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good morning and welcome to "face the nation." i'm margaret brennan in washington. there have been dramatic developments overnight in the mid-yeast as the israelis step up air and artillery strikes, now firing missiles into southern gaza, an area where they've early urged residents to evacuate. there are still five to 600 americans trapped in gaza, and at least ten americans who are unaccounted for and potentially hostages of hamas. plus, there are clashes at israel's northern border with lebanon, home to the iranian-backed terror group hezbollah. overnight, defense secretary lloyd austin deployed additional air systems. we have a lot to get to today. but we begin in israel with charlie d'agata. >> reporter: the full force of israeli airstrikes and artillery resumed overnight and this

morning. and a rare airstrike in the west bank on a suspected hamas terror cell. two weeks of heavy bombardment has left gaza in ruins with the death toll that surpassed 4,300 people, another 13,000 injured. there had been a brief lull with the release of american hostages judith raanan and her daughter natalie from chicago, the first and only hostages to emerge from captivity. rescuing the rest presents an unprecedented change. >> this is the responsibility of the state of 200 hostages, infants, wounded. there's no way the country can move without taking this into consideration. this would be an element in the handling of the war. >> reporter: a war israeli forces are readying more than

350,000 reservists for. we've witnessed a steady buildup of hundreds of thousands of israeli troops and heavy equipment like this in staging areas all pointed in one direction about a mile from gaza. the stated aim of the complete destruction of hamas means an invasion on a scale never seen here before. former major general israel ziv once expanded israeli forces in gaa. >> we are completely changing the tactics. we are going to lose a lot of fire. we don't want to play to their hands, to the traps, to whatever they prepare for us. >> reporter: this morning the israeli spokesman said that that strike on a suspected terror cell eliminated what he called a ticking bomb, while the wave of attacks overnight in gaza city resulted in the deaths of dozens of hamas militants. >> that's charlie d'agata

reporting from tel aviv. imtiaz tyab spent time over the weekend and he is back in west jerusalem. >> we've seen massive demonstrations. over a hundred thousand people took to the streets of the british capital demanding an end to israel's war in gaza. there's also been similar scenes in arab capitals from sana in war-torn yemen to cairo where the egyptian president al sisi called for a, quote, day of rage just hours after his phone call with president biden earlier this week. it was a phone call in which a deal was reached between egypt, the u.s. and israel to allow 20 trucks of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the gaza strip which started arriving only yesterday on the israeli occupied west bank, the violence there is only getting worse. we were at one protest where we witnessed israeli snipers shoot

at least three palestinians. earlier, we spoke with the president of the palestinian national initiative and a member of the palestinian legislative council since 2006. >> i'm shattered. i'm angry. mainly because i don't understand why this all should happen. but what breaks my heart so much is the suffering of civilians. whether palestinian or israeli. and what i don't understand why the president of the united states comes here and instead of telling israeli enough is enough, you wanted to respond, you responded, you already killed many palestinians. instead of that, he's encouraging them to have an invasion, a ground invasion. >> so you think president biden's visit was a catastrophic mistake? >> catastrophic from three aspects. first, it was a huge political and diplomatic failure, as i told you, because nobody wanted to meet with him except

israelis. second, it's a strategic mistake, of course, it's dragging the united states into a very dangerous area where war crimes are committed. and, third, because he is consolidating the absence of peace process. >> do you see a scenario where this ends? >> yes, one scenario, there is no other scenario. immediate change of the behavior of western leaders who are now participating and encouraging netanyahu to commit these war crimes, and the united states is the only country that has the real leverage over israel, and they should tell israel to stop, stop, enough, let's have ceasefire, let's have immediate exchange of prisoners so that all israeli prisoners would come back home safe, and let's initiate a true peace process to solve the roots of the problem, which is occupation and the system of apartheid. >> now, efforts to create a palestinian state have been at a

standstill for years now, largely because israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu's successive calls. that would lead to a two-state solution, it's done very little practically and diplomatically to advance that goal. and after hamas' brutal attack and a looming israeli ground war in gaza, it's a goal that seems even further away than ever. >> we go now to secretary of state antony blinken who is at the state department. good morning to you, mr. secretary. tension is very high in the region. are you changing your security posture, are you pulling any u.s. personnel out of the area? >> margaret, we are concerned at the possibility of iranian proxies escalating their attacks against our own personnel, our own people. we're taking every measure to make sure that we can defend

them, and, if necessary, respond decisively, not at all what we're looking for, not at all what we want, but we'll be prepared if that's what they choose to do. >> so that sounds like quite possibly pulling people out. in terms of the threat from iran, you just referenced there, president biden in his oval office address said that the u.s. would hold iran accountable. what does accountable mean? >> well, what you've seen already, margaret, is a very clear message from the president backed up by the deployment of two of our largest aircraft carrier battle groups to make sure that it's clear, no one should take advantage of this moment to escalate to further attacks on israel or attacks on us on our personnel. and this is not by way of in terms of what we're doing by provocation. it's designed to deter, designed to make clear that no one should use this moment in any way to escalate. >> we'll stay tuned. in terms of what's happening in gaza, i know there are an

estimated five to 600 americans there. is there any chance israel let's some of those americans out or egypt allows some of those americans in? >> you're exactly right. and to date, at least, hamas has blocked them from leaving, showing once again it's total disregard for civilians of any kind who are stuck in gaza. >> have you asked the israeli government to delay in order to give you more time to broker the release of these hostages? >> first, step back for a second, because it's important to remember what happened. it's incredible how quickly that gets lost. because it was only a couple of weeks ago that hamas invaded israel with its terrorist fighters and slaughtered. and i use that word very deliberately, slaughtered so many people. again, men, women, young children, babies, old people, you name it. and they continue to rain rockets down on israel. when i was there a few days ago we had to take shelter a couple

of times because of the rockets from hamas. so my point is this. no country, no country can be expected to tolerate this, to live with this. and, as we said from the start, israel has both the right and even the obligation not only to defend itself but to try to make sure that, to the best of its ability, this can't happen again. so, we talked to the israelis about what they're planning, we give them our best advice, it's important, as we've said, not only what they do but how they do it, particularly when it comes to making sure the civilians are as protected as they possibly can be in this crossfire of hamas is making. but in terms of what we're talking to israel about with regard to their military operations, it really is focused on both how they do it and how best to achieve the results that they seek. >> so, let's talk about how they do it. you're right to lay out just how absolutely horrific that attack was two weeks ago. turning the page to what has happened during the following

two weeks, unicef says 1,524 children have been killed in the gaza strip during these bombings. why isn't the u.s. calling for at least a temporary ceasefire? >> first, margaret, when i hear the stories when, i see the pictures of young children who have lost their lives in this conflict of hamas' making, whoever they are, whether they are, whether they're palestinians, whether they're israelis, whether they're jews or muslims. it hits me, and i know it hits virtually everyone right in the heart. and that's why it's so important to do everything possible to protect them and why it's so important to do everything possible to get assistance to those who need it. >> so why not ask for at least a temporary pause in the bombing as was proposed last week?

>> we've seen, first of all, that in order to get assistance in, we've had that happen, and you saw the first 20 trucks go in yesterday. i expect more will follow today and the day after that we want to make sure that we have sustained delivery of food, medicine, water, the things that people need. at the same time, i said something a minute ago that we have to remember. israel has to do everything it can to make sure this doesn't happen again. freezing things in place where they are now would allow hamas to remain where it is and to repeat what it's done some time in the future. no country could accept that. >> one of my colleagues who is onthe ground in israel and has traveled to the west bank conducted an interview with mr. -- a palestinian politician, i'm sure you know. he said he doesn't understand why president biden, when he was in israel, did not say enough is enough, you wanted to respond

and you responded, you you killed 4,000 palestinians, stop. instead, you're encouraging a ground invasion. how do you respond to enough is enough? >> enough is enough should've been the case with hamas two weeks ago. it would be good to hear the entire world speaking clearly and with one voice about the actions that hamas took, about the slaughter of people, about the fact that that should be absolutely intolerable, unacceptable to anyone anywhere, any country, any people. second. >> in terms of u.s. interest in the region, one of america's closest allies, the king of jordan, gave an impassioned speech saying palestinian lives seem to matter less than israeli ones, our lives matter less than other lives, the application of international law is optional

and human rights appear to be boundaries based on races and religions. that's a warning from one of america's closest friends in the region that this is a dangerous message to be sending, and it could have blowback. are you concerned? >> margaret, every life, palestinian, israeli, jewish, muslim, arab, every life has equal worth. when i see the reports, when i see the photographs, when i hear the stories of young children, palestinian children who have been killed or injured, it hits me right in the gut, too. just as it does when i see these other stories, wherever it is. we had here in our own country a little boy, 6 years old, wadea in chicago, who was viciously

murdered, apparently because he was a palestinian-american. a little boy, 6 years old, didn't do anything to anyone. i feel that strongly across the board no matter where it is. but this is on hamas, and the fact is hamas doesn't represent the palestinian people. it doesn't represent their just cause. it doesn't represent their aspiration, and legitimate aspiration for a state of their own. on the contrary, it does everything to make life worse and more miserable. >> does the u.s. assess that it is actually possible for israel to destroy both hamas as an entity and its ideology, is it actually a military possibility? >> the best way, the only way to defeat an ideology no matter how warped, in the case of hamas it's about as warped as it possibly can be, is to make sure that there is a better, a clear

alternative for people. that alternative is very clear, and it's very stark. we have, on the one hand, countries throughout the region who want to come together to integrate, to normalize relations, and to lift up the rights of the palestinian people, to be able to have a future where they work together, go to school together, do business together, travel to each others' countries. that's one vision. the other vision is the vision that hamas has, death, destruction, an aislism, darkness. now, the responsibility that those of us who believe in the first vision is to do everything possible to make it real so that people not only see it but they can achieve it. that's exactly what we were working on before this horrific attack on october 7th. and that's the vision that we ned to get back to. but, at the same time, we also have to deal with the fact that hamas represents an active ongoing threat, and that has to be dealt with too. >> mr. secretary, thank you for your time this morning.

>> thanks, margaret. and "face the nation" will be back in one minute with former congresswoman liz cheney. so stay with us. (other money manager) different how? you sell high commission investment products, right? (fisher investments) nope. fisher avoids them. (other money manager) well, you must earn commissions on trades. (fisher investments) never at fisher investments. (other money manager) ok, then you probably sneak in some hidden and layered fees. (fisher investments) no. we structure our fees so we do better when clients do better. that might be why most of our clients come from other money managers. at fisher investments, we're clearly different. this is american infrastructure. megawatts of power, rails and open road, and essential services of every kind. all running on countless invisible networks, making it a prime target for cyberattacks. but the same ai-powered security that protects all of google also defends the systems running america's infrastructure. for these services. for the 336 million of us living here.

♪ we're now joined by former republican congresswoman liz cheney. good morning and good to have you in person. >> food to be here. >> well, we've been talking about what's been happening in the middle east r i know you watch the region closely. president biden counselled netanyahu during his trip to israel last week, and repeated a certain phrase i want to play for you here in his oval office address. >> but i caution this while you feel that rage, don't be consumed by it. after 9/11, we were enraged in the united states. while we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes. >> and that was a nod to 9/11 and the u.s. invasion of iraq potentially an overreach. do you agree with that warning president biden is issuing there that there is the risk here of

israel taking actions that could backfire on their own security? >> i think that our support in defense of israel needs to be unwavering. i think for the most part that's what president biden has demonstrated. i thought that most of the themes he laid out in his oval office address were exactly right about the importance of american leadership, the importance of understanding this is a battle between the forces of freedom and the forces of tyranny and terrorism. with respect to his comments about 9/11 and post-9/11, i would say the fact that we had not a single additional terrorist attack, mass casualty terrorist attack in over 20 years now demonstrates that the steps that we took were in fact effective, and i would say the biggest mistake, frankly, post-9/11 was the hasty withdrawal from afghanistan that president trump started, president biden completed. so, i think we need to set our differences about those issues aside. we certainly do have them. but with respect to what's happening in the world today, i

think it's crucially important for the world to see that the united states, we are united across party lines in the defense of israel and in the importance of destroying hamas. and also a very strong warning that the president has issued to iran, and that, frankly, the biden administration policy needs to be changed to make it consistent with the kind of warning that we've seen. >> but in terms of that comment about reacting from a place of rage and unintended consequences, secretary blinken said the only way to defeat an ideology is by offering a better alternative. what is the better alternative for a conflict that has been going on for this many decades? >> there is no notion in which this is a battle of ideologies when you look at what hamas did. and i think that the world has moved on far too quickly from what hamas did. hamas slaughtered innocents. they invaded israel and they slaughtered women and children and tortured people and raped people. and the fact that the world has

moved on from that now, that is an ideology, if it even is one, of evil. and so the way to battle that is making sure that you destroy hamas, making sure that we send a very clear message to iran that iran will face severe consequences if it tries to get involved here. we also, though, need to recognize the rising anti-semitism and the expressions of anti-semitism that we have seen across our country and across the world since october 7th must be absolutely rejected. and the world must stand against that. so, this is not moral equivalence, this is not a peace process question. this was out and out slaughter. and we absolutely stand against that. >> and cbs continues to tell those stories. so, just to be clear, the journalists have not moved on. when will you make a decision about whether you want to run for president of the united states? >> well, what i am doing right now, what i will continue to do is very much focus on making sure that we get people elected

at all levels who are serious, people who believe in the constitution. i think we're at a moment in this nation where we certainly have seen, we face significant threats internationally. we've got iran, russia, north korea, china, a raid against us. this is a threat atmosphere that we have not seen certainly since the end of world war ii. >> bob gates said ever but also that there's no other presidential alternative for america's vision in america's role in the world. >> i think that certainly you have seen some other alternatives. i think that it needs to be a much louder, we need a much louder voices within both parties. within my own party, i don't know if i should even call it my own party. within the republican party, the extent of people suggesting we should abandon ukraine, which essentially is surrendering in this battle between freedom and tyranny, and that would be very dangerous for our security. >> as you know, this massive national security package can't

pass until there's a speaker of the house. last month, you said congressman patrick mchenry would make a great speaker of the house. he said he's not looking for a job. is there anyone who can lead? is he an alternative? >> look, i think what you're seeing right now among the republicans in the house is a direct result of the decisions that kevin mccarthy made to embrace donald trump, to embrace the most radical and extreme members of our party to elevate them. so it's not a surprise that we are where we are. but it's a disgrace, and it's an embarrassment. there certainly are serious people among the republicans. i hope that one of them particularly i think it's important to not be an election denier. and i think everybody should be asked tomorrow tonight at the candidate forum of ukraine assistance. we face a global challenge, an existential threat, and how in the world could anybody defend at this moment surrendering to one of our adversaries by

walking away from ukraine. >> what do you think is driving the domestic threats against lawmakers within the republican party and also among some democrats? >> the domestic threats are absolutely being driven by donald trump and, unfortunately, some of his supporters who, in fact, have encouraged and taken steps that have resulted in, as we saw on january 6th, political violence. when you have a member of congress reportedly like warren davidson in ohio. in a meeting with jim jordan last week, they were getting death threats, one of them told me that in response the congressman said that is your fault for voting against him. that is the type of encouragement and violence that has no place in this party, should have no place in our country. >> congresswoman, it's great to have you here. >> great to be here. thank you, margaret. >> we'll be back.

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