreign diplomats and lawmakers from other countries he said that he in his assessment israel has not done a good enough job presenting to the world's eyes that under this hospital is the pentagon of the hamas terrorist network that this is that they are compound their headquarters is within and underneath this hospital despite the evidence presented despite the the overwhelming evidence presented it's not penetrating kind of the world's lens uh what up what do you make of that an assessment with the battle that is surely to come over the in the sheaf of hospital complex well i hope it's not entirely true and i do think when you read news reports about what's going on in the hospital there's always or almost always a reference to this right an explanation of what the israeli government military are doing but look i i i share the disappointment and the frustration daniel higari gave a briefing a few weeks ago where he laid this all out stood at the podium used the 3d drawings we've been playing over the course of the morning over the last few hours here in israel showing the sheaf of hospital sheaf of hospital showing exactly where and how hamas is using the facilities not only under it but also within the hospital itself as we've been saying the briefing simply almost wasn't reported on by the international media in fact despite fact it was done for them and in english with all the drawings there are a few explanations of why maybe one mistake that the spokesperson made is that they used only the 3d drawings and didn't provide any documentary evidence that is something that a journalist could go out and verify there's so much distrust of the israeli military and the information it presents less because of what's happening during this war more journalists say because of what's happened in the past when the military has said things that over time didn't prove to be true as trustworthy hagari by the way has referred to that right and the incident of the alaqli hospital about why he didn't come out in the opening minutes and opening hours after those false rumors had been spread and instead waited a period of time because he said he felt it was important to re-establish the spokesperson unit's credibility at any rate i'm i'm not an intelligence officer i don't know what can be shared and what can't be shared without hurting israel's operational capabilities but if there is something that journalists could hold on to as a verifiable piece of evidence and not a 3d drawing it's possible that would have helped israel's ability to make its case and would have in a sense forced journalists hands to go out and verify that and report it beyond that i'm not sure there's much more that was in the capacity of the israeli government or military advocates to do except for the very very important point that you're coming back to rightly so over the course of the last few hours preserving the evidence if and when the military is there so at least after the fact it can be shown and again the idea of saying that it will today begin the evacuation of the most vulnerable patients from the chief of hospital building let's go live now to the south of israel where i'm joined by i-24 news correspondent ariel osaron ariel in recent days the rocket fire coming out of gaza from from hamas israel has slowed considerably rocket fire seems to be picking up from from the north even today already rocket from from the north across the the border with lebanon in the south it's been slowing down does hamas still have rockets in their arsenal do they have rockets but no no fuel is there an assessment perhaps on the rocket threat that remains from hamas well jeff that is an important question because as the ground operation began to friday before last we have seen a decrease somewhat decrease in the amount of rocket fire coming out from gaza towards israel today at quarter to seven a.m. that's about just three and a half hours ago there was a rocket launched towards kisufim that is one of the border communities here but indeed you know it's not compared to the opening the first few days are not even the opening hit that saw more than 3000 rockets launched just within a few hours now that isn't to say that hamas does not still hold the capability to launch rockets on a daily basis towards civilian populations across israel including televiv but indeed it would appear that they are trying to preserve their arsenal given that it we know that no matter how long this takes whether one month one year or a decade they will be able to launch rockets until the final day that is their strategic goal to show that they can fire until they're dying breath so to speak and so we will continue to see rocket launches continue to come out from gaza but indeed this as israel's ground operation advances this does hinder the capability to launch rockets now as you mentioned earlier about the evacuation of hospitals so yes after over the weekend the idf facilitated the evacuation of two hospitals rentisi and nasa today is expected to happen in the shefa hospital according to the idf over the weekend between not only idf but also according to latest un figures between 200 and 220 000 palestinians made their way south of wadi gaza over the weekend and in a special announcement today by the idf saying that the humanitarian corridor has been extended from 9 a.m to 4 p.m and that will include between between from 10 a.m to 4 there will be a east bound route available for safe evacuation from the shefa hospital that will connect to the main route going down that salah hadin the main route in the gaza strip as part of the daily facilitation of israel's evacuation of residents from northern gaza to make their way south all right ariel thank you so much for that update as the humanitarian corridors continue today with even expanded hours and opportunities to flee to safety for palestinian civilians in gaza meanwhile around the world there have been massive anti-israel protests in major cities and world capitals in recent days more than 300 000 pro-palestinian protesters marching through the city in london demanding an immediate ceasefire many of these demonstrators claim israel's committing war crimes claim israel's targeting civilians and they are demanding an end to occupation what's happening is an atrocity and i think any way that it's tried to paint in another way is terrifying and we shouldn't be standing for it and i think it's really important that this many people have come out today to show that we're not standing down and a ceasefire needs to happen and we won't rest until until that happens quarella proverman's comments have caused a lot of division and it's a shame because i know what we're seeing here at this march is so many people being really grateful to see jews here those jews really grateful to be part of a collective of other people um we're here trying to liberate everyone jewish freedom and palestinian freedom are interrelated joining us now is jonathan sassardadi i24news u k correspondent in london i want to ask jonathan these images in any way are they taking aback you know british politicians and lawmakers authorities in london were they surprised in any way were shocked were disheartened by the the size of the crowds the actions of the crowds the words and slogans that were being chanted or was this what they were expecting from this anti-israel demonstration most britains expect this sort of thing because this is what happens every time there's any kind of military action on the part of israel against terrorism or other other forces in the region i think it's it's become expected that thousands will take to the street it wasn't just about israel either there have been similar large protests over the years whether it was the war in iraq or or other engagements i think what's different this time is the ferocity of the feeling about specifically israel's actions in gaza and there's a very british attitude towards how this is being policed there's been a bit of a controversy because the home secretary suhalla brahman has actually spoken out this time which is this is the unusual part she called these marches hate marches which was very controversial she wrote a piece in the times newspaper last thursday in which she said that they should be banned she's been appealing to the police to ban them the police have to apply to her to have them banned and the police refused to do so saying that they felt they could police this effectively what happened i think this weekend is that it all reached a peak because today is remembrance sunday yesterday was armistice day these are two of the most important days in the british calendar in the sense that that's when fallen soldiers are commemorated it we don't really have a july the fourth or anything like that in the uk so this is perhaps the moment when britain's come together the most in quite a solemn solemn respectful moment to pay their respects to those fallen and there was a worry that this really shouldn't happen at the same time that's why she spoke out she said and also there are fears of anti-semitism and the fact that many british jewish people are absolutely afraid to go out on the streets of central london during these protests because they see the crowds as aggressive and threatening and intimidating so the thing that i think we're seeing is is this very british policing the police say we can keep a lid on it as long as we keep the people against the palestinian protests and the palestinian protesters apart as long as we keep them away from the senator where the remembrance ceremony is going on then we can police this and there won't be violence but you know that's like saying if jews stay at home there won't be violence because that's what's actually happening at the moment and i think that many people are actually behind celeb raviman in what she said but many are absolutely in sense that they feel she's poured fuel onto this fire what does all this mean in your personal view for the future of jewellery in the uk so we've had many times over the years especially in recent years when when british jews have been afraid they've they've thought about their future in the country obviously things are a bit different now partly because of the massacre that happened in israel israel has traditionally been seen by diaspora jews around the world as a safe place to go when things get bad but then israel is exactly where the massacre took place and so there's this problem this tension in people's minds over whether anywhere is safe in the world for jews at the moment british jews do have generally a very good day-to-day life here in the uk but then moments like these make them wonder how easily that could change how quickly it could change i mean it's no exaggeration to say that more than ever i've had so many conversations with people about whether jews should have a mezzuzah on their door which might make them stand out to people passing by whether you can wear a mug in david or a kippah in the streets or whether you might put yourself at great risk of some sort of attack certainly to go into one of those crowds in central london and express views that are different to theirs about what's going on in israel politically or even religiously i think might be a risk to people i've seen some fairly scary videos of people trying to do that around the world so i think that as ever this is the eternal problem that jews have to wrestle within their minds and there is always looming large that idea that in the past many of our relatives left it too late to flee when antisemitism was around them and of course nobody wants to feel that over exaggerating but nobody wants to fall into that trap again thank you so much for that analysis jonathan's astrodotty today in london back here in studio oh and i want to ask your assessment i mean we heard this in london we've heard this in these kinds of protests around the world in the united states and college campuses and in major cities uh the what the the one was these protesters want to see happen because some that you can go through the sound bites in the interview some are demanding a ceasefire and then to hostile these to violence and the slogans they're chanting about globalizing the intifada and from the river to the sea they're at odds you cannot have a ceasefire and also demanding an end to you know you didn't ride uh middle east to expand the intifada to support palestinian jihadists there isn't a clear sense of of what these protests are specifically calling for besides what i would think is just an anger and even a hatred of of jews in many in many respects well you're absolutely right i mean listen 300 000 people in the streets jeff obviously are going to get lots of different opinions but you're also right that the movement it seems to me has done a fairly poor job right of policing itself and of establishing guidelines of what it sees as the right kind of messaging to do exactly what you're talking about to have a more targeted message that could potentially be more effective but look as i've said before in our broadcast their extremism their excesses are israel's and pro-israel group's opportunity right to conquer the political center to try to isolate these protesters where they should be isolated as fringe as extreme while we embrace the broad political center now i will say this too listening to what jonathan satchel doddy was saying and how he's explaining how british jews are processing this jeff how different the situation is there than what you seems to be like in the united states for american jews there's the sense of betrayal right of having worked for so many left-wing causes and liberal causes over the course of a century and having those who those american jews jewish liberals worked with simply in a sense betray betray their partners and take extreme positions on this conflict that are insensitive that minimize or reject or deny the massacre of october 7th and there's that sense of betrayal what would i hear jonathan satchel doddy saying is something different this always happens right now it's more extreme because the situation is more extreme but this always happens we always have to take stock of our situation our day-to-day lives are good we always have to step back and see the bigger picture there's not the sense of betrayal in in britain the same way there seems to be this deep sense of betrayal and crisis among american jewish liberals interesting point there yeah satchel doddy pointing out this is a repeat of something cyclical unfortunately for the jewish people time again every generation or so uh i want to end by asking rafael about the threat from the north because we have had rocket fire today from the north this rala speech uh yesterday uh as we expect a battle for the shefa hospital compound for the hamas headquarters within it to begin in the hours or days to come this week uh and this rala again threatening from the north do you expect more in a more intense period of violence from the north more intense rocket fire or will you move your assessment of hezbollah's response perhaps this week with what will happen in gaza city well hezbollah is slowly but surely upgrading its provocations towards israel it seems emboldened by the fact that israelis reply in a moderate way so i personally think it's the wrong message i am hoping that we are preparing a pre-emptive strike under hezbollah and that the timing is left to the army whenever it will be the best time to do so like maybe when we have strengthened our positions in gaza when we have more in control of the area even though we'll still be fighting there but we'll feel more uh solidified in our positions then even a pre-emptive strike on hezbollah would leave them with tens of thousands a hundred thousand or more yes so exactly and not pre-emptive strike it leaves them the same so might as well strike so that doesn't change the difference is that we if we take the initiative and we strike first and we strike hard uh this initial strike we is a message sent also to the lebanon to the iranians uh we have to understand something what did we lose on the 7th of october we lost the fact that our intel is not maybe the best intel that we can have there are things we don't know and for instance right now we don't really know what's in mr. nathralis head nobody knows what he's intending to do maybe he doesn't know himself but we lost this intel advantage we also saw that deterrence uh it doesn't exist we don't have any deterrence as towards the ramas and we see that the hezbollah is not deterred at all they do what they want they shoot at us freely so if we have no intel and no deterrence what's left the strike we have to strike to eliminate the threat rafael thank you so much for that analysis oh and as well in studio we're gonna have more live coverage all day long here and i 24 news from the north of israel as the threats continue and attacks continue from hezbollah and in the south of israel where along the israel gaza border it's day 37 of the war stay tuned more coverage here on i 24 news thanks for watching 1,300 people murdered and more than 3,000 injured and the war with hamas continues we bring you first-hand testimonies from the front lines from those who survived and all the records of the atrocities by hamas follow us as israel fights terror from the south and north get the inside scoop on what's going on only on i 24 news this morning from both the south across the northern border with lebanon minutes ago more rocket sirens blaring out as rockets were fired across the gaza border in the south and yet after less than four weeks of fighting inside gaza the idf says that hamas has now lost control of the north gaza strip we have live images right now from the gaza border and also in the north hamas though still maintains a stronghold on the shefa hospital compound in gaza city below which they maintain their terror headquarters and their top infrastructure weapons caches and offices idf chief of staff hertzi halevi earlier flew over gaza in idf aircraft and had a special conversation with a special message to the elite commander of the gulani brigade whose whose very forces may be crucial to capturing that compound i 25 news correspondent ariel osir on who was live in the southern city of starot ariel the idf minutes ago releasing that phone conversation the video from high above with the idf chief of staff flying speaking candidly with the commander of this very elite brigade whose forces may be leading the ground offensive into that compound um we it seems that these are signs that this battle uh perhaps to take over the hamas headquarters perhaps hopefully to find and free hostages likely within the tunnels underneath the hospital compound it may be approaching is that also your assessment well jeff indeed the israeli forces are advancing and moving forward at a significantly fast pace that's according to all assessments so far and the the forces have advanced through the north making it to as you mentioned the stronghold gaza city completely encircling the city cutting it off from not only other parts in the north but indeed cutting off the entire north from the southern part of the gaza strip this is expected to continue but as the forces begin to enter gaza city the fighting is expected to uh become more intense given that it is more uh more of an urban environment than the areas in the north that have been cleared up with significant aerial bombings as well as uh as as artillery fire but of course as the forces continue to move forward continue to approach the hospitals those are identified as key fighting points now as you mentioned earlier about 10 minutes ago there were rocket sirens here in the border community surrounding the gaza strip talking about gaza and sad according to again the vidadom as well as emergency services there are no injuries uh following these rocket sirens but indeed we're seeing the rocket fire renewed here on the border communities and this continues as as you've described israel's ground invasion intensifies continues gets into the heart of the urban population population that many of them have left have evacuated following pleas by the idf according to the un and idf figures about 200 to 220 000 palestinians made their way from north gaza to the southern part of the strip just over the weekend and that shows that as the control of hamas continues to deteriorate in in the northern the northern part of the gaza strip this also encourages the local population to make their way down south to safety ariel oh sir ron thank you so much for that live update from stay road joining us in studio rafael urashami former senior intelligence officer in the idf and security analyst the hostages they are likely within the shefa hospital compound or underneath in the hamas headquarters correct this is probably where many of them are being held by hamas what impact will this battle have on the efforts to free them well some of them are for sure there because there are the life insurance of the terrorists uh they are the second human shield the first human shield is the hospital itself then there is a second human shield underground with the hostages so of course it prevents the idea from using certain technological means to neutralize the terrorists because that impact the hostages as well you have to see how we can spare them and also make sure that the terrorists will not panic and kill or injure the hostages so for that you have to apply a lot a lot of pressure so much pressure that dozing it so much pressure that it will maybe entice the terrorists to lay down their weapons or or to flee and that is what we hope to do i think we are going towards you know the 7th of october was a historical date for the history of israel i think we're going now towards another historical date maybe it will be the 14th of november or the 15th of november but we are reaching here in this uh a particular attack on shiva hospital uh not her historical date which will be marked i think in the conscious of the israeli uh culture and history as the victory of the idea from the beginning of the end of the hamas regime in a general sense i mean we we know that there is some discussion and even if the israeli officials and the prime minister have said it's all premature it's all speculation but there's some level of discussion about a hostage negotiation and release of hostages uh which is not far from being final but there's there's some discussion in a general sense as an intelligence officer i mean who is israel talking with people in theory that even know where the hostages are i mean is it is real talking to the hostage takers themselves or hamas commanders far above them who aren't in direct contact i mean is there a way that israel ultimately may free hostages without any negotiation by just going to them and finding them and finding the people holding them physically in senua leaving no uh opportunity or possibility uh unexplored uh we speak to anybody we're really even to speak with the devil itself uh if we can free these hostages uh not to hold our partners in discussion uh have all the info or the ability to deliver what they said they can deliver including maybe the hamas itself and we don't know if they really know where all the hostages are if they can gather them in time we know so that some of them are in the south we know also that there are two mistakes that we must not commit the first one is to accept a ceasefire uh before we have our hostages and a ceasefire anyway while we are on this lack streak of advancing and winning we shouldn't stop that that uh streak of winning and of course the other trap that we might fall into is to accept some of the hostages and not all of them we have to have nobody or nobody is if we accept some hostages it will be great it'll be great feeling to have kids come back home of course but then you're sacrificing the others because these hostages will not be negotiated reasonably in any case they are the life insurance of Mr Sinoir now we are speaking of the headquarters of the military branch under the chief hospital but then the political branch they don't feel that threatened yet and they're keeping hostages for themselves to save their own skin when the time comes and they're not going to negotiate they don't want prisoners that we detain in our jails they don't want humanitarian ceasefires they're just keeping them from the last minute to say that they're not going to give up easily so all the negotiation so what we have to demand is uh everybody or nobody that's one because otherwise you sacrifice the others the families of the hostages agree that that should be the case because you don't know which one will be the Britain which will not so the families themselves they said to the government everybody or nothing and we have to apply pressure militarily like we do now because so far there are a lot of rumors from everywhere and nowhere and really really the diplomatic ballet has led to nothing not not even information we don't even have a sign of life I mean the international Red Cross has not even been able to check if these hostages are alive in what health conditions there and how they did I mean the international Red Cross completely useless the UN completely useless so we are near left so far with the military option I mean well speaking of the military the prime minister of israel benjamin netanyahu and the defense minister both vowing to keep the momentum going to press ahead with the military offensive despite international pressure netanyahu last night also giving his thoughts on what happens the day after on who can rule the Gaza Strip the security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against israel let me tell you what we won't have we won't have Hamas what also won't exist there is this some kind of a civilian administration who educates their children to hate israel to kill israelis to eradicate the state of Israel we cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed by some is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre we can't have that we'll need to have something else and this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world i hear some of them and i ask myself i ask them from where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war 1500 troops civilians women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles and it happened only a month ago you all saw it and i'd like to say to these european leaders who are criticizing us the state of israel and the israeli people in 2023 this isn't 1943 we have the ability as well as the duty to defend ourselves on our own and that's exactly what we're going to do joining me now is professor itan gilboa an expert on us relations at bar ilan university who is uh keeping up with the growing international pressure including from the biden white house to extend humanitarian pauses perhaps if not use the word ceasefire for the temporary pause on the fighting itself professor thanks so much for being with me talk to me about the pressure clearly it's uh it's there was a lot of pressure netanyahu uh last night saying that we even if we have to stand alone we will continue to fight until victory is there real tangible concrete pressure that the us is exerting on the netanyahu government or are they still letting the netanyahu government give a free hand to complete the mission at hand neither nor there is some pressure about minimizing the killing of civilians and much pressure on increasing humanitarian assistance is not only saying that um humanitarian assistance is okay but the leaders of the west must also demand a humanitarian gestures from hamas yeah i'm not i'm not hearing at all from european leaders uh saying to hamas what it what they say to israel they say to israel you have to abide by international law but i have not heard them saying the same thing to hamas is it possible that evil terrorist organizations are exempt from international law from from legal um uh rules that govern uh govern law uh if i were the head of the international cross i would call for press conference every day and say hamas you are violating international law you are you are required to give us access uh to to uh to uh hostages and and that way to apply pressure uh on on on on hamas uh we don't know what are the hamas's demands for the releasing of hostages we know what it wants and what it wants is a safe fire so it could regroup and undermine the israeli military momentum running after them at the shifa hospital headquarters professor we are one year away from the us presidential election the key election uh we have massive anti-israel protests uh across the united states we have pro palestinian marches and demonstrations at college campuses across from coast to coast in america they're exerting pressure on lawmakers against israel against the israeli actions what pressure do you think that the u.s government is feeling from these protests and is there a shock is there a surprise at the anger the hatred of israel despite the legality and the justice of israel's mission yes i think i was not surprised because i'm teaching in the united states every year i've seen these processes of dehumanization delegitimization of israel the occupation of universities in the united states columbia university has become an occupied palestinian territory they do what they want they decide who will teach what to teach what to teach this is absurd but now we we see how all of these are things are exploding in terms of pressure yes there's a lot of time until the presidential elections so far i think that these demonstrations are not influencing american attitudes toward israel and the war i would also say that public opinion surveys in the united states taken recently show that the american public is with israel not with the demonstrators they they are they they shout much but there's not public support for their slogans especially the one that is being now clarified from the river to the sea palestine will be free i heard rashida talib saying oh this is we only want human rights in the entire area from the river jordan to the Mediterranean sea this is bullshit because it says palestine will be free which means the elimination of israel so i think that there are all kinds of psychological warfare inside the united states and in the middle east there are some people who say that that biden's strong support for israel will be translated into additional voting for him especially among jews and supporters of israel in the united states professor thanks so much for being with us and for your analysis of the situation great to have you thank you uh i want to ask about the day after gaza but nothing about last night in the press conference where he talked about the spike pressure even if israel stands alone we will be victorious uh nothing about laying out conditions for a return to palestinian rule which rules out the palestinian authority but saying that israel doesn't want to stay permanently in gaza they have a permanent presence but israel will need uh access security access whenever israel needs determines it's needed to enter the gaza strip for security reasons to hunt out terrorists uh to hunt out extremists and jihadists can there be a palestinian return to gaza in the near term realistically and who could lead it who would i mean if netanyahu also has to consider the political ramifications mahmoud abbas is is near 90 years old what palestinian government refaction could rule uh or at this point honestly the answers we don't know so first of all i think it's a little premature to discuss this because we don't know what the gaza strip will look like on the day after what damage will be caused what will be uh the general feeling amongst the palestinians all this can be only decided at the moment because now to theoretically say it will look like this it will look like that you have to see what's feasible then uh one thing is for sure i'm not so sure as you said that mr abumazan will be around because of his advanced age and i'm also not so sure that mr benjamin netanyahu will be around because of his political problems there might be a new government so the actors might not be the same actors as they are today the second thing you have to separate between security and politics so security for is for sure has to be ensured by the israelis by the idea for the simple reason that the bodyless can do it the egyptians don't want to do it and none of the arabic countries that want to put troops there to to have security in gaza the international community it's useless i mean blue helmets we've seen them in unifil in the lebanon or undef in syria they're useless or even the mfo in syni they're just observers that's not security just observing so the only people who can ensure the security so far the israeli army it could be also the israel the palestinian security services but that to would take at least three or four years to build up sufficient force palestinian local force to enforce security locally a lot of budget a lot of training equipment etc politically speaking it's another ballgame and i'd like to say that we're speaking a lot of the protest abroad against israel something extremely important and encouraging is happening here first of all the arabic israeli community is more and more supportive of our policies they are muslims fighting in our ranks and there are many muslims in israel who actually feel patriotic and and boldened by what we're doing today very proud and seeing that the life is better here for everybody including muslims than somewhere else around here and then another encouraging sign especially the last two or three days is more and more voices from the people of gaza against ramas they're more or more understanding what the who is the real culprit they're more and more seeing the soldiers helping them to evacuate assisting them in humanitarian gestures and this is very very important because the day after might be that there is some gratitude from the people of gaza that they know where in their interest lie and probably maybe not also with our mr abu mazen and maybe some kind of new generation a new elite of the palestinian people and they exist in gaza itself you have a liberal professions people who've studied abroad some kind of upper middle class that could be the new political class of the gaza and or the palestinian people rather than the old school mr amas is just an old terrorist from the arafat school white color terrorist maybe but he's still from the old arafat school no much hope there and meanwhile the violence continuing in the north has been defying a rocket earlier this morning into israeli territory for soldiers recovering today after being seriously hurt from rocket fire and drone strikes over the weekend i-25 news correspondent robert swift is in northern israel this is a day after uh nasrallah's the leader of uh khazbala nasrallah's speech again threatening and warning israel against provocations and warning the united states as well with their carrier group off the coast into the sea uh what are the the reactions perhaps in israeli's speech is there fear that the the escalations will continue or perhaps this will be can stay a contained situation nearer the border well first of all there was a reaction from israel's defense minister you have galat who you know matched the khazbala chief's words in terms of the heat of his rhetoric he essentially said khazbala should be careful it's close to making a grave mistake and it would be the citizens of lebanon the residents of beirut who would suffer the consequences if khazbala was to tread too far that the exchange of words between uh both these these two individuals as well as the the slight escalation in exchanges of fire that took place yesterday in the in the afternoon and the evening did draw some notice with the u.s defense secretary leud austin saying that it's stressing the point that israel should do what it can to to ensure that the conflict that is raging here now remains in the south that is confined to the gaza strip and that as as the u.s sees it is where israel's priorities should be this is essentially the u.s reiterating its point that while it is here as an ally of the united states with two u.s aircraft carrier groups in the Mediterranean sea it very much wants to avoid an escalation that would draw this war into a larger regional conflict if needed the idf says uh it is prepared uh for a multi front war it is prepared uh with khazbala gallant the defense minister also threatening that what the images of destruction and that we're seeing in gaza of israeli military victory it can be replicated it can be duplicated if need be in beirut those are powerful words and and a warning to nisrallah as well yeah definitely and it's not just words there is a large israeli military presence here in the north you know the idf is a formidable military organization and it does have the capacity to conduct military operations in the south and simultaneously in the north however obviously that would stretch it that would require resources that would otherwise be used in the south to be here in the north and also it would then further increase the diplomatic pressure that israel is feeling if there was to be destruction in the the south of lebanon or in beirut it's likely that this would increase the diplomatic pressure that israel already is feeling due to the civilian casualties in the gaza strip and the u.s israel's closest ally it has said that it will back israel up but it is also repeatedly stressed the point again just yesterday that it doesn't want to see this escalate and so israel is currently slightly trapped between between two options here it can continue to tolerate the provocations of khizbullah on the border essentially continuous skirmishes you know there's not a day goes by where there is not some form of attack or israel can you know retaliate with in a more forceful manner and risk inflaming the northern border into a new full-out confrontation robert swift thank you so much for that analysis and live updates from the north of israel and rafael you were showing me thank you so much for your analysis here in studio again rocket attacks continuing this is day 37 of the israel hamas war rocket fire today already from the north and from the gaza strip the idf saying today that they will begin the evacuation of patients from the shefa hospital the in gaza city which also doubles as the hamas terror networks headquarters which is deeply embedded within the hospital walls and underneath in a massive underground structure that today will begin the process of evacuating patients and then as we are hearing from military commanders the battle for control of the hamas headquarters will begin thereafter thanks for watching more live coverage ahead on i-24 news over 1300 people murdered and more than 3000 injured and the war with hamas continues we bring you firsthand testimonies from the frontlines from those who survived and all the records of the atrocities by hamas follow us as israel fights terror from the south and north get the inside scoop on what's going on only on i-24 news hezbollah across the northern border with lebanon minutes ago more rocket sirens blaring out as rockets were fired across the gaza border in the south and yet after less than four weeks of fighting inside gaza the idf says that hamas has now lost control of the north gaza strip we have live images right now from the gaza border and also in the north hamas though still maintains a stronghold on the shefa hospital compound in gaza city below which they maintain their terror headquarters and their top infrastructure weapons caches and offices idf chief of staff hertzi halevi earlier flew over gaza in idf aircraft and had a special conversation with a special message to the elite commander of the golani brigade whose whose very forces may be crucial to capturing that compound so that was i-24 news correspondent ariel osaran who was live in the southern city of starot ariel the idf minutes ago releasing that phone conversation uh the video from high above with the idf chief of staff flying speaking candidly with the commander of this very elite brigade whose forces may be leading the ground offensive into that compound we it seems that these are signs that this battle perhaps to take over the hamas headquarters perhaps hopefully to find and free hostages likely within the tunnels underneath the hospital compound it may be approaching is that also your assessment well jeff indeed the israeli forces are advancing and moving forward at a significantly fast pace that's according to all assessments so far and the the forces have advanced through the north making it to as you mentioned the stronghold gaza city completely encircling the city cutting it off from not only other parts in the north but indeed cutting off the entire north from the southern part of the gaza strip this is expected to continue but as the forces begin to enter gaza city the fighting is expected to become more intense given that it is more more of an urban environment than the areas in the north that have been cleared up with significant ariel bombings as well as as as artillery fire but of course as the forces continue to move forward continue to approach the hospitals those are identified as key fighting points now as you mentioned earlier about 10 minutes ago there were rocket sirens here in the border community surrounding the gaza strip talking about kfar asa and sad according to magenta vidadomizul's emergency services there are no injuries following these rocket sirens but indeed we're seeing the rocket fire renewed here on the border communities and this continues as as you've described israel's ground invasion intensifies continues gets into the heart of the urban population population that many of them have left have evacuated following pleas by the idf according to the un and idf figures about 200 to 220 000 palestinians made their way from north gaza to the southern part of the strip just over the weekend and that shows that as the control of hamas continues to deteriorate in the northern the northern part of the gaza strip this also encourages the local population to make their way down south to safety ariel siran thank you so much for that live update from stay road joining us in studio raffaello urashami former senior intelligence officer in the idf and security analyst the hostages they are likely within the shefa hospital compound underneath in the hamas headquarters correct this is probably where many of them are being held by hamas what impact will this battle have on the efforts to free them well some of them are for sure there because there are the life insurance of the terrorists they are the second human shield the first human shield is the hospital itself then there is a second human shield underground with the hostages so of course it prevents the idea from using certain technological means to neutralize the terrorists because that impact the hostages as well you have to see how we can spare them and also make sure that the terrorists will not panic and kill or injure the hostages so for that you have to apply a lot a lot of pressure so much pressure that but dosing it so much pressure that it will maybe entice the terrorists to lay down their weapons or or to flee and that is what we hope to do i think we are going towards you know the 7th of october was a historical date for the history of israel i think we're going now towards another historical date maybe it will be the 14th of november or the 15th of november but we are reaching here in this particular attack on shiva hospital her historical date which will be marked as think in the conscience of the israeli culture and history as the victory of the idea from the beginning of the end of the hamas regime in a general sense i mean we we know that there are some discussion and even if the israeli officials and the prime minister say it's all premature it's all speculation but there's some level of discussion about a hostage negotiation and release of hostages which is not far from being final but there's a there's some discussion in a general sense as an intelligence officer i mean who is israel talking with people in theory that even know where the hostages are i mean israel talking to the hostage takers themselves or hamas commanders far above them who aren't in direct contact i mean is there a way that israel ultimately make free hostages without any negotiation by just going to them and finding them and finding the people holding them physically in senua leaving no opportunity or possibility unexplored we speak to anybody we're really even to speak with the devil itself if we can free these hostages not to hold our partners in discussion have all the info or the ability to deliver what they said they can deliver including maybe the hamas itself and we don't know if they really know where all the hostages are and they can gather them in time we know so that some of them are in the south we know also that there are two mistakes that we must not commit the first one is to accept the ceasefire before we have our hostages and ceasefire anyway while we are on this like streak of advancing and winning and we shouldn't stop that that streak of winning and of course the other trap that we might fall into is to accept some of those hostages and not all of them we have to have nobody or nobody is if we accept some hostages it will be great it'll be great feeling to have kids come back home of course but then you're sacrificing the others because these hostages will not be negotiated reasonably in any case they are the life insurance of Mr. Sinoir now we're speaking of the headquarters of the military branch under the chief hospital but then the political branch they don't feel that threatened yet and they're keeping hostages for themselves to save their own skin when the time comes and they're not going to negotiate they don't want prisoners that we detain in our jails they don't want humanitarian ceasefires they're just keeping them from the last minute to say that they're not going to give up easily so all the negotiation so what we have to demand is everybody or nobody that's one because otherwise you sacrifice the others the families of the hostages agree that that should be the case because you don't know which one will be liberated and which not so the families themselves they said to the government everybody or nothing and we have to apply pressure militarily like we do now because so far there are a lot of rumors from everywhere and nowhere and really really the diplomatic ballet has led to nothing not not even information we don't even have a sign of life i mean the international red cross has not even been able to check if these hostages are alive in what health conditions there and how they did i mean the international red cross completely useless the you and completely useless so we only are left so far with the military option i mean well speaking of the military the prime minister of israel benjamin netanyahu and the defense minister both vowing to keep the momentum going to press ahead with the military offensive despite international pressure netanyahu last night also giving his thoughts on what happens that day after on who can rule the Gaza Strip the security control includes the ability to enter whenever we want to in order to kill off terrorists that could come up again to fight against israel let me tell you what we won't have we won't have hamas what also won't exist there is this some kind of a civilian administration who educates their children to hate israel to kill israelis to eradicate the state of Israel we cannot have some kind of an authority which pays the families of murderers according to the number of people they've murdered or an authority that is headed by some is headed by someone who hasn't denounced this massacre over 30 days after the massacre we can't have that we'll need to have something else and this question is also addressed to the leaders of the world i hear some of them and i ask myself i ask them from where do you have the audacity to preach to us in the midst of war 1500 troops civilians women and children were either abducted or killed in these battles and it happened only a month ago you all saw it and i'd like to say to these european leaders who are criticizing us the state of israel and the israeli people in 2023 this isn't 1943 we have the ability as well as the duty to defend ourselves on our own and that's exactly what we're going to do joining me now is professor etan gilboa an expert on us relations at bar ilan university who is keeping up with the growing international pressure including from the biden white house to extend humanitarian pauses perhaps if not use the word ceasefire for the temporary pause on the fighting itself professor thanks so much for being with me talk to me about the pressure clearly it's uh it's there's a lot of pressure netanyahu last night saying that we even if we have to stand alone we will continue to fight until victory is there real tangible concrete pressure that the us is exerting on the netanyahu government or are they still letting the netanyahu government give a free hand to complete the mission at hand neither nor there is some pressure about minimizing the killing of civilians and much pressure on increasing humanitarian assistance is really saying that humanitarian assistance is okay but the leaders of the west must also demand a humanitarian justice from hamas yeah i'm not i'm not hearing at all from european leaders uh saying to hamas what it what they say to israel they say to israel you have to abide by international law but i have not heard them saying the same thing to hamas is it possible that evil terrorist organizations are exempt from international law from from legal uh rules that govern uh govern law uh if i were the head of the international red cross i would call for press conference every day and say hamas you are violating international law you are you are required to give us access uh to to uh to hostages and and that way to apply pressure uh on on on on hamas uh we don't know what are the hamas's demands for the releasing of hostages we know what it wants and what it wants is a safe fire so it could group and undermine the israeli military momentum running after them at the shifa hospital headquarters professor we are one year away from the us presidential election the key election uh we have massive anti israel protests uh across the united states we have pro palestinian marches and demonstrations at college campuses across from coast to coast in america uh they're exerting pressure on lawmakers against israel against the israeli actions what pressure do you think that the us government is feeling from these protests and is there a shock is there a surprise at the anger the hatred of israel uh despite the legality and the justice of israel's mission yes i think i i was not surprised because i'm teaching in the united states every year i've seen these processes of the humanization delegitimization of israel the occupation of universities in the united states columbia university has become an occupied palestinian territory they do what they want they decide who will teach what to teach what to teach this is absurd but now we we see how all of these are things are exploding in terms of pressure yes there's a lot of time until uh the presidential elections so far i think that these demonstrations are not influencing american attitudes toward israel and the war i would also say that public opinion surveys in the united states taken recently show that the american public is with israel not with the demonstrators they they are they they shout much but uh there's not public support for their slogans especially the one that is being now clarified from the river to the sea palestine will be free i heard rashida talib saying oh this is we only want human rights in the entire area from the river jordan to the Mediterranean sea this is bullshit because it says palestine will be free which means the elimination of israel so i think that uh there are all kinds of uh psychological warfare inside united states and and in the middle east uh there are some people who say that um that uh biden's strong support for israel will be translated into additional voting for him especially among jews and supporters of israel in the united states um professor thanks so much for being with us and for your analysis of the situation great to have you thank you uh i want to ask about the day after guys but nothing about last night in the press conference where he talked about the spike pressure even if israel stands alone we will be victorious uh nothing laying out conditions for a return to palestinian rule uh which rules out the palestinian authority but saying that you know israel doesn't want to stay permanently in gaza to have a permanent presence but israel will need uh access security access whenever israel needs determines it's needed to enter the gaza strip for security reasons to hunt out terrorists uh to hunt out extremists and jihadists can there be a palestinian return to gaza in the near term realistically and who could lead it who would i mean if netanyahu also has to consider the political ramifications mahmoud abbas is is near 90 years old what palestinian government refaction could rule uh or at this point honestly the answer is we don't know so first of all i think it's a little premature to discuss this because we don't know what the gaza strip will look like on the day after what damage will be caused what will be the general feeling amongst the palestinians uh all this can be only decided at the moment because now to theoretically say it will look like this it will look that you have to see what's feasible then uh one thing is for sure i'm not so sure as you said that mr abumazan will be around because of his advanced age and i'm also not so sure that mr benjamin netanyahu will be around because of his political problems there might be there might be a new government so the the actors might not be the same actors as they are today the second thing you have to separate between security and politics so security for is for sure has to be ensured by the israelis by the idef for the simple reason that the bodyless can do it the egyptians don't want to do it none of the arabic countries that want to put troops there to to have security in gaza the international community it's useless i mean blue helmets we've seen them in unifil in the lebanon or undef in syria they're useless or even the mfo in sinai they're just observers that's not security just observing so the only people who can ensure this security so far are the israeli army it could be also the israeli the palestinian security services but that would take at least three or four years to build up sufficient force palestinian local force to enforce security locally a lot of budget a lot of training equipment etc politically speaking it's another ballgame and i'd like to say that we're speaking a lot of the protest abroad against israel something extremely important and encouraging is happening here first of all the arab arabic israeli community is more and more supportive of our policies there are muslims fighting in our ranks and there are many muslims in israel who actually feel patriotic and and boldened by what we're doing today very proud and seeing that the life is better here for everybody including muslims than somewhere else around here and then another encouraging sign especially the last two or three days is more and more voices from the people of gaza against ramas they're more or more understanding what the who is the real culprit they're more and more seeing the soldiers helping them to evacuate assisting them in humanitarian gestures and this is very very important because the day after might be that there is some gratitude from the people of gaza that they know where in their interest lie and probably maybe not also with our mr abu mazen and maybe some kind of new generation a new elite of the palestinian people and they exist in gaza itself you have a liberal professions people who studied abroad some kind of upper middle class that could be the new political class of the gaza and all the palestinian people rather than the old school mr ramas is just an old terrorist from the arafat school white color terrorist maybe but he's still from the old arafat school no much hope there and meanwhile the violence continued in the north hezbollah fire in a rocket earlier this morning into israeli territory for soldiers recovering today after being seriously hurt from rocket fire and drone strikes over the weekend i-25 news correspondent robert swift is in northern israel this is a day after uh nesrallah's the leader of hezbollah nesrallah's speech again threatening and warning israel against provocations and warning the united states as well with their carrier group off the coast into the sea uh what are the the reactions perhaps in israeli's speech is there fear that the ex the escalations will continue or perhaps this will be can stay a contained situation near the border first of all there was a reaction from israel's defense minister you have galat who you know matched the hezbollah chief's words in terms of the heat of his rhetoric he essentially said hezbollah should be careful it's close to making a grave mistake and it would be the citizens of lebanon the residents of beirut who would suffer the consequences if hezbollah was to tread too far that the exchange of words between both these these two individuals as well as the the slight escalation in exchanges of fire that took place yesterday in the in the afternoon and the evening did draw some notice with the u.s defense secretary leud austin saying that it's stressing the point that israel should do what it can to to ensure that the conflict that is raging here now remains in the south that that is confined to the gaza strip and that as as the u.s sees it is where israel's priorities should be this is essentially the u.s reiterating its point that while it is here as an ally of the united states with two u.s aircraft carrier groups in the mediterranean sea it very much wants to avoid an escalation that would draw this war into a larger regional conflict if needed the idf says it is prepared for a multi-front war it is prepared with hezbollah gallant the defense minister also threatening that what the images of destruction and that we're seeing in gaza of israeli military victory it can be replicated it can be duplicated if need be in beirut those are powerful words and a warning to nisrallah as well yeah definitely and it's not just words there is a large israeli military presence here in the north you know the idf is a formidable military organization and it does have the capacity to conduct military operations in the south and simultaneously in the north however obviously that would stretch it that would require resources that would otherwise be used in the south to be here in the north and also it would then further increase the diplomatic pressure that israel is feeling if there was to be destruction in the south of lebanon or in beirut it's likely that this would increase the diplomatic pressure that israel already is feeling due to the civilian casualties in the gaza strip the u.s israel's closest ally it has said that it will back israel up but it is also repeatedly stressed the point again just yesterday that it doesn't want to see this escalate and so israel is currently slightly trapped between between two options here it can continue to tolerate the provocations of hezbollah on the border essentially continuous skirmishes you know there's not a day goes by where there is not some form of attack or israel can you know retaliate with in a more forceful manner and risk in flaming the northern border into a new full-out confrontation robert swift thank you so much for that analysis and live updates from the north of israel and rafael you're showing me thank you so much for your analysis here in studio again rocket attacks continuing this is day 37 of the israel hamas war rocket fire today already from the north and from the gaza strip the idf saying today that they will begin the evacuation of patients from the shifa hospital the in gaza city which also doubles as the hamas terror network's headquarters which is