Fears for hostages grow as Gaza pounded by strikes

Families desperately seek relatives taken hostage

Israeli families are waiting in agony for word about the safety of their loved ones taken hostage by Hamas, as the militant organization said it will execute hostages if Israel’s strikes on Gaza continue.

Yoni Asher, whose wife, Doron, and two young daughters, Raz and Aviv, ages 3 and 5, and mother-in-law were taken hostage by Hamas militants Saturday, told NBC News’ Raf Sanchez he wishes he could take their place.

“I’m ready to get killed right now for their lives. They can take me for as long as they want,” he said.

Abbey Onn, an American living in Israel, said five members of her family were kidnapped by Hamas and she saw video of her 12-year-old cousin being taken captive.

“It’s something no parent, no human can ever imagine,” she said.

The Israel Defense Forces estimates up to 150 people have been taken hostage, and the families of 50 abducted individuals have been informed.

Oct. 10, 202302:22

The mother of a 6-month-old girl is missing, feared kidnapped — the community has rallied with milk supplies

TEL AVIV — A neighborhood has come together to donate milk after the mother of a 6-month-old baby was believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas militants on Saturday.

Ido Nagar, 33, said his wife, Celine Ben David Nagar, 32, was driving south from their home in Holon, south of Tel Aviv, with two friends on Saturday when she called to say she could hear rocket-warning sirens and would try to turn back to get to a shelter. The last thing she told him was that turning back may have been a mistake — “soldiers are coming,” she said.

Later, her car was found with two bullet holes in the door, its windows smashed, with a small amount of blood outside the vehicle. “I’m assuming that they were taken by Hamas,” Ido Nagar told NBC News.

Since Saturday Nagar said his family has been flooded with support from neighbors, with many dropping off enough milk for the couple’s baby, Ellie, to fill a whole fridge. “My wife has a lot of friends, a lot of supporters … and I really hope that we get her back.”

“She’s the love of my life. She was perfect,” he said. “We had such a perfect… we have such a perfect marriage.”

Buildings lie in ruin in Gaza

Aerial photos show heavily damaged buildings following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City today.

IDF: ‘We are prepared for combat on all fronts and at all borders’

The IDF said today it was “prepared for combat on all fronts and at all borders.”

It has regained full control of the area surrounding Gaza, with no infiltrations from Gaza overnight to its knowledge, said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman.  

He said the IDF conducted “an unprecedented attack in Gaza,” striking in waves and conducting airstrikes every four hours over the past 36 hours. The main strike targeted the Rimal area in the center of Gaza, an area that “has very significant meaning to senior Hamas leaders and operatives,” he said. 

“Hundreds” of Hamas operatives were killed during the strikes, he said.

Hagari said the chief of general staff spoke with U.S. military officials and the IDF is “working with the U.S. in complete operational cooperation.”

“The U.S. forces that have arrived at the area of the Mediterranean Sea are powerful forces,” he said. “They came with an aircraft carrier carrying tens of aircraft, with vessels, with thousands of missiles and munitions. There is great coordination between our forces.”

Hamas gives southern city of Ashkelon until 5 p.m. to evacuate

Hamas appears to have given an ultimatum to residents of the coastal Israeli town of Ashkelon to leave their homes by 5 p.m. local time (10 a.m. ET).

Spokesman Abu Ubaidah said the warning is in response to Israel “displacing our people and forcing them to flee their homes in several areas of the Gaza Strip.”

Ubaidah didn’t elaborate on what could happen to the city, which sits close to the Gaza border, after the deadline.

Israelis donate goods to soldiers and hard-hit families

TEL AVIV — Residents of Herzliya, just north of Tel Aviv, were busy packaging donated items to be distributed to both soldiers fighting Hamas and families in the hardest-hit parts of Israel.

Children’s clothing could be seen stacked in boxes, alongside toiletries and fresh clothing for soldiers outside Herzliya City Hall.

“I’m definitely scared,” one volunteer commented before packing more donations away. But, she said: “This is my home. I grew up here. My life is here.”

U.N. warns of residential damage in Gaza, calls full siege a violation of international law

The United Nations human rights chief pled with the international community to defuse what he called “an explosive powder keg” situation in Israel.

Volker Türk called on Palestinian armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all civilians who were captured and are still being held, saying that taking hostages is against international law.

He said information gathered by his office indicates that Israeli air operations have hit large residential towers in Gaza City and other residential buildings across Gaza, schools and premises of the U.N. relief and works agency, UNRWA, resulting in civilian casualties.

He also warned that a full siege of Gaza, announced by Israel on Monday, is prohibited under international humanitarian law, as it deprives civilians there of goods essential for their survival, and risks seriously compounding the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation in the enclave that’s home to 2 million people.

Vigils and rallies held across U.S.

Candles were lit and crowds gathered in solidarity with Israel and with Palestinians in vigils across the U.S. Monday night. 

Gatherings were held in Los Angeles, hundreds rallied outside a Jewish community centre in Philadelphia joined by Gov. Josh Shapiro, and in the nation’s capital, demonstrators supporting Palestinians rallied near the White House. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke about restoring peace during a gathering of hundreds of people in a “Stand with Israel” rally in an Albany synagogue. 

Meanwhile at the University of Florida, 20 people were injured at a vigil for Israel Monday night after an attendant fainted and others called 911. That 911 call was misunderstood by the crowd, which “dispersed in a panic” and injuries were caused by the crowd rush, university police said. 

More vigils and events will be held across the country today including: a Greater Miami Jewish Federation solidarity rally, a D.C.-area vigil for Israel, a Palestinian rally near New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker’s home and in New York, a UJA Federation of NY Stands with Israel rally and a Solidarity Vigil for Israel at Baruch College in Manhattan.

Oct. 10, 202301:50

At a kibbutz near Gaza, Israeli soldiers secure Hamas attack site

Richard Engel

KFAR AZA, Israel — This kibbutz just a few miles from the Gaza border was a scene of deadly violence over the weekend. Now it’s back under Israeli control as the IDF says it has achieved its main priority of securing the country’s land from Hamas fighters.

The death toll is growing but Israeli soldiers, going door to door, believe there are still dozens of bodies waiting to be found.

With Israeli troops and tanks gathering near the border and Israel flattening Gaza’s skyline with airstrikes, the risk of escalation may only be mounting.

Oct. 10, 202302:26

Iran’s supreme leader praises Hamas attack on Israel

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Tuesday that Iran “kisses” the hands of those who orchestrated the Hamas assault on Israel, but maintained that Tehran played no role in it.

“We kiss the foreheads and arms of skillful and intelligent designers and Palestinian youth, but those who say that the recent epic is the work of non-Palestinians suffer from miscalculation,” Khamenei said, as reported by the country’s state media.

Khamenei also praised what he called “irreparable” intelligence and military failure for Israel.

New images show the aftermath of the Supernova festival attack

Photo agency images emerged Tuesday showing the abandoned site of the devastating weekend attack at the Supernova desert music Festival by Palestinian militants near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel, which killed 260 people.

Read more: ‘They looked me in the eyes’: Festival organizer describes coming face to face with Hamas gunmen.

Dashcam video shows Hamas gunmen toss a grenade into a bomb shelter near the Supernova music festival

Warning: This video contains images some might find disturbing.

Oct. 10, 202300:51

Hamas says it will not discuss prisoner swap until aggression ends

Hamas is not open to a prisoner exchange as active battle continues, Ismail Haniyeh, one of the organization’s leaders, said in a statement today.

Prior media reports stated that Qatar was mediating for a potential swap of Israeli hostages in exchange for imprisoned Palestinians. Haniyeh said that “all parties” have been informed of the group’s decision.

He went on to add that “that the colonial occupation would pay a price for the devastation inflicted upon the Palestinians in Gaza.”

An estimated 100 people were taken hostage in Israel.

Death toll soars past 1,600

More than 1,600 people have been killed three days after Hamas’ surprise attacks, with more than 900 people dead in Israel and at least 770 in Gaza, according to officials.

Over 6,000 people were injured in Israel and Gaza, officials said.

Gaza City smolders in wake of Israeli missile barrage

Israeli couple feared dead or kidnapped found alive

TEL AVIV — One Israeli family had a rare happy outcome as people around the country wait for news of missing loved ones who may have been taken hostage by Hamas militants.

The family of David and Denise Heiblum feared they were either dead or kidnapped by Hamas after all communication from them stopped at noon on Saturday while they were hiding in a shelter in their kibbutz near the Gaza border.

David’s father, Pepe, told NBC News on Monday he was trying to stay strong and not lose hope. David’s cousin, Jacques Butbol, said they were praying for any proof of life from David and Denise, and were struggling to get any information about the missing couple from Israeli authorities.

“The army found him, which was a miracle,” Butbol said. He said soldiers had initially gone to the house when the couple was first feared missing, but found no trace of his cousin and his wife.

“They were just like, hidden very well in the house. They didn’t go out of the house, they didn’t do anything for 56, 58 hours.” Butbol said Tuesday.

“Thank God, at least one good news in these crazy days that we’re having,” he said.

Hamas calls for general mobilization across ‘Arab and Islamic world’

Hamas issued a call for a general mobilization this morning in a sign the group was not looking to lay down arms any time soon, despite the threat of an imminent ground operation into Gaza by Israel.

The militant group said in a post on its website that it is calling on fighters “in our Arab and Islamic world and the free people of the world,” to join them in their struggle.

It said the mobilization effort will commence on Friday.

50 families told their loved ones have been taken hostage, IDF says

The Israel Defense Forces say 50 families of those kidnapped by Hamas have been notified to date.

There have also been more than 4,500 rockets fired out of Gaza, the military said in a post on X. Its operational update said that 1,352 targets have been struck in the ongoing assault on Gaza.

Video shows the bloody aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Israel’s Be’eri kibbutz

Warning: this video contains graphic images.

Oct. 10, 202300:32

Quiet streets in Jaffa as Israel reels from Hamas attack

TEL AVIV — The streets around the Clock Tower in the historic port of Jaffa are usually bustling with people, but this morning they are practically empty.

It’s “the most important place in Jaffa, this square,” said Bashar Harar, 56, as he looked out at the empty chairs and tables in front of Tower Toast, the café where he works.

“There are no people, there are no tourists,” he said, noting that the Clock Tower, which commemorates Israelis killed in the battle for the town in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, is usually popular among tourists.

Harar said he could understand why the square was so quiet. “This time is more dangerous,” he said.

124 IDF soldiers confirmed dead so far

Israel’s Defense Forces said Tuesday 124 of their soldiers have been killed since Hamas invaded Israel on Saturday.

An unconfirmed number of Israeli soldiers have also been taken hostage.

7 Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza, authorities say

Government officials in Gaza confirmed Tuesday the deaths and names of seven Palestinian journalists who have been killed since Hamas’ violent incursion into Israel and Israel’s retaliatory air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

Gaza residents ‘traumatized’ as relentless Israeli bombing continues

As Israel brought its military might to Gaza, home to more than two million people, resident Ahmad Alghari said he and his family heard sorties of F-16s and relentless bombings every few minutes.

“Everyone freezes, starts shaking and tried to find their moms or sisters or brothers to hang on tight,” the 33-year-old breakdancer told NBC News in a telephone interview.

“Sometimes we jump when we hear the sound of a bomb. Most people are like zombies,” he said. “They are traumatized,” he said, adding the siege imposed by Israel had left ordinary civilians like him without food, clean water and electricity.

Over 180,000 people displaced in Gaza, United Nations says

The United Nations is sounding the alarm about the humanitarian crisis developing in Gaza amid retaliatory strikes by Israel in the aftermath of the Hamas incursion.

Mass displacement of civilians has escalated in the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, the U.N. said in its Tuesday report, reaching over 187,518 and is expected to increase further.

Nearly 137,500 internally displaced people are sheltering in 83 U.N. schools in all areas of the Gaza Strip, the report said.

Friend of missing mother says her children were used as human shields

Dennis Romero

A friend of a mother taken by Hamas militants in Saturday’s attack said her children were used as human shields as the fighters focused on killing and kidnapping Israeli civilians.

Moshiko Ben-Giat, who described himself as a longtime friend of the mother, who’s still missing, said militants took her two boys, one aged 4 and one aged 4 months.

The boys were “dragged by the Hamas terrorists from house to house … to be used as a human shield,” Ben-Giat said today on MSNBC.

The neighbor looking after the pair was also enlisted to tell locals in Hebrew to come out of shelters, but some did not comply and survived, he said. The children were taken toward Gaza, but as they neared the border the neighbor was told to take them back, Ben-Giat said.

Both children were recovering at a medical facility, Ben-Giat said, where their father reunited with them. The fate of their mother remains unknown.

IDF’s fighter jets strike more than 200 targets inside Gaza

Israel’s Defense Forces continued to strike targets inside the Gaza Strip Tuesday, three days after Hamas’ violent incursion into Israel.

The IDF said it was striking “terror targets belonging to terrorist organizations” inside the enclave in retaliation.

Overnight, it said dozens of fighter jets struck over 200 targets in Rimal and Khan Yunis, which the IDF said are used as “terror hubs” by Hamas.

Israeli mother wants missing son home ‘safe and alive’ 

Oct. 10, 202306:01

Lightning strikes over Gaza as buildings burn

Israel says border with Gaza finally secured

Max Burman

Israel says it has retaken full control of its border with Gaza, three days after Hamas fighters broke through the fence to launch their operation.

No Hamas militants have crossed into Israel since last night, spokesperson Richard Hecht said, although he added that infiltrations could still be possible.

1,500 bodies of Hamas militants found in Israel, IDF says

Max Burman

The bodies of some 1,500 Hamas militants have been found inside Israel, IDF spokesperson Richard Hecht said, three days after the group launched its bloody incursion from the Gaza border.

That number would be a sign of the significant force Hamas appeared able to muster for its daring operation.