Israel fends off aggression at Lebanon border as it prepares to invade Gaza

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to deport foreign nationals, including people in the U.S. on student visas, who have expressed support for Hamas' terrorist attacks on Israel.

In a letter sent to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday, Cotton demanded the department take immediate action to remove the foreign nationals, who the GOP lawmaker says have "no place" in the U.S.

"I write to urge you to immediately deport any foreign national—including and especially any alien on a student visa—that has expressed support for Hamas and its murderous attacks on Israel. These fifth-columnists have no place in the United States," Cotton wrote.

"Federal law is clear that any alien who 'endorses or espouses terrorist activity or persuades others to endorse or espouse terrorist activity or support a terrorist organization' is inadmissible and must be deported," he continued. "Swiftly removing and permanently barring from future reentry any foreign student who signed onto or shared approvingly the anti-Semitic letter from the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee on October 7 would be a good place to start."

Shortly after the attack on Oct. 7, Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups released a statement signed by about 30 student organizations that read, "We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence."

The statement was later deleted after student organizations began removing their signatures amid bipartisan backlash and some CEOs demanding the names of the students who signed it.

Israel's Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, sent a letter to his fellow soldiers, commanders and reservists amid the war in the Jewish State stemming from a surprise attack by Hamas terrorists.

"On Saturday morning, October 7 2023, Hamas terror organization commenced a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel," Halevi began. "They seek to destabilize Israel's sovereignty by carrying out cruel and criminal actions. During this fateful hour, we are keeping our oath to protect our homeland and Israel's freedom and are fighting back. This is the eleventh consecutive day that the IDF is striking the enemy from the air, ground and sea."

"We destroyed enemy infrastructure, leadership and capabilities and caused significant damage," he continued. "We will pursue and catch them everywhere and will strike them with force. We are determined and unified in our mission to protect our home and are prepared for any situation at every front. Our uncompromising responsibility is to overwhelm the enemy and restore security everywhere."

More than 3,600 people have been killed since Hamas launched its attack against Israel on Oct. 7, leading to retaliatory action from Israeli forces. Thousands more have been wounded, and many others have been abducted by Hamas and raped, tortured and murdered.

"We took a hard hit and we are responsible, but now the initiative is in our hands," Halevi wrote. "Every single one of you has a role in the challenges we face ahead. The war will be difficult and long and the IDF will prevail. The IDF will prevail because of our dedication to the mission, our bravery, and camaraderie. The IDF will prevail because our war is just. The IDF will prevail thanks to the might of the nation we are a part of. We will prevail because of our abilities and because we trained for this mission. We will prevail, and in everything that we do we will act according to the IDF spirit and its values."

"We will remember our comrades, soldiers, commanders, security forces; the rapid response teams and the civilians that bravely stormed the enemy, and courageously fought and saved many lives," the letter reads. "They fought and paid with their lives, but their blood was not absorbed into the soil in vain; they are our legacy, and we will continue their mission."

Halevi added, "The Israeli people have faced hardships before. The IDF was and still is the protector of the nation, and we are a generation of fighters that are another link in the chain of generations of protectors of the country. Our power, determination and unity will prevail in this chapter of history as well."

"The citizens of Israel trust in you. I trust in you," he concluded.

When pro-Palestinian protesters chant "Palestine from the river to the sea," they are really calling for the "extermination of the Jewish state," one former counterterrorism coordinator warned.

"They think that Israel shouldn't exist at all," Nathan Sales told "Sunday Night in America." "This is exterminationist rhetoric and our First Amendment means that we have to tolerate this kind of speech, but the antidote for that kind of abhorrent speech is more speech. We need to expose what these Hamas sympathizers are really all about."

Several American cities have seen protests against Israel by pro-Palestinian supporters since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Instead of condemning Hamas, many have spoken out against Israel for military operations in besieged territory, citing civilian casualties. 

Sales said now is the time Americans must "stand strong with Israel."

"The attack ... [is] the worst day for Israel in its 75-year history. It's the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. We've said, ‘Never again.’ Well, now is the time to show that we mean it and the way you show that you mean it is at least being out in the streets and showing support for Jews who are now looking over their shoulders and fearing for their lives."

Fox News' Maria Lencki contributed to this report.

Author and professor Matt Goodwin scolded the BBC live, on the air over the network's decision not to label Hamas as "terrorists" Monday.

Goodwin was on the BBC's "Politics Live" when he became infuriated during a conversation about people who sympathize with Palestinians and the way British Jews have been treated since Hamas launched its deadly terror attacks on Israel.

"I can’t remember a time in my life when I felt more ashamed by our national debate, and our country, as I have over the last week. I’ve tried to imagine how I would feel if I was a British Jew. We have a national broadcaster, the BBC, unable to call a Nazi-inspired, ISIS-inspired terrorist group ‘terrorists,’" Goodwin said.

"We have the same broadcaster investigating BBC Arabic journalists for expressing sympathy for Hamas, we have the institutions of our national community, like Wembley Stadium, showing the rainbow flag to protest against Qatar, but not showing the colors of Israel in solidarity," he continued. "And we have the universities, where I work, a few years ago fall over themselves to express solidarity with George Floyd, and what happened centuries ago in America, but are unable to issue the same condemnation of what has happened in Israel."

Goodwin went on to say that anti-Israeli protesters and anyone who glorifies terrorism should be "treated the same way as supporters of ISIS."

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.

Army Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander, arrived in Tel Aviv Tuesday morning to "conduct high level meetings" with Israeli military leadership, according to the unit.

Kurilla will meet with Israeli Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi to discuss Israel's defense requirements, outline America's support efforts to avoid expansion of the war against Hamas, and to reiterate the Department of Defense's support for the longtime ally.

“I’m here to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and am particularly focused on avoiding other parties expanding the conflict,” Kurilla said in a news release.

USCENTCOM is one of eleven unified combatant commands of the DoD.

Senate leaders returned to the floor Monday afternoon for the first time since their Columbus Day recess, which was particularly busy with codels to China and Israel, and behind-the-scenes conversations with the White House about an emergency funding package to Israel. 

"We want to move this package quickly," Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the floor. "The Senate must go first — I know that the House is in disarray, but we cannot wait for them. The needs are too great, and if we pass a strong package, with strong bipartisan support, it will import to in the House somehow or other to act despite the morass they are in."

Schumer led a delegation of bipartisan lawmakers to the Holy Land over the weekend, just a few days after he cut his codel to China short last week. He said on the floor the trip pushed back "in a significant way against the dangerous false equivalency between what Hamas is doing and the response against them."

"Let us be clear. Hamas is an evil organization that wants to see Israel wiped off the face of the map. They don't believe in a two-state solution," he said.

Fox News' Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

A draft proposal from Russia that called for ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war was recently rejected by the United Nations Security Council.

The one-page draft proposal, which was introduced on Friday, called for access to humanitarian aid and an immediate ceasefire. It also condemned violence and hostilities against civilians.

The proposal notably did not include any mention of Hamas. The war began when Hamas terrorists began attacking Israel on October 7, and at least 1,400 Israelis have died since.

"By failing to condemn Hamas, Russia is giving cover to a terrorist group that brutalizes innocent civilians. It is outrageous. It is hypocritical, and it is indefensible," U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

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

Florida couple Ron and Linda Neumann were two of 270 people rescued from Israel on Sunday as part of efforts from Project DYNAMO and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

The Neumanns, who live in Melbourne, Florida, were visiting Israel and living in Rehovot when Hamas terrorists began attacking the country on October 7.

The desperate couple reached out to the State Department after two of their flights were cancelled. Ron, a Vietnam War veteran and son of a Holocaust survivor, called his rescue a miracle.

"How we got on this plane is a miracle from God because we had no way to get out," he said during a Monday press conference. "We were in an area that was getting constant bombardment."

The Neumanns' poodle was also one of four dogs rescued. DeSantis welcomed the 270 people and four animals when they arrived in Tampa Sunday night.

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is travelling towards Israel via the Red Sea, a defense official said to Fox News.

The unit is made up of around 2,000 Marines and sailors that specialize in special operations and rapid response.

The unit's final destination is unknown, and it is unclear if it will join the USS Ford carrier strike group in the Eastern Mediterranean. The USS Eisenhower carrier strike group is also headed towards the area.

The MEU is separate from the 2,000 U.S. troops who received orders over the weekend to "be ready to potentially deploy."

The news comes as the White House continues to lend their support to Israel, with President Biden condemning the Hamas terrorists who began attacking the country on October 7.

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

Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that President Biden will visit Israel this Wednesday.

In remarks made on Tuesday morning, Blinken said that Biden's visit will happen "at a critical moment for Israel, for the region, and for the world."

"The president will reaffirm the United States solidarity with Israel and our ironclad commitment to its security," the White House official said.

Blinken also added that Biden will speak to Israeli leaders about how to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza.

"The president will hear from Israel how it will conduct its operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and enables humanitarian assistance to flow to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not benefit Hamas," he explained.

WARNING: This story contains graphic details

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his country late on October 11, as Israel continued fighting against Hamas terrorist attacks that began on Saturday.

At least 1,200 Israelis have died since the surprise attack began on Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday. Most of the deaths were civilians.

"We are dealing with it an enemy that is cruel and worse than ISIS," the prime minister explained. "We saw children, boys and girls who were shot in their heads. Men and women who were burned alive. Young women who were raped and slaughtered, children whose heads were cut were decapitated."

"We are fighting with all our strength on all fronts," he said later in his speech. "We have moved over to the offense. Every Hamas member will be destroyed...They are ISIS, they will be destroyed."

Fox News' Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.

The bodies of five Israeli family members murdered by Hamas terrorists were found hugging each other, according to Israeli media.

Aviv Kutz, 54, his wife, Livnat, 49, and their children, Rotem, 19, Yonatan 17, and Yiftach 15, were all killed in their Kfar Aza home on October 7, the Times of Israel reported.

The Kutz family was considered missing until their neighbors found them in a bed, with Aviv protectively embracing his children and wife.

"They were all amazing kids with huge hearts. They had their whole lives ahead of them," the children's aunt, Adi Levy Salama, said.

Salama said that the family moved to Kfar Aza after spending several years living in Boston, Massachusetts.

Fox News Digital's Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this report.

A covert Hamas group called the "Shadow Unit" is likely controlling the holding of Israeli and American hostages, according to an expert - and their involvement poses a significant safety risk.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) recently penned a report in the Long War Journal about the group's potential involvement. Hamas disclosed the existence of their Shadow Unit in 2016.

FDD author Joe Truzman told Fox News Digital that the unit's overseeing of the hostage situation will complicate things for Israeli officials.

Truzman also said that some Americans may be held captive, but Hamas would target Israelis more than U.S. citizens for bargaining power with the Israeli government.

Fox News Digital's Michael Lee contributed to this report.

The Israeli government’s official Instagram account had harsh words for model Gigi Hadid after she criticized the country's leadership amid the Israel-Hamas war.

"There is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians," Hadid said on Instagram, according to Variety. "Condemning the Israeli government is not antisemitic and supporting Palestinians is not supporting Hamas."

The State of Israel’s account directly responded to the model, asking her "Have you been sleeping the past week?"

"There is nothing valiant about Hamas’ massacre of Israelis," the account wrote. "Condemning Hamas for what it is (ISIS) is not anti-Palestine and supporting Israelis in their fight against barbaric terrorists is the right thing to do."

Fox News Digital reached out to Hadid's management for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.

Fox News Digital's Alexander Hall contributed to this report.

After Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented and massive attack on Israel on October 7, the country's leader promised a swift and devastating response. 

In a video message early the morning of the violent attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Citizens of Israel, we are at war — not in an operation, not in rounds — at war."

“The enemy will pay an unprecedented price,” he added, promising that Israel would “return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known.”

Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory Saturday, the Israeli military said in a statement. Residents in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip were urged to remain in their homes at the time as rockets and gunfire were reported in Sderot and southern Israel.

Dozens of IDF fighter jets were seen delivering strikes to a number of targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.

In accordance with assessments by Israel's defense establishment, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has announced a "special security situation" in Israel’s homefront, within a 0-80 km radius from the Gaza Strip that enables the IDF to provide civilians with safety instructions and close relevant sites.

There has been fighting between Israel and Gaza in years past.

Fox News' Landon Mion, Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling and Reuters contributed to this update.

Belgian authorities issued a terror alert after two Swedish citizens were fatally wounded by a gunman in Brussels on Monday.

The attack, which targeted three people, happened just after 7 p.m. The two Swedes died, but the third victim - a taxi driver - was "said to be out of danger," according to Belgium's National Crisis Center.

"The takeover by the federal prosecutor's office occurred because of the possible terrorist motive of the shooting," the agency explained. 

A social media user who claimed to be the shooter identified himself as Abdesalem Al Guilani and a "fighter for Allah."

"My name is Abdesalem Al Guilani and I am a fighter for Allah," the suspect said in a video message, according to Reuters. "I am from the Islamic State. We love who loves us and we hate who hates us. We live for our religion and we die for our religion. Alhamdulah."

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about the Israel-Hamas war over the phone on Monday night, according to officials.

The Russian leader reportedly offered his help in preventing a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where the Israeli military is preparing to stage a ground invasion.

According to the Kremlin, Putin said he wanted to work towards ending "the Palestinian-Israeli confrontation and achieving a peaceful settlement through political and diplomatic means."

Putin had previously blamed the United States for creating an environment that caused Hamas terrorists to attack Israel on October 7.

"Settlement mechanisms have been established, but the United States has neglected these mechanisms over the past few years and decided to regulate everything on its own, did not use these mechanisms and in recent years has relied on meeting the material needs of the population living in the Palestinian territories," Putin said.

"In fact, they tried to replace the solution of fundamental political problems with some material handouts. Of course, this is very important for people who have a low standard of living, it is important to solve socio-economic issues," he added.

Reuters and Fox News Digital's Danielle Wallace, Yonat Friling, Greg Wehner and Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

Over 30 protestors outside of the White House were arrested on Monday, according to the U.S. Secret Service.

"[M]ore than 30 individuals were arrested by the U.S. Secret Service’s Uniformed Division for Unlawful Entry or Incommoding after crossing safety barriers or blocking entrances during a demonstration at the White House complex," a U.S. Secret Service spokesperson explained in a statement to Fox News.

Monday's arrests come after over 10,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in D.C. as part of the "Day of Action for Palestine" event.

The director of development for the American Muslims for Palestine – the organization that put together Saturday's protests – criticized the Biden administration to Fox News Digital.

"We need a ceasefire. We need innocent people to stop being killed," Mohamad Habehh said. "It seems that the Biden administration would rather condemn people calling for peace than try to step in."

Fox News Digital's Jon Michael Raasch contributed to this report.

At least 30 Americans have died since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7, with 13 others still missing, according to the U.S. State Department.

An unknown number of the missing Americans are believed to be among the nearly 200 hostages that were captured by Hamas terrorists and taken into Gaza.

While officials have not disclosed the identities of the deceased U.S. citizens, family members from across the country have confirmed their deaths.

American student Hayim Katsman was shot and killed by Hamas terrorists after they raided his home in Kibbutz Holit and found him hiding in a closet.

Hayim's sibling Noy Katsman told Fox that after texting his brother that morning and asking if he was OK, Hayim said he was safe. Their family heard about Hayim's death hours later.

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