Pressure mounts to scale back war as Gaza death toll nears 20,000

Democratic lawmakers who served in uniform and in the CIA urge Biden to push Israel to change course in Gaza

A number of Democratic lawmakers who served in the military and in the CIA say Israel’s tactics in the Gaza Strip are endangering efforts to defeat Hamas militants and called on President Joe Biden to use “all our leverage” to secure an immediate shift in Israel’s approach.

In a letter sent Monday to Biden, the House members said they were “deeply concerned” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s current military strategy in Gaza.

“The mounting civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis are unacceptable and not in line with American interests; nor do they advance the cause of security for our ally, Israel,” the group wrote.

“We also believe it jeopardizes efforts to destroy the terrorist organization Hamas and secure the release of all hostages,” the letter said.

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French Foreign Ministry staffer killed in Rafah bombing

PARIS — An employee for France’s Foreign Ministry died after being injured in an Israeli bombing of a home in Rafah, southern Gaza, that killed 10 others last week, according to a statement from the ministry.

“He had taken refuge in the house of one of his colleagues from the French Consulate General, together with two other colleagues and many members of their families, among others,” the statement said.

The employee was not identified by name, but the statement said he had been working for the country since 2022. The ministry extended its condolences to the family, adding, “We all mourn their loss.” His family members were able to leave Gaza during evacuations under arrangements made by the ministry.

“France condemns this bombing of a residential building which killed many other civilians,” the ministry said. “We demand that the Israeli authorities shed full light on the circumstances of this bombing as quickly as possible.”

Hamas says Gaza attacks must stop before any hostage negotiations

Hamas leaders said today during a news conference in Beirut that they will not negotiate hostage releases until Israel stops its attacks on Gaza.

But Hamas official Osama Hamdan also said the group was “open” to initiatives that come from Qatar and Egypt that are aimed at ending the war.

He accused Israel of wanting to make Gaza uninhabitable, but that Israel has failed because people remain, saying “an illusion of displacement is derived from the culture built by the occupying state.”

The United Nations estimates 80% of the civilian population has been internally displaced and that at least half are starving.

‘We need to learn our lessons’: IDF on mistakenly killing 3 hostages

Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said on MSNBC that the Israel Defense Forces have “a lot to learn” after becoming known that soldiers mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages who were reportedly screaming and holding a white flag.

“We do not shoot people with white flags … Even if they are people from Gaza,” he said. “Even if they are Hamas terrorists that would have laid down their weapons and surrendered.”

Austin discusses pathways for both Israelis and Palestinians following war

The U.S. remains steadfast in its belief that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas, Austin said today, but it is also looking to ensure the future stability for both Palestinians and Israelis in the region.

“I discussed pathways today toward a future for Gaza after Hamas based upon the clear principles laid down last month by my friend, Secretary Blinken, Israelis and Palestinians both deserve a horizon of hope,” Austin said during a a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

The four-star general said that he reiterated the need to protect innocent Palestinian lives in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, noting the uptick in settler violence against Palestinians. Austin said that the “ongoing instability and insecurity” only help Hamas, which it said committed an act of “pure evil” on Oct. 7.

“Hamas does not speak for the Palestinian people,” Austin said. “And Hamas is determined to doom both Israelis and Palestinians to an unending cycle of suffering and strife.”

201 trucks of humanitarian aid entered Gaza yesterday, Israel says

More than 200 trucks of humanitarian aid were inspected and entered the Gaza Strip yesterday, Israel’s government spokesperson Tal Heinrich said.

Heinrich said in a daily briefing today that 122 trucks entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing and 79 trucks through the Kerem Shalom crossing that began operating yesterday.

He added that Israel could inspect more trucks in a day and it is international aid organizations and the U.N. “who should keep up with the pace.”

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim attacks on 2 ships in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for attacks on two ships, the Swan Atlantic and the MSC Clara, in the Red Sea, saying in a statement on Telegram that the vessels were targeted by seaplanes.

The owner of Swan Atlantic had told NBC News earlier that the ship had sustained “limited damage,” but that no injuries were reported and that the U.S. Navy had assisted the vessel.

The Iran-backed militia said it will “continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports of any nationality from navigating in the Arabian and Red Seas until they bring in the food and medicine that our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip need.”

IDF announces deaths of five soldiers

Four soldiers were killed in combat in southern Gaza today, the IDF said in a statement on X. It later released the name of another soldier killed yesterday in northern Gaza.

Sgt. Maj. Lidor Yosef Karavani, 23, was among the dead, along with Urija Bayer, 20; Liav Aloush, 21; Etan Naeh, 26; Tal Filiba, 23, the post said.

“The IDF expresses its deepest condolences to the families and will continue to stand by them,” it added.

More than 100 people killed in the Jabalia refugee camp, Palestinian officials say

More than 100 people have been killed and dozens more were injured by strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp, the Palestinian Information Ministry said in a Telegram post today, citing medical sources.

“Dozens of citizens, including children and women were martyred and injured since dawn on Monday” the statement said, adding that the war had killed about 19,000 people.

The ministry added that Israeli forces bombed a building at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, killing 26.

NBC News was not able to verify the information.

‘Far too many civilians’ have been killed in Gaza, E.U.’s foreign policy chief says

“Far too many civilians” have been killed in Gaza, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said today on X.

“Certainly, we are witnessing an appalling lack of distinction in Israel’s military operation in Gaza,” he said in a statement on X. “This must stop — a humanitarian pause is urgently needed,” he added.

Egyptian president wins third term in office

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has secured a third six-year term, sweeping up 89.6% of the votes, the National Election Authority said today.

He faced little opposition, winning more than 39 million of the 44.3 million votes available.

His re-election comes as Egypt is facing an economic crisis at home and neighboring Gaza is in crisis following the Israeli invasion.

Evergreen suspends Israeli imports and exports due to ‘safety considerations’

Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen will temporarily suspend its import and export service with Israel “due to rising risk and safety considerations,” a spokesperson told NBC News today.

The decision comes after several ships have been attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, which the militants say they have carried out to support to the people of Gaza.

Protesters in Tel Aviv demand government action on Hamas hostages

Protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv today, to demand Israel’s government do more to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Many wanted negotiations for the hostages’ release to restart.

U.S. Navy assists ship in Red Sea after it was hit by ‘unidentified object’

A ship carrying biofuel feedstock was hit by an “unidentified object” today before it was assisted by U.S. Navy, the vessel’s owner, Inventor Chemical Tankers, said in a statement today.

The crew aboard the MT Swan Atlantic was “assisted by the U.S. navy and will be brought to safety under protection by naval forces,” the company said.

The vessel had departed from France and was moving to Reunion Island, and had reported only “limited damage,” it said, adding no injuries were reported.

Ultranationalist Israeli minister vows ‘to distribute as many weapons as possible’

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir “will continue to distribute as many weapons as possible” to eligible Israelis, he said in a post on X today.

“No political campaign will deter me,” the ultranationalist minister said, citing the example of Yaron Maor, a resident of kibbutz Nir Oz.

Ben-Gvir said as Hamas attacked the kibbutz Oct. 7, Maor was able to protect his family with his personal weapon before security forces rescued them.

“Please, do not turn the granting of gun licenses into a political issue, he saved me, and hundreds more like me,” Ben-Gvir added.

BP halts all transits through Red Sea because of ‘deteriorating security situation’

British energy giant BP has suspended all transits through the Red Sea “in light of the deteriorating security situation for shipping,” a spokesperson told NBC News today in an emailed statement.

“We will keep this precautionary pause under ongoing review, subject to circumstances as they evolve in the region,” the spokesperson added.

The decision comes after several vessels in the Red Sea were attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in recent weeks.

The Iran-backed militia has said it carried out the attacks to support the people of Gaza.

CIA director meets with Israeli and Qatari officials in Warsaw

Andrea Mitchell

WASHINGTON — CIA Director William Burns is meeting with Israeli and Qatari officials in the Polish capital today, a U.S. official told NBC News.

The aim is to restart talks about hostages and a humanitarian pause, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Outrage over mistaken hostage killing makes front page news in Israel

TEL AVIV — The mistaken killing of three escaped hostages over the weekend dominated the news in Israel today, with newspapers and websites showing images of the trio.

The popular news site Ynet ran the headline “Help, 3 hostages” with the photo of the pictures of the signs that Samer Talalka, Alon Shamriz and Yotam Haim made from scraps of food in hopes of being saved.

The newspaper Haaretz also reported that Shamriz’s father, Avi, demanded to see documentation about the incident.

“They did everything right — took their shirts off, hung a white flag and marched in broad daylight in the middle of the street and shouted for help, but in our army they don’t know how to follow the rules of engagement,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.

“Even if it’s a terrorist, why shoot him like that? He was naked, unarmed, and even if it’s a terrorist — why not shoot him in the legs? This is against all the rules taught by the IDF.”

WHO ‘appalled by the effective destruction’ of hospital

The World Health Organization is “appalled by the effective destruction” of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, its director-general said in a post on X yesterday.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at least eight patients had died, including “a 9-year-old child.” He added that “several died due to lack of adequate health care.”

“Many health workers were reportedly detained, and WHO and partners are urgently seeking information on their status,” he said.

The Israel Defense Forces pulled out of the hospital after an operation lasting several days. The IDF said it had been used as a command and control center by Hamas.

Health officials and Hamas have denied those claims. NBC News has not independently verified the IDF’s claims.

Woman wounded in West Bank shooting

A woman was shot in the West Bank today, according to the Magen David Adom paramedic service.

In a post on X, the service said that the woman was in a “moderate condition with a gunshot wound” and was being taken to a hospital in Jerusalem.

The post added that a man and an infant in the car were not hurt.

Hezbollah has been increasing attacks against Israel, IDF says

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been “increasing its attacks against Israel,” since Hamas launched its attacks Oct. 7, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said in a statement today.

Hezbollah has been “firing rockets, missiles and drones; killing Israeli civilians and soldiers; and displacing over 80,000 Israelis from their homes in the north,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said, adding that the IDF would continue to fulfill its duty until an effective solution is in place.

Hagari added that the Iran-backed militant group was dragging Lebanon into an unnecessary war.

“Until and unless a diplomatic solution is found and implemented: We will continue making the necessary preparations to remove the threat from our border,” he said.

Man carries injured child into Khan Younis hospital

Max Butterworth

A Palestinian man was surrounded by reporters as he carried an injured child into Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Former British defense secretary warns Israel over Gaza ‘killing rage’

By using disproportionate force, Israel risks losing its legal and moral authority for its war in Gaza, according to Britain’s former defense secretary.

“Going after Hamas is legitimate; obliterating vast swathes of Gaza is not,” Ben Wallace wrote in the British newspaper The Telegraph yesterday. Collective punishment and forced movement of civilians is not legal, he added.

While he did not call for a cease-fire, Wallace, a senior lawmaker with the United Kingdom’s ruling Conservative Party, said that Israel should “stop this crude and indiscriminate method of attack.”

The tactics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would “fuel the conflict for another 50 years,” he said, and that “his actions are radicalizing Muslim youth across the globe.”

Starvation being used as a weapon of war in Gaza, Human Rights Watch says

The starvation of civilians in Gaza is being used by Israel as a weapon of war, Human Rights Watch said in a statement today.

Israeli forces have deliberately blocked water, food, and fuel from entering the Gaza Strip and made it more difficult for humanitarian assistance to be accessed by civilians, the statement said.

“For over two months, Israel has been depriving Gaza’s population of food and water, a policy spurred on or endorsed by high-ranking Israeli officials and reflecting an intent to starve civilians as a method of warfare,” Omar Shakir, HRW’s Israel and Palestine director, said in the statement.

NBC News has approached the Israel Defense Forces for comment.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin touches down in Israel for talks

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has touched down in Tel Aviv, he said today on X.

He added that he would reiterate the U.S.’ commitment to Israel while underscoring the need to “protect civilians from harm” in Gaza, while ensuring that humanitarian aid is allowed into the Gaza Strip.

IDF shares image of hostage white flag

Max Butterworth

The Israel Defense Forces released an image of a white sheet found near the scene of a deadly shooting which reads “help! 3 hostages” written using food products in this handout image provided yesterday.

Bomb threat made to New Jersey school, law enforcement official says

Educational facilities operated by New Jersey’s Barnert Temple were the subject of a threat today, a law enforcement official said.

“I can confirm that there was a hoax bomb threat there, but I don’t have any additional information to provide,” Elizabeth Rebein, spokesperson for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, said by email.

It was one of several Jewish institutions targeted by email threats this weekend, authorities said. So far, none of threats, which mostly involved claims of bomb placement, have been considered credible.

Leaders of the Franklin Lakes temple, established in 1847 and now dedicated to Reform Judaism, say its congregation is the oldest in the state. It has a preschool, hosts classes for students in grades K-12, and produces online courses for adults.