What we know
- An IDF spokesperson said Israel is "increasing the ground operation" in Gaza and that bombing has already "increased," after reports of widespread sirens and explosions.
- The IDF said Saturday local time that it killed Asem Abu Rakaba, which it said was the head of Hamas' "Aerial Array." Fighter jets struck Abu Rakaba, it said. The IDF said that he " commanded the terrorists who infiltrated Israel on paragliders and was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts."
- The IDF said a "terrorist headquarters" exists under Gaza's al-Shifa hospital, where tens of thousands have taken refuge. Hamas denied the allegation and said it proved Israel had targeted al-Ahli Hospital on Oct. 17.
- In Gaza, supplies of food, medicine and fuel for powering emergency generators are running low, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, which provides basic services to hundreds of thousands of people.
- A near-total blackout of internet and cellphone service has taken hold across much of Gaza, according to witnesses there and companies that monitor global connectivity.
- More than 7,000 people, including women and children, have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. In Israel, about 1,400 people have died.
- At least 229 people were taken hostage during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack — some of them infants and small children.
- International calls for a cease-fire have been rejected by Israel, which also angrily denounced U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres over comments about the conflict.
- The U.S. launched strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria in retaliation for a series of drone attacks on American military bases in Iraq and Syria, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said overnight.
- NBC News’ Richard Engel, Raf Sanchez, Kelly Cobiella, Josh Lederman, Matt Bradley, Ellison Barber, Meagan Fitzgerald, Jay Gray, Hala Gorani, Chantal Da Silva and Alexander Smith are reporting from the region.
Ramaswamy previews Republican Jewish Coalition speech
AMES, Iowa — GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy previewed the speech he’s slated to give at the Republican Jewish Coalition Summit while talking to the press after a campaign event.
Ramaswamy stands in stark contrast to the rest of the Republican presidential field in his messaging for American support to Israel in its war with Hamas. The 38-year-old businessman has been urging against an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza without Israel clearly defining its objectives. He believes a ground invasion might spark a broader regional conflict that could result in American boots on the ground.
“I’m planning on talking about [former Israel Prime Minister] David Ben Gurion,” said Ramaswamy, previewing the speech he’s set to give on Saturday morning in Las Vegas. “He wanted Israel to stand on its own feet without relying on the sympathies of anybody else,” Ramaswamy added.
“The whole point of Israel was to say that the Jews would never rely on the fleeting sympathies of those in another land. That it was going to be the Jews, by their own self-sufficiency, that had the Jewish state unto itself.”
Asked by NBC News if he thinks he’ll be booed at the Republican Jewish Coalition Summit on Saturday, Ramaswamsy answered, “Oh,” then paused before saying, “I hope not.”
IDF says it struck 150 ‘underground targets’ in northern Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces says that its fighter jets struck 150 “underground targets” in northern Gaza.
They included “terror tunnels, underground combat spaces and additional underground infrastructure,” the IDF said.
“Furthermore, several Hamas terrorists were killed,” the military said. Video released by the IDF shows blasts illuminating the night sky, as well as overhead video of airstrikes hitting buildings.
The claim comes after NBC News crews witnessed bombardments in Gaza that were the most sustained since seen in their time by the Israel-Gaza border. Israel's military also said it was increasing ground operations as it wages a war against Hamas.
IDF says it killed Hamas figure who ‘commanded’ paraglider attacks
The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday said that its fighter jets killed Asem Abu Rakaba, who it said directed attackers who used paragliders to enter Israel on the Oct. 7 terror attacks.
He was head of Hamas’ “Aerial Array” the IDF said. It said Abu Rakaba took part in the planning of the Oct. 7 attacks.
"He took part in planning the October 7 massacre and commanded the terrorists who infiltrated Israel on paragliders and was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts," the IDF said on social media.
Video released by the IDF showed an airstrike hitting what appeared to be a building.
The IDF said Abu Rakaba “was responsible for Hamas’ UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense.”
NBC News has not independently confirmed his death.
Israeli Foreign Minister: ‘We reject outright’ U.N. call for cease-fire
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said today, “We reject outright the U.N. General Assembly's despicable call for a cease-fire” and vowed that Hamas would be crushed.
“Israel intends to eliminate Hamas just as the world dealt with the Nazis and ISIS,” Cohen wrote on X.
Earlier, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that called for a humanitarian truce, but which was criticized for not mentioning Hamas. The United States was among the countries that voted against it, citing that omission.
Grand Central Terminal in NYC closes after protest
New York City’s transportation hub Grand Central Terminal closed tonight after demonstrations by a group calling for peace in Israel and Gaza, officials said.
Metro-North Railroad said on X that Grand Central Terminal was closed due to demonstrations.
The group Jewish Voice for Peace announced that they planned a sit-in and demonstration to call for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, the terror group that attacked Israel three weeks ago.
“Well, I was not expecting this,” commuter Mike Metlay, who was trying to take Metro-North, told NBC New York. “It looks like I’m going to be stranded for a little while.”
Metlay said the people waiting for him were flexible. “I have a funny feeling that if I tell them I’m in the middle of a protest, they’ll understand,” he told the station.
Demonstrators chanted "cease-fire now!" at one point, video from NBC New York showed.
Grand Central Terminal later reopened “for ticketed customers only,” Metro North said.
As the was between Israel and Hamas intensifies, tension is also climbing for Israel’s Arab Muslims, who make up 20% of the population. People living in Jerusalem’s Arab quarter share their experiences.
Heavy and sustained bombardment at border
ISRAEL-GAZA BORDER — A constant bombardment has been going on in the area consistently for several hours.
NBC News has been reporting from this area for more than two weeks and this is the most sustained bombardment that has been heard to date.
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. — When Abdulla Okal’s wife and three children fled northern Gaza because of airstrikes as Israel’s military targets Hamas, they first went to Khan Younis in the south.
“She had to leave this morning. She was scared, because they were bombing the whole neighborhood,” Okal said today.
They are now at Rafah, staying with friends and family, which is near the border with Egypt. There are about 45 people inside the house, Okal said.
The house is “for max 10 people,” he said. “But with this situation, these people have no place to stay.
The family lives in New Jersey, and they all went to Gaza this summer for a visit. Okal came back early, and his wife, who has family there, stayed with the children for an extended visit — and then came the attack on Israel and the war, and they are stuck there.
They want to leave Gaza. Okal’s son texted him two days ago. “He’s just hoping to see me again,” Okal said.
But there’s no guarantee when or if that will happen. There are around 600 Americans in Gaza, according to the U.S. State Department. Negotiations have been ongoing about trying to get Americans and others out through the Rafah crossing.
Okal talked to his wife this morning briefly before the connection was lost. “She was doing OK, but she’s talking hopeless, too,” he said.
And today Israel’s military spokesman said that ground operations in Gaza are increasing, which could signal a new phase of Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza.
There is no power, people charge cell phones on car chargers, and there was no signal in Gaza today, he said.
“It’s really scary, because I can’t talk to them, I can’t call her. I don’t know what’s going on and what’s happening on the ground,” Okal said.
“So, it’s very scary. We’re just waiting to hear from the news and see what’s going on,” he said.
The U.S. conducted two airstrikes in Northeastern Syria overnight and, according to the Pentagon, hit buildings housing weapons and ammunition used by Iranian-backed militia groups. The Pentagon says the militia groups launched another drone attack on a base with Americans in Iraq.
State Dept. tells Americans to leave Lebanon now, while they can
The State Department is recommending that Americans in Lebanon “leave now, while commercial flights remain available, due to the unpredictable security situation.”
A security alert posted by the agency also said that people in the country, which borders Israel and is headquarters for the militant group Hezbollah, should have a plan for a crisis that does not depend on U.S. assistance.
Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire over the border between the two countries.
“There is no guarantee the U.S. government will evacuate private U.S. citizens and their family members in a crisis situation,” the State Department said.
U.S. and other officials have said they were working to prevent the war between Israel and Hamas from expanding into a more regional conflict.
