Hezbollah this morning fired dozens of rockets into northern Israel.
Israel does not think this is the retaliation for its
assassinations 2 weeks ago of a top Hezbollah commander in
Beirut and a Hamas leader visiting Iran.
But it may be a warm up.
Israel is bracing for coordinated strikes,
possibly missiles and drones, from Iran,
Hezbollah and other of its allies across the Middle East.
Israeli blood banks are preparing.
Hospitals moving patients into basements,
shelters getting ready. The Pentagon announced overnight it's moving AUS
submarine to the region to join the extra American warships
and fighter jets already rushed here.
All of this while Israel's ongoing war in Gaza,
launched after Hamas's October massacre,
is not slowing down. Hamas is still holding around 115
hostages.
This weekend, Israel bombed a school in Gaza City being
used as a shelter.
Local officials say at least 100 people were killed.
Israel says at least 19 militants were hiding there in
the US.
Vice President Harris condemning the civilian deaths.
Israel has a right to go after the terrorists that
are Hamas.
But as I have said many,
many times, they also have.
I believe an important responsibility to avoid civilian casualties.
More than 2.2 million people live in Gaza,
penned in by Israel's blockade of the area.
The UN says nearly 2/3 of all buildings have been
damaged or destroyed.
Diseases are spreading. The World Health Organization has found traces
of polio.
Israel has also ordered more evacuations in Gaza,
usually a prelude to new military action telling Gazans to
leave a designated humanitarian area.
Dua Qatar is moving with her three daughters.
The youngest, Julia, just seven months old,
has moved seven times. What is the sin of this
young baby?
She should grow up with flowers and colors,
not bombs, she says.
Amid the war, there is also diplomacy with the Biden
administration pushing what it's describing as last ditch ceasefire and
hostage negotiations this week.
All right. Richard Engel for us there in Tel Aviv.
Richard, thank you.