IDF: Hamas commander who 'directed' October 7 terror attack killed in airstrike

The Massachusetts family stranded in Gaza amid the ongoing war between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists said they continue to struggle to access drinking water, fuel and other resources and are hoping for safety as they await updates from the U.S. government about a possible exit plan.

Abood Okal, Wafa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son, Yousef, were visiting family in Gaza when Hamas launched its largest attack against Israel on Oct. 7. The family has been in the region since late September, and had intended to return home to Medway, Massachusetts, on Oct. 13 before the violence delayed their plans.

In an audio recording obtained by Fox News Digital, Okal explained that the family ran out of drinking water on Sunday and that a nearby desalination station had run out of fuel needed to power generators. He said they have been roaming the main roads and streets in Rafah City, where they are staying in a single-family home with 40 other people including his sister Haneen and her three kids, in search of trucks or carriages carrying tanks of 1,000 or 2,000 liters of drinking water. Haneen and her children are also Americans.

"We stood in line, I think it was for maybe about two hours, to fill one gallon. They tried to limit the portions, so ours was a gallon. And we're hoping that would last us for the rest of the day today and for most of tomorrow until we could find another place to get drinking water from," Okal said in the recording created on Monday.

"Near the eastern side of the city where we're staying, every once in a while we would hear heavy caliber gunfire that we believe is fired from tanks," he continued. "And our biggest fear now is that the ground invasion is imminent near the neighborhoods where we are because we've heard of the reports of both intense artillery shelling, as well as gunfire exchanges, as an invasion is happening or right preceding an invasion. And that's basically what's been happening in northern Gaza."

Okal added, "We're staying hopeful that tonight will be another safe night for us. At this point, we don't care much about how intense the bombing is as long as we come out alive in the morning."

Foreign passport holders were seen entering the Rafah Crossing from Gaza to Egypt Wednesday morning.

These individuals are the first travelers to enter the crossing since the war between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists began on Oct. 7.

This, after Qatar mediated an agreement between Egypt, Hamas and Israel in coordination with the U.S. to open the Rafah Crossing on Wednesday. The agreement allows foreign passport holders and some critically injured civilians out of Gaza.

It is unclear how long the crossing will remain open.

More than 9,700 people have been killed in Gaza and Israel since Hamas launched its largest attack against Israel in decades on Oct. 7, leading to retaliatory action from Israeli forces. Thousands more have been wounded, and many others have been taken hostage by Hamas and raped, tortured and murdered.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

The Israeli military reported additional casualties inside the Gaza Strip, the day after it said its first two soldiers were killed during its ground invasion against Hamas Tuesday morning, the first such casualties in Gaza since Israel began its ground operations there.

According to Fox News’ Trey Yingst, who is in Israel, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were hit by an anti-tank guided missile while operating in the northern part of the strip, leaving 10 dead.

Israeli forces entered the second stage of their war with Hamas in what is expected to be a lengthy military operation. Until this week, Israel had largely relied on airstrikes and artillery to retaliate against Hamas' massacre in Israel on Oct. 7.

Military officials have warned that the war will be long and difficult, potentially spanning months or longer.

The IDF began expanded ground operations this week and ground troops are now tasked with clearing out a complex network of Hamas tunnels and other fortified strongholds. IDF says it has attacked 11,000 targets in Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

"Combined forces of the IDF attacked many terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip during the night, including operational headquarters and squads of Hamas terrorists," a translated statement from the IDF Wednesday read.

Fox News' Lawrence Richard and Trey Yingst contributed to this report.

At campuses across the U.S., anti-Israel protesters have organized massive demonstrations since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. The surge in incidents has been paired with antisemitic rhetoric and violence against Jews, leaving many students feeling unsafe and fearful of attending class.

"So we've had a plethora of incidents happen at UC Berkeley, everything from two physical assaults of students getting physically hurt on campus. We've had professors offering bonus and extra credit to students for attending pro-Hamas rallies. But the most concerning is Jewish student leaders getting an email from administration telling us to avoid certain parts of campus, to avoid showing our faces, to avoid filming these incidents and at these events, due to a fear of our safety," UC Berkeley student Danielle Sobkin said on "FOX & Friends First" Tuesday.

"So what does it mean when administrators are telling me to not be a target, which is leading me to believe that in order to be safe on campus at UC Berkeley, I need to hide my Jewish identity."

Campuses including UC Berkeley have become an increasingly hostile environment and home to some of the most aggressive anti-Israel demonstrations.

Most recently, student groups supporting Palestinians held a national walkout on Wednesday in support of Gaza and to protest U.S. funding of Israel, according to posts by pro-Palestinian student groups on social media.

Fox News' Madeline Coggins contributed to this report.

Nearly three dozen U.S. citizens were killed when Hamas terrorists executed a sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7, according to the U.S. State Department.

A spokesperson for the State Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that 35 Americans were killed in the attacks.

"At this time, we can confirm the deaths of 35 U.S. citizens who were killed in the October 7 attacks," the spokesperson said, adding that an additional U.S. citizen died as a result of continued violence after the attacks.

As far as the number of Americans who have died in Gaza, the State Department spokesperson said they are not aware of any, but information about U.S. fatalities in Gaza is "extremely limited" because of the situation.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected," the spokesperson said on behalf of the department.

Of the 35 U.S. citizens the State Department said have died, 26 have been confirmed.

Fox News' Lawrence Richard and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.

The Ivy League student who allegedly made threats of a mass shooting and antisemitic violence at Cornell University has been criminally charged.

Court documents show that 21-year-old Patrick Dai, a junior at Cornell has been federally charged in connection with the threats following an investigation by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

"It is concerning, of course, that the threats came from within the campus. It must be particularly frightening for students to think that someone they sat in class with or socialized with could make such threats," said William A. Jacobson, a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School. "I hope that there will be a full and transparent investigation of his connections, if any, to any groups or others who may have known of the threats."

Click here to read Stepheny Price's full article

An Emerati official said on Tuesday that the Abraham Accords will be adhered to, despite the escalating conflict between the Israeli military and Hamas terrorists.

Ali Rashid al-Nuaimi, who serves as Chairman of the Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Arab Emirates Federal National Council, made the remarks during an online briefing, according to the European Free Press.

“This is the third war in Gaza. Whenever there is something happening in Gaza, people come to us and ask: ‘What do you think of the Abraham Accords. Are you going to change?’” Nuaimi said.

"The Accords are our future," he explained. "It is not an agreement between two governments but a platform that we believe should transform the region where everyone will enjoy security, stability and prosperity."

"They are part of our history and they should be part of our future," the official added.

A Pentagon official announced that U.S. troops in the Middle East have been attacked at least 27 times since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed the new number at a briefing on Tuesday afternoon. An official told Fox News that the two latest attacks were at Mission Support Site Green Village in Syria. They took place on October 23 and 27.

It was reported on Monday that forces had been attacked 24 times. A 25th incident took place on Tuesday morning, in which drones were launched against Iraq’s Ain al-Asad airbase.

Militants, likely backed by Iran, have been attacking American forces with one-way drones and rockets. One American contractor has died, and at least 24 troops have been injured.

16 of the incidents took place in Iraq, while 11 happened in Syria. Officials say that most of the weapons "failed to reach their targets, thanks to our robust defenses."

Fox News Digital's Liz Friden and Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will fly to Israel later this week, as the country's war against Hamas terrorists continues.

Spokesperson Matt Miller confirmed the news to Fox News on Tuesday.

“Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Blinken told lawmakers that the U.S. "anticipate[s]" that some humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip will inevitably go to Hamas terrorists.

"Can I promise you in this committee that there'll be 100% delivery to the designated recipients? No, there will inevitably be some spillage," Blinken explained. "We haven't seen it to date, but I think we have to anticipate that. But the overwhelming, overwhelming majority of the assistance thus far is getting to people who need it. And we need more." 

Fox News Digital's Nicholas Kalman and Greg Norman contributed to this report.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Doron Spielman joined "The Story" on Tuesday afternoon after Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari was killed in a Gaza refugee camp.

Spielman told host Martha MacCallum that Biari was "one of the major architects and executioners of that horrific massacre that took place on October 7th."

"My heart goes out to the civilians [who were killed]. But we have to ask the question, why was this Hamas battalion commander literally operating underneath a civilian area?" Spielman asked. "It goes to show exactly what we're trying to face. They have no concern for the civilians and we're trying to defend our own civilians and eliminate them while trying to minimize when possible damage to their own civilians."

"Unfortunately, the death of any civilian is a reality of war. And we mourn that," he added.

Spielman also disputed claims that there was no fuel in Gaza, which has been under a blockade by the IDF. Hamas has launched 8,000 rockets against Israel's civilian population since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.

"This whole time that they're saying there's no fuel in Gaza and there's no aid in Gaza," the spokesperson said. "There's never been a lack of fuel, apparently, for the rockets that they've been sending our direction."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have killed a Hamas leader who was hiding in a refugee camp in Gaza, according to Israeli officials.

Trey Yingst reported the news live from southern Israel on Tuesday night.

"We are learning more about the strike that took place earlier today on the Jabalia refugee camp," Yingst explained. "The Israelis say that fighter jets targeted the commander of Hamas's central Jabalia battalion. His name [was] Ibrahim Biari, and he was responsible, according to the Israelis, for a number of attacks."

The reporter discussed the news as the Israeli military continued launching airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.

"You can see this area and an explosion there in the distance as I'm giving you this information here...There is some sort of firefight taking place in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, just beneath where those flares are being fired," he added. "We've heard heavy machine gun fire and targeted airstrikes. The Israelis appear to be calling in some air support."

The Israelis have repeatedly warned Palestinians to evacuate the camp in recent days, due to the presence of Hamas operatives there.

A high-ranking United Nations official has retired after calling for a one-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. In his letter, the official wrote on what he called "essential points" regarding the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists.

In what was described as his "last official communication" as the director of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Craig Mokhiber sent an Oct. 28 letter to Volker Türk of Austria, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, detailing what he believes a "U.N.-norm-based position" on the war would look like.

In what critics are calling comments devoid of historic fact, Mokhiber called for a one-state solution, which could mean the end of the Jewish state.

Click here to read the rest of Kyle Morris's article

The Senate moved to confirm President Biden's nominee pick for ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, Tuesday after weeks of Republican opposition.

In a 53 to 43 vote, senators confirmed Lew, who faced mounting Republican opposition to his nomination over his past work on Iran sanctions while he worked as treasurer under the Obama administration in the weeks leading up to the vote.

Every Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — except Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., — voted against Lew's advancement in the committee earlier this month. 

Click here to read the rest of Jamie Joseph's article

Former Israeli diplomat Shahar Azani appeared on "Outnumbered" on Tuesday afternoon to give his reaction to the United Nations Security Council's highly-criticized response to Hamas terrorists.

The security council is accused of remaining silent towards atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists in its latest war against Israel, which began on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah on October 7.

"When I look at those images from the United Nations, the very organization that came to be to stand up against that evil and now looks the other way, it's clear to me that that moral compass that it was supposed to be has completely lost its sense of direction," Azani began.

"Why do I feel a special affinity to be on this program with you, Kayleigh?" the former diplomat said to "Outnumbered" co-host Kayleigh McEnany. "Because when I look at the resolution at the UN, 120 states voted not for a cease fire, but to disregard Hamas as evils. We know that the forces of good are outnumbered out there, and it was only the United States and other 13 countries were the one that stood up for moral clarity and against moral hate."

"And even though we are outnumbered, because we have the upper moral hand, I have no doubt that we will win this," he added.

During a White House press briefing on Wednesday, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby accused Hamas terrorists of 'putting up obstacles' to prevent Americans from leaving Gaza.

"Why have Americans and foreign nationals still been unable to get out of Gaza, even though aid trucks have been going in?" a reporter asked during the briefing. "Beyond putting blame on Hamas, what more can you say about what's going on here and what the progress is?"

"How about if I just put the blame on Hamas?" the White House official shot back. "I mean, Secretary Blinken talked about this in his hearing this morning."

"I mean, they are they are putting obstacles up to allow us to get folks out," he continued. "It's not Israel. It's not Egypt. It's not places like Jordan...Hamas has been making it difficult to do this."

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby denied claims that Israel has genocidal intentions in its war against Hamas during a briefing on Tuesday.

Kirby was answering a question by a journalist who referenced recent remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu recently alluded a biblical story between the Amalekites and Israelites, which some have viewed as genocidal.

"I'm not qualified to speak much on biblical history here, but obviously, I think we've been crystal clear not only there but around the world on our concerns about genocidal behavior by any leader," Kirby began. "And that is not what we're seeing, is real desire to do that."

"They are going after Hamas terrorists, going after leadership that attacked their country October 7th in a gross and in barbaric fashion," he added. "They are not interested in genocidal activity to the people of Gaza."

Kirby acknowledged civilian losses in Gaza, but maintains that it was not the Israeli military's intention to kill innocents.

"We recognize there have been many thousands of casualties...way too many, should be zero. We understand that," he concluded. "But their war aim, as I said earlier, is not to target the innocent civilians of Gaza. Their war aim is to go after Hamas."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that a person of interest in relation to threats of a mass shooting and antisemitic violence at Cornell University had been identified by law enforcement. 

"This individual is currently in New York State Police custody for questioning," Hochul wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"When I met with Cornell students yesterday, I promised them we would do everything possible to find the perpetrator. Public safety is my top priority and I'm committed to combating hate and bias wherever it rears its ugly head," the governor added. 

Earlier Tuesday, Hochul had delivered a message of "solidarity" to New Yorkers a day after she visited Jewish students at Cornell University's Center for Jewish Living who have received online death threats amid the Israel-Hamas war, insisting there is "zero tolerance" for antisemitism, Islamophobia or "hate or any kind." 

In a video, the Democrat announced that she tapped Judge Jonathan Lippman, the former chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, to conduct an independent third party review of CUNY [City University of New York] policies and procedures related to antisemitism and discrimination. 

"We will take on the antisemitism we have seen on college campuses. The problem didn't begin with the weeks following October 7th attacks. It's been growing on a number of campuses," she said. "While his assessment will be focused on CUNY, his recommendations will be a roadmap for institutions across the state and the country. My commitment to your safety is unwavering, but we can't do it alone."

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

Yale Daily News (YDN), the independent student newspaper and oldest college daily in the country, issued an editor's note on a pro-Israel column over claims it made "unsubstantiated claims that Hamas raped women."

An Oct. 12 column by Yale student Sahar Tarak titled, "Is Yalies4Palestine a hage group?" was hit with an editor's note on Oct. 25, reading, "This column has been edited to remove unsubstantiated claims that Hamas raped women and beheaded men." 

Yalies4Palestine is a student group that describes itself as "organizing Yale's campus community to support the human rights and freedom of the Palestinian people" on its Instagram page.

The piece by Tartak still contains lines about beheadings by Hamas and condemning the "barbarism" that was carried out by "terrorists from Gaza who seemed intent on killing as many Jews as possible."

"Yes, they kidnapped children," she wrote. "Yes, they cheered the whole time. It’s all on video. Over 1,200 are dead, not to mention those kidnapped and maimed. This is terror, and Hamas is a designated terrorist group — as described by the United States, European Union and dozens of other countries."

There have been multiple reports that Hamas terrorists committed rape during their rampage. Israel released footage of one captured attacker who said they were given permission to rape the corpse of a girl, according to The Times of Israel. NBC News reported on "signs of rape" in videos of the attack presented to journalists last week. Military forensic teams in Israel also said they found signs of torture and rape among the victims, according to Reuters.

Fox News Digital's Jeffrey Clark contributed to this update.