candidates who carried in effect the threat of banning abortion, whether it was michigan or pennsylvania or wisconsin, and i think that is why virginia -- you know, in ohio, the direct vote on abortion rights, a red state, red-leaning state where mike dewine won a landslide reelection despite signing a six-week abortion ban that's probably going to be overturned, that's the direct democracy, virginia is, i think, the most telling test of all next week, because it's a state where republicans now have a big lead on who can handle the economy, a big lead on who can handle crime and normally would be in position to win that unified control of the state legislature of the governor glenn youngkin is seeking, but abortion rights are a huge hurdle and head wind for them and democrats are confident they'll at least hold the state senate and take back the state house almost entirely around that issue. >> it's been interesting to pick up on that confidence. ron brownstein as always, we appreciate it, thank you. cnn this morning continues

right now. an extraordinary new israeli offensive in the skies of gaza -- >> you're probably going to see a significant reenforcement of israeli ground forces did occur. >> israeli officials saying that they have encircled gaza city. >> cut the north off from the south. >> fears of a second war along israel's northern border intensifying, the leader of hezbollah is expected to break his silence. >> hezbollah fighters saying their fingers are on the trigger. >> you have secretary of state antony blinken back in israel. >> can the united states tell its ally how to fight a war? >> how we can set the conditions for a durable, sustainable peace for israelis and palestinians alike. >> there are just weeks before the public calls for a cease-fire becomes untenable. >> we can get the hostages out, we can get humanitarian aid in. >> this hospital will turn into a mass grave. there's nothing for this place other than a place to come and

die. ♪ good morning, welcome, i'm phil mattingly with erica hill in new york, poppy is off today. right now secretary of state antony blinken is back in a war zone in israel as civilian deaths and destruction mount in gaza. he's already met with prime minister benjamin netanyahu, has been meeting with israel's war cabinet this morning. >> blinken's trip comes after one of the most intense nights we have seen yet in gaza. we actually watched israeli rockets and missiles rain down live here on cnn as flares lit up the night sky. cnn is learning that blinken, president biden and his top advisers are all warning israel that the human suffering in gaza is eroding public support for the war, that outcry for a cease-fire could reach a tipping point. >> all as the israeli military skies troops and tanks completely encircled gaza city. this is the latest video you're sewing from the ground and those ground operations. casualties are rising on both sides. the idf says 23 israeli soldiers

have now been killed since they launched the ground assault into gaza. ed lavandera is live for us this morning in tel aviv. the secretary of state on the ground meeting with the war cabinet amid real u.s. concerns. what are the outcomes we expect today? >> reporter: well, we're still waiting to see exactly what those outcomes are going to be heading into these meetings the secretary of state did not commit to any kind of specifics other than saying that they would be making concrete requests of the israeli government to show restraint in the military offensive there inside of gaza as you mentioned here off the top, the israeli response has been quite controversial around the world, as you've seen the toll that it has taken on civilians there inside of gaza. there's also a great deal of concern for the 242 hostages that are there as well on the ground, and who presumably could very well be in danger of all of this. that is why today's visit by the secretary of state extremely

crucial, the secretary of state is expected to meet with reporters in about an hour, so perhaps we learn more details about how these meetings went this morning, but the secretary of state met for about an hour with the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, and as you mentioned is wrapping up a meeting at this point with the israeli war cabinet. but erica and phil, also a crucial day because later today the leader of hezbollah in lebanon is expected to make his first remarks since the october 7th attacks, so this is very crucial, exactly what kind of message that the hezbollah leader is going to take because the u.s. is also very concerned that this is a conflict that could widen, and hezbollah has much more military capability than hamas. so this could be a very, you know, unfold into a much more treacherous situation than it already is. >> yes, certainly a lot of eyes on that speech later today, waiting to see what, in fact, will be said, when we talk about, and we had spoken with one of the idf spokes people,

how gaza -- there has been face-to-face combat, no specific numbers how widespread it is. as we noted off the top, there's also increasing concern about civilian casualties. what are you hearing from the israeli government this morning? >> reporter: look, the israeli government as they have been talking about the offensive and the ground operation inside of gaza, they don't appear to be sending any signals that they're going to change what they're doing on the ground there. they insist that the hamas military operation is operating from tunnels that exist under the civilian operation and the elaborate tunnel system, dozens of miles of tunnel systems that is giving the hamas military fighters the chance to fire off rockets towards israel, that is their concern. netanyahu said yesterday that nothing will stop us, and military officials are also saying that they will continue to put maximum pressure on hamas

military officials there on the ground to stop those missiles from coming toward israel, and, you know, those tunnels are their main concern. hezbollah has put out some propaganda video showing how crucial those tunnel systems have been to their military operations. >> the hamas soldier stalking an israeli tank running up next to it and placing an explosive device on the machinery, then running away, seconds later the device detonates. the hamas fighter then disappears into the ground through a trap door. >> reporter: so israeli military officials really bent on trying to limit the capability of those fighters operating underground, and that requires, in their view, going on the ground and trying to dismantle all of that. so clearly all that has come at a great cost for the civilian population in gaza but it's sparked a great deal of protest and criticism of israel around

the world. >> ed lavandera, thank you for the latest. it's the protests and the criticism that has been driving the u.s. to shift its posture, recognizing they need the support of allies in the region for really to continue actually just have some reporting, u.s. secretary of state will push israel for a pause on air strikes in gaza to allow for mediation, according to a diplomatic source to our becky anderson. we will keep an eye on that and see what, if anything, the secretary of state is able to secure. >> as we watch this situation evolving overnight cnn cameras did capture the intense bombardments over northern gaza, some of that here, flares and explosions illuminating the skies in the region. all of this as the israeli military announced it was surrounding gaza city from several directions. cedric leighton is with us now, we have those videos, we saw some of this happening live on the air last night. walk us through what you're seeing over the last 24 hours and it tells you, colonel, about israel's strategy at this point. >> yeah, care erica, good

morning, there are a lot of things going on here, obviously, so just to orient everybody, this is israel, this is gaza right here. the very fact that we have all of these different areas here in the northern part of gaza, this is where we saw all those videos, especially around the town of bet anun in northeastern gaza, this is the area of main concentration that the israelis were working on in this particular moment in time, and then they're moving south into gaza city. so this is where they'll be going, and this is where that grand encirclement is taking place right here. so that's where that is. and so you have all these troops that have come in from the north around beit hanoun, jabalia, and

gaza city. they're using this territory to maneuver and also coming in, in a way that it will allow them to stop, gain, hold territory, and then move forward into different areas. so that's the kind of thing that we're seeing, and this is the kind of movement that we can expect the israelis to do as they try to gain as much territory as possible before there's any type of diplomatic pause. >> colonel, we've been seeing new video of some of israel's ground forces in the midst of the operation coming from the idf, and it said that some of the combat has been face-to-face, expected for an urban operation and yet that still underscores the significance here. what does it tell you? >> it tells me right here as you look at this video, phil, that these kinds of things that are happening are really quite intense, you see the firing of the tanks as they move in, you see the soldiers moving into areas that are pretty narrow, and bringing in dogs as well to do some searches throughout

tunnel areas, you see the bulldozers working right in front of the infantry troops and you see them blowing up different areas. what it tells me is intense combat in very narrow areas. this type of thing, phil and erica, is going to really characterize the israeli operation as it moves forward in the next 24, 48 hours, and maybe even 72 hours. >> if we look further north at the border there, a spokesman for the idf warned hezbollah yesterday that israel will respond with actions, not words. should there be an escalation at the northern border. we have, of course, waiting to hear from hezbollah's leader later today. how likely do you think an escalation is at this point? >> i think it's not unlikely. so i think there is a chance that the northern border area you could see some of the hezbollah fighters trying to make more incursions into israel right along this area right here. what that does then is that

gives israel the possibility of a two-front war because they'll be active in this area, of course, around gaza, and then with hezbollah here, that could potentially create some trouble for the israelis. however, they're preparing for a two-front war, but they also have to consider what might possibly be happening on the west bank as well. >> a lot happening, just across the region, and colonel leighton, appreciate your insight. >> we're continuing to follow the secretary of state's high-stakes trip in israel, pushing for humanitarian pause as civilian deaths and destruction mount in gaza. pressure from 13 lawmakers in the senate, calling for a short-term cessation of hostiles, their words, to allow for more aid.

secretary of state antony blinken is in israel right now, and he's actually expected to speak with the president. blinken will reportedly push israel for a pause in air strikes to allow for mediation, that's according to a diplomatic

source familiar with the negotiations. joining us now as we wait for those remarks, the former u.s. ambassador to israel as well as to egypt. mr. ambassador, good to have you with us this morning. this sort of, i guess, uptick in some ways in the language -- oh, actually, let's listen in. >> welcome, mr. secretary, you're a great friend and we appreciate it, and we respect it, and i want to commend you on behalf of the people of israel for your moral character, for your incredible speeches, especially the one in the senate, which gave the clear picture and the real truth as to the fate of the hostages, as to the tragedy that has befallen on our people. and the inherent right of the israelis to defend themselves. we are hearing from the outside demonstration on the families our heart goes out to them. we understand it, we want their immediate release. and finally, i want to say

something with respect to the humanitarian and the international law-abiding by the state of israel. so this is a leaflet, which we are sending over 1,000,200 leaflets to the citizens of gaza. we've carried out 6 million text messages, and 4 million phone calls to the citizens of gaza. according to the rules of international law where we alert the citizens in advance, including the jabalia attack, please move out. we have the right to self-defense, we want you to go out of the premises from where missiles and guns and bombs and mortars are shelled at our people, and from where the horrendous atrocious attacks went out, so you move out so we can go in, according to international law, and defend our people.

6 million text messages, and 4 million phone calls, and 1.2 million pamphlets, and phone calls in addition to all of that speaks for itself as we protect the civilians moving out, giving them the right to necessary humanitarian aid, and enabling ourselves to defend ourselves, thank you, mr. secretary. >> thank you, mr. president, and it's always good to be back in israel. these are difficult days, but we're here as we've been, as we'll remain, in solidarity with israel. we stand strongly for the proposition that israel has not only the right but the obligation to defend itself and to do everything possible to make sure that this october 7th can never happen again. at the same time, as you've just made clear -- matters it's very important that when it comes to the protection of civilians who are caught in the crossfire of

hamas's making that everything be done to protect them and bring assistance to those who so desperately need it. we're not in any way responsible for what happened on october 7th. we're working on all of that together. but we have a shared determination, and that determination will not wane, we also are thinking every single moment about our hostages, so many israelis, americans, other nationals, and we are determined to do everything that we can to bring them back safely, to bring them back to be with their families. thank you. >> thank you. >> can we have a handshake? >> you have just been watching the secretary of state antony blinken, and the israeli president herzog speaking in the midst of blinken's visit to tel aviv, expected to give a press conference after he's done with meetings, already met with the

prime minister. it was very notable wheyou watc the israelis there, where u.s. officials are, talking about the number of text messages, calls and pamphlets warning the civilians about incoming attacks, saying those should speak for itself, a clear recognition, i think, to some degree of an understating of what blinken's message was going to be, and is going to be throughout the course of these meetings. i want to bring in ambassador daniel kirzer. when you watch these sprays they are meant for public consumption, behind the scenes what did what you just saw tell you about what's happening? >> well, since the start of this crisis the president and the secretary have tried to ghaift a very challenging diplomatic and political course. on the one hand indicating publicly our support for israel, its right of self-defense, and our concern over the rise in terrorism. but the private messages clearly

are getting a bit tougher. the president from the outset made clear that he expected some degree of caution on the part of what israel was going to do, and you can see from his words and from the way secretary blinken is now handling this in the field that we want to see israel moderate what it is doing in order to prevent more humanitarian distress, more the hostages. lties and to >> what are the chances that will happen, that, in fact, israel will listen intently to what they are hearing from u.s. officials and others and, in fact, take some sort of a pause? >> well, they have to pay attention to what the united states is saying since the number of countries supporting what they're doing is rather minimal. on the other hand, it's a race against time. they're trying as colonel leighton indicated to encircle gaza city as much as possible,

and i think if they can accomplish that purpose in the next few days they will be more amenable to these humanitarian pauses to allow more supplies to come in. they're in a conundrum. how quickly can they achieve their military objectives while under the gun, both of the international community, but now some increasing private pressure from the united states? >> how much does where regional, i guess you could say historical allies, the public commentaries, a little bit difficult to divine at this point, but you have the jordanian foreign minister saying they're making clear to blinken when he goes there the war should end and that should be a message he should pass on to the israelis, i understand there's a difference between what's said publicly by those regional leaders and their allies than what's said privately, but where are they right now on this? how much longer can they continue their current posture? >> well, the region is shivering right now because many leaders

are probably sending private messages to israel saying we don't like hamas anymore than you do, but you look at the public demonstrations about what's happening, and that raises internal stability concerns in various countries and so the leadership in surrounding arab countries and others are really quite concerned that this war will spill over into challenges to their own regimes, the jordanians, in fact, have suggested that the israeli ambassador will not be welcome back to amman, and they have pulled their ambassador from israel. now, that's short of breaking diplomatic relations, but it sends a very important signal that time, diplomatic time is running out for israel's operation. >> there's also a lot of attention on what will or will not be said later today by the leader of hezbollah. really quickly, you wrote an op-ed for foreign policy magazine and what struck me is you talk about these diplomatic relations, is you noted the war

in gaza will end eventually, but when it does, you write, israelis and palestinians will have no political horizon to look for, no peace process to rekindle, little hope for a better future. how much do you think israel at this point is weighing what comes after? >> well, today i think there's probably little attention being paid to that, but they ought to be paying attention to it. because at some point the guns will fall silent, and then people will focus on the reconstruction of gaza, but that will only get us back to a status quo ante at a very high price and we will be fated to run into a problem again in a couple of years, there have been several very significant wars since 2006, the last time there was an israel-hezbollah war. so, you know, it's shortsighted to think that even if you can deal hamas a significant blow that that solves the problem, and it's quite extraordinary

that while this war in gaza is going on there are some ministers in israel that are punishing the palestinian authority in the west bank by withholding funding. i think there has to be some consideration in israel given to what happens on the day after, and that means empowering the palestinian authority even as it weakens hamas. >> ambassador daniel kurtzer, we appreciate your time, thank you. >> thank you. >> just a short time from now the leader of hezbollah will speak for the first time since hamas's attack on israel. those anticipated remarks also come as the group is exchanging fire with israel on its northern border. and later today president biden and the first lady on a domestic front will travel to lewiston, maine to pay their respects to the families of 18 people killed in last week's mass shootings.

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cnn's john king has been talking to voters in battleground states around the country about the issues that really matter to them ahead of next year's presidential race. this time around he traveled to milwaukee, wisconsin where high turnout is critical for democrats in the state's largest city. >> nearly 40% of milwaukee's

population is black, a crucial voting bloc, but voter frustration could be a real problem for the biden camp. john king is with us now, could be a big problem or is a big problem. >> a huge problem, we were stunned by what we found four days in milwaukee, a year to the election. biden campaign says there's plenty of time to turn it around. black voters rescued his campaign in the primaries in south carolina, won more than nine in ten black votes, and that constituency is a foundational element of his coalition. watch this come to the streets of milwaukee with us, he has a giant problem. >> devontae johnson is a foot soldier for democracy in one of its most crucial battlegrounds. >> i'm devonta from black leaders organizers for community. >> reporter: this stop is encouraging. >> i'm so happy it's a black man out here going door to door. >> she's the tenth one. >> reporter: the organizer gets the response far more common these days. >> i won't vote in the elections. >> reporter: woods is trained to keep trying. >> so are you not a voter?

>> i want to, and right now i don't want to. >> reporter: the predominantly black neighborhoods on milwaukee's north side can look and feel forgotten. the canvassers meet often and share what they're hearing, good paying jobs are scarce, rent is up, the streets used to be cleaner and safer. >> you hear people say ain't nothing happening, it won't affect us. raise y'all hand, raise y'all hand. >> ain't no change. >> wow. >> so we see all these other areas. >> reporter: angela lang outlines this week's agenda and next november's stakes. >> no way to written that doesn't run through the black community. what happens in milwaukee can impact the rest of the state which can impact the rest of the country. no pressure. >> reporter: the president was last here in august for a green energy event and this old industrial site is being cleaned up with biden infrastructure money. >> putting in the work for black america. >> reporter: but early spending on radio and tv ads, the

campaign sees the problem, those ads don't mention one issue critical here. >> people are wondering what he's doing in terms of politaccountability and criminal justice reform. >> reporter: lang also says the president better show up more. >> people always want to see people actually paying attention, and sometimes that means being able to physically be here and engage. >> reporter: black turnout soared here in the obama years, but it dropped in 2016, and was flat in 2020. >> on a scale of one to ten, how would you grade the joe biden presidency in terms of its impact on your life and your community? >> a 4. >> reporter: a 4. >> and i love joe. >> she sees a reason for optimism. >> the alternative is the man whose name i try not to say. >> reporter: i'll say it. as we sit here today the likely alternative is donald trump. >> right. >> reporter: would that be enough to motivate people? >> i think so. >> reporter: joanna brooks is

one such voter, owns a yoga studio. like many we met in the city brook says black voters get taken for granted. >> black people in general tend to be loyal to the democratic party. and sometimes i wonder just based on how that party has performed thus far for people of color if we should continue to be. >> reporter: but brook says that accountability exercise must wait until after 2024, because of constant republican attacks on abortion rights and voting rights. >> i grew up almost certain that my rights were guaranteed, i took it for granted. and now as i sit and watch the work of so many black folks during the civil rights movement, so many women who fought for women's rights e when i see all of their work slowly being undone, that was a wakeup call for me, for sure. you have to fight. >> reporter: eric jones is no trump fan, but he thinks it's

foolish to bet on trump motivating black turnout. >> i get people saying they're not going to vote, that's my fear, that they see those two, and they're going to say, screw it, we're damned anyways. >> reporter: we met jones at the fifth anniversary of the bronzeville collective, several local artists sell their goods here. it's a source of smiles and hope in a community often defined by poverty and a high incarceration rate. >> when the factories and manufacturing left jobs left, when jobs leave and opportunities leave, then you have certain things that are domino effects, right. >> reporter: jones says the president should stop by and learn a lesson. >> you bring opportunities, you bring jobs, you get votes, plain and safrm. >> reporter: for the president it's the year from now that matter most but the mood today is bleak. >> if you're joe biden and you want to be reelected. he'd have a problem today right. >> he would, he'd have a big problem. >> reporter: johnson's work could help the president, but listen -- >> if it were just biden and trump, who would you vote for?

>> that's just a tough one. >> the young man who says the country needs big change, determined to boost milwaukee's black turnout, yet not sure who gets his vote. and just stunning, that young man there, don't know who i'm going to vote for, a man in milwaukee part of the activist community, and you have the older black women answering the door, yeah, people died for my right to vote but i'm not sure i'm going to vote. i'm so disaffected and disenchanted. two times in a row, wisconsin decided by about 20,000 votes. doesn't take many people staying home or oing the other way. >> do they recognize it's as big a problem as it is? >> privatesy, some of them do, others think put trump on the ballot, that will bring people out. when the republicans are beating up on the vladimir putin all the time. people are like, where are you, come, we're proud to have a black woman as vice president. people are in a funk from covid and inflation, it's not all

about biden, but part of it is visibility, they want to see him and her, but so far, not much. >> my jaw literally dropped at the end of that piece when he didn't say who he was going to -- >> 21-year-old young black man in the activist community doesn't know because he sees -- he looks at washington, and says, what are they doing that's relevant to my life? nothing. >> yeah. >> important work, important piece. >> right, really appreciate it, john, thank you. >> thanks, man. the october jobs report will be released just about an hour from now, what it will show us about the state of the economy. >> and president biden facing mounting pressure at home to deal with humanitarian crises in gaza, now 13 democrats in the senate calling for a, quote, short-term cessation of hostilities to allow for more aid. chris murphy is one of those 13 senators. key foforeign polilicy voice, , gogoing to joioin us next.t.

is a cease-fire needed now? >> i think it is, at least under -- in the context of both sides agreeing. >> that was senator dick durbin speaking with poppy yesterday, a growing number of democrats in congress in the senate voicing

concern about the civilian death toll in gaza, one of 13 senators calling for short-term cessation of hostilities. senator chris fur my is calling for israel to change course in its war with hamas. he wrote in a statement the current rate of civilian death is unacceptable and unsustainable, i urge israel to immediately reconsider its strategy and shift to a more deliberate and proportionate counterterrorism campaign. the senator joins us now. your statement last night, which came before the letter from 13 senators, was a take notice moment. you are a critical voice inside the democratic party on these issues, you are a critical voice that the white house pays attention to, why did you decide to put out this statement now? >> so, let me first be clear, i don't think we can square the world's order, i don't think we can protect america nor israel

if hamas can't held accountable. and so i believe that israel has to continue the fight to end hamas's military capabilities to be able to strike israel again. i simply believe that the current level of civilian casualties inside gaza is too high, both from a moral perspective and a strategic perspective, what we have learned in our own country's counterterrorism operations is that when you are too permissive of civilian casualties you kill a lot of militants but you also create a lot of terrorists as well because that civilian harm becomes bulletin board material for terrorist recruiters. i want to see hamas's military capabilities defeated. i want to see israel keep up this fight. but with 3,000 children dead inside gaza today, that number is just simply too high, and i think it's time for israel to be more targeted and more thoughtful in the calculus it makes when it decides where and

when to strike. >> so for the purpose of clarity, because in these types of situations in particular, the language is so important, precision is important in the language, you're talking about shifting of strategies being more targeted, the letter you signed onto with 12 of your colleagues calls for a cessation of hostilities, there have been talks about a humanitarian pause, these are not cease-fires, correct, you're not calling for a cease-fire? >> that's correct. >> why not? >> hamas needs to be held accountable. well, because right now a cease-fire, which sounds to me an open-ended cessation of hostilities would simply allow hamas to regroup to attack israel again, and you heard yesterday directly from the leader of hamas that hamas is not done, that they are intent on murdering more israeli civilians, i just don't believe there's a choice to be made between continuing to take the fight to hamas, and reducing the

number of civilian casualties and being able to give humanitarian aid into gaza. there are going to be civilian casualties here, that's a consequence primarily of hamas hiding itself in civilian infrastructure. when you decide to hit a target you have to consider the value of the target versus the scope of the harm to civilians, i think there are many cases, whether it be the refugee camps or some of these apartment buildings where the civilian casualty numbers have been far too high. >> the importance of public statements from u.s. officials and folks like yourself as israel conducts these operations, how much of this is trying to, to some degree lay the groundwork for what comes next, and try and maintain relationships in the region? i ask that because you heard from jordan's foreign minister he's going to tell blinken the war must stop and public statements from u.s. allies in the region saying things publicly, we assumed they would, in opposition to israel's course of action, but also growing harsher and harsher in their

condemnation. >> so i think this is a really difficult needle to thread because we are, of course, first and foremost, trying to hold hamas accountable, second we are trying to stop the spread of this conflict, we do not want hezbollah coming in from the north, it is very hard, if not impossible, for israel to fight a two-front war. but then lastly, we have to think about what comes next in gaza, and if hamas is displaced, both militarily and politically, there has to be a follow-on governance structure inside gaza and it is likely that israel's gulf neighbors, its arab neighbors would need to take part in helping to stand up that government. and so you want to be able to keep those countries willing to come in and help stabilize gaza after this mail tear operation is over. when the civilian death counts are so high, it makes it more likely there's a second front opened potentially in the north and less likely you'll have

other arab partners come in and help in the back end. that's part of why secretary blinken is back in the region again. >> it's very hard if not unlikely israel could fight a two-front war, coming in an hour and 15 minutes, we're expecting hassan nasrallah to give a public statement. does that mean if hezbollah launches that second front the u.s. would have to be involved? >> so, that will be a decision the president will make and that will be a decision that congress makes, obviously we have moved significant assets to the region to deter both hezbollah and iran from entering this war, my sense is that while the evidence may not suggest iran knew about hamas's attacks, if hezbollah launches attacks from the north that would be done with iranian support and knowledge and permission. we're trying to send a message right now to iran and to hezbollah that there could be consequences, not just from

israel, but from the united states if they decide to enter into this conflict. >> senator chris murphy, we appreciate your time, thank you. >> thanks. secretary of state antony blinken is back in tel aviv this morning, there to show support for israel, but also bringing with him a warning about the growing humanitarian crisis in gaza. >> and as the israeli military operation expands families of the 241 hostages still there growing increasingly concerned about their loved ones, we're going to speak to one of them next.

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as israel expands ground operations in gaza, the families of the 241 hostages continue to wait and to worry a come object ducted with her husband and 3-year-old daughter. the family was put in a car, driven towards gaza. at some point in the drive they managed to jump out of the car.

they handed her daughter to her husband because she knew he could run faster. he escaped hiding in the woods for hours. her brother says he spent days search being her for her, rather, with the idf before she was declared missing and over the last few days he is meeting with lawmakers and leaders in washington. thank you for coming in this morning, for taking the time to be here. >> thank you for inviting me. >> you talked about using your voice to highlight the plight of the hostages, to secure their freedom. the israeli government said -- there are growing calls, rather, for the israeli government that this is the top priority, getting the hostages released. do you agree? >> it has to be a top priority. we need to understand that saving people's life, there isn't a higher goal than that. and now we are talking about hundreds of lives, innocent lives, children, mothers, elderly, ill people. so i think has to be a top

priority. it's not in con netflix with other goals that we have, but this has to come first. we are talking about already a month that we don't see our loved ones back. >> there are families who expressed concern about the safety of their loved ones who are hostages, given what we are seeing in terms of this escalation of the incursion in gaza. does that concern you? >> you have to understand that every day i have multiples of concerns. and i don't rank them. so the fact that my sister is held in the hands of the worst people on the earth at the moment is pretty much a big worry every day and i don't want to share right now what kind of imaginations that we have about how she is being treated. so, yes, also possible attacks are worrying me. i am not sure it's the same scale of the worries of what i think of every day she is in their hands. >> when is the last time you

heard from the israeli government? what has the communication been like? >> we have an ongoing communication with the government representatives. it's more asking how we are and taking care of our well being. they cannot share a lot of information. i don't want them to share a lot of information if they are doing things correctly. it's better maybe that i will not know. >> secretary blinken is in israel. he said a short time ago that they are thinking every moment of u.s. officials, thinking every moment of the hostages. as i mentioned, urm just in washington, d.c., met with a number of lawmakers, including senator murphy speaking with phil. w what do you believe some lawmakers can do? what have they told you they are doing? >> first of all, i want to express my appreciation towards secretary blinken's statement. this is the statement that we expect. this is what we are asking every senator. by the way, with the meeting, the good, long, open meeting we

had with senator murphy that he showed concerned and showed commitment towards the issue of the hostages. this is why i assume that he did not attend not to mention the hostage through the whole interview you have made with him. but this is for us unacceptable. when he talk about opposed, i am not against opposed, obviously. we have to talk always also about the hostages, also about saving americans' life, israeli life, western people's life. this is -- cannot be tolerated that we will talk about only one end of this ceasefire or pause, whatever it will be. and this is something that we express to all of the politicians that we've met. i think that it was very consensual that they support that as well. >> before i let you go, i do -- you are so close with your sister. you called her your best friend. >> yes. >> you were in touch your brother-in-law every day. how are he and your niece holding up? she is only 3 years old.

>> they are both very strong. i think mostly my niece is extremely powerful, small human being. she is aware of the situation. i think she hoose so much love and confidence that holds her together to cooperate with us. mostly she have hope that she will reunite with her mother. we believe in that. i have to ask all of you, the american people and the politicians to have the same faith that 3 years old has to meet her mother because it's possible and we have to do all the efforts to make it happen. >> she must help you with that hope, too. not that you are not hopeful, but to see that in this little girl? >> absolutely. i see her strengths and it give me power to do so. i hope i can share these power with you. what we need from american public is not sympathy, sorrow, but the determination and hope that we have. this is the only thing that will bring them back. >> i hope the next time we see you it's because we are talking

about your sister been reduced. >> thank you. an hour from now the leader of hezbollah will be giving significant remarks for the first time since the israel/hamas war began. also waiting to hear from secretary blinken who is planning to give a press conference. we will have all of it. stay w with us.