 breaking news edition. I'm Venita Levine, another major rocket barrage towards Israeli cities in the past, sounding in parts of central Israel and right now at border communities in the south. So let's go straight to our correspondent Pierre Klushendler. He joins us from southern Israel. Red alert siren sounding. What is the latest? Well, there's a red alert with one, two, three, four, five, six interceptions over our head in the first rocket strike on our, on this city. We're going to go inside because it's just over our head and I'm just afraid we're going to get some shrapnels from the interception. So you can see the white clouds and you've seen maybe something falling down just below where we are. There was something like the head of a rocket and another one. Another one just came down and it's quite heavy as far as we can see it from the naked eye. It's the rocket head that fell down just below where we are and there was no sounding of the alarm here, which is quite, which is quite frightening in the sense that we were absolutely not notified by that rocket strike. And at the same time that there was a rocket strike, there was also an Israeli artillery strike possibly on the source of rocket fire. We're not sure, but in any case, we were quite lucky because it's really just over our head and the rocket head just fell down between us and the road, which you can maybe see. So it was very close. In any case, there's been quite a lot of rocket fire, not just in the Tel Aviv suburbs, but also in Ashkelon and also a lot of mortar fire on places where it's assumed that the Israeli ground forces penetrating to the area of Hanyunas have been entering the Gaza Strip. So Hamas is trying to, in a sense, to try and foil the penetration of additional forces, ground forces, and tanks with mortar fire. Now mortar fire, the problem with it is that iron dome cannot intercept it. So it's really a matter of luck, just like it was in the years 2000 when rocket fire was fired on Sderot and there was no iron dome at the time. So it's probably the same feeling that the soldiers are experiencing. What is quite amazing also is that the head of the armored corps, Brigadier General Ibrahim, the IDF from the IDF, said that the mission in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip, which started with a ground offensive on October 7, that was preceded with intense air and artillery bombing in the weeks preceding the 7th of October, that mission is almost complete. But if you see in the area of the Gaza Strip, you can see that pounding of presumed Hamas target is going on relentlessly. Since this morning, the bombing by the artillery, the air force, the Navy has been quite intense in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip, which is the only place where we can see Gaza at this point. We know obviously from Palestinian reports, but also from the IDF that there were intensive airstrikes overnight with something like 200 airstrikes on presumed Hamas targets. Although that's not the peak in terms of the number of airstrikes, because I recall that a few weeks ago, there were something like 400 airstrikes overnight. But in any case, in Hanyunas, which is the next focal point of the ground offensive, there's heavy bombing, and there's fighting on the eastern outskirts of Hanyunas, and the population has been urged, the non-involved Palestinian population, to move from the eastern outskirts of Hanyunas to the west of Hanyunas, because the forces are advancing and it's becoming a real battleground, and fliers have been dropped with a QR code to connect to the interactive map, and the hope is that those populations will move west of Hanyunas. Benita. Stay safe there, our correspondent, Pierre Klushendler, and great work from our I-24 News camera team on the ground there. We will be coming back to you, of course, for more updates as the situation unfolds. Thank you, Pierre. Day 59 of the war, and as we just saw, Sirens in the south, also earlier in central parts of Israel, and even earlier up north as well. And right now, the president of the International Red Cross is in Gaza, as 137 hostages remain in captivity, held by terrorists for more than eight weeks. Miryana Spoliarek taking to social media to repeat their urgent call for civilians to be protected in line with the laws of war and for aid to enter unimpeded. She also says the hostages must be released and the Red Cross must be allowed to visit them safely, families of the hostages abducted during the Hamas terror onslaught on the 7th of October have lambasted the Red Cross for not yet getting access to them as more testimonies emerge about the conditions in captivity. Meanwhile, thousands of mourners, including senior military officers, have attended the funeral of the commander of the Gaza Division's southern brigade, Colonel Asaf Hamami, one of the most senior officers to fall on the 7th of October. Defense Minister Joav Galand saying the 41-year-old Colonel had led his troops valiantly on the day of the terrorist massacre. Now let's find out what is happening up north. Let's go to our correspondent Zach Anders and he joins us from northern Israel, where Sirens were sounding earlier in some northern border towns. The IDF says fighter jets and drones carrying out strikes against a Hezbollah command center in response to other developments. Bring us up to speed. What is the latest, Zach? The latest strike within the last hour, the IDF says, fell in an open area and did not cause any damage or any injuries. But in the last 24 hours, we've seen at least 12 injured in strikes from Hezbollah targeting Israeli positions here along the northern border. Of those 12 injured, many of them, the majority of them, soldiers. But several also civilians ranging in age from 20 to 65 years old men and women. The IDF says no serious injuries. These are shrapnel related from the explosions, the blast, the force of the blast that sent shrapnel and injured several, including the IDF forces that were staged at a base that came under fire last night. The strikes from Hezbollah in the last 24 hours are numerous. They've taken credit for at least six of those strikes. There are others that they have not claimed responsibility for. But with the number of factions that are operating here in the south of Lebanon, it's not entirely uncharacteristic to see another group claim responsibility for some of these strikes that often do take place with these ATGMs, the Iranian supplied equipment that needs to be fired by personnel with a line of sight at positions, Israeli positions, and then they retreat further into southern Lebanon to try and escape the retaliatory strikes. We've heard the outgoing artillery that is targeting these points of origin from where the fire began. And notably, it does appear to be these ATGMs and mortar fire in the days leading up to the ceasefire. We were seeing heavy rocket launches being fired from positions deep, much deeper into southern Lebanon in populated areas, a serious escalation. And as we heard a little bit earlier on the rockets being fired at the northern community of Matat, we're hearing landing in open areas and the IDF responding as you are describing as well. But for the most part, Zach, are these areas evacuated? Are most of the civilians who would have been living nearby in these parts of northern Israel already safely further down south? They should be. The figures that the IDF has provided based on evacuation numbers are starting to date themselves a little bit. This was pre-ceased fire with thousands reportedly evacuated. But there has been access and ability to go back to some of the residences limited, albeit depending on which community or settlement it was, that they're provided the opportunity to go back and collect things. The IDF is urging people to limit those trips to just really as quick as you could possibly do it and then leave once again no overnight stays. However, we have heard that some residents are attempting to go back and to inhabit their residents again, take that risk. In some places, the IDF is being urging more seriously that evacuation call. And then in some other places, they're allowing some people to return. It's difficult to be able to pin down exact numbers or figures as to the people that have been returning, the people that have evacuated since even the ceasefire ended. And the hostilities resumed, you'll remember, that Hezbollah was not a party to the negotiations, not a party to this ceasefire deal. And yet they, for the most part, abided by the ceasefire. So there was a respite here and a lot of peace and quiet for the first time in weeks for these northern communities, but no longer it has picked up once again. We certainly will be watching to see how the situation unfolds. For now, thank you so much, correspondent Zach Anders in Northern Israel. More to come from our team on the ground in the coming hours, of course. Right now, we welcome to studio for more insights. Brigadier General in the reserves, Hanan Geffen, former intelligence unit commander in the IDF, and our senior diplomatic correspondent Owen Ultiman. Thank you both so much for being here in studio. Hanan, I want to start with you because there are developing situations on several fronts as we speak. In the south, as we heard from Pierre Siren sounding just moments ago. Also up in the north, as we heard from Zach. And as we know inside the Gaza Strip, dozens of tanks heading toward Khan Yunus, as we speak. Your assessment of what is unfolding here? Yeah, I just want to start to separate the signal from noises, because actually, the rockets and the sirens in Israel are noises, are not the signal. The signal is what's going on the ground. And we are entering in two or three days, the third months of this war. And from the beginning, it was stated that it will be a prolonged war. It will take months or even a year. And this is how the Israeli defense forces are prepared for. Eventually, there were a lot of reservists calling, and now they are released in order to be called later on to the duty. Now, what is happening now is trying to uproot the Hamas. And it's actually what's going from commanders to headquarters to institutions that support the Hamas, like the police. The police in Gaza is a Hamas institution. And there are others as well. I just want to mention. I'm not sure if it's connected. But the hospital manager of SIPA is under interrogation by the Israeli forces or security forces. His part in, first of all, of the hostages, just to remind one of the hostages was kidnapped, tweeted at the hospital, and murdered in the hospital. And there were others as well that we have known that were there. We have witnesses. And the other thing, how much is cooperated with the Hamas in concealing the nature of this facility of a major hospital in Gaza Strip for months was called by the World Health Organization by the International Red Cross as a place that you should not enter it, but then found out that it was part of, probably, and we will see shortly, I believe, IDF Sportsmen will expose it fully, the cooperation of or being part of the Hamas organization, the hospital. And probably we will see more of this hospital. The next one is the Indonesian one, which is suspected to be as well as the same part of the organization of Hamas. Now, if speaking of uprooting Hamas, it's a very tedious and long process. It's going after the operatives, going after the facilities, and trying to separate the Hamas from the population. So far, we have managed, and this was a huge task. I don't believe that anybody imagined that it will happen. It's very sorrow. The conditions are terrible. But two million people were evacuated from areas of war and enabled Israel to go with its prolonged operation. What we have seen in the north, we are nearing completion of this operation, as was stated by your correspondent mentioned, and it will probably take a week or two or more because there are some people left overs. But then we go into the southern part of Gaza. And even if this will end, let's say in two months, then again Israel will have to come back again and again. They're in, they're out to make sure that the Hamas is not gain again. The capability is not harboring anything to the neighboring Kibbutz or villages, because this will be a condition, a precondition for repopulating this area. So this is about Gaza in the north, if just a short reference to the north. What we see is very amazing, but at this time, the third month of the war, Hezbollah stick to its equation, which is high Hezbollah will target only military targets and his only military targets. On the other hand, Israel is gradually, is more and more targets deep in Lebanon, how the facilities which are beyond what Hezbollah is doing. So the equation is kept. And this is something that for us might be a good surprise. Certainly a whole range of developments to be focusing on and complicating issues, of course, is the whereabouts of the hostages. So before we unpack how that complicates the unfolding situation on the ground, we know that families of the hostages, both those freed and those still in captivity, continue to speak out. Let's take a quick listen. We have been waiting since Friday for the war cabinet to meet with us, the family members, and tell us what is going to happen. Returning to the battle? Has the negotiation ended? And what are the reasons for everything that's happening? We are not intervening. The families are not thinking of getting involved in how to run the war tactically or strategically, but we want answers. My grandfather, he had a blood pressure issue. He must get his medicines. He can't survive without those medicines. And we know that about many other hostages there. Those came back, told us about what they get and what they don't get. Many of them are in a horrible situation. Some of them been tortured there. The Thai people told us about that. And some others been moved from place to place. Some of them are in the tunnels for 60 days, no light, no day, no night. They don't even know that we are waiting for them. Some of them been told us that they told them that we don't care about them and they've been forgotten. Beyond devastating hearing the details emerging about what has been happening in captivity, and we know 137 hostages still being held by the terror group, the war cabinet, saying that they're going to meet with the families of the hostages that's now happening tomorrow at noon. What can they promise them? They will not promise anything. They said that they will first update them. There's a lot of information gathered. Some of it will be compacted and will not be told to them. But they will be updated on the intention of this very government. And in broad, I would say they will say that we find out that we ended no past road. We had to exert pressure on the Hamas. This is the only way. They feel that they have to respond to their very request and not play around as they try to do with the last phases of the ceasefire. Certainly many very difficult decisions to be made. And Owen, I want to bring you in here because your earl appeared has some strong words that he is sharing about Benjamin Netanyahu and his handling of the current situation. Politics has largely been out of the fray up until recent days, so to speak. But right now he has a strong message for Benjamin Netanyahu. How is that likely to play out? Well, listen, you're right on one hand, Benita, that normal politics are being suspended. But look, Gary Lapid decided to be in the opposition. He decided to be in the opposition in part, I think, so he could criticize Netanyahu and the government's handling of the war. And I think as long as it's restricted, largely to the handling of the war and all that surrounds it, I think that it will be considered to be within bounds for the Israeli public, both in terms of how Netanyahu and the government are conducting the war, how they're managing the fallout of the war, and to the argument that they should put aside issues that aren't related to the war. So again, those are going to be the claims that Ayyar Lapid makes. Should be said that from the polling information that we have over the last few months, Lapid has not made a whole lot of traction in the polls. So he obviously will, at least over the medium term, looking over the horizon after the war, want to do more to get more traction among Israeli voters. So we'll need to take steps in order to do so. Not only pressure from within, and when I say within, Ameen, inside the country, also abroad. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is slamming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Let's take a listen to his words. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the butcher of Gaza, is not only a war criminal, but he will definitely be tried as the butcher of Gaza. Just like Slobodan Milosevic, the former president of Serbia, was tried. Netanyahu, the butcher of Gaza, personally revealed in front of the cameras that the issue is not just Gaza or Ramallah, but that he is pursuing expansionist goals. Therefore, defending Gaza and Palestine today means defending Mecca, Medina, Istanbul, Damascus, Beirut, Baghdad, the Islamic lands along with Jerusalem. Owen. Yeah, look, obviously of a piece with what we've seen too much of Tayyip Erdogan over the course of the war, and frankly over the course of most of his time as leader of Turkey, with some exceptions. Look, again, we've said there's so many times before embeds the impression Israel that he can't be trusted. Don't expect any kind of reconciliation after the war. Of course, Turkey's a big economy. Of course, Israel will want to respect red lines with it. But obviously, this will just add to the skepticism. I do think it's worth paying some attention to some of the specific claims that he made and the way he made it. Again, comparing Netanyahu to Milosevic, one audience, of course, is the West, where Milosevic is a kind of villain. But don't forget, these are the two geographical directions of what he sees as his influence, right? Into the Balkans and into Europe and into the Middle East. So trying to draw connections between those. And again, Slobodan Milosevic's victims were Muslims. So Erdogan, again, casting himself as the protector of Muslims. And again, at the end, talking about it's not only about Gaza and Ramallah, it's about other parts of the Middle East. Again, as we've seen so often, Erdogan trying to position himself as a kind of leader of the Middle East hasn't worked out so well for him so far. Again, cultural differences between Turks, Arabs and Persians, and Kurds, of course. But that doesn't stop him from trying. Oh, and ultimately, and thank you both so much for being here on this breaking news edition. Much to discover and unpack as the situation unfolds. Appreciate your insights. Thank you so much as always. Now, Kibbutz Nachal Oz is one of the community's hardest hit in the Hamas terror onslaught of the 7th of October. Our correspondent, Orisha Perra, has more on this community next to the Gaza border and the terror that families there have faced for decades. Let's take a look. October 7th caught the entire country by surprise. In Kibbutz Nachal Oz, one of the places closest to the Gaza border, the surprise was even bigger. We woke up around 6 a.m. My partner told me that there is a red alert. I wasn't very excited about it. I said, okay, we've experienced these situations. We'll walk it out. So we entered the safe room. The first message I got was from a friend who texted me that his wife was injured. Eventually, she died from her wounds. The door was closed, but I suppose that it wouldn't matter to them. I guess that they realized that we are old people. There is not much to do with us. So they went to other places. Yachiel Chelnov is one of the founders of Nachal Oz. He is close to his nineties, but still very active. When we established the Kibbutz, we concentrated on agriculture. And indeed, we had very good agriculture. We have one of the best dairy industries. At least it was until the war, but it is still working. It's the first time I'm living the Kibbutz. We had security issues when you evacuated young families with the kids or whoever wanted to go. But never like this. Kibbutz Nachal Oz was the first Nachal settlement, a collective community of veterans of the IDF's Nachal Brigade who combined military service and building communities across the country. In the early days, the Kibbutz was considered one of the most famous in Israel, as leaders and officials visited it. One of the most famous incidents occurred in 1956 when a member of the Kibbutz, Rory Rotenberg, was brutally killed by Egyptian forces. The eulogy of Moshe Dayan, then chief of staff, became one of the most iconic speeches in the history of Israel. Early yesterday morning, Rory was murdered. The quiet of the spring morning dazzled him, and he did not see those waiting in ambush for him at the edge of the furrow. Let us not cast the blame on the murderers today. Why should we declare their burning hatred for us? For eight years, they have been sitting in the refugee camps in Gaza, and before their eyes we have been transforming the land and the villages where they and their fathers dwelt into our state. It is not among the Arabs in Gaza, but in our own midst that we must seek Rory's blood. How did we shut our eyes and refuse to look squarely at our fate and see, in all its brutality, the destiny of our generation? In 2014, another traumatic event happened when four-year-old Daniel Tragman died from a missile sent from Gaza. The Kibbutz was about to celebrate 70 years since its founding with a special ceremony. Ironically, the main show was a play which shows two women spotters who were cut off from their cameras. We were supposed to have a big celebration marking 70 years of the Kibbutz. On Friday, we had rehearsals for the show, the plot where the spotters are disconnected. It seems like a crazy story for me, but this is what happened eventually. Around 35 people were murdered in Nakhaloz on October 7. Today, residents of the Kibbutz are staying in another Kibbutz in the north, Mishmar Hayamek, and are waiting to decide on their next step as Nakhaloz remains a closed military zone. And that report by our correspondent Uri Shapira. Thank you, Uri. And with that, we wrap up this edition of our breaking news coverage. I'm Benita Levine. Our rolling coverage continues shortly. Stay tuned. This is I-24 News. Israel is in a state of war. Families completely gunned down in their beds. We have no idea where she is. Our soldiers are fighting on the front line, but the general perception is something that certainly needs to to be fought as well. From Israel, with dozens of correspondents throughout the world, brings the truth from Israel to hundreds of millions of people in scores of countries. Bringing Israel's story to the world. I-24 News channels, now on hot. This is breaking news edition. I'm Benita Levine. Another major rocket barrage towards Israeli cities in the past hour. Red alert siren sounding in parts of central Israel. And right now at border communities in the south. So let's go straight to our correspondent, Pierre Kloschendler. He joins us from southern Israel. Red alert siren sounding. What is the latest? Well, there's a red alert with one, two, three, four, five, six interceptions over our head in the first rocket strike on our, on this city. We're going to go inside because it's just over our head. And I'm just afraid we're going to get some shrapnels from the interception. So you can see the white clouds. And you've seen maybe something falling down just below where we are. There was something like the head of a rocket and another one. Another one just came down and it's quite heavy. As far as we can see it from the naked eye, it's the rocket head that fell down just below where we are. And there was no sounding of the alarm here, which is quite, which is quite frightening in the sense that we were absolutely not notified by that rocket strike. And at the same time that there was a rocket strike, there was also an Israeli artillery strike possibly on the source of rocket fire. We're not sure, but in any case, we were quite lucky because it's really just over our head. And the rocket head just fell down between us and the road, which you can maybe see. So it was very close. In any case, there's been quite a lot of rocket fire, not just in the Tel Aviv suburbs, but also in Ashkelon, and also a lot of mortar fire on places where it's assumed that the Israeli ground forces penetrating to the area of Hanyunas have been entering the Gaza Strip. So Hamas is trying to, in a sense, to try and foil the penetration of additional forces, ground forces, and tanks with mortar fire. Now, mortar fire, the problem with it is that iron dome cannot intercept it. So it's really a matter of luck, just like it was in the years 2000 when rocket fire was fired on Zderot, and there was no iron dome at the time. So it's probably the same feeling that the soldiers are experiencing. What is quite amazing also is that the head of the armored corps, Brigadier General Ibrahim, the IDF from the IDF, said that the mission in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip, which started with a ground offensive on October 7, but was preceded with intense air and artillery bombing in the weeks preceding the 7th of October, that mission is almost complete. But if you see in the area of the Gaza Strip, you can see that pounding of presumed Hamas target is going on relentlessly. Since this morning, the bombing by the artillery, the air force, the Navy has been quite intense in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip, which is the only place where we can see Gaza at this point. We know obviously from Palestinian reports, but also from the IDF, that there were intensive airstrikes overnight with something like 200 airstrikes on presumed Hamas targets. Although that's not the peak in terms of the number of airstrikes because I recall that a few weeks ago, there were something like 400 airstrikes overnight. But in any case, in Hanyunas, which is the next focal point of the ground offensive, there's heavy bombing and there's fighting on the eastern outskirts of Hanyunas and the population has been urged, the non-involved Palestinian population to move from the eastern outskirts of Hanyunas to the west of Hanyunas because the forces are advancing and it's becoming a real battle ground. And the flyers have been dropped with a QR code to connect to the interactive map. And the hope is that those populations will move west of Hanyunas. Benita. Stay safe there. Our correspondent, Pierre Kloschendler, and great work from our I-24 news camera team on the ground there. We will be coming back to you, of course, for more updates as the situation unfolds. Thank you, Pierre. Day 59 of the war. And as we just saw, sirens in the south, also earlier in central parts of Israel and even earlier up north as well. And right now, the president of the International Red Cross is in Gaza as 137 hostages remain in captivity held by terrorists for more than eight weeks. Meryana Spoliarek taking to social media to repeat their urgent call for civilians to be protected in line with the laws of war and for aid to enter unimpeded. She also says the hostages must be released and the Red Cross must be allowed to visit them safely. Families of the hostages abducted during the Hamas terror onslaught on the 7th of October have lambasted the Red Cross for not yet getting access to them as more testimonies emerge about the conditions in captivity. Meanwhile, thousands of mourners, including senior military officers, have attended the funeral of the commander of the Gaza Division's southern brigade, Colonel Asaf Hamami, one of the most senior officers to fall on the 7th of October. Defense minister, Joav Galand, saying the 41-year-old Colonel had led his troops valiantly on the day of the terrorist massacre. Now let's find out what is happening up north. Let's go to our correspondent, Zach Anders, and he joins us from northern Israel, where sirens were sounding earlier in some northern border towns. The IDF says fighter jets and drones carrying out strikes against a Hezbollah command center in response to other developments. Bring us up to speed. What is the latest, Zach? The latest strike within the last hour, the IDF says, fell in an open area and did not cause any damage or any injuries. But in the last 24 hours, we've seen at least 12 injured in strikes from Hezbollah targeting Israeli positions here along the northern border. Of those 12 injured, many of them, the majority of them soldiers, but several also civilians ranging in age from 20 to 65 years old men and women. The IDF says no serious injuries. These are shrapnel related from the explosions, the blast, the force of the blast that sent shrapnel and injured several, including the IDF forces that were staged at a base that came under fire last night. The strikes from Hezbollah in the last 24 hours are numerous. They've taken credit for at least six of those strikes. There are others that they have not claimed responsibility for, but with the number of factions that are operating here in the south of Lebanon, it's not entirely uncharacteristic to see another group claim responsibility for some of these strikes that often do take place with these ATGMs, the Iranian supplied equipment that needs to be fired by personnel with a line of sight at positions, Israeli positions, and then they retreat further into southern Lebanon to try and escape the retaliatory strikes. We've heard the outgoing artillery that is targeting these points of origin from where the fire began. And notably, it does appear to be these ATGMs and mortar fire. In the days leading up to the ceasefire, we were seeing heavy rocket launches being fired from positions deep, much deeper into southern Lebanon in populated areas, a serious escalation. And as we heard a little bit earlier on the rockets being fired at the northern community of Matat, we're hearing landing in open areas and the IDF responding as you are describing as well. But for the most part, Zack, are these areas evacuated? Are most of the civilians who would have been living nearby in these parts of northern Israel already safely further down south? They should be. The figures that the IDF has provided based on evacuation numbers are starting to date themselves a little bit. This was pre-cease fire with thousands reportedly evacuated. But there has been access and ability to go back to some of the residences limited, albeit depending on which community or settlement it was, that they're provided the opportunity to go back and collect things. The IDF is urging people to limit those trips to just really as quick as you could possibly do it and then leave once again no overnight stays. However, we have heard that some residents are attempting to go back and to inhabit their residents again, take that risk. In some places, the IDF is being urging more seriously that evacuation call. And then in some other places, they're allowing some people to return. It's difficult to be able to pin down exact numbers or figures as to the people that have been returning, the people that have evacuated since even the ceasefire ended. And the hostilities resumed, you'll remember, that Hezbollah was not a party to the negotiations, not a party to this ceasefire deal. And yet they, for the most part, abided by the ceasefire. So there was a respite here and a lot of peace and quiet for the first time in weeks for these northern communities. But no longer it has picked up once again. We certainly will be watching to see how the situation unfolds for now. Thank you so much, correspondent Zach Anders in Northern Israel. More to come from our team on the ground in the coming hours, of course. Right now, we welcome to studio for more insights. Brigadier General in the reserves, Hanan Geffen, former intelligence unit commander in the IDF and our senior diplomatic correspondent, Owen Ultiman. Thank you both so much for being here in studio. Hanan, I want to start with you because there are developing situations on several fronts as we speak. In the south, as we heard from Pierre Siren sounding just moments ago. Also up in the north, as we heard from Zach. And as we know inside the Gaza Strip, dozens of tanks heading toward Khan Yunus, as we speak. Your assessment of what is unfolding now. Yeah, I just want to start to separate the signal from noises, because actually the rockets and the sirens in Israel are noises, not the signal. The signal is what's going on the ground. And we are entering in two or three days, the third months of this war. And from the beginning it was stated that it will be a prolonged war. It will take months or even a year. And this is how the Israeli defense forces are prepared for. Eventually, there were a lot of reservists calling and now they are released in order to be called later on to the duty. Now, what is happening now is trying to uproot the Hamas. And it's actually what's going from commanders to headquarters to institutions that support the Hamas, like the police. The police in Gaza is a Hamas institution. And there are others as well. I just want to mention. I'm not sure if it's connected. But the hospital manager of SIFA is under interrogation by the Israeli forces or security forces. His part in, first of all, of the hostilities. Hostilities just to remind one of the hostilities was kidnapped, treated at the hospital, and murdered in the hospital. And there were others as well that we had known that were there. And the other thing, how much is cooperated with the Hamas in concealing the nature of this facility of a major hospital in Gaza Strip for months was called by the World Health Organization, by the International Red Cross as a place that you should not enter it, but then found out that it was part of probably, and we will see shortly, I believe, IDF spots and will expose it fully, the cooperation of or being part of the Hamas organization, the hospital. And probably we will see more of this hospital. The next one is doing Tunisian one, which is suspected to be as well as the same part of the organization of Hamas. Now, if speaking of uprooting Hamas, it's a very tedious and long process is going after the operatives, going after the facilities, and trying to separate the Hamas from the population. So far, we have managed. And this was a huge task. I don't believe that anybody imagined that it will happen. It's very sorrow. The condition is terrible. But too many people were evacuated from areas of war and enable Israel to go on with its prolonged operation. What we have seen in the north, we are nearing completion of this operation as was stated by the, as your correspondent mentioned, and it will probably take a week or two or more, because there are some people left overs. But then we go into the Gaza into the southern part of the off Gaza. And even if this will happen, it will end, let's say in two months, then again, Israel, we have to come back again and again, day in, day out to make sure that the Hamas is not again and again. The capability is not harboring anything to the neighboring Kibbutz or villages, because this will be a condition, a precondition for repopulating this area. So this is about Gaza in the north. If just a short reference to the north, what we see is very amazing. But at this time, the third month of the war, Hezbollah stick to its equation, which is high Hezbollah will target only military targets and his only military targets on the other end. Israel is gradually is more and more targets deep in Lebanon, houses facilities, which are beyond what Hezbollah is doing. So the equation is kept. And this is something that for us might be a good surprise. Certainly, a whole range of developments to be focusing on and complicating issues, of course, is the whereabouts of the hostages. So before we unpack how that complicates the unfolding situation on the ground, we know that families of the hostages, both those freed and those still in captivity, continue to speak out. Let's take a quick listen. We have been waiting since Friday for the war cabinet to meet with us, the family members, and tell us what is going to happen. Returning to the battle? Has the negotiation ended? And what are the reasons for everything that's happening? We are not intervening. The families are not thinking of getting involved in how to run the war tactically or strategically. But we want answers. My grandfather, he have a blood pressure issue. He must get his medicines. He can't survive without those medicines. And we know that about many other hostages there. Those came back, told us about what they get and what they don't get. Many of them are in a horrible situation. Some of them been tortured there. The Thai people told us about that. And some others been moved from place to place. Some of them are in the tunnels for 60 days, no light, no day, no night. They don't even know that we are waiting for them. Some of them been told us that they told that they told them that we don't care about them and they've been forgotten. Beyond devastating hearing the details emerging about what has been happening in captivity, and we know 137 hostages still being held by the terror group, the war cabinet, saying that they're going to meet with the families of the hostages that's now happening tomorrow at noon. What can they promise them? They will not promise anything. They said that they will first of all update them. There's a lot of information gathered. Some of it will be compacted and that will not be told to them. But they will be updated on the intention of this early government. And in broad, I would say, they will say that we find out that we ended the no pass road. We had to exert pressure on the Hamas. This is the only way. They feel that they have to respond to their very request and not play around as they try to do with the last phases of the ceasefire. Certainly many very difficult decisions to be made. And Owen, I want to bring you in here because Yair Lapid has some strong words that he is sharing about Benjamin Netanyahu and his handling of the current situation. Politics has largely been out of the fray up until recent days, so to speak. But right now, he has a strong message for Benjamin Netanyahu. How is that likely to play out? Well, listen, you're right on one hand, Benita, that normal politics are being suspended. But look, Yair Lapid decided to be in the opposition. He decided to be in the opposition in part, I think, so he could criticize Netanyahu and the government's handling of the war. And I think as long as it's restricted largely to the handling of the war and all that surrounds it, I think that it will be considered to be within bounds for the Israeli public, both in terms of how Netanyahu and the government are conducting the war, how they're managing the fallout of the war, and to the argument that they should put aside issues that aren't related to the war. So again, those are going to be the claims that Yair Lapid makes should be said that from the polling information that we have over the last few months, Lapid has not made a whole lot of traction in the polls. So he obviously will, least over the medium term, right, looking over the horizon after the war, want to do more to get more traction among Israeli voters. So we'll need to take steps in order to do so. Not only pressure from within, and when I say within, I mean, inside the country, also abroad, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is slamming Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Let's take a listen to his words. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the butcher of Gaza, is not only a war criminal, but he will definitely be tried as the butcher of Gaza, just like Slobodan Milosevic, the former president of Serbia, was tried. Netanyahu, the butcher of Gaza, personally revealed in front of the cameras that the issue is not just Gaza or Ramallah, but that he is pursuing expansionist goals. Therefore, defending Gaza and Palestine today means defending Mecca, Medina, Istanbul, Damascus, Beirut, Baghdad, their Islamic lands along with Jerusalem. Owen. Yeah, look, obviously, I have a piece with what we've seen too much of Tayyip Erdogan over the course of the war, and frankly, over the course of most of his time as leader of Turkey, with some exceptions. Look, again, we've said this so many times before, embeds the impression, Israel, that he can't be trusted. Don't expect any kind of reconciliation after the war. Of course, Turkey's a big economy. Of course, Israel will want to respect red lines with it. But obviously, this will just add to the skepticism. I do think it's worth paying some attention to some of the specific claims that he made and the way he made it. Again, comparing Netanyahu to Milosevic. One audience, of course, is the West, where Milosevic is a kind of villain. But don't forget, these are the two geographical directions of what he sees as his influence, right? Into the Balkans and into Europe and into the Middle East. So trying to draw connections between those. And again, Slobodan Milosevic's victims were Muslims. So Erdogan, again, casting himself as the protector of Muslims. And again, at the end, talking about it's not only about Ghazan or Mullah. It's about other parts of the Middle East. Again, as we've seen so often, Erdogan trying to position himself as a kind of leader of the Middle East hasn't worked out so well for him so far. Again, cultural differences between Turks, Arabs and Persians. And Kurds, of course. But that doesn't stop him from trying. Oh, and ultimate Halan Geffen. Thank you both so much for being here on this Breaking News Edition. Much to discover and unpack as the situation unfolds. Appreciate your insights. Thank you so much as always. Now, Kibbutz Nachal Oz is one of the community's hardest hit in the Hamas terror onslaught of the 7th of October. Our correspondent, Orisha Perra, has more on this community next to the Gaza border and the terror that families there have faced for decades. Let's take a look. October 7th caught the entire country by surprise. In Kibbutz Nachal Oz, one of the places closest to the Gaza border, the surprise was even bigger. We woke up around 6 a.m. My partner told me that there is a red alert. I wasn't very excited about it. I said, okay, we've experienced these situations. We'll walk it out. So we entered the safe room. The first message I got was from a friend who texted me that his wife was injured. Eventually, she died from her wounds. The door was closed, but I suppose that it wouldn't matter to them. I guess that they realized that we are old people, there is not much to do with us. So they went to other places. Yechiel Chelnov is one of the founders of Nachal Oz. He is close to his 90s, but still very active. When we established the Kibbutz, we concentrated on agriculture, and indeed, we had very good agriculture. We have one of the best dairy industries. At least it was until the war, but it is still working. It's the first time I'm leaving the Kibbutz. We had security issues when you evacuated young families with the kids, or whoever wanted to go, but never like this. Kibbutz Nachal Oz was the first Nachal settlement, a collective community of veterans of the IDF's Nachal Brigade who combined military service and building communities across the country. In the early days, the Kibbutz was considered one of the most famous in Israel, as leaders and officials visited it. One of the most famous incidents occurred in 1956 when a member of the Kibbutz, Roy Rotenberg, was brutally killed by Egyptian forces. The eulogy of Moshe Dayan, then chief of staff, became one of the most iconic speeches in the history of Israel. Early yesterday morning, Roy was murdered. The quiet of the spring morning dazzled him, and he did not see those waiting in ambush for him at the edge of the furrow. Let us not cast the blame on the murderers today. Why should we declare their burning hatred for us? For eight years, they have been sitting in the refugee camps in Gaza, and before their eyes, we have been transforming the lands and the villages where they and their fathers dwelt into our state. It is not among the Arabs in Gaza, but in our own midst that we must seek Roy's blood. How did we shrug our eyes and refuse to look squarely at our fate and see in all its brutality the destiny of our generation? In 2014, another traumatic event happened when four-year-old Daniel Tragman died from a missile sent from Gaza. The Kibbutz was about to celebrate 70 years since its founding with a special ceremony. Ironically, the main show was a play which shows two women's spotters who were cut off from their cameras. We were supposed to have a big celebration marking 70 years of the Kibbutz. On Friday, we had rehearsals for the show, the plot where the spotters are disconnected. It seems like a crazy story for me, but this is what happened eventually. Around 35 people were murdered in Nakhaloz on October 7th. Today, residents of the Kibbutz are staying in another Kibbutz in the north, Mishmar Hayamek, and are waiting to decide on their next step as Nakhaloz remains a closed military zone. And that report by our correspondent Uri Shapira. Thank you, Uri. And with that, we wrap up this edition of our breaking news coverage. I'm Benita Levine. Our rolling coverage continues shortly. Stay tuned. This is I-24 News. Is in a state of war, families completely done down in their beds. We have no idea as our soldiers are fighting on the front line, but the general perception is something that certainly needs to be fought as well. In news edition, I'm Benita Levine, another major rocket barrage towards Israeli cities in recent hours. Red alert sirens sounding in parts of central Israel and its some border communities in the south, plus earlier in the north, too, close to the Lebanon border. Day 59 of the war. And the president of the International Red Cross is in Gaza, as 137 hostages remain in captivity held by terrorists for more than eight weeks now. Marianas for Yarek taking to social media to repeat their urgent call for civilians to be protected in line with the laws of war and for aid to enter unimpeded. She also says the hostages must be released and the Red Cross must be allowed to visit them safely. Families of the hostages abducted during the Hamas terror onslaught on the 7th of October have lambasted the Red Cross for not yet getting access to them as more testimonies emerge about the conditions in captivity. Meanwhile, thousands of mourners, including senior military officers have attended the funeral of the commander of the Gaza Division Southern Brigade Colonel Asaf Hamami, one of the most senior officers to fall on the 7th of October. Defense Minister Joav Galant saying the 41-year-old Colonel had led his troops valiantly on the day of the terrorist massacre. Now for the latest on the ground, let's start in the north. We cross to our correspondent Pia Steckelbach and she joins us from northern Israel. Pia Siren sounding in northern Israeli border towns in recent hours in the afternoon local time. The IDF saying fighter jets and drones had carried out strikes against a Hezbollah command center and other sites earlier. What is the latest update? What can you tell us? Right Benita, well we do know that the Israeli military has been targeting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon specifically. Your right to mention Israeli fighter jets and also unmanned aircrafts were targeting Hezbollah operational targets such as command centers and infrastructure. And that was right after Siren sounded specifically in two border communities, Stula and Matat very, very close to the Lebanese border that was about two hours ago. And that is not the first time that we have seen fire coming into northern Israel from southern Lebanon today. There were a number of launches attributed to Hezbollah. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a number of them also targeting the very eastern part of the Israel-Lebanon border. They contested Haldov region and also Misgav Am. Now it seems like we're back to normal to the routine that we had before the ceasefire. We have experienced some calm during the ceasefire with the Gaza. Now it seems like the skirmishes, those regular skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah, Hezbollah firing into northern Israel, the Israeli Air Force reacting to that. It seems like those skirmishes are back now. Today, no casualties were reported, but we saw yesterday that in an anti-tank missile attack on the Kibbutz of Betilel, 11 Israelis were injured, among them also soldiers, 11 Israelis, 10 men, one woman. They were also hospitalized there. So that really shows you how volatile the situation is and what kind of danger these northern communities are facing. Many of them are still evacuated as it was protocol communities as close as five kilometers to the Lebanese border were called upon to evacuate. Now we can assume that some of those residents went back during the ceasefire checking on their homes and might have even stayed there, but this is still the protocol that this area specifically in a proximity of five kilometers to the Lebanese border is deemed dangerous and not safe for civilian movement, Benita. So briefly just talk us through the concerns by those communities who are waiting to see when they can go back about the possibility of Hassan Nasrallah and by extension Iran ramping up their role in the war in the coming days and weeks. Well, Benita, we've been speaking about whether Hezbollah is going to join this war or not for a very long time basically since the beginning. Hassan Nasrallah has always said and also other voices coming out of Lebanon representing Hezbollah that they will make their full participation in this war dependent on what is happening in Gaza. Now the ceasefire was a very good example for the fact that they really do look at what is going on in Gaza because we've experienced calm from the Lebanese side. Now that we're back to the war with Gaza, the question is what is going to happen? And it is very, very unpredictable. And I'm not sure Hezbollah itself knows how it is going to react in the next days and weeks to follow. Live from Northern Israel. Thank you so much. Correspondent Pia Steckelbach. Thank you, Pia. And now in his latest briefing, the IDF spokesperson Daniel Higari reiterating Israel's goals on day 59 in this war. Let's take a listen. We're now pursuing Hamas in southern Gaza too. We will operate in maximum force against Hamas terrorists and infrastructures while minimizing harm to the civilian that Hamas places around them as shields. We're pursuing Hamas wherever Hamas is hiding in the north and in the south. Every rocket launcher, weapons depot, command and control center, senior commander, underground infrastructure and any hideout where our hostages may be held. Our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza. So for the latest, let's go to the south. Our senior defense correspondent Jonathan Regev joins us from Storot. So we just heard that Daniel Higari reiterating the goals for the IDF right now. Earlier on in the afternoon local time, Red Alert siren sounding in several parts of the south. Bring us up to speed on the latest developments right now. That is true. First from the place where we are, the city of Storot. We're hearing very heavy artillery all the time pounding on Gaza. On the other hand, sirens sounded in various communities along the Gaza border and also here in Storot a little more than an hour ago. This is as far as here. There were also sirens in the city of Ashkelon, which is a little bit to the northwest of us. And there were also sirens sounding in central Israel earlier on, the city of Petah Tikva, even a little bit to the east of Tel Aviv. So still a lot of activity all over the Gaza Strip, not only the southern part, which was mentioned by the IDF spokesperson, but also in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, which is right behind us. Neighborhoods such as Jubalia, for example, which is right behind us, pounded by artillery all the time. This is a situation here happening on the ground. And Jonathan, we also know that dozens of tanks have been approaching Khan Yunus and at the same time, as we just heard there from Daniel Higari, we know that Israel is under pressure to limit civilian deaths as it continues with its goal to eliminate Hamas. Talk us through those efforts right now. The efforts are to concentrate as much as many civilians possible in areas that will be regarded by Israel as safe zones. Areas where Israel will not attack, closer to the sea, for example, in an area called Mawasi, which is just to the west of Khan Yunus. The city itself is known to be a stronghold for Hamas above and under the ground. Therefore, Israel needs to operate there. Israel has to operate there in order to do that on one hand, and meaning my civilian casualties. On the other hand, those civilians are told to leave these areas, go to the safe areas. Some of those don't want some of them don't want to do it. Some others want to do it. But Hamas is limiting their their moveability. So not everyone is moving. But we are seeing just as we saw a great influx of people from north to south, also an influx of people eventually moving from their homes in Khan Yunus, understanding this is an area which is dangerous for them. And while this is all unfolding, Jonathan, the president of the International Red Cross is now in Gaza. Mariana Spoliarek is repeating the urgent call for civilians to be protected, also saying that all hostages must be released. Talk us through the significance of her visit at this juncture 59 days into the war. One of the biggest demands of Israel was for representatives of the Red Cross to visit its hostages. We don't know the situation of the hostages. We don't even know for sure who's alive and who's dead. Certainly not their medical condition. The best way to do it when when dealing with normal civilized people is through visits of the Red Cross. Hamas, to my opinion, does not go under the definition of normal and civilized people or organization. Therefore, they're not allowing the Red Cross to visit. One of the aims of this visit is to possibly facilitate such visits from the Red Cross to the Israeli hostages in Gaza. For the moment, that has not happened. Thank you so much. We will be coming back to our senior defense correspondent Jonathan Regev in Storot in southern Israel for regular updates. Thank you, Jonathan. And now for more insight, we welcome to studio Brigadier General in the reserves Israel Relik Shafir, former commander in the Tel North Air Force Base and former combat pilot in the Israeli Air Force. Thank you so much for being here in studio. So we've heard the developments in the north, in the south and inside Gaza. As we speak, I'd like your take on the plight of the hostages that remain in captivity right now, the nation waiting for word, the families demanding action as well. What does it mean for the fighting that is underway right now when Israel has to make sure that those hostages who are alive stay that way as the fighting continues? I think the formation of the idea that they can be safe at all times means that we have information, either we have information where they are, which is we don't know, and or else refrain from hitting any targets where they may be harbored, so to speak. So I would think that this is a claim or a wish that can't be fulfilled. What can be fulfilled is when there is information showing their movements or their whereabouts, refrain from direct heavy fire in that area. Otherwise, the Hamas has the incentive to move them around all the time to kind of hide their whereabouts and sometimes show them and sometimes not. So this is a game that if we play by the rules that we do not hit, they'll be moved around all the time. And that is something that we have to take into account. So luckily, we don't have here in the studio, and I hope the Hamas do not either, all the information that Israel has on their whereabouts. But expecting that none of them will be hit during the campaign, the ongoing campaign, is something that really does not hold. But we can hope that their safety would remain central in the decisions that the military makes on which targets to hit first and which to delay. We were talking a little bit earlier on in the broadcast about the president of the Red Cross finally being here inside Gaza and talking about not only the need for civilians to be protected while the fighting continues, but also for the hostages to be released. It seems abominable to many that the Red Cross has not been able to get access to the hostages that are still in captivity. Do you think that with a visit like this right now, that could change and it could change soon? No. The Red Cross works whatever they have, and their ability to leverage power is limited to the wish of the sides who are fighting. So it's like visiting a place where you're not welcome. They won't be let in if they're not welcomed. So I'm afraid our demand or our wish that the Red Cross apply leverage is not in their game. They don't do things like that. They can ask for, they can put some kind of pressure, but Hamas has no interest in lifting the veil of the mist of where our hostages are. So I don't think we should expect soon that the Red Cross will get to see them. Couldn't Qatar put maximum pressure on the players that you are discussing right now to say it's time now that some kind of access is made available so the Red Cross can get medicines to the hostages or at least give proof of life at this stage. Perhaps we can put pressure on Qatar, but we're expecting too much humanity from Hamas and from Qatar. We are in war and in war, unfortunately, you can't get everything you want. And this is one of the, I would say, heartbreaking parts where we have to bite the bullet on this one and understand what is possible, what isn't. Qatar on the one hand are the players who are bringing in the hostages. So how much pressure can we put on them? They're not a fair bargaining partner. They're there and they're friends with Hamas. That's the name of the game. So I'm afraid our wishes, we should maybe control our wishes and remain a little more, I would say, realistic. Realistic and with a long breath, even though it's really hard on this one. It certainly is very hard indeed. And as you say, Qatar has a very interesting role, particularly given that they are hosting some of the top Hamas leaders in luxury, as we understand it, as we speak. But let's talk about what you alluded to. This is a war right now. Fighting is unfolding as we speak right now. And Khan Yunus is the next bastion, so to speak, of the fighting. And Khan Yunus is significant for a range of reasons. Talk to us about what is believed to be in the tunnels there in Khan Yunus as this fighting unfolds, as we speak right now inside Southern Gaza. Obviously Hamas, we're aware that we will go before war comes about. And they certainly knew that Israel would go in. And that they would stay in the Khan Yunus area, which is also close to Rafa crossing, where they get their weapons and munitions and food have been doing that for quite a while. So that is the center and the epicenter, so to speak, of the Hamas infrastructure and warriors. The fact that so many civilians have gone down south makes it even more difficult to move them about and hit Hamas. So the tactic at this time would be hit the tunnels underneath with large explosives. The houses in Khan Yunus are not as tall as in Gaza. So the demolition of the houses when they're hit with bombs going to the downstairs piers would not cause as much damage. When hitting above the ground, use smaller munition and closer air support with an improved ability to work with the air force and the ground forces as has been learned in the northern part. And the way that the warriors were working together proved well in the north. Do the same in the south. Try to mitigate the number of civilians hit in order for us to be able to lengthen that war. It's a war of attrition and go house by house, pier by pier, and tunnel by tunnel. It'll take a long time. We will try to have as fewer casualties for ourselves and as fewer collateral damage incidents as possible to be able to gain the support of Europeans and Americans. Complicated operation indeed. Brigadier General in the reserves Israel Relic Shafir stay with us much more to discuss. But right now let's go to our Emily Francis. She joins us from Hostage Square in Tel Aviv and Emily so much pain and uncertainty for the families of the hostages. Some relatives are claiming they are being ignored and are even threatening to stage a sit-in outside the defense ministry. What is the latest there? What update have you got right now? Hi Benita. Yeah, that's exactly right. And we are in Hostage Square, you know, not quite as many people as in days past. I mean the last time that I was here was still in the middle of the week when hostages were being returned. So definitely a lot of deflated spirits right now because we can't forget there's still 100 and as many as 137 people still being held the hostage, including 17, you know, women and children. So the families are really angrily angry and rightly so. They don't want the rest of their loved ones to be forgotten. Think about all of the men. We've learned all about the personal stories of all the people that have been taken hostage. Let's not forget. One of them is your Dan Bebas, the father of the 3B, his wife and the two children that we don't know they're aware about. So yeah, they basically say they feel humiliated. They've been calling to meet with the work cabinet. They held a press conference. They say this is humiliating. No one, they literally, they just said they've rejected meeting us. The families held this conference. They're ignoring and humiliating us. We will not beg you if you do not have time to meet with us. We'll find another world leader to represent us in negotiations to the release of hostages in Gaza. So yes, we have heard from from the prime minister's office that they will be meeting with the members of the work cabinet tomorrow. They're saying it just takes that long to pull everybody together, but the hostage families, they're not taking it and they are going to be according to them showing up here doing a sit in at eight o'clock, bringing thermoses and sandwiches and hurrying up and waiting for this to actually come to fruition, if at all. Devastating indeed. What can only imagine what they are going through and if that meeting does in fact happen. Benjamin Netanyahu said to meet with the families tomorrow at that point these families relatives would have been in captivity for 60 days. It's unimaginable and we keep on hearing more and more testimonies about the conditions inside captivity. It really is horrific. Talk to us about the solidarity between the families. You, Emily, have spoken to so many of them. They all are saying the same thing. Keep making sure that all the hostages get home and all of them get home safely. Men, women and children. 100 percent. I mean, it is really quite remarkable the solidarity between the families because again, it's like you pick a number in a deli. It's like this is how Hamas treats all of these human beings. So the fact that of the, you know, over 100 hostages that are men, we, I spoke to the parents of, you know, one of the American hostages, you know, they are holding on to hope. I think it is somewhat refreshing that most of the hostages have come home physically unscathed. Obviously, we're not going to know the depth of the mental and psychological trauma. I mean, we know from the testimonies of some of those released that, you know, children were forced to look at videos of the massacre on October 7th. So there is still a lot that we don't know about the lingering and lasting effects. But again, the families have each other's backs and they're not going to, they're not going to give up until all of the hostages are home. And now it's up to the government to sit down and meet with them and give them the due that they deserve. Emily Francis, live from Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, more to come from Emily in the coming hours. Thank you so much. And still in studio, Brigadier General in the Reserves, Israel, Relek Shafir. And you have been involved in fighting and wars in this country for many, many years. What do you make of these reports as Emily was outlining the conditions in captivity? Scary to think that children separated from their parents. Scary to think that children were made to look at videos of the carnage that unfolded on the 7th of October, sleeping on plastic chairs, running out of food. Your thoughts on the reports so far? I think this is a sad and heartbreaking part of the war of people who shouldn't be part of that war. And we're forced into it just like Boko Haram did in Nigeria at the time and it's unspeakable. That's on the one hand. On the other hand, this is war. And you got to read the Bible and read history to know that manipulating civilians is part of the war. Though it is heartbreaking, we must stay resolute in fighting on the one hand and doing the utmost. Unfortunately, the government, this particular government has not treated the families in a way that they deserve and therefore their anger is warranted. Let's hope that the top ministers in the Prime Minister will address this. And let's hope that there are answers and there are answers soon. Brigadier General in the Reserves, Israel Relic Shafirah. Thank you so much for your insight. Appreciate you being here in studio. Now scores of people across the country are supporting communities impacted by the war and have been doing so for more than eight weeks now. Groups of volunteers are today helping farmers in the coastal Israeli village of Rishpon, including representatives of Taiwan in Israel. Our correspondent Orisha Perer has more in this report. More than 8,000 kilometers separates Israel and Taiwan, but today it seems that the two countries are closer than ever. Officials from Taiwan have decided to join the current Israeli war effort and volunteered to work in the fields of the coastal village of Rishpon. Since the whole world looked at October 7th, Hamas terrorists in Harro, Taiwan was one of the first countries to express our solidarity with Israel and express our condolence to the perished people. And the political support is very strong. And over the past 30 years, the social foundation between the two societies and people are also very deep rooted. So we feel it's important to come more support with the civilian sectors, including agricultural sectors. This is a part of a project led by Hashomer Hadas for the new guard an Israeli organization which helps farmers across the country. Its co-founder says that walking in the field is a prime goal in Israel today, as there is a lack of tens of thousands of workers. The power of this nation, the power of the people, the power of the society inside Israel, this is the strongest power that we have. And to tell you the truth, I spoke with the Minister of Education and I told him, please let the students come to the field for a few months to the field, stop the learning and come to the field and work because people all over Israel need to eat. Among the volunteers, we found Yanir and Maayan, two students and a couple who decided to take time off university and contribute to local industry. It's a tough job, but it is very rewarding. Exactly. It is nice to see the container getting full of fruit. I think that working in the field really binds us as a couple. Yes. The Taiwanese representative in Israel says that despite the different cultures, Israel and Taiwan have a lot in common. Like Israel, Taiwan has been under constant threat from our neighbor country, China. We understand the commitment to defend the homeland and we understand the commitment to exercise the right of our defense. Despite the hot weather, volunteers are not worried by the hard work and continue their contribution, one of many since October 7th. So many volunteer groups around the country working so hard to make a difference, it certainly is uplifting to see. And with that, we wrap up this edition of our breaking news coverage. I'm Benita Levine. Our rolling coverage continues shortly. Back in a bit. Stay tuned. This is I-24 News. Is in a state of war, families completely done down in their beds. We have no idea where is she as our soldiers are fighting on the front line, but the general perception is something that certainly needs to to be fought as well. News edition, I'm Benita Levine. Another major rocket barrage towards Israeli cities in recent hours, red alert sirens sounding in parts of central Israel and its some border communities in the south, plus earlier in the north, too close to the Lebanon border, day 59 of the war. And the president of the international Red Cross is in Gaza, as 137 hostages remain in captivity held by terrorists for more than eight weeks now. Marianas Bojaric taking to social media to repeat their urgent call for civilians to be protected in line with the laws of war and for aid to enter unimpeded. She also says the hostages must be released and the Red Cross must be allowed to visit them safely. Families of the hostages abducted during the Hamas terror onslaught on the 7th of October have lambasted the Red Cross for not yet getting access to them as more testimonies emerge about the conditions in captivity. Meanwhile, thousands of mourners, including senior military officers, have attended the funeral of the commander of the Gaza Division, Southern Brigade Colonel Asaf Hamami, one of the most senior officers to fall on the 7th of October. Defense Minister Joav Galant saying the 41-year-old Colonel had led his troops valiantly on the day of the terrorist massacre. Now for the latest on the ground, let's start in the north. We cross to our correspondent Pia Steckelbach and she joins us from northern Israel. Pia Siren sounding in northern Israeli border towns in recent hours in the afternoon local time. The IDF saying fighter jets and drones had carried out strikes against Hezbollah command center and other sites earlier. What is the latest update? What can you tell us? Right Benita, well we do know that the Israeli military has been targeting Hezbollah targets in Lebanon specifically. Your right to mention Israeli fighter jets and also unmanned aircraft were targeting Hezbollah operational targets such as command centers and infrastructure. And that was right after Siren sounded specifically in two border communities, Stula and Matat, very, very close to the Lebanese border that was about two hours ago. And that is not the first time that we have seen fire coming into northern Israel from southern Lebanon today. There were a number of launches attributed to Hezbollah. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a number of them also targeting the very eastern part of the Israel-Lebanon border, the contested Haldov region and also Miskaam. Now it seems like we're back to normal to the routine that we had before the ceasefire. We have experienced some calm during the ceasefire with Gaza. Now it seems like the skirmishes, those regular skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah, Hezbollah firing into northern Israel, the Israeli Air Force reacting to that. It seems like those skirmishes are back now. Today no casualties were reported, but we saw yesterday that in an anti-tank missile attack on the Kibbutz of Betilel, 11 Israelis were injured among them also soldiers, 11 Israelis, 10 men, one women. They were also hospitalized there. So that really shows you how volatile the situation is and what kind of danger these northern communities are facing. Many of them are still evacuated as it was protocol communities as close as five kilometers to the Lebanese border were called upon to evacuate. Now we can assume that some of those residents went back during the ceasefire checking on their homes and might have even stayed there, but this is still the protocol that this area specifically in a proximity of five kilometers to the Lebanese border is deemed dangerous and not safe for civilian movement, Benita. So briefly just talk us through the concerns by those communities who are waiting to see when they can go back about the possibility of Hassan Nasrallah and by extension Iran ramping up their role in the war in the coming days and weeks. Well, Benita we've been speaking about whether Hezbollah is going to join this war or not for a very long time basically since the beginning. Hassan Nasrallah has always said and also other voices coming out of Lebanon representing Hezbollah that they will make their full participation in this war dependent on what is happening in Gaza. Now the ceasefire was a very good example for the fact that they really do look at what is going on in Gaza because we've experienced calm from the Lebanese side. Now that we're back to the war with Gaza the question is what is going to happen and it is very, very unpredictable and I'm not sure Hezbollah itself knows how it is going to react in the next days and weeks to follow. Live from Northern Israel thank you so much correspondent Pia Stegelbach. Thank you Pia. And now in his latest briefing the IDF spokesperson Daniel Higari reiterating Israel's goals on day 59 in this war. Let's take a listen. We're now pursuing Hamas in southern Gaza too. We will operate in maximum force against Hamas terrorists and infrastructures while minimizing harm to the civilian that Hamas places around them as shields. We're pursuing Hamas wherever Hamas is hiding in the north and in the south. Every rocket launcher, weapons depot, command and control center, senior commander, underground infrastructure and any hideout where our hostages may be held. Our war is against Hamas not against the people of Gaza. So for the latest let's go to the south. Our senior defense correspondent Jonathan Regev joins us from Storot. So we just heard there Daniel Higari reiterating the goals for the IDF right now. Earlier on in the afternoon local time red alert siren sounding in several parts of the south bring us up to speed on the latest developments right now. That is true. First from the place where we are the city of Storot we're hearing very heavy artillery all the time pounding on Gaza. On the other hand sirens sounded in various communities along the Gaza border and also here in Storot a little more than an hour ago. This is this is as far as here. There were also sirens in the city of Ashkelon which is a little bit to the northwest of us and there were also sirens sounding in central Israel earlier on the city of Petah Tikva even a little bit to the east of Tel Aviv. So still a lot of activity all over the Gaza Strip not only the southern part which was mentioned by the IDF spokesperson but also in the northern part of the Gaza Strip which is right behind us neighborhoods such as Jabalia for example which is right behind us pounded by artillery all the time. This is a situation here happening on the ground. And Jonathan we also know that dozens of tanks have been approaching Khan Yunus and at the same time as we just heard there from Daniel Higari we know that Israel is under pressure to limit civilian deaths as it continues with its goal to eliminate Hamas talk us through those efforts right now. The efforts are to concentrate as much as as many civilians possible in areas that will be regarded by Israel as safe zones areas where Israel will not attack closer to the sea for example the an area called Mawasi which is there just to the west of Khan Yunus. The city itself is known to be a strong hold for Hamas above and under the ground therefore Israel needs to operate there Israel has to operate there and in order to do that on one hand and meaning my civilian casualties on the other hand those civilians are told to leave these areas go to the safe areas some of those don't want some of them don't want to do it some others want to do it but Hamas is limiting their their moveability so not everyone is moving but we are seeing just as we saw a great influx of people from north to south also an influx of people eventually moving from their homes in Khan Yunus understanding this is an area which is dangerous for them. And while this is all unfolding Jonathan the president of the international Red Cross is now in Gaza Mariana Spoliarek is repeating the urgent call for civilians to be protected also saying that all hostages must be released talk us through the significance of her visit at this juncture 59 days into the war. One of the biggest demands of Israel was for representatives of the Red Cross to visit its hostages we don't know the situation of the hostages we don't we don't even know for sure who's alive and who's dead and certainly not their medical condition and the best way to do it and when when dealing with normal and civilized people is through visits of the Red Cross Hamas to my opinion does not go under the definition of normal and civilized people or organization therefore they're not allowing the Red Cross to visit one of the aims of this visit is to possibly facilitate such visits from the Red Cross to the Israeli hostages in Gaza for the moment that has not happened. Thank you so much we will be coming back to our senior defense correspondent Jonathan Regev in Storot in southern Israel for regular updates thank you Jonathan and now for more insight we welcome to studio Brigadier General in the reserves Israel Relik Shafir former commander in the Tel North Air Force Base and former combat pilot in the Israeli Air Force thank you so much for being here in studio so we've heard the developments in the north in the south and inside Gaza as we speak I'd like your take on the plight of the hostages that remain in captivity right now the nation waiting for word the families demanding action as well what does it mean for the fighting that is underway right now when Israel has to make sure that those hostages who are alive stay that way as the fighting continues I think the formation of the idea that they can be safe at all times means that we have information either we have information where they are which is we don't know and or else refrain from hitting any targets where they may be harbored so to speak so I would think that this is a claim or a wish that can't be fulfilled what can be fulfilled is when there's information showing their movements or their whereabouts refrain from direct heavy fire in that area otherwise the Hamas has the incentive to move them around all the time to kind of hide their whereabouts and sometimes show them and sometimes not so this is a game that if we play by the rules that we do not hit they'll be moved around all the time and that is something that we have to take into account so luckily we don't have here in the studio and I hope the Hamas do not either all the information that hit Israel has on their whereabouts but expecting that none of them will be hit during the campaign the ongoing campaign is something that really does not hold but we can hope that their safety would be would remain central in the decisions that the military makes on which targets to hit first and which to delay we were talking a little bit earlier on in the broadcast about the president of the Red Cross finally being here inside Gaza and talking about not only the need for civilians to be protected while the fighting continues but also for the hostages to be released it seems abominable to many that the Red Cross has not been able to get access to the hostages that are still in captivity do you think that with a visit like this right now that could change and it could change soon no the Red Cross works whatever whatever they have and their ability to leverage power is limited to the wish of the sides who are fighting so they're it's like visiting a place where you're not welcomed they won't be let in if they're not welcomed so I'm afraid our demand or our wish that the Red Cross apply leverage is not in their game they don't do things like that they can ask for they can put some kind of pressure but Hamas has no interest in lifting the veil of the mist of where our hostages are so I don't think we should expect soon that the Red Cross will get to see them couldn't Qatar put maximum pressure on the players that you are discussing right now to say it's time now that some kind of access is made available so the Red Cross can get medicines to the hostages or at least give proof of life at this stage perhaps we can put pressure on on Qatar but we're expecting too much humanity from Hamas and from Qatar we are at war and in war unfortunately you can't get everything you want and this is one of the I would say heartbreaking parts where we have to bite the bullet on this one and understand what is possible what isn't Qatar on the one hand are the players who are bringing in the hostages so how much pressure can we put on them they're not a fair bargaining partner they're there and they are friends with Hamas that's the name of the game so I'm afraid our wishes we should maybe control our wishes and remain a little more I would say realistic realistic and and with a long breath even though it's really hard on this one it certainly is very hard indeed and as you say Qatar has a very interesting role particularly given that they are hosting some of the top Hamas leaders in luxury as we understand it as we speak but let's talk about what you alluded to this is a war right now fighting is unfolding as we speak right now and Khan Yunus is the next bastion so to speak of the fighting and Khan Yunus is significant for a range of reasons talk to us about what is believed to be in the tunnels there in Khan Yunus as this fighting unfolds as we speak right now inside southern Gaza obviously Hamas we're aware that we will go before war comes about and they certainly knew that Israel would go in and that they would stay in the Han Yudhis area which is also close to Rafa crossing where they get their weapons and munitions and food have been doing that for quite a while so that is the center and the epicenter so to speak of the Hamas infrastructure and warriors the fact that so many civilians have gone down south makes it even more difficult to move them about and hit Hamas so the tactic at this time would be hit the tunnels underneath with large explosives the houses in Han Yunus are not as tall as in Gaza so the demolition of the houses when they're hit with bombs going to the downstairs piers would not cause as much damage when hitting above the ground use smaller munitions and closer air support with an improved ability to work with the air force and the ground forces as has been learned in the northern part and the way that the warriors were working together proved well in the north do the same in the south try to mitigate the number of civilians hit in order for us to be able to lengthen that war it's a war of attrition and go house by house pier by pier and tunnel by tunnel it'll take a long time we will try to have as fewer casualties for ourselves and as fewer collateral damage incidents as possible to be able to gain the support of Europeans and Americans complicated operation indeed Brigadier General in the reserves Israel Relics of fear stay with us much more to discuss but right now let's go to our Emily Francis she joins us from hostage square in Tel Aviv and Emily so much pain and uncertainty for the families of the hostages some relatives are claiming they are being ignored and are even threatening to stage a sit-in outside the defense ministry what is the latest there what update have you got right now hi bonita yeah that's exactly right and we are in hostage square you know not quite as many people as in days past I mean the last time that I was here was still in the middle of the week when hostages were being returned so definitely a lot of deflated spirits right now because we can't forget there's still 100 and as many as 137 people still being held hostage including 17 you know women and children so the families are really angrily angry and rightly so they don't want the rest of their loved ones to be forgotten think about all of the men we've learned all about the personal stories of all the people that have been taken hostage let's not forget one of them is your den bebes the father of the 3b but his wife and the two children that we don't know their whereabouts so yeah they basically say they feel humiliated they've been calling to meet with the work cabinet they they held a press conference they say this is humiliating no one they literally they just said they've rejected meeting us the families held this conference they're ignoring and humiliating us we will not beg you if you do not have time to meet with us we'll find another world leader to represent us in negotiations to the release of hostages in Gaza so yes we have heard from from the prime minister's office that they will be meeting with the members of the work cabinet tomorrow they're saying it just takes that long to pull everybody together but the hostage families they're not taking it and they are going to be according to them showing up here doing a sit-in at eight o'clock bringing thermoses and sandwiches and and hurrying up and waiting for this to actually come to fruition if at all devastating indeed what can only imagine what they are going through and if that meeting does in fact happen Benjamin Netanyahu said to meet with the families tomorrow at that point these families relatives would have been in captivity for 60 days it's unimaginable and we keep on hearing more and more testimonies about the conditions inside captivity it really is horrific talk to us about the solidarity between the families you Emily have spoken to so many of them they all are saying the same thing keep making sure that all the hostages get home and all of them get home safely men women and children a hundred percent I mean it is really quite remarkable the solidarity between the families because again it's like you pick a number in a deli it's like this is how Hamas treats all of these human beings so the fact that of the you know over a hundred hostages that are men we I spoke to the parents of you know one of the American hostages you know they are holding on to hope I think it is somewhat refreshing that most of the hostages have come home physically unscathed obviously we're not going to know the depth of the mental and psychological trauma I mean we know from the testimonies of some of those released that you know children were forced to look at videos of the massacre on October 7th so there is still a lot that we don't know about the lingering and lasting effects but again the families have each other's backs and they're not gonna they're not gonna give up until all of the hostages are home and now it's up to the government to sit down and meet with them and give them the due that they deserve Emily Francis live from hostage square in Tel Aviv more to come from Emily in the coming hours thank you so much and still in studio Brigadier General in the reserves Israel Relec Shaffir and you have been involved in fighting and wars in this country for many many years what do you make of these reports as Emily was outlining the conditions in captivity scary to think that children separated from their parents scary to think that children were made to look at videos of the carnage that unfolded on the 7th of October sleeping on plastic chairs running out of food your thoughts on the report so far I think this is a sad and heartbreaking part of the war of people who shouldn't be part of that war and were forced into it just like Boko Haram did in Nigeria at the time and it's it's unspeakable that's on the one hand on the other hand this is war and you got to read the bible and read history to know that manipulating civilians is part of the war though it is heartbreaking we must stay resolute in fighting on the one hand and doing the utmost unfortunately the government this particular government has not treated the families in a way that they deserve and therefore their anger is warranted let's hope that the top ministers and the prime minister will address this and let's hope that there are answers and there are answers soon Brigadier General in the reserves Israel Relic Shaffir thank you so much for your insight I appreciate you being here in studio now scores of people across the country are supporting communities impacted by the war and have been doing so for more than eight weeks now groups of volunteers are today helping farmers in the coastal israeli village of rich pwn including representatives of taiwan in israel our correspondent orisha pera has more in this report more than 8 000 kilometers separates israel and taiwan but today it seems that the two countries are closer than ever officials from taiwan have decided to join the current israeli war effort and volunteered to work in the fields of the coastal village of rich pwn since the whole world looked at october 7th hamas terrorism harrow taiwan was one of the first countries to express our solidarity with israel and express our condolence to the perished people and the political support is very strong and over the past 30 years the social foundation between the two societies and people are also very deep rooted so uh we feel it's important to come more support with the civilian sectors including agricultural sectors this is a part of a project led by hashomer hadash for the new guard an israeli organization which helps farmers across the country its co-founder says that walking in the field is a prime goal in israel today as there is a lack of tens of thousands of workers the power of this nation the power of the people the power of the society inside israel this is the this is the strongest power that we have and to tell you the truth i spoke with the ministry of education and i told him please let the students come to the field for a few months to the field start the learning and come to the field and work because people all over israel need to eat among the volunteers we found yanir and mayan two students and a couple who decided to take time off university and contribute to local industry it's a tough job but it is very rewarding exactly it is nice to see the container getting full of fruit i think that working in the field really binds us as a couple yes the taiwanese representative in israel says that despite the different cultures israel and taiwan have a lot in common like israel taiwan has been under constant threat from our neighbor country china we understand the commitment to defend the homeland and we understand the commitment to exercise the right of a different despite the hot weather volunteers are not worried by the hard work and continue their contribution one of many since october 7 so many volunteer groups around the country working so hard to make a difference it certainly is uplifting to see and with that we wrap up this edition of our breaking news coverage i'm benita levin our rolling coverage continues shortly back in a bit stay tuned this is