>> and that is tonight's reidout. stay with msnbc throughout the night for the latest development of the war in israel. tonight at nine eastern, rachel maddow will be joined by congressman dan goldman of new york, who was in israel with his family at the time of the attack. but, first, national security council spokesperson john kirby joins jen psaki to discuss how the united states is supporting israel, following the unprecedented attacks from hamas. inside with jen psaki starts right now. ♪ ♪ ♪ starts right now. >> it's been less than 72 hours since saturday's surprise assault on israel. hamas claims they have now taken over 150 hostages. and president biden said today that americans may be among them. also today, hamas said they will execute one civilian hostage and broadcast their

killing every time israel targets civilians in gaza without warning. horrifying videos released over the past few days show hamas fighters seizing women, children, seniors, and their families. among them are the wife and two young daughters of a father who told me just yesterday, they are my babies. for a parent, it's the most horrific thought. tonight, i would speak to a woman who's five family members were picked out from their homes and are now being held hostage by hamas. the hostages are reportedly being held in locations spread across gaza, which further complicates what the israeli defense minister referred to this morning as a planned full siege on gaza. he also promised a full blockade, saying, quote, no power, no food, no gas, everything is closed. we are fighting human animals and we act accordingly. today, prime minister benjamin netanyahu warned that the images of devastation and destruction seen over the last few days are just the beginning. he -- says they have called up at least 300,000 military

reservists since the start of the attack which could be in preparation for potential ground operation. so far, more than 1000 people have been killed in the fighting, including more than 260 people at a music festival, where members of hamas gunned down attendees and left their bodies strewn across the desert. at least 700 people are dead in israel, including at least 11 american citizens, and more than 600 in gaza. those numbers are going to rise, in part because all of the dead and missing are not accounted for, including american citizens. and in part because this is now a tinderbox where the fighting is escalating with every hour that passes. there are also growing concerns tonight about this conflict expanding into bordering countries. explosions were heard for several hours today in the border region between israel and lebanon. as israel's air force said it was striking lebanese territory using combat helicopters. lebanon's hezbollah militant group says several of their fighters were killed, and they fired back. also tonight, new concerns

about iran's possible role in all of this, after the wall street journal reported that hamas leadership grain that can run directed them to launch saturdays surprise attack. that has been denied by other members of hamas as well as by iran. and the white house maintains there's no evidence of a direct link at this point. so, if you are sitting in the white house tonight, and i have sat in the white house on nights similar to this. the white house that is now lit with the blue and white of israel. you have been in a series of roving meetings since saturday morning. you have barely slept as you wait the absolute devastation being felt by a close ally. the fear of the family members with loved ones taken by hamas, and the american citizens who may be among them. you are considering the need to move quickly, and how quickly you can move to reinforce the military needs of israel, to meet their requests, to do all of that without a speaker of the house, and without clarity, because we have never been at this moment before on whether congress has the authority to support additional aid. the president of national security officials have been on the phone.

i promise you, they are on the phone constantly, not just with their counterparts and israel but also with countries in the region, including those who have direct relationships with hamas, like egypt and qatar. you are also continuing to assess the role of not just iran but iranian proxies, including hezbollah. this is all in the mind of president biden, as he prepares to speak to the country tomorrow afternoon. starting us off tonight is msnbc's chief correspondent ali velshi in tel aviv, israel. ali, thank you so much for being with us, and also for being on the ground, bringing all of us the reporting. so, tell us what's the latest and what you have been seeing over the past couple of hours. >> well, i'm grateful to hear they're gonna be able to give us a sense of what is going on, what people are thinking about. what is happening on the ground here it's getting worse. several things are happening. a few hours ago, we had incoming missiles from gaza, rockets from gaza. we heard the iron dome system working eight times in a row. we've heard jets going down. we know that there have been constant attacks. last night, 500 of them on

sites that the israeli defense forces say are hamas military sites or operational sites. we also know that civilians are getting killed. the death toll in gaza has gone up. and as you said, hamas has said, if this happens again without warning, they will start executing hostages. and the hostages are central to this operation. the bottom line here is that there is a combination of grief and fear, and deep emotion in israel right now. things that people say they haven't felt since 1973. they called up 300,000 reservists. now, they have already called up reservists because they have been having skirmishes in the west bank for ten months. so, they are actually short of reservists. they have sent flights flights to bring people who are in their reserves back to israel so they can be, they can join in the fight. everybody is very, very scared about what happens next. mostly, though, benjamin netanyahu came out here and warned folks in gaza to leave. they can't leave, as you know.

and he says that what they are going to do two gaza is going to echo for generations. well, that is a tricky military exercise, what do you do? how do you get into gaza especially when there are hostages there? there's a lot of unknowns tonight, but it's feeling worse. >> as you said, people can't leave their, because there's been a blockade on both sides. so, it is basically impossible to leave. i also wanted to ask you, ali, you've been covering the region for so long. there's also been a back and forth today at the israeli lebanon border. why does that matter? and what are you paying attention to over there? >> it matters because the last serious war that israel had was with hezbollah on the lebanese side. hezbollah has proven military capability. hamas didn't. i mean, what hamas did, they're gonna be all sorts of questions as to who help them, who train them. they did not have to sort of capability. they have that now. hamas has that, and that's a real war. so, on saturday, hezbollah sent a couple of rockets into israel. it was more of a sympathy, we are on your side thing.

it was not a real attack of some sorts. it has been going on for a couple of days. there's some incursions today. and israeli commander was actually killed in it today. so, they are very worried about whether or not hezbollah joins this fight because then israel will have a fight on its northern border and its southern border. and things are heating up in the west bank again. i think there have been four shootings at checkpoints just tonight. so, israel is now potentially looking at a fight on three sides in a country that's already strapped for reservists. you know, it is getting military aid from the united states, which is always has. but that's not what it needs. israel doesn't need more sophisticated military ability. it just doesn't need a fight on three sides. so, they are worried about that. >> and the potential for expansion, that's concerning for all of us. ali velshi, thank you for being there. thank you for being with us tonight from tel aviv. and we look forward to watching more of your reporting throughout the evening. and, tonight, we learned president biden will deliver a speech tomorrow after the terrorist attacks in israel, in as a response. and joining us now from the white house is john kirby, he's

the national security council scrutiny to for strategic communications. so, john kirby, i have known you for so long. we learned tonight that the president is going to speak tomorrow, which i know that means that it's a very late night of writing, editing, for everyone who wants to get this right. what can we expect to hear from him tomorrow? >> i think you're gonna expect to he hear him make very clear, how much we do stand in support of israel. it will talk about the conversations that he's had with prime minister netanyahu, the importance of making it clear to the prime minister how solidly we stand behind them, the support that we are providing, and we would likely have to provide in coming days and weeks. and i think he you will also hear him talk very plainly about our concerns over americans there in israel. obviously, we now have 11 families, american families, who've got the worst news possible today. and yesterday. and we have some americans that are unaccounted for. and we are concerned that they could be among the hostages that hamas is holding. and i think you heard the president talk and very

heartfelt tone about the importance to get all the information possible on these americans, get in communication with their families, and do whatever we can to get them home. >> it is so heartbreaking and horrifying to be in the white house tonight, and government, and talking about american citizens you can identify, and try to get more information. is there anything more you have learned? you mentioned 11. are there any additional americans you have identified? anything you have learned about hostages that may be held there since earlier today? >> no, i wish i had an update for you, jen. but we don't. we've been working on this very, very hard, feverishly, with israeli officials. and obviously, we are hearing from lots of family members who are calling in and asking if they have anything on their family members. that's also, that helps us get a gauge of how many are out there. i don't want to get to the numbers. but there are a number of americans who are unaccounted for. we don't know if they're just lost or missing, or even hurt. we certainly don't know if they're being held hostage. but that is a concern right now. >> there are many, many, many dual citizens living in israel.

so, i would anticipate those numbers will go up. i want to ask you, i mean, i have worked for president biden, spent a lot of time with him. you are working for him, and have worked for him for sometime. i know he is very hard at work on the phones. but he's also consuming these same horrifying images that we are all seeing. you are seeing members of the national security team is saying, is also human being. how is he doing in this moment? >> well, this is a grave situation. and the president understands that nobody has been a bigger supporter of israel or the israeli people than joe biden for sure. so, this is very painful for the president to watch and to see happening to a country and to a people who he initially loves and respects. it's painful and it's hard for all of us here. and that's easy to say because i'm here on the north long, but obviously we know that the real pain and the real agony, there is suffering is going on where ali is tonight, inside israel, where people are really grappling with violence of an escalating nature every single hour. so, we are more mindful of that. and we want to make sure, and i think again, you will hear the president talk about this, the

american people know how seriously we are taking this. and you are right, jen, he has been on the phone almost all day, certainly over the last couple of days, getting updates from his national security team, talking to foreign leaders. he had a call this afternoon with the leaders of great britain, germany, italy, and france, the so-called quaint conversation, to make sure that we are all lashed up with our european allies and partners in terms of coordinating our efforts to support israel going forward. >> i know very much friends, from him, and all of you, the possibility that there are americans among these hostages, as well as the hostages from israel. there are nationalities being held. and i know the president has also said that he wants to help do everything he can to address this hostage crisis. part of these conversations you've been having a national security officials have been having have been with the qataris, egyptians, and others who do have direct contact with hamas. is part of those conversations been about negotiating the return of some of these hostages? >> we have certainly been in touch with the partners in the region about what they can do

to help with this hostage situation. and like you said, it's not just americans that are of concern. there are many nationalities represented in the hostage population. we believe. and so, yes, we are having those conversations. i won't detail here where those conversations are going. but we are actively working in that space. it's a very, very sensitive situation right now, as in addition to the hostage taking, which is clearly part of hamas plan, there's a lot of violent fighting going on in and around there as well. >> certainly, one of the ways to connect with hamas is through these counterpart -- through these other countries who do talk directly with them. we learned that the u.s. is sending navy ships closer to israel. this has been confirmed. you've been talking about this, as a show of support. there is also this question, and you and i have both dealt with this in the past, about the consideration of whether americans aren't safe there, weather isn't ordered a departure, or the evacuation of americans, is that an active

discussion that's happening happening within the administration at this point in time? >> oh, yes, absolutely. i mean, the state department is trying to keep in touch with as many americans as they can, make sure that they know consular access, administrative support is available to the through the embassy, keeping them informed about the security situation on the ground, making sure that they take the appropriate steps to look after their own safety. there are still many viable options for americans who may want to leave israel. airport is still open. not all commercial carriers are flying out of ben gurion airport, but many are particularly international air carriers. and there's still some viable ground departures, if people want to leave israel via road, that's still possible as well. but we are actively talking, making sure that people know what the options are. we are thinking through whatever contingencies might have to occur. >> you've spent a lot of time explaining military assistance to the public. i wanted to ask you, the reports that israel have requested, iron dome intercepts,

small diameter bombs, ammunition, and others, are all of these requests, once that the president would be supportive of? we will hear more from him tomorrow on which of these he will be granting. >> there is a 21 first tranche. i say first tranche, as you know, we have been providing security since -- for quite some time. but since these attacks, there's already a new tranche of material go into israel, as you and i speak. i don't know that it's arrived yet. but it's definitely on the way. and it does include interceptor missiles, some artillery ammunition, and other types of munitions that we know, important for the israeli defense forces. and we are having active, almost intuitive conversations with israeli officials, particularly on the military side about what their needs might be going forward in the games and weeks ahead. and we will keep that conversation going to make sure that we can replenish their stocks as in the real time as possible because they're obviously expending a lot of these munitions and some of these attacks. >> before i let you go, i wanted to ask you about what we

saw, the fire that was on the border of lebanon today between israeli forces and members of hezbollah. how concerned are you? and what is happening within the administration to kind of bring the temperature down there, or reduce the possibility of this escalating into a conflict beyond the borders of israel? >> certainly, we don't want to see and expand their, escalate at all. and we are concerned about what you are seeing there in the north of israel coming out of lebanon. i mean, hezbollah does not represent the lebanese people. and they know that. and i don't think the lebanese people want to be involved in this conflict. but we are watching this very closely. it is of concern. the first volley it was just a few rockets. there seems to be now a little bit more activity here. it is certainly not in israel's interest to open up a whole new front here in this war that they are 14 fighting against hamas down in gaza. and you talk about especially, the carrier strike group that the president ordered in the eastern met, a big reason for doing that, obviously, to make

sure that we can continue to defend our own national security interests but, to send a strong signal to other actors and other nation states that we will do what we have to do to protect our national security interests, obviously to look after allies and partners, and to deter them from escalating this or getting involved. anybody who might feel towards israel to jump in here and try to take advantage of it, we want to deter that kind of activity. that is exactly why that stray group is where it is. >> john kirby, thank you for your service. i know these are long days, heartbreaking days, quenching days. thank you for joining me this evening. up next, as the war in israel continues to escalate, so do the chances for this conflict to expand, as we were just talking about. we have been watching extreme rockets at the border between israel and lebanon. former g.i. cia director john brennan is standing by with us and as the situation on the ground right now. we are back after a very quick gray. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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minister netanyahu delivered a nationally televised address, comparing the horrific actions of hamas to the terrorist group ice, and emphasizing that what we have seen so far in israel's counteroffensive is only the beginning. tensions escalate on israel's northern border with lebanon. israel has been tweeting rocket strikes with a lebanon-based militant group hezbollah, and today, the israeli military announced that a, quote, it neutralizes number of terrorist infiltrators who crossed from

lebanon into israel. and just tonight, the idea put out a statement at one of its deputy commanders was killed in the confrontation. joining me now is john brennan. he's the former cia director under president barack obama and senior national security analyst for msnbc. so, i wanted to start with this speech because obviously, he emphasized, prime minister netanyahu, emphasized resolve, striking back against hamas, as he spoke to the israeli people. he did not mention the hostages. what did you make of that? >> clearly, benjamin netanyahu is trying to demonstrate strength and resolve, in terms of trying to retaliate against hamas. it made it clear to me that he was focusing on trying to crush hamas's leadership, as well as destroy any residual terrorist capability that it might have. but as you point out, he did not make any mention of the hostages, the captives, the innocent civilians who are there. as well as trying to avoid any type of unnecessary casualties. so, clearly, i think it's going to follow through on his promises to this.

you don't have a retaliation here that is going to, hopefully not, bring gaza to rubble. but it is clear that he is going to move with a vengeance, i think, against hamas in ways that's going to, i think, put in jeopardy the fate of those hostages. >> to that point, i mean, you have obviously been a part of implementing or planning a number of military operations. is it even possible to implement one of this without risking the killing of all of the hostages who are there? >> it is clear there is no good path forward here. and so, i can understand why netanyahu once to retaliate against hamas. but he has to take into consideration that in fact, maybe playing into hamas the's hands, hamas clearly anticipated that israel is going to retaliate with vengeance. and so, as it is prepared now for this invading force, of that israel is putting together. so, i do think that he has to be very mindful that he can make this situation worse. yes, he has to retaliate. yes, he has to crush hezbollah 's terrorist making ability.

but at the same time, he cannot just go in there and just disregard the fate of these hostages, these captives, these israelis and others innocent men, women, and children in gaza, and there are u.s. persons among the gaza population as well. so, again, i'm hoping that is going to be able to use some, some, you know, discipline as what is going to do on the military front. >> you have been a part of many red teaming, as it's called. actually, it's an exercise that's and government when you play out the scenarios. if the israeli defense forces and prime minister netanyahu go in, and they do level gaza, there's 2.5 million, 3 million people there. what happens? then this conflict does not and then. what happens after that? >> no, i think hamas plan is to try to extend this conflict. i think they felt there was a hopelessness because their interests were being ignored. they felt just by the israeli government, by the outside world, including other arab states, so, i think their intention is to try and brought in this conflict, not only bring attention to the plight of the palestinians, but to get the other arab states involved.

and also, maybe to bring in hezbollah around them. so, this is a very, very dangerous time. this can spiral out of control and escalate quite quickly. and that's why we have to make sure that, the meeting taking place between washington and the biden is in israel, it's gonna be one of support. but at the same time, counseling some restraint so that it is not in fact escalate even further. >> i wanted to ask you about the role of iran, and their proxies. and i know you have said that there is no proof that they have been involved, that the u.s. government has also said. how is the u.s. government making this assessment, though? they said to date, they don't have any knowledge. how did they determine? that how long it could be? >> i think you have to go back to the intelligence because there is so much intelligence that is acquired that they did not process. so i think they're gonna be looking at the period of time that led up to this attack and to see what role iran had, and to see about the contacts between iran and hamas. and to see whether or not iran did more than just provide material support and financing, because the sophistication of this attack, the planning that

went into it, you know, it is the iranian intelligence and security services provide a type of assistance? did they do some training? and i do think that the israelis and the united states, as well as other intelligence services around the globe are gonna be looking very carefully at that, which raises the specter that israel, in fact, could take action against iran at some point. >> it sounds there's more we could learn there. we don't know yet, but there's a lot of flags here, the intelligence services would be looking into. >> absolutely. >> director brennan, thank you so much for joining me today, providing so much clarity on what's happening. up next, i will talk to a woman who is desperately searching for information about her five family members who were kidnapped from their home in israel over the weekend. she believes they are being held in gaza where airstrikes continue tonight. we are back after this. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ get help reaching your goals with j.p. morgan wealth plan, a digital money coach in the chase mobile® app. use it to set and track your goals, big and small... and see how changes you make today... could help put them within reach.

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>> right now, the hostage crisis in israel is only growing more dire, after a chilling effect from hamas about possible executions. as of this evening, israel says more than 150 men, women, and children have been taken against their will to gaza. and that number could rise. but it's important to remember that behind every number we see is a person with a family, desperate, waiting for some word about what has happened to them, and where they were taken, whether they are safe, whether they're alive? even more heartbreaking are those wanting to learn about multiple family members, families like 12 year old -- he is seen in this video being taken by hamas militants. he was sticking along with his sister sahae, his cousin,

they're 80 or old grandmother and her son-in-law. ♪ ♪ ♪ joining me now is one of their family members, abby own. she's an american who's been living in israel for eight years. happy, thank you so much for joining me this evening. i know it is late there. and i wanted to start by asking you how you are doing, how your immediate family is doing right now? >> we are trying to manage the best we can. my immediate family, my three children who are somewhere around the house probably still awake, school is canceled, you know, everything is stopped to try to deal with issues at hand. >> understandable. your family that was taken, and i know you've been talking about this, wanting to make sure the american people and public hear about it, which is so important. but they range in age from 12 to 80. what can you tell us about them? i know that your daughter has special needs. what else should people know about your family members? >> they should know that they're there humans, you know, that this is not a political situation that this is a

humanitarian. and that they were taken from their homes and the most horrifying way possible. and that if anything, you know, these are people who are citizens of israel, who are patriotic, who love each other, and who love the land. and they are in the worst possible position right now. we just want to let people know about this so that they can help us bring them home safely. >> absolutely. and i know that's why you are out there this evening. there has been a lot of video that people have seen out there. i know that you learned about arez and him being taken, and hopefully him being still alive from social media. tell us a little bit about that, about how you learn? >> okay, israel is a tiny country at the end of the day. and we are all really, really connected. so, once it began, i started sharing information. and a lot of my good friends saw the name, and were able to make the connection, and sent me the video that was posted on social media. it is a super hard time to know

what to trust and we are to look, and there are some really amazing influencers who are trying to get out facts. and he somehow got the footage, and i was able to find out that way. and at this point, we are trying, you know, to share the information in other languages, he is an american citizen. and as you said, my daughter has special needs. this is something that goes against the human rights convention. this is children and elderly, and it is incomprehensible, horrific thing that's happening. and we want people to think about their parents and their siblings and their grandparents, and their children if they were in a situation, they would want them brought home. >> of course, they would. i'm a mother myself and i can't even imagine what you and your family members are feeling right now. i know you have talked a lot about this publicly. and you had not, as of my last knowledge, heard from the israeli government, or have been in touch with the israeli government. as anything changed on that front? >> nothing has changed.

but as i said, it's a small country. so, we are using every possible channel to get information. i want to be optimistic that we are gonna find out information soon. >> and as you have mentioned, -- a u.s. citizen, even in touch with the u.s. government. have they been helpful in any way to you? >> we have been in touch with both of the u.s. and the french embassies and consulates, because she actually has citizenships and both. and we are following the protocol. we're trying to make sure that all of their names are added. and that we are doing the kind of bureaucratic piece that we can. and i feel like we are checking that box. and this is the more important piece which is to help the american people understand what this is about, that this is about our people, that this is about our family, and that no one should ever be in this position. >> you have talked again a lot about this. but i think it's so important for people watching to understand what you have been through and what so many people there have been through. you have described hiding in a bunker when the air raid sirens went off. you came out and started getting messages from your

family that hamas was there in your house. they were all five in the same house. what were some of the other details that they shared with you at the time? >> they were in different houses because -- one children and other grandchildren or staying with her, in her house. and -- he was with two of his children in his home. and the message we were getting was that -- and the videos we were saying was that hamas was in israel. and thousands of terrorists were taken to neighborhoods and streets and slaughtering people. and we understood they were in the house, that they were overturning the home, and that they heard gunshots, and they were scared for your life. and we know now that they burnt the kibbutz, and then almost half of the inhabitants were slaughtered. and so, some of the families moved to other parts of israel for safety. we are heavily concerned for the others who we believe are in gaza. >> we are now learning this

threat from hamas regarding hostages, that i am sure is very difficult for you to hear about. and i just wanted to ask you, what do you want the israeli government to be doing in this moment? what would you like to be hearing from them? what would you like to be seeing them do to bring your family members home? >> i think any of us would like more information. i think we would want to know that diplomatic channels are being used. i don't know what diplomatic channels can be used with terrorists, again. i would say there's a difference between the palestinian people and hamas. hamas as a terror organization. and i don't know how you negotiate with terrorists. but i want the government, and i'm gonna have to trust the government and the military to find every possible way to bring at least more than 100 hostages home safely. >> abby, if your family was watching right now, and i certainly hope that many of them are, what would you want them to hear? what do you want them to know from you and how so many of their family members are fighting for them and thinking of them?

>> that we love them, that we have them in our hearts, and that we are doing everything in our power, do everything we can to bring them home. and that they should know that they're not alone, that they are wrapped in love. >> abbey onn, thank you for sharing your family story. i know it's incredibly difficult to talk about. you are incredibly brave and courageous to be doing that. and we're all thinking of you, and we hope that they're gonna be back soon. >> thank you for having me. i really appreciate it. >> there are so many stories like abby from israel right now. right now, we are coming up on a four a.m. tuesday in israel, looking at flashes over got that from earlier tonight. israel's defense forces just shared the death toll in the country, which has increased to at least 900 people. here at home, president biden said today he has directed the u.s. government to work with israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts. the washington post jason rezaian, who was once imprisoned for four days in iran, will join me after a quick break. we'll be right back. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ we need to find more sustainable ways

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officials are working with their israeli counterparts to recover the hostages. joining me now is jason rezaian, he is the global opinions writer, he's a global opinions writer at the washington post. he also served as correspondent for the paper and was imprisoned in iran for 544 days until his release in january 2016. jason, thank you so much for being with me this evening. i want us to start with, to get your analysis of the hostage situation here, and what options the israelis really have, in dealing with hamas. and they have done prisoner swaps in the past. is that an option, as you look at the situation from your perspective? >> i think prisoner swaps, in general, are the first option in a few of these cases. you hear a lot in those instances, but not negotiating with terrorists, not wanting them to negotiate with terrorists, two very different things. ultimately, if we are to bring our citizens home safely, we have to negotiate with their captors. this is such an audacious and, really, horrifying act when you

take this many innocent people, and hold them against their will, threatening to kill them. it really puts in sharp believe just how big an issue this is at the moment, in the united states and around the world. and i think, you know, the best option that israel has at this point is to engage in direct negotiations for the release of the citizens. but that's not gonna make anybody happy, right? and it is really a tough option in the absence of real transparent policy. it's kind of like that u.s. cold war. >> the american president, as the president said today, could very well -- among the hostages. here at the united states does not talk to hamas either. they have been engaged with the qataris, the egyptians, and others who do speak to hamas. they were a bit numb about this, when i asked him about earlier in the show. but explain to us a little bit about how that could work. if the u.s. is talking through a third country to try to engage with hamas about the release of hostages?

>> well, this is the same way that we got americans out of iran just a couple of weeks ago. the qataris and this with, they have offered quite intermediary roles in between groups that don't have direct communications. i think that it's a good sign that the qataris are already involved in the conversation. but, again, i mean, these are the sorts of things that generally take many months to complete. and with the threat of execution so prominently on the table, so quickly into this abduction of people, it is just a very but wrenching and frightening situation. >> you have been covering the middle east for a long time. and i'm curious to know and certainly iran, what your thoughts are on this whole debate, or question, as to whether they had knowledge of

the attack on saturday, whether they directed it, they supported it, you may not have valid details, of course, but what is your gut on that? >> my gut is that it's hard to imagine that iran did not have prior knowledge, some involvement in the planning. this wasn't something that was planned in a short period of time. this has been going on, likely for months. you know, we hear about the massive intelligence failure, the military failure on the israeli side. hamas could not pull this off on their own. that being said, you know, iran it, is, you know, has a reason at this point to not want to raise the ire of the united states and its allies. and at the same time, with the purported israeli saudi normalization getting closer and closer. my first thought was, well,

there are groups out there that don't want to see that happen. and one of them being the regime in tehran. so, i think it's impossible to think that iran had nothing to do with it. >> jason rezaian, thank you so much for being with me this evening. it's always a pleasure talking with you and hearing your insights. and tonight, back in washington, house republicans convene galland close doors to discuss how might they reelect as the next speaker of the house. we're also gonna look at bipartisan classified briefing on israel on wednesday. senator tim kaine joins me next to talk through the congressional response to the war on israel. we're back after a quick break. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ unresolved depression symptoms were in my way. i needed more from my antidepressant. vraylar helped give it a lift. adding vraylar to an antidepressant... is clinically proven to help relieve overall depression symptoms... ...better than an antidepressant alone. and in vraylar clinical studies, most saw no substantial impact on weight. elderly dementia patients have increased risk of death or stroke.

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conflicts, especially one happening in a country with a relationship that is close to the united states as israel, there is usually a vital role for the u.s. congress. but right now, there is no elected speaker of the house. and the senate is not good for an ambassador to israel. and because of senator tommy tuberville's hold on military motions, there is no confirmed chief of naval operations with several key roles in the u.s. central command responsible for our military response in the middle east aren't in place right now either. joining me now is senator tim kaine of virginia. he serves on the foreign relations committee and the armed services committee. senator, thank you so much for being with me this evening. i wanted just to start there because i can't even imagine how frustrating this must be for you, given how long have worked on these issues. senator tuberville seemed to double down today on this blockade, of military

promotions at this moment, which is perplexing. but what does that mean? explain to us, for our ability to respond to a crisis like this. >> jen, you are right. we've got a double blockade going. senator tuberville is blockading now more than 600 military nominations, including the chief of naval operations. we dispatch that u.s. as ford carrier from virginia today to the mediterranean, to try to support israel and help them in their self-defense. but senator tuberville is blocking the nomination of the head of our navy. and hundreds of others. and then, we have other republicans, and there's paul, cruz, and vance blocking key ambassador nominations. not only israel, but egypt, and lebanon, and the state departments key counter terrorism official. so, my hope is this demonstrates in a very stark and real way, this is no time for political games.

the u.s. needs to have its steam on the field. we need a confirmed ambassador, confirmed military nominations. and then, do what we can as a nation to help our ally, israel, defend itself. >> i kind of assume something might change here, and i was quite surprised to be honest, if you double down today. maybe i shouldn't be. but do you think, they don't understand the damage there causing, or do they just not care? >> you know, that's a really good question, jen. i think that he probably doesn't understand, and maybe he doesn't care. but i think other republicans are starting to. last week, as we were dealing with the ridiculous shutdown threat by the house gop, and their decision to throw their speaker overboard, because he kept the u.s. government open, i was starting to hear from my republican senate colleagues, they are getting tired of senator tuberville's, you know, shutdown of american military promotion. so, we are out in states this week talking to folks. but when we get back, i think

you're gonna see this ice jam break, and we're gonna start to confirm our military. if only the republicans threaten to shut down, only the republicans threaten to fall, only the republicans obligate military and diplomatic nominations, it's time to get the games and start leading as a nation, and for the article one branch to do its job. >> i certainly hope that is the case. now, foreign relations committee chairman, one of your colleagues, is proposing legislation to provide weapons and defensive systems to israel. they have made a number of requests that they have made public as well. it seems to be quite a bit of urgency on the ground. i know you are in the neighboring state here, my home state. do you think the senate should return to pass this package this week? or is it okay to wait until next week? >> if we return, jen, as you know, it's easier for me than virtually anybody. i am not far away. so, i am glad to go back whenever. but, look, we do face a little bit of a challenge right now

because -- i mean, you know, i support strong aide for israel. i helped broker the ten-year mou to provide defense support to israel, the iron dome system a few years ago, we helped get it through. so, we have israel's back. but if the senate were to do something right now, as an additional assistance to israel, the house can't convene until late because beaker. so, what i hope is maybe we would work on the package on the senate side. the house will get their act together and pick a speaker so that they can take up legislation. if we go back early, i'm glad to. or if the house needs to act to pick a speaker, so that when we go back, there will be a functioning house that we can send a bill to, i will let leadership make that call. but i'm not far from d.c.. i'll go back anytime. >> i know you would. there is reporting, you are also a strong supporter of ukraine assistance and funding, which of course did not make it into the package that prevented the government from shutting down. there is some reporting that that could be combined with funding for israel. is that something out under

consideration? do you think that's a possibility? >> jen, i do. and i heard mike mccaul, a republican in the house, who's head of the formulations committee there, say that could be a good deal, possibly ukraine aid, israel aid, border security funding, i could see something like that coming together. look, we have to stand up against, whether it is dictators, illegally invading ukraine and violating human rights, or terrorists invading israel and targeting civilians. the chief democracy in the world has to set an example and stand up against them. and it's my hope that we will. the good news on the acquaint front, even though we could not get there in terms of ukraine aid during the continuing resolution ten days ago, there are votes in both houses, bipartisan, to provide the ukraine aid package. and so, i think the notion of the chief democracy in the world, standing up to provide aid to our allies against illegal invasions makes a lot

of sense. and putting those two together, i think we might find a path through. >> with a limited time we have left, i want to ask you there, there are at least 11 american citizens who have been killed. as you and i both know, that number is likely to go up, given the number of dual citizens there. also reportedly, americans are among the hostages. hamas is threatening to execute hostages. what should the united states be doing to get the hostages back? and what happens if an american is executed by hamas? >> well, jen, look, these notions that americans are killed and that americans are hostages are not surprising. i am wearing bracelets that i got given during israel's 75th celebration in the jewish community center in virginia beach a couple of months back, our nations were allies, our nations were intertwined. israelis and the united states, americans, live and study and work in israel. we are very, very intertwined. and, you know, we needed to do

everything we can to get our hostages back. that is so very, very important. we need to be there to support american families who have lost loved ones. but the most important thing we can do right now is just stand with our ally, israel, for the right to defend themselves against terrorism. and send a message to anybody around the world who thinks they can invade a democracy without consequences. they're wrong. >> senator tim kaine, thank you so much for joining me tonight. there is so much to watch on capitol hill tonight, the speakers race, as you mentioned, the approval of aid for israel, and ukraine. obviously, a lot that we are going to continue to watch and report on on the ground in israel. so, really appreciate you joining me with all of your