Jericka Duncan (00:00):
But first, we begin with the latest in the Israel-Hamas war. Tonight, Egypt sent nearly three dozen trucks of food and medical aid into Southern Gaza. Rockets fired by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, hit a neighborhood in Northern Israel. No word yet on casualties. This as fighting in the Gaza Strip expands. CBS’s Charlie D’Agata is in Tel Aviv with more. Charlie, good evening.
Charlie D’Agata (00:24):
Good evening, Jericka. Tonight, Israeli forces are on the attack and on the move inside Gaza saying More troops have entered the territory while the humanitarian crisis inside Gaza is worsening by the minute.
(00:42)
The Israeli defense forces said they struck more than 450 Hamas targets in a 24-hour period, releasing new nighttime video claiming to show Israeli tanks advancing inside Gaza, flanked by infantry soldiers on foot, taking up positions under the cover of darkness and smokescreens. Hamas has reported firefights and released video purporting to show a missile attack on an Israeli troop carrier while aid agencies describe the toll on civilians as a catastrophic crisis.
(01:21)
The UN has warned of a breakdown of civil order saying hundreds of people have stormed their warehouses in a desperate search for food and basic supplies. Large parts of the territory have been cut off from communications, but CBS news producer Marwan Al Ghoul managed to report today scenes of despair and utter desolation.
Marwan al Ghoul (01:45):
While I was driving in Gaza City North, I saw empty streets, but a lot of destructions everywhere.
Charlie D’Agata (01:54):
He found one survivor who said he was home with his family when an explosion hit. “You can see our three children here,” he said.
(02:04)
On the Israeli side of the front line with Gaza, we saw lines of artillery and troops opening fire. The Israeli military’s objective in this offensive is clear: to dismantle and destroy Hamas. The search is not only on for more than 200 hostages, but those behind their abduction. That means any Hamas member anywhere says former Mossad Intelligence Chief, Haem Tomer.
(02:36)
There have been those, including the Prime Minister, who said that everybody responsible for this will be hunted down.
Haim Tomer (02:42):
Yeah.
Charlie D’Agata (02:42):
Is that possible?
Haim Tomer (02:44):
Yes. But it might take a couple of years.
Charlie D’Agata (02:46):
A couple of years.
Haim Tomer (02:47):
Yeah. We’re able to get to everybody, to everybody.
Charlie D’Agata (02:52):
He described trying to find intelligence leading to the hostages in the middle of an active war zone, like a mission impossible, Jericka. Now, hostage families are terrified this new phase of fighting will endanger their loved ones and might risk any hope of negotiations.
Jericka Duncan (03:11):
Charlie D’Agata in Tel Aviv. Thank you.