♪ in the back of my mind i killed you ♪ ♪ and i didn't even regret it i can't believe i said it ♪ ♪ but it's true ♪ [ cheers and applause ] ♪ this is "nightline." >> byron: tonight, inside gaza. the idf's ground operation on a gaza hospital as the civilian death toll mounts.

desperation grows over conditions there. >> we're using the tanks as cover right now. >> byron: our matt gutman in the region earlier. what israeli commanders call proof of hamas operations. >> what makes you think this was a spot where somebody was held hostage? >> byron: and march for israel. tens of thousands rallying in washington in support of israel. >> it's 39 days. it's not acceptable. and the world should be screaming, and we're here to scream. >> byron: this as jews across the u.s. say they're feeling a surge in anti-semitism. >> i don't feel safe as a jewish student on campus. plus kim petras. ♪ the nuprin sister of pop. the unholy singer opening up about her historic grammy win. >> i'm the first transgender woman to win this award. >> byron: a catalyst for change trailblazing for other artists. >> when i first started out, it was, be a songwriter, be behind the scenes. that wasn't my dream.

>> byron: why she says she's never wanted to shy away from being provocative. >> i'm just on a mission kind of to make sex fun and not shame people for sex. >> byron: and two of his closest friends pay tribute to matthew perry. ♪ (vo) purina cares here. ♪tasty glazed turkeys that won't be forgotten♪ ♪their warm mac and cheese has us feasting like kings♪ ♪these are a few of my favorite things♪ every bite is a celebration with

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>> byron: good evening. thank you for joining us. the idf tonight launching a ground maneuver at a hospital in gaza that's been a flashpoint for both sides. palestinians accusing israel of targeting the most vulnerable civilians, israel saying hamas occupies part of the building as a headquarters and is using patients as human shields. our matt gutman is on the ground in the region. >> reporter: the israeli military announcing it is now conducting a targeted raid against hamas in a specified area of allal shifa hospital, gaza's largest. that is a senior u.s. administration official tells us that the tunnels beneath the hospital are extensive and multi-layered. it's believed there are hundreds of hamas fighters in there with communication equipment and booby- booby-traps. the israeli military taking us deep into the heart of gaza city. this is what much of northern gaza looks like as israeli military continues its mission to destroy hamas.

the roads ground into dust. everywhere in the city of over 1 million people, those apocalyptic scenes. we embedded with the military to see the children's hospital they say is used as a hamas command center. we're inside this armored fighting vehicle going against the rentissi specialized children's hospital that's been evacuated. hospitals the focus of international concerns as conditions deteriorate. israel saying hamas and jihad have been using hospitals like al shifa and the tunnels beneath them to hold hostages and wage war against the israeli military. now the biden administration saying declassified u.s. intelligence corroborates israel's claims. >> hamas and pij members operate a command and control node from al shifa hospital in gaza city. they have weapons stored there. and are prepared to respond to an israeli military operation against the facility.

>> reporter: a u.s. official saying the assessment is based on a variety of sources, but did not provide additional details. doctors at al shifa deny that saying the hospital is no longer functioning and desperation is mounting. without fuel for their generators, 39 premature babies were removed from their incubators. three of those babies have died. a doctor telling abc news the rest are alive and in good condition. but workers telling us they have had to use gardening tools, even their bare hands, to bury scores of decomposing bodies in a mass grave. the rentissi hospital is about a mile away. we unload outside the hospital into active fighting. there we meet israel's chief military spokesman, daniel hagari, a former naval commando. up the street, those tanks firing. i don't know if you can hear that small arms fire in the background. we've got to get down now. inside, a children's safe room

he said was used as a hamas command center. those ak-47s look old and rusty. was this a crack force that was here? >> no, no. some of the gear was operational, but also some of the terrorists fled away. >> reporter: farther into the basement, a separate section. hegari revealing that chair, and we pressed the israeli military for evidence that hostages were held here. what makes you think that this was a spot where somebody was held hostage? >> we're going to bring here a forensic team. the only reason i brought you here, and i'm taking a huge risk. tying hostages on a chair in this facility in a basement. fighting us from a hospital. using the children here in this hospital, a hospital for children, as a human shield. this is hamas. >> reporter: but the hospital's director tonight denying israel's claims, saying the facility was used for displaced families, not hostages. >> byron: our thanks to matt.

hamas-run gaza health ministry spokesperson saying the israeli forces are committing, quote, a new crime against humanity, medical staff, and patients. in the u.s., a day of speaking out for supporters of israel and the hostages in the capital. today in washington's national mall, more than 200,000 people, according to organizers, came out to rally for israel. >> we're here really for future generations, as well as the present, to be sure these atrocities end. >> we want peace, we want this to be over. >> byron: all demanding the safe return of the kidnapped hostages in gaza. >> bring them home, bring them home! >> byron: calling for an end to increasing anti-semitism in the u.s. >> it's 39 days. it's not acceptable. and the world should be screaming. and we're here to scream. >> byron: it's been 39 days since rachel goldberg and jonathan polin have heard from their 23-year-old son, hersh.

we pet them before they joined the rally. rachel one of the speakers. hersh is one of the 240 hostages held by hamas in gaza. >> the world loves putting this in the box of israeli/hamas conflict, going on for decade. that's a piece of the story. 240 people, many jewish, many not, from all over the world. we need the world to scream. >> by them home now! >> reporter: today's rally one more way for hersh's parents to shine a light on their son's plight while holding on to hope of his release. >> we hostage families have lived the last 39 days in slow motion torment. we all have third-degree burns on our souls. our hearts are bruised and seeping with misery. >> byron: with anti-semitism on the rise in the u.s., the head of the fbi recently warning the

senate that jewish communities are disproportionately targeted by hate crimes. >> the reality is that the jewish community is uniquely, uniquely targeted by pretty much every terrorist organization across the spectrum. that same population accounts for something like 60% of all religious-based hate crimes. so they need our help. >> reporter: bella inburg was also in the crowd. she traveled from new york city to march, saying she's experienced that rise in anti-semitism firsthand. >> we made to it the rally, yay! people are piled in. it's amazing. >> byron: she's a junior at new york university. her grandparents, holocaust survivors. she says some of the signs she's seen at protests on campus have been shocking. >> i don't feel safe as a jewish student on campus. there was a sign that said, "white supremacists" with a star of david. that's a sign use the by the nazis to implicate jews back in

1939. seeing that in front of nyu's library, which as safe haven for jews, it's horrifying. >> reporter: she says she can't believe the same university she's loved the past three years is now home to defaced signs of hostages in gaza. >> her name is amelia and she was attacked from her home by hamas. 4,000 plus children murdered in gas, they scribbled on it. any taken life is awful. i don't know how many times i have to reiterate that. hang up your signs too. i don't know why ours need to be vandalized. >> reporter: last month nyu released a statement saying in part, "there is no place for hate at nyu, including anti-semitism and islamophobia." bella hopes nyu will take more decisive action to protect jewish students. it's a sentiment shared by these three students who also traveled from new york to the march in d.c. today. >> we've seen what's going on on

our campuses and we had to be here. it's terrifying. it's scary to be a college student on campus. >> shalom, friends. >> byron: among those who took the stage in b.c., politicians, activists, and celebrities. including actress debra messing. >> our light will shine until the darkness is defeated. >> please give it up for yahu. >> byron: surprising the crowd with "one day," a call for hope and unity and a brighter tomorrow. ♪ one day one day one day ♪ >> byron: when we come back, unholy singer kim petras saying she's kicked the door open for others to follow her through. ♪ something unholy ♪ ♪ while she's dropping it she'll be popping it she'll put it down

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♪ >> byron: welcome back. she made history as the first openly transgender artist to win a major category grammy. kim petras is embracing that spotlight and expanding what it means to be a pop star. here's my "nightline" coanchor juju chang. ♪ and the rock stars go ♪ >> juju: kim petras is on top of the world. >> i wish i could be on stage all the time. i'm such a -- confident, know exactly what i'm doing person on stage. >> juju: and you feel the love?

>> totally, which is the best feeling in the world. >> juju: the "heart to break" song strer a bona fide changemaker. ♪ they said i'd never put myself back together ♪ ♪ going to give you my heart to break ♪ >> juju: dubbed by fans the nuprin sister of pop. now the "unholy" singer baring it all again. the first out trans woman to win a major category grammy. ♪ have some body shots unholy ♪ >> juju: best pop duo with sam smith for that number one viral chart top they are past february. >> sam graciously wanted me to accept this award, because i'm the first transgender woman to win this award. [ cheers and applause ] >> juju: her very existence in the music industry a catalyst for change. what has changed, do you think, in the way a trans pop star navigates the world? what has changed around you?

>> people think it's possible. i think that's kind of the one thing that i've seen change. i think really, when i at first started out, it was be a songwriter, be behind the scenes. you know, that wasn't my dream. i wanted to be on stage. and all of that. >> juju: you're the one who made that change. you're the changemaker. >> thank you so much. i just want to inspire other people who feel in any way different or like people think they can do what they want to do or be a pop star, be an actor, be whatever they want to be. but the difficulties definitely were that people just constantly asked, "well, you seem like you're just going to be a niche artist forever because you're a transgender." i don't think you should put that limitation on anyone. i hope i helped kick the doors open. >> juju: the pop star says she still wants more. >> it's a fun song. >> juju: we caught up at the recording academy's offices in new york. do you ever look around and think, this is the moment where i've made it big?

>> i think if i ever feel that way, my career's going to be over. i just don't ever want to feel like i've made it. i think being an artist is kind of a lifelong quest for beauty and greatness. >> juju: that quest for greatness a trail she's blazing herself. she started kicking doors open at just 16, releasing demos online and honing her songwriting chops. >> i definitely started out writing songs for gay clubs. because that's been my safe place since i was a kid, my place i first discovered that other people out there like the same intense pop music that i do. >> juju: that discovery inspiring her to take matters into her own hands. in 2017, she independently released her debut single, "i don't want it at all." ♪ i don't want it i don't want it i don't want it i don't want it i don't want it i don't want it at all ♪ >> reporter: the catchy anthem featuring a paris hilton cameo

streamed over 50 million times on spotify alone. >> i have very bratty songs about wanting all my clothes designer, wanting everything handed to me. which is very far away from my life. but it's such a fun fantasy for me to explore in songwriting and opens so many doors and perspectives. >> juju: she went on to independently release multiple mix tapes and eps before signing with a major label, republic records, in 2021 when she began recording "problematik." what does it mean to you? >> i think i felt i was a problem since i was a kid, because there was a lot of figuring out when i was young, and i was transgender so i felt like a problem to my parents. i felt like at school, people didn't understand me. trying to be who i am outwardly and very confident in that -- that just always caused problems in my life. so me and my friends, for fun, kind of just started saying

"problematik" about it, instead of problematic. >> juju: petra's transition as a young teen in germany before moving to l.a. to pursue pop stardom -- do you feel there's been bash lack because of trans visibility? >> i have felt the backlash. i have been demonstrated at at concerts. i'm very scared of it. i don't like trans people being treated as a pawn, as kind of being talked about as all being the same. i think, really, a lot of the times it's a much more personalized thing and not a thing that should be generalized so drastically. because what everybody needs is something different. >> juju: uniquely herself and reaching new heights. we're with her for a sold-out night of her latest international tour. >> there's something over the top about it that is kind of what your fan base loves, in a way? >> thank god, yeah. they just get me, thank god.

♪ my coconuts ♪ >> juju: never one to shy away from the provocative or the "problematik." you've empowered yourself with, i'm problematik. this idea of a slut is a bit of an insult or can be in certain contexts? >> i think it's unfair how women are treated differently in sexual matters, how many partners they've had. i think that conversation is just so tired and unnecessary at this point. i just think because of so many kind of taboos in my life, i'm just on a mission kind of to make sex fun and not shame people for sex. >> juju: slut shaming is a thing. >> it is a huge thing. and i think it's disgusting and people need to stop. i think it's painful. >> juju: embracing her own sexuality and identity she says has been key in her artistic journey. her devoted fans, known as bun

heads, can't get enough. >> we're here to see kim petras, our angel and queen. >> lord and savior. >> she's just a powerful person, she doesn't care what people think about her. >> she's so cute, so sweet, really cares about her fans. >> juju: aside from your grammy, what are you most proud of this your career? >> what i'm most proud of this my career is my fan base. >> i love you! >> as a pop star, i didn't really believe in myself that much until i found them. and then till i was on stage with them. >> thank you so much! >> byron: be on you want to be. our thanks to juju. kim's latest album, "feed the beast" and "problematik" are now streaming. when we return, matthew perry's costars speak out, and a "friends" themed coffee house opens in boston. to help protect.

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♪ >> byron: and finally tonight, moving tributes to matthew perry. "friends" costar matt leblanc and courteney cox opening up for the first time. leblanc posting, "spread your wings and fly, brother, you're finally free." cox saying she's, "so grateful for every moment i had with you." this as a "friends" themed coffee shop called central perk opened in boston today, modeled after the show's meetup spot by the same name. that's "nightline" for this evening. catch our full episodes on