Blinken returns to Israel to sell Israeli leaders on President Biden's humanitarian 'pause'

Former Navy SEAL and Senate candidate Tim Sheehy said President Biden should be aiding Israel with "unconditional support" after the country was brutally and unexpectedly attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7.

"Israel knows how to fight Hamas better than we do. They don't need our help to do this," Sheehy told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview at Bridger Aerospace in Bozeman, Montana.

He added: "What they need is our unconditional support for their independence against all the hostile Muslim actors that have been trying to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth for almost 80 years now."

Sheehy, a Republican running for Montana Democrat Sen. Jon Tester's seat, called attention to the importance of standing up to Iran and said the Biden administration "doesn't view Iran as the mortal enemy of American freedom that it really is."

Sheehy highlighted President Joe Biden unfreezing $6 billion in assets to Iran just weeks before Hamas attacked Israel last month — a step opposed by Republicans that eventually resulted in the refreezing of the funds after Hamas launched an attack on Israel. 

"The most important thing America can do is stop empowering Iran," said Sheehy. "We need to stop enabling Iran with billions of dollars of unfrozen assets, billions of dollars of oil revenues that they shouldn't be getting and year after year of appeasement from the Obama administration and now the Biden administration that for some reason doesn't view Iran as the mortal enemy of American freedom that it really is."

Read more from Fox News' Aubrie Spady and Thomas Phippen by clicking here: Navy SEAL veteran, Senate candidate urges Biden to 'stop enabling Iran' as Israel fights for 'survival'

On Friday, Lebanon’s state news agency reported Israeli shelling on the outskirts of several towns along the Lebanese border.

The shelling comes after Hezbollah launched a simultaneous attack against 19 Israeli military posts with mortar fire and anti-tank missiles and also launched suicide drones for the first time in the conflict on Thursday. Also on Thursday evening, Hamas claimed responsibility for rocket strikes on the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona that injured two people.

Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery shelling of Lebanese border areas, with Lebanese state media reporting four civilians were killed in the Saluki Valley area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued an open warning against Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon, discouraging them from invading Israel, calling it "the mistake of its life."

"We will cripple it with a force it cannot even imagine, and the consequences for it and the Lebanese state will be devastating," Netanyahu said last month.

The border activity comes just hours ahead of a highly anticipated speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, his first since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war.

His speech could establish Hezbollah's role in the Israel-Hamas war, potentially joining the conflict and subsequently adding a second front for Israeli forces who continue to fight in Gaza. The Hezbollah leader may also say Palestinian armed groups will remain out of the Middle Eastern conflict.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Israel on Friday, returning to the Middle East for a second time in weeks. During the frenzied trip, Blinken is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the Israel's war council and push for a humanitarian "pause."

As he did last month, Blinken will stress U.S. support for Israel and try to prevent a wider Mideast war and will pitch a more nuanced message than he offered in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ bloody attack in Israel on Oct. 7, when more than 1,400 people were killed.

Blinken's agenda this time will include a call for Israel to observe a humanitarian "pause" to allow for humanitarian aid and additional supplies to get to Gazan civilians who have become victims in Israel's pursuit to eliminate Hamas, the terror group that governs the Gaza Strip.

“We will be talking about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimize harm to men, women and children in Gaza," Blinken told reporters at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, before he departed for his trip to Israel and Jordan. "This is something that the United States is committed to."

Blinken will also push for the evacuation of more foreigners from Gaza. He is also expected to stress the importance of protecting civilians and to press Israel to rein in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

President Biden said Wednesday he thought there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war in order to get “prisoners” out. The president has not specifically called for Israel to pause its military operations in Gaza and has so-far pushed against a "ceasefire."

Critics have said the Biden administration's call for a "pause" is a linguistics twist to actually mean a ceasefire. Pausing is ceasing fire, lawmakers and political commentators have expressed.

Netanyahu said Monday that calls for a cease-fire amount to surrendering to Hamas, which "will not happen."

Israel's military is also skeptical about a "pause," saying it would give Hamas fighters time to reorganize. The IDF has said does not want to give up pressure on Hamas.

The Secretary of State is also expected to press the Israeli leaders and its neighbors to begin considering what a post-conflict Gaza will look like, including who will govern it in Hamas' absence and how to establish an independent Palestinian state.

U.S. officials, including Biden and Blinken, have said repeatedly that they do not believe an Israeli re-occupation of Gaza is feasible. Israel agrees and said it does not intend to occupy the territory.

The White House in a statement said Biden has “made clear that the United States will continue to stand with Israel and affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law.”

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

The Jewish community in South Florida, a key voting bloc for the state, is closely eyeing President Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war and say the issue has emerged as a political test for 2024.

Jacob Solomon, president of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, said South Florida has a large Orthodox community that maintains a strong connection to Israel in the U.S.

“We are among the most pro-Israel Zionist communities in North America,” he told the Associated Press.

Georg Lipsztein, a member of a Shul of Bal Harbour, located just north of Miami Beach, in the heart of South Florida's Jewish community, has said he is glad to see Biden supporting Israel.

“I think he has sent a strong message, and that is very important,” Lipsztein told the Associated Press. “Israel is going to do what it has to do.”

While Biden has been unequivocal in supporting Israel's right to self-defense, he has subtly shifted his tone. On Wednesday evening, President Biden said there should be a "pause" in the Israel-Hamas War to provide humanitarian aid to Gazans and get those trapped in the Gaza Strip released.

Rabbi Andrew Jacobs, who leads a synagogue in Fort Lauderdale, Ramat Shalom, is among the rabbis and community leaders in the region that are encouraging congregants to stay informed.

He has also warned congregants to be prepared as “when the ugliness of war comes out” and critics begin to push back on Israel's ground offensive in Gaza.

“We have to be vigilant to all calls and cries for ceasefire or putting blame on Israel right now because this work needs to be done once and for all to bring peace to that region,” Jacobs said. “President Biden has expressed very strong support for Israel and those of us who support the Jewish state are going to continue to expect him to keep doing the same thing."

Other progressive groups have begun pressuring Biden to change his unequivocal support for Israel.

One Miami student, 20-year-old Nicole Segal, told AP she is hoping for continuing support from the administration, but has been disheartened by what she sees as a lack of support from others.

“It’s very shocking that not enough non-Jewish people are standing up for Israel. I feel as if when there were other political matters, they stood up,” she said. “It’s upsetting.”

Eric Lob, a Florida International University professor and non-resident scholar at the Washington-based think tank Middle East Institute, said Biden must exhibit “a delicate balance of showing support for Israel rhetorically and militarily but trying to prevent the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from getting out of control."

South Florida's Jewish community used to be a Democratic stronghold but has moved to the right, helping former President Donald Trump win the state in 2020 and helping DeSantis coast to a huge re-election win last year.

Trump won about 43% of Florida's Jewish voters in the 2020 presidential election, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis won 45% of Jewish voters in his re-election

If Florida is to regain its status as a competitive state, how Jewish voters perceive Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war will be critical.

In 2016, Democrats had about 327,000 more registered voters in the state. The GOP now has about 626,000 more registered voters.

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

Antisemitism and other hostilities towards Jewish people are on the rise as Israel continues to fight against Hamas, the terror group that carried out the deadliest terror attack in Israel's history on Oct. 7.

Since Hamas led the October 7 massacre of over 1,400 people in Israel, Hamas has found empathy in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and other countries around the world.

These supporters have "threatened and targeted Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions worldwide," according to the Anti-Defamation League, which reported rises of antisemitic incidents by hundreds of percent in several countries.

In the United States, there were 312 antisemitic incidents between Oct. 7 and Oct. 23, a nearly 400% rise year-over-year, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The increase led the Biden administration to partner with universities to combat threats against Jewish students. 

REMEMBERING US VICTIMS KILLED AND MISSING IN THE ISRAELI-HAMAS WAR

In Austria, the Jewish Community of Vienna reported there were 76 antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7 — a 300% increase from October 7 to October 19.

In France, the Minister of Interior reported there have been 819 antisemitic incidents and 414 arrests since October 7. 

In Germany, the Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS), which records antisemitic incidents, reported there was a 240% increase of antisemitic incidents from October 7 to October 15. 

In South Africa, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies reported there were 41 antisemitic incidents in the month of October, a significant increase from previous years. 

In the UK, the Jewish community’s security organization, CST, reported there were 893 antisemitic incidents from October 7-31, an increase of 609% compared to the same 25 day period in 2022.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari clarified in a strongly worded statement that Israel is at war with Hamas, the paramilitary group that governs Gaza which the U.S. State Department has designated as a terrorist organization. The statement comes amid international rebuke that suggests Israel was targeting civilians.

"I want to make something very clear. Israel at war with Hamas - Israel is not at war with the civilians in Gaza," Hagari said.

The IDF spokesperson also highlighted the humanitarian support Israel has provided to Gazans.

"We're facilitating the entry of water, food, medicine and medical equipment into Gaza. Millions of liters of water per day flow from Israel into Gaza," he continued. "Israel is not at war with the civilian of Gaza, which is why we have encouraged the exit of wounded people from Gaza to Egypt. Egypt is leading this important humanitarian effort together with the United States and others.

Hagari added: "We encourage this effort. We have expended our teams to increase efficiency of this effort."

"Our war is against Hamas. Hamas does not care about the civilians in Gaza. Hamas steals fuel. Hamas steals fuel from hospitals, and uses this fuel for the Hamas war machine. It is because we are not at war with the civilians in Gaza, and because Hamas does not care about the civilians in Gaza, that we've been calling on the civilians in Northern Gaza and Gaza city to move south, away from Hamas strongholds in the north next to Gaza city, move south temporarily for your own safety, move south it is a safer area then the north, in the north there is intense fighting right now, in the south there is access to humanitarian aid. We will provide corridors for your safe way to move south."

"Israel is not at war with the civilians in Gaza," he again clarified. "Israel is at war with Hamas. We are fighting to free our hostages from Hamas, and free Gaza from Hamas."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel was at war with Hamas after Israel suffered the worst terror attack in its history on Oct. 7, when Hamas led an invasion across the Gaza-Israel border and slaughtered more than 1,400 people in Israel.

According to the Office of the Director of  National Intelligence, the Hamas charter calls for establishing an Islamic Palestinian state to replace Israel and rejects all agreements made between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel. The terror group primarily operates in the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank.

Pro-Palestinian protesters were seen on the streets of New York City Thursday burning the Israeli flag and ripping down posters intended to help find those kidnapped by Hamas terrorists in Israel.

Pro-Israel protesters stood guard in front of the missing person signs Thursday evening outside the City University of New York chancellor's office as police tried to maintain peace between the two sides.

But pro-Palestinian protesters could be seen ripping up the missing person posters and repeatedly stomping on them.

Fox News' Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury addressed rising antisemitism on the New York City campus Thursday as the war between Israel and Hamas rages in the Middle East.

"I am appalled and saddened to see antisemitism and anti-Zionism spreading throughout Barnard and Columbia. The massacre resulted in the largest single-day slaughter of Jewish people since the Holocaust, but I have encountered posters in our halls and tunnels that justify the deliberate murder of innocent civilians, employ racial slurs, espouse misinformation, and call for the elimination of entire groups of people," Rosenbury said in a letter.

Rosenbury continued by saying she has seen students walking to class with bowed heads in fear of what and who they will encounter.

"I have learned about what is happening on social media and especially on Sidechat, where members of the Barnard and Columbia communities anonymously attack one another using profanity and death threats," said Rosenbury.

Rosenbury added that she is also appalled and saddened by the anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim rhetoric happening on campus.

"I have heard members of our community group all Palestinians with Hamas and use dehumanizing language toward Arabs and the people of Gaza. I have learned that students are being doxxed simply because they belong to our Muslim Students Association or other student groups," said Rosenbury.

Rosenbury continued by saying the safety and well-being of their students is her top priority, and that they must do better.

"Hate speech and discrimination are unacceptable anywhere on our campus, and we will continue to remove hateful posters, encourage our community to report hate and discrimination, and investigate and respond to all such reports," said Rosenbury.

Rosenbury explained the school is developing a proactive approach designed to prevent hate and discrimination by implementing steps to ensure all students feel safe and experience a strong sense of belonging. Rosenbury added the school will share their progress on their webpage.

"For now, I know that change is possible. Over the past few weeks, some students have exemplified the very best of Barnard by supporting one another across differences of religion, nationality, and political opinion. They are peacefully, constructively, and respectfully discussing nuanced and deeply emotional topics from a place of compassion and open-mindedness. They embrace and care for one another across their multiple identities and different points of view. They are living Barnard’s mission," Rosenbury concluded.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is speaking out on the war in the Middle East saying Israel is severing all contact with Gaza.

"There will be no more Palestinian workers from Gaza. Those workers from Gaza who were in Israel on the day of the outbreak of the war will be returned to Gaza," said Netanyahu in a post on X.

Netanyahu also posted that the Security Cabinet decided on Thursday to "deduct all funds designated for the Gaza Strip – in addition to the deduction, required by law, of funds paid to terrorists and their families – from Palestinian Authority funds."

A group of pro-Palenstinian supporters were seen clashing with pro-Israel supporters on the streets of New York City on Thursday.

The video shows the pro-Palenstinian supporters burning an Israeli flag and ripping down signs of kidnapped Israelis.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., made a statement on X Thursday saying that Israel needs to "reconsider" its approach to the war against Hamas terrorists.

"It's time for Israel's friends to recognize that the current approach is causing an unacceptable level of civilian harm and does appear likely to achieve the goal of ending the threat from Hamas...I urge Israel to immediately reconsider its approach," Murphy said.

Murphy's letter says the Hamas terrorists involved in the the attacks on October 7 must be held accountable.

"As I have said consistently, Israel has a right and an obligation to defend its people from terror attacks like the horrific events of October 7. The Hamas terrorists who planned and executed those attacks must beheld accountable, and the ability of Hamas to carry out similar attacks in the future must be eliminated," said Murphy.

Murphy's letter continues saying he shares Israel's desire to destroy the threat from Hamas terror groups.

"I know Israel cares about the impact of this war on innocent Palestinians, even as they track Hamas's hideouts inside and below mosques, apartment buildings, and schools. But the way in which the current campaign is being waged - most recently evidenced by the terribly high human cost of the strikes on the Jabalya refugee camp - suggests that they have not struck the right balance between military necessity and proportionality," said Murphy.

Murphy then urged Israel to immediately reconsider its approach.

"The current rate of civilian death inside Gaza is unacceptable and unsustainable. I urge Israel to immediately reconsider its approach and shift to a more deliberate and proportionate counterterrorism campaign, surgically targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders and terrorist infrastructure while more highly prioritizing the safety of civilians in accordance with the law of armed conflict. This does not mean that Israel should stop fighting Hamas, but it must take concrete steps to end the current widespread harm to innocent people and children inside Gaza," said Murphy.

According to the IDF, in the last few hours, over 130 Hamas group terrorists have been thwarted.

The IDF announced that troops struck terrorist infrastructure and destroyed a large numbers of weapons that were found during ground operations in Gaza.

IDF says that troops have located weapons and destroyed terrorist infrastructure and Hamas military compounds while continuing to engage in fierce battles against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

According to the IDF, soldiers on the ground struck a number of military command and control centers used by senior Hamas terrorist operatives.

The troops struck terrorist infrastructure that was deliberately located in civilian areas, as well as military compounds.

An Israeli Navy missile boat also struck buildings rigged with explosives and observation posts used by the Hamas terrorist organization, the IDF said.

Israeli Navy forces and IDF aircraft struck terror targets belonging to Hamas' naval forces, including structures that were designated for planning and carrying out terrorist attacks, according to the IDF.

Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this story.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that Gaza City is now encircled by Israeli forces and that the focus is on dismantling the Hamas terror group.

"Our soldiers encircling the city that constitutes the center of Hamas terror. The forces attacking posts used by Hamas leadership and anywhere there is a fight, IDF will win, even if battle will be hard," said Hagari.

Hagari emphasized that the term "cease fire" is not on the table.

Hagari revealed Wednesday evening that Hamas leader Ismail Haniya is expected to arrive for a visit in Iran.

"Tehran, is pushing the Houthis and Hezbollah to divert our attention from Gaza, but we are focused on returning the hostages and nothing will deter our attention," said Hagari.

Yael Rotem-Kuriel contributed to this story.

Fox News’ Peter Doocy confronted the White House Thursday over its friendly overtures to the nation of Qatar for helping to secure the release of American hostages in Gaza despite it being the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

“Oh, geez, Peter. Let's take a step back here and look at this,” National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby responded.

Doocy pressed him, “They are a terrorist group that killed Americans and kidnapped Americans within the last month.”

Kirby argued that Qatat had “been helpful” in getting Americans out of Gaza and that the nation was a “key player” in the talks.

“Qatar has lines of communication with Hamas that almost nobody else has. Now, I'm not saying we support Hamas. Of course we don't. They're a terrorist organization. And Israel has an absolute right to go after them. But Qatar has lines of communication that not everybody else has,” Kirby said.

He then claimed the administration would bare the brunt of media criticism if they weren’t doing everything they could to get the Americans being held hostage out.

However, Kirby did not address Doocy’s question over Qatar allowing the leader of Hamas to reside in the country.

Fox News' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.

Thursday morning, President Joe Biden announced that so far 74 U.S. citizens and family members have left Gaza through the Rafah crossing and John Kirby echoed the President by confirming those numbers.

"That's in addition to the five Americans who departed Gaza yesterday. And I want to stress that these numbers are changing in real time," said John Kirby, the coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House.

Kirby added that the U.S. Embassy in Cairo has deployed a consular team to the Rafah crossing to support the American citizens and make sure they get back to the embassy.

"And then we work with them on onward movement as appropriate," said Kirby.

President Biden's administration is exploring the possibility of multiple "humanitarian pauses" in the Israel-Hamas war aimed at getting aid into Gaza and hostages and foreign nationals out.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby made the comments during a press briefing on Thursday. Reporters pressed him on what a "humanitarian pause" meant.

Kirby said each request for a pause would be taken on its own merits, and he was hopeful that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other powers involved would consider pauses on a case-by-case basis.

Kirby said Israel had already agreed to at least one pause when Hamas released two American hostages in October.

The administration has drawn a distinction between a full cease-fire and humanitarian pauses.

President Biden announced that 74 Americans were successfully evacuated out of Gaza into Egypt via the Rafah crossing on Thursday.

Biden announced the development in response to shouted questions from reporters.

"We got out today, 74 American folks out, they're dual citizens, coming home," Biden said above the noise of Marine One's helicopter blades.

The Biden administration had said earlier Thursday that there were 400 American citizens in Gaza seeking evacuation. That number has now dropped to 326, and the U.S., Egypt, Israel and Qatar are maintaining negotiations to keep the Rafah crossing open.

Biden has also endorsed the idea of a pasue in fighting to allow more aid into Gaza and allow more foreign nationals to leave the Gaza Strip. Israel has so far rejected all calls for a ceasefire or a pause, however.