Morning Wire XX
[0] As the death toll from the terror attacks on Israel continues to rise, the country is vowing to eradicate Hamas for good.
[1] Hamas terrorists bound, burned, and executed children.
[2] They are savages.
[3] What steps is Israel taking to neutralize the terrorist group and what help is the U .S. providing?
[4] I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor -in -chief John Bickley.
[5] It's Tuesday, October 10th, and this is Morning Wire.
[6] Just a day after the massacre of hundreds of Israelis, the Democratic Socialists of America held a much -criticized rally in support of the Palestinians.
[7] We discussed the controversy on the streets and in the media.
[8] And direct from Israel, we speak to a resident who was on the ground during the attacks.
[9] All of our neighbor's sons have been called up.
[10] They are all on the front lines.
[11] They are all prepared to go save these hostages.
[12] Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire.
[13] Stay tuned.
[14] We have the news you need to know.
[15] Following the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, Israel has declared war on Hamas, launching defensive strikes against the terrorist group and vowing to destroy them for good.
[16] Here with more fallout from the tragedy is Daily Wire senior editor, Cabot Phillips.
[17] So Cabot, millions around the world are still in mourning following these unprecedented attacks by Hamas.
[18] What's the latest out of Israel?
[19] Well, at latest count, the death toll in Israel stands around 900, with another 2 ,600 wounded, many critically.
[20] According to officials, while the Israeli military has regained control of communities near the border, quote, there may still be terrorists in the area.
[21] Among the dead are at least 11 American citizens.
[22] At latest count, it was believed Hamas had seized at least 150 hostages.
[23] That includes high -ranking military officers, as well as women, young children, and the elderly.
[24] Right.
[25] We've seen some horrifying reports.
[26] So let's talk about Israel's response.
[27] What's it been so far?
[28] So shortly after the attack, Israel formally declared war on Hamas.
[29] with Prime Minister Benjamin Nanyahu vowing, quote, mighty vengeance and preparations for a long and difficult war.
[30] Israel is called up 300 ,000 reservists, the largest mobilization of its kind in the country's history.
[31] The majority of those forces are being sent along with tanks and other weapons down to the south near Gaza, while others are headed north to secure the border with Lebanon.
[32] And around Lebanon, it's worth noting there have already been two incidents of fighting.
[33] Looking ahead, the expectation is that Israel will launch a full -scale ground invasion of Gaza in the coming days to root out Hamas terrorists and then rescue those taken hostage.
[34] In the meantime, Israel's defense minister said, quote, no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel, will be allowed into the territory until Hamas has been destroyed.
[35] Now, as part of that effort, Israeli forces have begun targeted airstrikes on Hamas strongholds throughout the region.
[36] And last count, around 700 Palestinians, including dozens of children, have been killed in those strikes.
[37] Now, what about Hamas?
[38] How have they responded just in the past 24 hours?
[39] Well, they have continued their attacks, launching a barrage of rockets towards Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on Monday.
[40] The terror group also announced Monday that they would begin executing civilian hostages on video every time in Israeli airstrike hit civilians, quote, in their homes without warning.
[41] But again, it's important to remember, as we mentioned yesterday, Gaza is a densely populated region, and Hamas terrorists are notorious for operating out of hospitals, mosques, and schools with the clear intent of using their civilians as a way of deterring attack from Israel.
[42] Now, in a surprising move Monday afternoon, a senior Hamas official did tell Al Jazeera that the terror group was open to potential truce talks and to quote political dialogues.
[43] But in an address to the nation, Nanyahu appeared to throw cold water on the idea of negotiations, saying Hamas asked for a war, and they'll get one.
[44] Though Israel didn't start this war, Israel will finish it.
[45] Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they've made a mistake of historic proportions.
[46] we will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israel's other enemies for decades to come.
[47] Now, moving stateside, what sort of reaction are we seeing from President Biden and or other lawmakers?
[48] Yeah, this could well become the defining geopolitical moment for this president.
[49] On Monday, Biden had a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu and offered condolences and vowed to support Israel in their fight against Hamas.
[50] But a number of GOP lawmakers, including presidential candidates, have heaped blame on Biden.
[51] They say the presidents deal with Iran last month, freed up billions of dollars for the regime there, which funds Hamas, and then help pave the way for the attack this weekend.
[52] So the events in Israel are certainly putting new pressures on President Biden.
[53] Right.
[54] Well, especially heading into election season, this is going to be a major issue.
[55] Yeah, it will.
[56] Khabit, thanks for reporting.
[57] Anytime.
[58] In the wake of terror attacks launched by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead, rallies in support of the Palestinians have taken place across the United States.
[59] The protest took place in several cities.
[60] with the most focus being on a pro -Palestinian Democratic Socialists of America event in New York.
[61] Here to discuss these protests and the media response to the outbreak of war is Daily Wire contributor David Marcus.
[62] So, Dave, first, tell us about these rallies that got so much attention.
[63] Morning.
[64] There was a major demonstration of a few hundred people in New York City's Times Square that was organized by Democratic Socialists of America.
[65] The group did not specifically applaud the attack on Israel, but obviously the timing raised red flags for a lot of people because this seemed to send a message that some Americans are celebrating the terror attack.
[66] The cover of the New York Post on Monday showed a protester displaying a swastika on his phone.
[67] It was a pretty shocking display all around.
[68] There was also pro -Israel counter -protesting.
[69] Things got testy, but thankfully there was no violence.
[70] We also saw rallies in several other cities, including in Chicago.
[71] Right, multiple cities saw these kinds of demonstrations.
[72] right after the massacre.
[73] Now, there are six members of Congress who belong to the DSA.
[74] Did any of them condemn this rally in New York?
[75] No, there's been silence about the rallies from these six members who include representatives Alexandria Ocasio -Cortez and Ilhan Omar.
[76] Another DSA member in Congress, Rashida Taleb, did earn severe blowback for her statement on the attack in which she blamed both Israel and the United States, but did not blame Hamas for killing hundreds of civilians and brutalizing thousands more.
[77] For now, it seems as though these representatives stand by, the DSA, we'll have to wait and see if any of them step down from their membership, but there's certainly no indication of that so far.
[78] Yeah.
[79] There were also some very controversial moments in the media reaction the past day or so.
[80] What have we seen on that front?
[81] Yeah, there were a few moments that really raised eyebrows.
[82] For example, on CNN, Farid Zakaria had a guest who claimed that most of the victims were military targets.
[83] which is just an abject and outright lie, unless a techno rave, for example, where 260 were killed with some kind of army operation.
[84] The anchor made no effort to push back against it whatsoever.
[85] Meanwhile, Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti -Defamation League, who, you know, were accustomed to hearing attack conservatives, really lit into MSNBC coverage live on MSNBC.
[86] Here's part of that.
[87] I love this show, and I love this network that I've got to.
[88] Got to ask, who is writing the scripts?
[89] Hamas, they are not fighters, they are not militants.
[90] And I'm looking right at the camera.
[91] They are terrorists.
[92] It is a barbarian who rapes and brutalizes women, who kills children in front of their parents.
[93] Guys, get this story right.
[94] Please talk to the Israeli mothers and fathers who lost their children.
[95] And please stop calling this a retaliation.
[96] This is a defensive measure against an organization that is committed to one thing.
[97] Killing Jews, not a peaceful resolution of a conflict, but murdering Jews.
[98] War is hard to cover objectively, but you have to start with the basic facts.
[99] And thus far, too many in the media on the left are still looking to equivocate and find both sides at fault, which appears to many as frankly quite callous given what we saw.
[100] Yeah, indeed.
[101] Now, social media has been a factor here.
[102] What role has it played so far?
[103] Well, we have seen the atrocities carried out by Hamas exposed for all the world to see.
[104] As horrific as it is to view, it really is crucial to understanding the reality on the ground with this terrorist group.
[105] We also have firsthand accounts, again, hard to witness at times, but important in making what's happening there more of a reality for the people.
[106] Yeah, as you say, difficult but very powerful.
[107] Dave, thanks for joining us.
[108] Thanks for having me. RIA Lightstone was the senior advisor to the U .S. ambassador to Israel during the Trump administration.
[109] He was in Israel this weekend when Hamas launched its deadly attack.
[110] RIA joins us now from his home in Rana, Israel, just north of Tel Aviv.
[111] First of all, RIA, we're glad you're safe.
[112] Tell us what you've been through since Saturday.
[113] Israel has been under attack since 7 a .m. Saturday morning.
[114] The attacks were not just on the border towns where over 1 ,000 terrorists first in.
[115] and have murdered and maimed and raped and kidnapped and pillaged Jewish people.
[116] Not only that, but they've also fired over 5 ,000 rockets indiscriminately from civilian areas in Gaza at civilian targets.
[117] In Israel, my home and my family been one of those civilian targets.
[118] We've been in the air raid situation no less than 12 times, and we've seen the Iron Dome work for eight of those 12 times.
[119] The last 48 hours have been harrowing, to say the least.
[120] been in the bomb shelter for 10 of those 48 hours and unfortunately received funeral notices of friends of ours who died on the front trying to save hostages.
[121] That's devastating news.
[122] I'm sorry to hear that.
[123] Now, why did this attack happen now?
[124] Why do you believe Hamas chose to strike this particular weekend?
[125] Well, I think there are three different reasons.
[126] You've got the specific dates and 50 years since the Yon Kippur War, which was the last and closest thing that the people who desire to see Israel's destruction saw as successful.
[127] So 50 years to the date, that date has symbolism.
[128] But that date also has the knowledge that Israel's guard was down.
[129] It was a Sabbath.
[130] It was the end of the holiday season.
[131] But the macro reason why this happened is because the United States of America has been exceedingly weak over the last three years and has been feeding Iran billions of dollars of capital and allowing them freedom of operation movement.
[132] And when they say Hamas or Khazbalah is behind this, those are just fancy code words for saying Iran.
[133] Iran perpetrated this attack, Iran orchestrated this attack, and Iran is doing this with U .S. dollars.
[134] Now, can you explain a little bit the geography of Israel and the Gaza Strip?
[135] Sure.
[136] Israel's tiny.
[137] Tel Aviv is the economic hub of the entire Middle East.
[138] And if you were to drive without traffic, 45 minutes south, you find the Gaza Strip.
[139] Now, the Gaza Strip is populated by about 2 million Palestinians.
[140] It has been since 2007 under the control of the U .S. recognized terror organization called Hamas.
[141] And since that time, Hamas has held captive.
[142] I don't know whether it's two million unwilling Palestinians or it's 1 .9 million willing Palestinians.
[143] And they're that way because they're pawns for their so -called leaders.
[144] And why do I say so -called leaders?
[145] Because the leadership of Hamas does not sit in Gaza.
[146] The leadership of Hamas sits in Turkey and Qatar, taking out sweets and villas at the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton's, taking European money and living high on the lamb while they deliberately keep their, quote, people, debilitated and beaten down and angry so they can live off this enormous scam.
[147] Last question.
[148] Israel has cut off water, electricity and food from Gaza.
[149] What do you expect the next steps will be?
[150] Israel has suffered more losses today in the last 48 hours than in its history.
[151] certainly on any 48 -hour period.
[152] The Jewish people have suffered more murders in the last 48 hours than they have any time since the Holocaust.
[153] This will not be an operation.
[154] This will not be something precise.
[155] This will be war.
[156] And in war, you win when you decimate your opponent.
[157] And I am optimistic that the Palestinians will see this coming and they will surrender a complete and total surrender.
[158] I wish that reality would match my optimism.
[159] All right.
[160] Well, Aria, thank you so much for coming on and stay safe.
[161] Thank you for having me. That was Ari A Lightstone.
[162] He was the senior advisor to the U .S. ambassador to Israel during the Trump administration.
[163] Thanks for waking up with us.
[164] We'll be back this afternoon with more of the news you need to know.