US deploys additional missile systems to Middle East as Israel, Hamas exchange fire

Israeli Idan Rakovsky spoke to Fox News Digital after his brother-in-law, Avidan Tordjman, was killed by Hamas members in the infamous October 7 attacks. He criticized international media — both left-wing and right-wing — for its treatment of the Israel-Hamas war.

"How would the average American, or Canadian, or British, or French — doesn't matter now — How would he or she respond to [an event] 20 times 9/11 in one day?" Rakovsky said of the October 7 attacks by Hamas that left at least 1,400 Israelis killed, with at least 199 others being taken hostage by Hamas into Gaza.

"That's what we're going through right now," Rakovsky said, again comparing the shock and tragedy of the Hamas attacks on Israelis and other citizens at a festival on the Gaza-Israel border to 9/11. "So seeing the coverage outside of Israel is very, very hard," he said.

"I can tell you that we are already used to it, unfortunately," he said. "So it doesn't really bother us anymore. We know that Israel is strong for itself and that we have no one to rely on [but] ourselves. And that's that's fine with us. And that's why we need to be as strong as we can."

Rakovsky responded directly to the media coverage of the Gaza hospital bombing, which has sparked intense debate online as outlets, including CBS and The New York Times, received criticism for suggesting that Israel was to blame.

Fox News' Jeffrey Clark contributed to this report.

Sympathy for Hamas’s war against Israel has been witnessed in some quarters on the streets of Europe and in certain U.S. cities, sparking new debates over what critics have called misguided multiculturalism, failed integration, underfunded police forces and unchecked immigration.

The U.S. and E.U.-designated terrorist movement, Hamas, carried out a massacre of at least 1,400 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7 and kidnapped more than 200 people, including Americans.

Outbreaks of alleged antisemitism targeting Israel unfolded among some pro-Palestinian protesters in London and in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday as demonstrators chanted the controversial slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

An estimated 100,000 demonstrators turned out in London to align themselves with the Palestinian cause - a section of some seemingly in favor of Hamas, whose stated aims are to eradicate Israel and murder Jews.

U.K. Home Secretary Suella Braverman termed the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" as antisemitic, noting that the language is "widely understood to call for the destruction of Israel." Braverman’s governmental office is comparable to the U.S. secretary of Homeland Security.

Robert Jenrick, the U.K. immigration minister, took pro-Palestinians to task for chanting "jihad" on the streets of the British capital. He said they are "inciting terrorist violence" by invoking the oft-cited battle cry by radical Islamists.

Fox News' Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.

President Biden and the leaders of Western allies reiterated support for Israel's right to defend itself on Sunday amid attacks from Hamas terrorists while also urging the Jewish State to protect civilians and follow international humanitarian law.

Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France President Emmanuel Macron, Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak released a joint statement Sunday welcoming the release of two hostages by Hamas and calling on remaining hostages to be freed as well.

"The leaders reiterated their support for Israel and its right to defend itself against terrorism and called for adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians," the statement read. "They welcomed the release of two hostages and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages. They committed to close coordination to support their nationals in the region, in particular those wishing to leave Gaza."

"The leaders welcomed the announcement of the first humanitarian convoys to reach Palestinians in need in Gaza and committed to continue coordinating with partners in the region to ensure sustained and safe access to food, water, medical care, and other assistance required to meet humanitarian needs," the statement continued. "The leaders committed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution  and durable peace."

More activity took place at Israel's northern border with Lebanon overnight Sunday as tensions escalate with Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.

The IDF said Monday morning that its forces struck four Hezbollah terrorist cells on the Lebanese border and some of the group's infrastructure, including a military compound and an observation post, in Lebanon.

Skirmishes along the Israel-Lebanon border have become more frequent in recent days as many are concerned that a second front with Hezbollah may emerge in Israel’s war with Hamas.

In response to the rising concerns, the U.S. State Department alerted on X, formerly Twitter, Sunday night that American citizens should leave Lebanon immediately due to an "unpredictable security situation."

"U.S. citizens who wish to depart Lebanon should leave now, due to the unpredictable security situation," the post by the department's Bureau of Consular Affairs read. "There are still commercial flights available, but there is reduced capacity."

The State of Israel responded to a social media post by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg Friday in support of Palestinians.

"The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate ceasefire, justice and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected," the 20-year-old posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

Israel's X account, managed by the Middle Eastern country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not mince words as it fired back just over an hour after Thunberg's second version of the tweet.

".@GretaThunberg, Hamas doesn’t use sustainable materials for their rockets which have BUTCHERED innocent Israelis. The victims of the Hamas massacre could have been your friends. Speak up," Israel posted.

Thunberg's original post included a picture of her with three other activists with signs that read, "Free Palestine," "Climate Justice Now," "This Jew Stands With Palestine" and "Stand With Gaza." It was deleted because it included a blue octopus that had a frowning face and was sitting on one of the activists’ legs, which she said she had not realized could be viewed as an antisemitic symbol.

Moments later, Thunberg shared a nearly identical photo – the same four people holding the same four signs – this time with the stuffed animal cut out of the photo.

 "The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings," Thunberg explained.

Fox News' Pilar Arias and Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.

A former State Department official resigned last week over the Biden administration’s response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Josh Paul, the former director of congressional and public affairs at the department's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, announced his resignation on Oct. 18 in a two-page letter posted to LinkedIn, stating he couldn’t stay because of a "policy disagreement" with the United States’ "continued lethal assistance to Israel."

"Let me be clear: Hamas' attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities. I also believe that potential escalations by Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would be a further cynical exploitation of the existing tragedy. But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people - and is not in the long term American interest," Paul wrote in part.

"This Administration's response - and much of Congress' as well - is an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia.  That is to say, it is immensely disappointing, and entirely unsurprising. Decades of the same approach have shown that security for peace leads to neither security, nor to peace. The fact is, blind support for one side is destructive in the long term to the interests of the people on both sides.  I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades, and I decline to be a part of it for longer."

Paul, who worked 11 years for the State Department, told the New York Times "legal guardrails" were failing after Israel cut off water, food, electricity and medicine to Gaza after Hamas terrorists killed 1,400 Israelis and kidnapped hundreds more.

The Biden administration announced a $100 million humanitarian aid package for Palestinians last week and requested roughly $15 billion in aid for Israel from the U.S. Congress.

Fox News' Ashley Carnahan contributed to this report.

Some Hamas terrorists killed during the October 7 attack that marked the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war were carrying instructions about chemical bombs, Israeli officials say.

The instructions were reportedly about cyanide-based chemical bombs, according to Israeli intelligence reviewed by Axios. The information was found on USB devices that the terrorists were carrying.

The USBs were found on the bodies of killed Hamas fighters who invaded Kibbutz Be’eri in Southern Israel when the war began.

Israeli officials have told their embassies that the Hamas terrorists were expected to "conduct attacks in a similar way that ISIS tried to do."

"This finding points to an intention by Hamas to use chemical weapons as part of its terror attack against civilians," Israel reported in a cable to its embassies.

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

The U.S. State Department is urging American citizens to leave Lebanon immediately due to an "unpredictable security situation."

The department's Bureau of Consular Affairs posted the update to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday night.

"U.S. citizens who wish to depart Lebanon should leave now, due to the unpredictable security situation," the social media post read. "There are still commercial flights available, but there is reduced capacity."

The post directed readers to various resources, including a crisis intake form and flight options at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport.

"The Department of State urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Lebanon," an alert on the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon's site read. "We recommend that U.S. citizens in Lebanon make appropriate arrangements to leave the country; commercial options currently remain available."

"We recommend that U.S. citizens who choose not to depart prepare contingency plans for emergency situations," the alert added.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., criticized Iran for allegedly "giving the green light" to Hamas before the terrorist group began attacking Israel earlier this month.

Speaking from Tel Aviv on Sunday, the Connecticut senator warned Iranian leaders to not involve themselves with Hezbollah, another terrorist group.

"If you're thinking about giving the green light to Hezbollah, as you did to Hamas - don’t," Blumenthal said.

It is still unclear to what extent Iranian officials helped Hamas terrorists plan or carry out their attack against Israel, which began on October 7.

Senior White House official John Kirby has maintained that there is not a "direct link" between Iran and the Hamas attacks against Israel, though Iran funds, trains, and has been linked to the terrorist group in the past.

Kirby, who acts as the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, has asserted that the Biden administration has not "turned a blind eye" to Iran's influence.

"We're obviously recognize that there's broad complicity here by the Iranians, I mean, because of the longstanding support to Hamas," Kirby explained on October 11. "Hamas wouldn't have been able to function at all had it not been for propping up by the Iranian regime." 

"But we haven't seen any specific evidence that tells us they were wittingly involved in the planning or involved in the resourcing and the training that went into this very complex set of attacks over the weekend," he added.

Fox News's Lucas Tomlinson and Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Hamas terrorists of blocking American citizens from leaving Gaza during a Sunday interview as the war in Israel continues.

Blinken appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" to discuss the latest developments in the war, which began on October 7. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled the northern part of the Gaza Strip amid dangerous conditions.

"To date, at least, Hamas has blocked [U.S. citizens] from leaving, showing once again its total disregard for civilians of any kind who are who are stuck in Gaza," Blinken said.

Host Margaret Brennan also pressed the official on why the U.S. is not advocating for a ceasefire, referencing Israel's airstrikes towards Gaza. Blinken said that he expects "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," Blinken explained. "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 sometime in the future. No country could accept that," he added.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told Fox News host Shannon Bream that China, Russia and Iran comprise the new "axis of evil" as the wars in Ukraine and Israel continue.

During a "Fox News Sunday" appearance, McConnell asserted that the world is the most endangered its ever been in his lifetime – even more than during the Cold War.

"You have to respond to conditions that actually exist that are a threat to the United States. The Iranians are a threat to us as well. And so, this is an emergency," the Kentucky senator explained. "It’s an emergency that we step up and deal with this axis of evil – China, Russia, Iran – because it’s an immediate threat to the United States."

McConnell then questioned if the United States will take on a leadership role during the tense geopolitical situation.

"The question is, is America going to lead?" McConnell asked. "I think the Biden administration sent the wrong signal and they had the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. I think that was like giving a green light to Putin to go into Ukraine."

"And we see that Iran, principal sponsor of terrorism, sending drones to the Russians and attacking – Hezbollah and in this particular situation, Hamas – attacking the Israelis with drones. So it’s all connected," he added. "You can’t separate out one part of it and say we’re only gonna deal with this. It’s all connected." 

Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

President Biden spoke with multiple world leaders on Sunday as the war between Israel and Hamas continues in the Middle East.

The White House announced on Sunday that Biden had a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the latest updates about the war. In a statement, the White House said that the leaders "affirmed that there will now be continued flow" of critical assistance into Gaza and agreed to keep in touch.

"The President expressed appreciation for Israel’s support in helping to accommodate the release of two American hostages," the White House said in a statement. "The leaders discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all the remaining hostages taken by Hamas – including U.S. citizens – and to provide for safe passage for U.S. citizens and other civilians in Gaza who wish to depart."

Biden also hopped on a group call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron, along with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Hamas began attacking Israel during a surprise terrorist assault on October 7, the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. At least 1,500 people in Israel have been killed since, and around 212 others were captured and taken to Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry estimated that more than 4,600 people have been killed in Gaza so far. The Israeli government says that around 700,000 people in northern Gaza have fled the overcrowded territory.

Hamas terrorists left many explosive boobytraps in Israel as they retreated back into Gaza from their October 7 attack, Israeli Defense Forces Say.

The IDF shared footage of one such trap on Sunday, this on a child's backpack filled with explosives. The pack would have detonated had someone tried to pick it up, officials said.

"The IDF Yahalom Unit continues to collect explosives and weapons of Hamas terrorists used for the October 7 massacre," the IDF wrote in a statement.fox

"Soldiers discovered a child’s school bag laying in a field. The bag was booby-trapped, containing a remote-activated explosive device—weighing 7 kg," it continued. "Hamas purposefully chose to booby-trap a child's backpack with the hope a well-intentioned civilian would pick it up."

Hamas' October 7 attack killed at least 1,400 Israelis. The IDF has been poised of an invasion of Gaza for more than a week, though they have yet to make the move.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., aggressively shut down a reporter's question regarding Rep. Rashida Tlaib's, D-Mich., alleged anti-semitism on Sunday.

Graham was in Israel alongside a bipartisan group of senators who all expressed their firm support for Israel and its right to defend itself against Hamas. The group delivered a press conference and began taking quesitons when a Newsmax reporter brought up Tlaib's recent anti-Israel comments.

"I heard every single one of you voicing your support for Israel fervently, stridently," the reporter said. "But it starts at home, and I'd like to ask any Democrat senator here that would like to speak to Rashida Tlaib--She still has a tweet up condemning Israel for a hospital attack--"

"Stop," Graham then says firmly into the mic.

"It's not a--. It's a fair question, Senator Graham," the reporter protests.

"No, stop," Graham repeats. "We are here together, not to talk about the problems at home, which are many. I've got my own view of what to say."

"It's a fair question, senator," the reporter repeats.

"You're not gonna screw this up," Graham says. "Get this guy out of here."

The pair continued to talk over one another for several moments before moving on the the next reporter.

Israel's government security service has created a new unit devoted to hunting down and eliminating all members of Hamas who played a role in the October 7 assault on Israel.

The service, Shin Bet, has named the new unit Nili, an acronym in Hebrew for "The Eternity of Israel Will Not Lie," according to the Jerusalem Post. The force is specifically targeted against a Hamas force known as Nukhba or "Elite." The Nukhba reportedly infiltrated Israel on October 7 and conducted mass killings at civilian and IDF outposts before returning to Gaza.

The unit comprises both intelligence officials and field operators, and it will reportedly function separately from Shin Bet's other units.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refered to Hamas as "bloody monsters" and has vowed to destroy them. The IDF appears poised for a ground invasion of Gaza, but no order has come down to move forward.

The IDF has already carried out strikes killing roughly half a dozen senior Hamas leaders. An airstrike Sunday morning killed Hamas' deputy commander of its rocket array, according to Israel.

The Israeli Defense Forces apologized to Egypt after one of its tanks fired on an Egyptian position, causing unknown damage.

The IDF says the tank "accidentally fired" Sunday morning an hit the Egyption outpost near the border area of Kerem Shalom, which lies at the intersection of the Israeli, Egyptian and Gaza Strip borders.

"A short while ago, an IDF tank accidentally fired and hit an Egyptian post adjacent to the border in the area of Kerem Shalom. The incident is being investigated and the details are under review," the IDF statement read.

"The IDF expresses sorrow regarding the incident," it added.

A convoy of 17 trucks crossed the Egyptian border into Gaza carrying aid for civilians amid Israel's war against Hamas on Sunday, according to Egyptian state media.

The convoy would be the second aid package to arrive in Gaza since Israel imposed a blockade on the region. Israeli first announced last week that it would allow Egypt to deliver supplies.

The report comes as the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees says it will run out of fuel in Gaza by Wednesday. It is unclear whether the 2nd convoy carried any fuel, as the first did not.

Israel has appeared poised for an invasion of Gaza for more than a week, but no order has come down to begin a ground operation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

HBO host Bill Maher skewered America’s Ivy League universities Friday night, accusing them of being hotbeds of "indoctrination" after many student groups have been hammering Israel in the wake of Hamas’ deadly attack against that country.

Citing antisemitic rallies and statements cropping up in academia following the attack, the "Real Time with Bill Maher" host advised that young people should avoid attending these schools.

At the outset of the segment, Maher stated, "As an Ivy League graduate who knows the value of a liberal education, I have one piece of advice for the youth of America: Don’t go to college."

Showing images of Pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel demonstrations at Harvard University, the comedian continued, "And if you absolutely have to go, don’t go to an elite college, because as recent events have shown, it just makes you stupid."

Maher stated that the tragedy in Israel revealed "how higher education has become indoctrination into a stew of bad ideas, among them the simplistic notion that the world is a binary place where everyone is either an oppressor or oppressed, in the case of Israel, oppressors being babies and bubbes."

The host was referring to Palestinian supporters on these campuses that have insisted that the Hamas attack on October 7 was Israel’s fault for oppressing Palestinians.

Read more from Fox News' Gabriel Hays