Hamas releases two American hostages, a mother and daughter, as Israel continues Gaza bombardment

The bereaved mother of an Israeli festival-goer gunned down by Hamas militants earlier this month is urging Americans to "wake up" about the terrorists' support and told Fox News Digital she will "shout … until they start listening."

"I turned New York into my home. I made a lot of Americans my friends. Now, I worry for them," Hannie Ricardo told Fox News Digital amid anti-Israeli demonstrations across the city and other parts of the U.S.

Ricardo, a former lecturer at New York's Yeshiva University pursuing a master's degree at Hunter College, said she was slated to move into a new apartment last Sunday. Her youngest daughter, Oriya, had plans to visit.

"But instead of that, I buried my kid on Sunday," the 58-year-old said.

Fox News' Christina Coulter contributed to this report.

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Former Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, a Libertarian, said Friday that several of his relatives were killed in a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza that was damaged by an Israeli airstrike amid the war between Israel forces and Hamas terrorists.

Amash is a Palestinian-American who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2021. The former congressman left the GOP in 2019 before later joining the Libertarian Party.

"With great sadness, I have now confirmed that several of my relatives (including Viola and Yara pictured here) were killed at Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza, where they had been sheltering, when part of the complex was destroyed as the result of an Israeli airstrike," Amash wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. "Give rest, O Lord, to their souls, and may their memories be eternal."

"The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much. Our family is hurting badly. May God watch over all Christians in Gaza—and all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed," he continued.

The explosion struck St. Porphyrius Thursday evening and knocked down a wall of the church. At least 500 displaced Muslims and Christians had taken shelter in the church, where the Hamas-run government's health ministry said at least 16 were killed.

The Israeli military said a strike on a nearby command center damaged part of the church, and that the incident is under investigation. The military said the church was not the target of the strike.

More than 5,600 people have been killed in Gaza and Israel since Hamas launched its largest attack against Israel in decades on October 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.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is far from the Golden State this weekend, as he travels from the Mideast to the Far East on a high-stakes overseas trip that could fuel future presidential speculation.

The two-term California governor with a rising national profile made a quick stop in Israel on Friday, amid the Jewish State's war with Hamas.

Then it was on to China, where Newsom aims to discuss climate change with the world's most populous nation.

But it's a delicate dance for the governor, who as a top surrogate on behalf of President Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign, needs to make sure he doesn't disrupt fragile relations between the administration in Washington and the communist regime in Beijing.

While in Israel, the governor huddled with Californians and others who survived the horrific assault by Hamas militants nearly two weeks ago, which was the deadliest attack on Israel in half a century.

"Today, I met with a Californian who was shot during a missile and grenade attack. She covered herself among dead people to survive. After hours of endless terror, she was rescued and transported to a hospital," Newsom wrote in a social media posting, as he described his visit to a hospital in Tel Aviv.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

The Rafah border crossing connecting Gaza to Egypt will open Saturday morning to allow passage for civilians fleeing Gaza amid continued violence between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists.

The U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs said the crossing is expected to open at 10 a.m. local time, although the time period it will remain open is unclear.

"We have received information that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will open on Saturday, 21 October at 10:00 AM local time," the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs said in a statement. "If the border is opened, we do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza."

"We anticipate that many people would attempt to cross should the border open, and U.S. citizens attempting to enter Egypt should expect a potentially chaotic and disorderly environment on both sides of the crossing ... The situation remains dynamic and fluid and the security environment is unpredictable. You should assess your personal safety and security before choosing to move toward the border or trying to cross," the statement added.

More than 5,600 people have been killed in Gaza and Israel since Hamas launched its largest attack against Israel in decades on October 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 chancellor of a California university condemned an assistant professor's apparent social media posting threatening violence against "Zionist journalists" as "revolting" on Thursday.

An account affiliated with a University of California-Davis faculty member named Jemma Decristo posted last week on X, "One group of ppl we have easy access to in the US is all these Zionist journalists who spread propaganda & misinformation… they have houses w addresses, kids in school… they can fear their bosses, but they should fear us more." The post ended with emojis depicting a knife, axe and drops of blood. 

Her biography page on the UC-Davis website had an error message, but the The Forward reported an archived biography described her as "an assistant professor in American studies and African American studies." Her X account is now private.

Chancellor Gary S. May released a statement saying he disagreed wholeheartedly with the remarks and explained how the university was proceeding.

"I absolutely condemn the posts attributed to a UC Davis faculty member that recently appeared on the social media platform X," he wrote. "I find the comments revolting in every way, and I disagree wholeheartedly with them. UC Davis rejects all forms of violence and discrimination, as they are antithetical to the values of our university. We strive to foster a climate of equity and justice built on mutual understanding and respect for all members of the community."

He went on to say that when the university receives a complaint that a faculty member has engaged in misconduct, the matter is reviewed internally as a confidential personnel issue. The statement did not confirm whether the faculty member in question had been terminated.

"We can confirm that the provost will refer this matter to the appropriate campus departments that investigate harassment, discrimination, and faculty conduct, in consultation with legal counsel regarding First Amendment rights," he said. "Some have asked why this faculty member continues to be employed at UC Davis. The University of California system has specific procedures for the review of complaints of faculty misconduct consistent with universitywide policies and bylaws. The status of complaints lodged against faculty members are confidential personnel matters, so we are unable to publicly comment on the steps we are taking."

Fox News' David Rutz contributed to this report.

ERIC BARADAT/AFP via Getty Images

The Washington Post stealth edited the caption of a photo Thursday that initially described Israeli children as having been "detained" by Hamas terrorists. The caption was subsequently changed to say they were "taken hostage."

The terror group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, with hundreds of terrorists pouring into the country, killing over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping many others. The Israeli military said Thursday there are still 203 hostages in Gaza.

The Post published a piece Thursday about the families of hostages, but it was the caption of a photo of a mother saying, "Two of her children have been detained by Hamas," that drew the most attention.

Fox News' Alexander Hall and Alexa Moutevelis contributed to this report.

The family of the two Americans who were released from Hamas captivity on Friday is speaking out.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

Uri Raanan, the ex-husband and father of the two American citizens released said during a press conference that it's going to be the "best day of his life" when he sees his daughter again.

"I'm going to hug and kiss her, and it's going to be the best day of my life," Raanan said.

Raanan said he has been unable to sleep while his daughter and ex-wife were being held hostage.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. For two weeks. I haven't been sleeping for two weeks. Tonight I'm going to sleep good. I spoke with my daughter earlier today. She sounds very good. She looks very good. She was very happy. And she's waiting to come home," Raanan said.

He said that the two are expected to come back to the United States early next wee

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages, a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told Fox News on Friday that "vengeance is not a foreign policy doctrine" when asked what her response would be if a Hamas-like attack happened in America.

"We are here to save lives. Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, anyone else," Pressley said.

“Is that a yes or a no," Fox News' Hillary Vaughn asked.

When asked why Pressley and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., do not think Israel should go after the terrorist that tortured, killed, and kidnapped their babies and children, Omar angrily responded “How many more killings is enough for You? Is it a thousand? 2000 more? 3000? How many more Palestinians would make you happy if they died? Would you be fine if all of the people of Gaza were gone? Would that make you happy? Would that the thing that makes you proud?”

Fox News' Hillary Vaughn contributed to this report.

As we celebrate the news that two U.S. hostages have been released by Hamas we cannot not lose sight of at least 11 more American citizens who remain hostages in the Gaza Strip.  We still do not know where they are being held, how they are being treated, or if they are still alive.  

While President Biden told the families of the hostages that he would do everything in his power to bring them to safety, his national security council has no plans for an American-led rescue operation.  

Instead, the United States says it will rely on Israel and diplomacy to free captive Americans. This is unacceptable. American intelligence and military power are capable of more; the president should unleash our decades-long experience dealing with terrorists in combat zones and bring our American captives home.  

With terrorists deliberately embedded within Gaza’s urban civilian populations, and Hamas operating out of an unmapped elaborate tunnel system, locating the hostages is extremely challenging, to be sure.  

Moreover, as a number of experts have pointed out, Hamas has likely distributed the hostages to multiple locations in Gaza making a single rescue effort impossible. As a result, the Biden administration is pursuing a release via diplomacy working with the International Committee of the Red Cross and through countries, like Egypt and Qatar, that deal directly with Hamas.  

This is a recipe for failure.  

Egypt is preoccupied with managing the Gazan humanitarian disaster and the concomitant security risk of a million-plus Gazans building up on its border. The plight of American hostages will be used, at best, as leverage to help Egypt manage its border crisis; more likely, it views the hostages as a distraction from its core interests.  

Qatar is an unreliable actor. Its willingness to patronize Hamas, openly host their political leadership in its capital and facilitate meetings with Iran’s leadership ought to give American diplomats pause that the road to freeing our hostages runs through Doha.  

Israel remains the most promising pathway to saving American citizens, but it too is understandably focused elsewhere. Mobilizing over 300,000 forces for the expected ground incursion into Gaza is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s No. 1 priority.  

And Israel has its own hostage crisis to manage with Hamas holding an estimated 200 Israeli citizens. It is simply unreasonable and unrealistic to expect Israel to dedicate precious resources to saving American hostages, nor should we expect Israel to delay its offensive until the hostages are freed.  

Given these deficiencies, it is critical the Biden administration develop a U.S.-led option to complement the overall effort to rescue American hostages. With over two decades experience carrying out counterterrorism operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world, U.S. intelligence agencies and special operations units know how to operate in unfamiliar urban combat zones riddled with risk and terrorist activity.  

Cases like the 2008 rescue of Al Geiser in Afghanistan and the 2020 rescue of Philip Walton in Niger are just two successful examples. U.S. Central Command and national intelligence assets should be prioritizing collection on Gaza and developing rescue packages on each of the U.S. hostages.  

With liaison officers from the intelligence community and special operations command on the ground in Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces are in a far better position to support a U.S. effort than it is to lead and organize a rescue operation on behalf of U.S. citizens.  

The USS Ford carrier strike group recently deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean is well positioned to launch and oversee a rescue operation. With a second carrier group underway to the region the U.S. military can carry out its regional deterrence mission, provide military support to Israel should Hezbollah open a second front from Lebanon, and carry out a rescue operation.  

An American-led rescue effort would undoubtedly be high risk, but our national security apparatus is built for this kind of contingency. Every day American hostages remain in Gaza the more their lives are imperiled. At least one known American hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is in need of urgent medical care and may not have days left to wait.   

As Biden reminded Americans recently, Hamas is a terrorist organization that operates no differently from ISIS. The ISIS analogy extends beyond its brutality and evil ideology; it is relevant to the hostage crisis too.  

As opposed to other hostage negotiation efforts, like those with Iran or Russia, Hamas is not engaging in diplomatic chess. We can assume Hamas will operate no differently from those who captured and murdered journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002; Hamas has reportedly threatened to kill a hostage whenever Israel bombs targets in Gaza without warning. 

With 32 Americans murdered and 11 more Americans unaccounted for or taken hostage by Hamas, the Gaza war is America’s war, too. How we handle the plight of captured American citizens will determine whether adversaries and terrorist organizations think they can benefit from capturing or killing more Americans in the future.  

Over the past three years, we have failed to deter Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and ISIS from taking American hostages. Given this record, Hamas likely believes it has more to gain by holding hostages than releasing them. That is why it is critical we shift the paradigm immediately and rescue our citizens.  

Roger Zakheim is director of the Ronald Reagan Institute and a former general counsel on the House Armed Services Committee. He is a commissioner on the National Defense Strategy Commission. 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Friday, according to the Pentagon.

"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke today with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to discuss updates on Israel's operations to restore security after Hamas' terrorist attacks. Secretary Austin expressed his appreciation regarding humanitarian assistance developments and welcomed the release of two American hostages. The Secretary reiterated U.S. support for Israel's self-defense and his commitment to deterring any state or non-state actors seeking to escalate the conflict," Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder wrote in a readout.

Two freed American hostages speaking with President Biden

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has released a picture of the two released American hostages speaking with President Biden via phone.

".@POTUS spoke this evening with the two American citizens who had been held hostage by Hamas. We are so grateful that they are safe. We will continue to do everything we can to unite all hostages with their loved ones," the embassy wrote in a post on X.

The two American citizens were being held hostage by Hamas.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

President Biden said in an earlier statement that the White House has been working tirelessly to get Americans released.

"Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7.  Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment," Biden said in a statement.

"From the earliest moments of this attack, we have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held.  I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work.  Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last week—we will not stop until we get their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world," he added.

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages , a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press conference that some of the 10 Americans still unaccounted for are being held hostage by Hamas.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

The New York Times is defending its rehiring of a Gaza journalist who was previously exposed for praising Hitler.

The Times rehired freelance videographer Soliman Hijj as part of its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. In August 2022, the pro-Israel media watchdog HonestReporting shed light on Hijjy, whose work had been featured by the Times between 2018 and 2021.

HonestReporting found that Hijjy praised Adolf Hitler in a 2012 Facebook post, writing, "How great you are, Hitler" in Arabic. 

In a 2018 post, Hijjy shared a photo of himself with a caption that translated to either "I'm in tune like Hitler during the holocaust" or "in a state of harmony as Hitler was during the Holocaust."

In a separate post, he referred to the terrorist group Hamas' rocket fire toward Israel as "the resistance."

At the time, a spokesperson for The Times told HonestReporting that it was looking into Hiijy's social media posts and declined to comment further in response to FOX News' inquiry. 

However, in the wake of Hamas' horrific Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, Hijjy's name has reemerged in the Times' coverage of the brewing war, as first pointed out by the Jewish newspaper Algemeiner. 

The Times is now standing by Hijjy. 

"We reviewed problematic social media posts by Mr. Hijjy when they first came to light in 2022 and took a variety of actions to ensure he understood our concerns and could adhere to our standards if he wished to do freelance work for us in the future," a spokesperson for the Times told FOX News Digital. "Mr. Hijjy followed those steps and has maintained high journalistic standards. He has delivered important and impartial work at great personal risk in Gaza during this conflict."

FOX News Digital asked multiple follow-up questions, including what were the Times' specific standards Hijjy was adhering to and how can he cover the Israel-Gaza conflict impartially when he has praised Hitler in the past. The Times spokesperson declined to comment further. 

Hijjy has either had a byline or contributed to eight separate reports for the Times since Oct. 12, according to his author page. 

His work includes the Times' coverage of the explosion outside the Gaza hospital this week, which the Times' and many other media organizations reported was an Israeli airstrike, citing Hamas officials' false claims.

Hijjy's return to the Times is not being welcomed by critics. 

"The @nytimes has just rehired a NAZI. Let that sink in," Israeli Ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan reacted. "We all saw how the NYT immediately parroted Hamas’ lies regarding the al-Ahli hospital (which Hijjy contributed to) and still refuses to retract these fabrications. Spreading Hamas propaganda and rehiring a Holocaust-praising terror supporter, actively stokes antisemitism. Every Jew must understand that not reading or advertising in Hamas mouthpieces is an integral part of our right to self-defense."

Fox News' Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

President Biden on Friday spoke with the two Americans released after being held captive by Hamas, according to the White House.

“The President just completed a call with the two Americans released today after being taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel. He relayed that they will have the full support of the U.S. government as they recover from this terrible ordeal," a White House spokesperson said.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages , a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley reiterated her support for Israel on Friday while also cautioning the Biden administration to "be smart" regarding Qatari mediation efforts that led to the release of two American hostages — a mother and daughter — by Hamas.

The hostages, identified as Judith and Natalie Raanan, were taken by Hamas from the Nahal Oz kibbutz in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip and released "on humanitarian grounds" following Qatari intervention. 

"The second thing I'll say to the Biden administration is don't fall for it. This is you know, I have dealt with Qatar in terms of trying to get hostages or actually hostage bodies out of Gaza," Haley told "America Reports" co-anchor Sandra Smith on Friday. "This is what they do. They're trying to earn favor with the United States."

At least 11 more Americans remain unaccounted for. 

Haley said Hamas is worried about a potential Israeli ground operation and that "they're going to throw two hostages out there for one to see if they can weaken us to keep Israel from going into Gaza," said Haley, who was wearing a sweater with the phrase, "She Who Dares Wins."

"Who Dares Wins" is the motto of the Sayeret Matkal, an elite Israeli paratrooper unit.

"This is a time to be smart. Go in smart," Haley said. "Don't let this weaken us. Don't fall for it. We've got 200 more hostages in there. And don't forget what happened on Oct. 7. They want everybody to forget. We can never forget. Israel needs to stay focused, determined, and America needs to have their back."

Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under former President Trump, has been steadfast in her support for Israel since the deadly attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas. 

"Nikki proudly stands with Israel and its fight for peace," Ken Farnaso, a spokesman for Haley, told Fox News Digital. "At the UN, she warned about Hamas and stood up for Israel — and she’ll do the same as president. We need a leader who will stand with Israel not only when it is hit, but also when it hits back."

The Squad, a group of progressive House Democrats, continued calls Friday for a ceasefire, citing Israel's bombardment of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The group has been heavily criticized for appearing to place the blame for the attacks on Israel. 

"The squad acts like the terrorists," Haley said. "Here they are, and they're basically mimicking pro-Hamas comments. They refuse to acknowledge the bloodshed and the torture and the terrorists that have caused all of this."

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

President Biden spoke by phone with the family of the two Americans held hostage by Hamas, according to a statement from he White House.

“This afternoon, the President spoke by phone with the family of the two Americans released today after being taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel," the White House said in a statement.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages , a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

Two American hostages pictured with Brigadier General Gal Hirsch.

The two American hostages released from Hamas captivity will soon meet with their families, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

A representative met with the two released American Citizens on a southern Israel military base a short time ago.

Brigadier General Gal Hirsch was seen with Judith and Natalie Raanan.

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages , a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to the media before boarding his plane in Cairo en route to Jordan on October 15, 2023.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for Hamas to release all hostages and said that 10 Americans are still unaccounted for.

"First, it's very simple. Hostages should be released immediately and unconditionally. That's been our position from day one. It remains our position," Blinken said. "I would not take anything that Hamas says at face value."

His comments come after two hostages were released from Hamas captivity on Friday.

"We welcome their release. We share in the relief that their families, friends and loved ones are feeling. But there are still ten additional Americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict," Blinken said.

Blinken said some of the 10 American citizens unaccounted for are being held hostage by Hamas.

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages , a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

U.S. President Joe Biden hosts a meeting inside the Cabinet Room at the White House on October 20, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

President Biden released a statement after two American hostages were released from Hamas' captivity, stating they will soon be with family.

"Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7.  Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear. These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment," Biden said in a statement.

"From the earliest moments of this attack, we have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held.  I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work.  Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans. And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last week—we will not stop until we get their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world," he added.

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages , a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a statement on the two American hostages who were released after being held captive by Hamas.

“Two American civilian hostages have been released by Hamas and handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. Today's breakthrough comes after many days of continuous communication between all the parties involved," HE Dr Majid Al-Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

" We will continue our dialogue with both the Israelis and Hamas, and we hope these efforts will lead to the release of all civilian hostages from every nationality, with the ultimate aim of de-escalating the current crisis and restoring peace," Al-Ansari added.

A source with knowledge of the release previously told Fox News that the American hostages, a mother and daughter, were released "on humanitarian grounds" after Qatari mediation efforts.

An Israeli official said their names are Judith and Natalie Raanan.

Fox News' Trey Yingst, Yonat Friling, Chris Pandolfo and Greg Norman contributed to this update.

FIRST ON FOX: The president of the Congressional Workers Union , who also works in the office of Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, attended a pro-Palestinian capitol protest this week and shared an Instagram post that accuses Israel of committing "genocide" against the Palestinians of Gaza. 

In an Instagram story obtained by Fox News Digital, Congressional Workers Union President Emma Preston shared a post saying it's a "false dichotomy" to say "you either support Israel or you hate Jews" and that you "can and absolutely should call for an end to the Israeli genocide of Palestinians" while also "condemning violence against Jews."

Preston, who works as a legislative assistant in the office of Dem. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. , also posted screenshots showing her taking part in a swarm of pro-Palestinian protesters who called for a cease-fire inside and outside of the Capitol in response to a Hamas terrorist attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and at least 30 Americans.

USCP told Fox News that approximately 300 demonstrators had been arrested in the protest on Capitol Hill, including at least three who were charged with assault on a police officer during the demonstrations.

The protests at the Capitol were organized by Jewish Voices for Peace, a group that the Anti-Defamation League has labeled a "radical anti-Israel activist group that advocates for a complete economic, cultural and academic boycott of the state of Israel."

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib also attended the rally outside the Capitol, where she also accused Israel of genocide and seemingly began to weep while accusing Israel of bombing a Christian hospital in Gaza which the Biden administration and Israel's government had both previously denied occurred. 

Tlaib is facing a demand for her removal from future classified briefings on military operations in Israel as a result of her position.

Preston, whose Instagram bio says "ACAB forever," which stands for "all cops are bastards," did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Her instagram page also has posts promoting the defund-the-police movement and abolishing prisons.

A spokesperson for Rep. Khanna’s office confirmed that Preston works in his office and has done "excellent work" on a variety of issues.

"Rep. Khanna has been clear in condemning Hamas’s brutal assault on Israel and affirming Israel’s right to self-defense," the spokesperson said. 

"Emma attended the rally in her personal capacity and those posts were made on her personal Instagram. Rep. Khanna is a strong supporter of free speech and believes his employees have the right to express their opinions in their personal capacities without the censorship of the state."

Fox News Digital's Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this update.

CNN reporter Sara Sidner was accosted by furious Palestinian protesters while reportingin the West Bank city of Ramallah amid the Israel-Hamas war.

During the tense confrontation, one male protestor got right in Sidner’s face, called her and her network "genocide supporters," and screamed "F--- CNN!" before Sidner was pulled away from the scene by her security team. 

The scene was captured on a Friday "CNN This Morning" broadcast, with the camera crew following Sidner as she toured Ramallah reporting on Palestinians raging against Israel's war with Gaza, launched after the Hamas terrorist group raided the Israeli border, murdered civilians and took hostages. 

Wearing a helmet and safety vest, Sidner spoke into the camera about protesters and the Arab world at large showing "solidarity" against Israel that was "called for by Hamas."

As she continued reporting, a man wearing a scarf and green sweatshirt jumped in between Sidner and her producers, approached the reporter and began screaming, "You are genocide supporters! You are not welcome here! Genocide supporters!"

Sidner remained calm and kept her voice low as the man put his face close to hers and continued yelling.

Pointing a finger close to her face and pushing into her, the Palestinian demonstrator exclaimed, "F--- CNN! F--- CNN! F--- CNN! Genocide supporters!"

After a few more seconds of the man yelling at Sidner, and other bystanders attempting to block her camera crew, Sidner’s team pulled her away from the man and the growing mob.

After getting some separation, Sidner continued reporting, stating, "All right, you see that people are very angry. They do not like the way in which that CNN has been reporting the story. You hear that."

She assured her team and CNN host Erin Burnett, "We’re fine," and continued reporting, "But what you are seeing is the heightened fear, anger, frustration with what’s happening in general."

She added that there’s a "general anger people feel that Israel is getting more support than the Palestinians, and the Palestinians feel they’re getting bombed and losing a lot of life. We’re upwards of 3000 people now killed, 10,000-plus who have been injured in Gaza."

CNN contributor and "The View" co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin  praised Sidner for her reporting and her composure in response to the confrontation. She wrote on X, "Just incredible composure and poise from the incredible @sarasidnerCNN. Thank you for your incredible reporting."

Fox News Digital's Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg posted then deleted a pro-Palestinian post on X following some backlash.

Early Friday morning, the 20-year-old Swedish activist posted a since-deleted photo of herself and three other activists with signs that read, "Free Palestine," "Climate Justice Now," "This Jew Stands With Palestine" and "Stand With Gaza." The photo included a blue octopus that had a frowning face and was sitting on one of the activists’ legs.

"Today we strike in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza . The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate ceasefire, justice and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected," she wrote in the post. Moments later, Thunberg deleted it and 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.

"It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted as a symbol for antisemitism, which I was completely unaware of," she wrote in an accompanying post. "The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings."

Thunberg, who was arrested at an energy protest in London earlier this week, said she and her activists "are of course against any type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes."

"This is non-negotiable. That is why I deleted the last post," she explained.

Fox News' Lawrence Richard contributed to this update.

A group of 35 House Republicans are calling for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate rampant pro-Hamas activity in the aftermath of the terrorist group's attacks on innocent civilians in Israel.

The Republicans, led by Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting information about his agency's efforts to probe supporters of Hamas, a federally-designated foreign terrorist organization, in addition to perpetrators of antisemitic violence nationwide. They noted that the DOJ has previously investigated American parents who spoke up at school board meetings.

"Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of our nation, but coordinated activities supporting Hamas, and intimidating and endangering other citizens have no place in our lawful society," Moolenaar and the other GOP lawmakers wrote to Garland. "Your department plays a critical role in enforcing the equal application of the law and safeguarding our nation's security."

"In that regard, we want to know what steps are being taken by the Department of Justice to investigate Hamas supporters in the United States, as well as the perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence in cities and school campuses across the nation," they continued. 

The Friday letter comes weeks after Hamas militants infiltrated southern Israel and massacred Israeli civilians in a surprise attack on Oct. 7. Since the massacre, Hamas has taken hundreds of innocent civilians, including some Americans, hostage.

Additionally, in response to Hamas' escalation, Israel Defense Forces have initiated a relentless bombardment of airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders and military outposts in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have also amassed tens of thousands of troops along its border with Gaza and exchanged fire with Hezbollah terrorists on its border with Lebanon.

Fox News' Thomas Catenacci contributed to this post.

The son of an abducted elderly peace activist urged the Israeli government to "deal with the consequences your failure" and prioritize retrieving hostages before striking against Hamas. 

"When Israel was supposed to defend my family, they didn't manage to keep my family safe," Lior Peri told Fox News. "Deal with the consequences of your first failure and only afterwords strive for a long-term solution."

Peri’s 79-year-old father, Chaim Peri, lived in Nir Oz, a kibbutz bordering Gaza, for 60 years and committed his life to improving Israeli-Palestinian relations up until the day Hamas terrorists attacked his community. 

"He's been a peace activist all of his life — all of our life living in front of the Gaza Strip," the younger Peri said from his home in Tel Aviv. "He always strived for resolution, for finding a way. He took part in as much demonstration as he could."

"He always tries to do something," Peri said. "I am very proud of him for doing whatever he could to help."

But on Oct. 7, Hamas took hostage the elder Peri and 80 others from his kibbutz after the terror group launched a surprise attack on Israel. Realizing Hamas terrorists were entering his house, the peace activist hid his wife and confronted the terrorists, telling them to take him and spare his family, his son said.

Chaim is one of over 200 people being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, according to Israeli officials.

Fox News' Teny Sahakian contributed to this update.

Columbia Business School assistant professor and Israeli-American Shai Davidai called out Columbia University president Minouche Shafik as a "coward" for remaining silent on "pro-terror" groups at school.

"To the pro-terror organizations at Columbia, my seven-year-old son is a legitimate target of resistance just because he’s Israeli," Davidai said in a passionate speech on campus. 

"My two-year-old daughter is a legitimate target of resistance — that is what they are selling," he continued. 

A surprise attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists on October 7 shocked the world, causing the death, wounding and capture of hundreds of civilians, including children and the elderly. Israel retaliated against Hamas by firing missiles into Gaza.

"I’ll name it now. President Minouche Shafik, of Columbia University, you are a coward," the Israeli assistant professor said. 

Columbia is one of many elite institutions across America that is being rocked by accusations of excusing antisemitism as the debate over the Israel-Hamas war continues. 

Fox News' Jeffrey Clark contributed to this update.

US President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Biden directly appealed to the American people to support funding for Israel and Ukraine's war efforts, warning that Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose parallel threats to US democracy. Photographer: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The details of President Biden's urgent funding request to Congress for military aid to Israel and Ukraine were released Friday.

The total cost of the White House's ask is nearly $106 billion, which will include funding for Israel, Ukraine, humanitarian aid to Gaza, U.S. border security and additional funds for security in the Indo-Pacific and to counter Chinese financing in developing countries. 

The numbers released by the White House Office of Management and Budget are: 

$61.4 billion in supplemental funding for Ukraine;

$14.3 billion in supplemental funding for Israel, of which $10.6 billion is military aid;

$13.6 billion for border protection, including $1.2 billion to counter fentanyl. This funding would pay for 1,300 new Border Patrol agents, 1,600 asylum offices and 375 immigration judge teams; 

$2 billion for countering PRC financing in developing countries;

And $9 billion for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. 

"Over the coming weeks, the Administration looks forward to continued engagement with members of both parties to reach a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement to fund the Government and invest in critical national priorities," director of OMB Shalanda Young said in the letter to Congress. "As part of that process, the Congress has an opportunity and obligation to advance our national security by addressing critical needs that should earn Bipartisan support."

Fox News' Jamie Joseph and Sarah Tobianski contributed to this update.

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 02: Founder and trustee of the King Faisal Foundation as well as the Chairman of the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal speaks on stage during the 2015 Concordia Summit at Grand Hyatt New York on October 2, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)

Saudi Arabia's former chief intelligence officer and ambassador to the United States condemned the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel while also speaking out against Israeli policies towards Palestinians. 

“I categorically condemn Hamas’s targeting of civilians of any age or gender, as it is accused of. Such targeting belies Hamas’s claimed to Islamic identity,” Prince Turki al-Faisal said in an address to the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston on Tuesday. 

Prince Turki no longer serves in government, but he remains the most prominent Saudi figure to condemn Hamas.

 “I also condemn Hamas for giving the higher moral ground to an Israeli government that is universally shunned, even by half of the Israeli public as fascist, miscreant and abhorrent," he continued. 

“I condemn Hamas for giving this awful government the excuse to ethnically cleanse Gaza of its citizens and bombing them to oblivion.”

“I condemn Hamas for further undermining the Palestinian Authority as Israel has been doing.”

“I condemn Hamas for sabotaging the attempt of Saudi Arabia to reach a peaceful resolution to the plight of the Palestinian people.”

However, Prince Turki said he "equally" condemns "Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Palestinian innocent civilians in Gaza, and the attempt to forcibly drive them into Sinai." 

"I condemn Israel’s targeted killing and the indiscriminate arrest of Palestinian children, women and men in the West Bank. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

He went on to say Israel's treatment of Palestinians over the past 75 years since its founding provoked the October 7 attacks that led to the brutal killing of at least 1,400 Israeli civilians. 

“I condemn Western politicians for shedding tears when Israelis are killed by Palestinians, but refused to even express sorrow when Israelis killed Palestinians. There are no heroes in this complex, only victims,” he said. 

Much of the legacy media has egg on its face for allowing the Hamas-backed Gaza Health Ministry to set the initial framing when covering an explosion that occurred at a Gaza hospital earlier this week. Many news organizations that were quick to repeat Hamas’ claim that Israel was at fault have since walked it back, but watchdogs believe it was a "terrible mistake" with lasting consequences. 

The Israel Defense Force determined the blast was caused by a rocket misfire launched by Islamic Jihad, another terrorist organization active in Gaza. President Biden, based on evidence from the IDF and U.S. intelligence, has publicly said Israel was not to blame. But that hasn’t stopped protests around the world from people who still believe Hamas talking points that were published by major media outlets. 

Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume called it a "media fiasco" and scolded news organizations that echoed Hamas propaganda without skepticism.

"Look, any story on this would properly report what the Palestinians were saying. But they would also be informed, I would think, of the fact that the Palestinian health authority or whatever the organization is called that put out this original claim that Israel was responsible, is governed by Hamas," Hume said Wednesday on "Special Report."

"So, this is what the terrorists are saying about an alleged terror attack from Israel. So… you treat it with great skepticism. That, alas, is not what happened in far too many corners of the media and western media in general. There were huge headlines, yes, they all said this is what the Palestinians were saying. But that gave you the impression that this is what some innocent Palestinians caught up in all of this were saying. That’s not the case," Hume continued. 

Hume pointed out that Hamas committed "one of the most hideous atrocities that we have seen in a very long time" on Oct. 7. 

"The idea that you would parrot propaganda from that source, as if it were legitimate… without great skepticism, seems to me is a terrible mistake," he said. 

Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this update.

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., accused The New York Times of doing something far "worse" than making a mistake, after the outlet quoted Palestinian claims blaming Israel for the explosion that rocked the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City earlier this week.

President Biden said that U.S. intelligence confirmed Israel was not to blame for the attack and backed up Israel's military investigation which found the strike was caused by Palestinian terrorist group Islamic Jihad.

Users on X roasted the paper for their initial headline, which read, "Israeli strike kills hundreds in hospital, Palestinians say." The Democratic congressman joined media watchdogs and conservative commentators criticizing the paper, in an X post on Thursday.

"I agree the @nytimes didn’t ‘botch’ the Gaza hospital story. They did something worse," Lieu wrote. "They intentionally wrote an attention grabbing headline that falsely pointed the blame at Israel to generate clicks during breaking news, without waiting for confirmation or the actual facts."

A New York Times spokesperson defended the outlet's coverage in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"During any breaking news event, we report what we know as we learn it. We apply rigor and care to what we publish, explicitly citing sources and noting when a piece of news is breaking and likely to be updated. And as the facts on the ground become more clear, we continue reporting. Our extensive and continued reporting on the hospital in Gaza makes explicit the murkiness surrounding the events there," the spokesperson said.

Fox News' Kristine Parks contributed to this update.

20 October 2023, Egypt, Arish: Egyptian Army Soldiers stand guard at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for "desperately" needed aid to be delivered to civilians in the Gaza Strip, which has been sealed off by Israel. Photo: Gehad Hamdy/dpa (Photo by Gehad Hamdy/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Egypt's Foreign Ministry on Friday accused Western news outlets of unfairly blaming Egypt for closing the Rafah border crossing.

In a brief statement on X, the ministry's spokesman assigned blame to Israel for hitting Rafah with airstrikes and for allegedly refusing aid to enter the Gaza Strip. 

Spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid also accused Israel of suggesting that Egypt was obstructing foreign nationals from leaving Gaza.

“Rafah crossing is open and Egypt is not responsible of obstructing third-country nationals exit,” he posted. "The opportunity is available tomorrow to change course and awaken the conscience!!!" 

Egyptian authorities have continually said that they did not close the Rafah border, but it that is not functioning due to the damage inflicted by Israeli airstrikes.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived at the Rafah border crossing earlier and called on international parties to work together to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to the Palestinians. 

The White House shot back at Republican efforts to redirect aid from Gaza to the Iron Dome, arguing the GOP lawmakers behind new legislation should back President Biden's new supplemental funding bill for Israel.

"Before becoming the first American commander-in-chief to set foot in Israel during wartime, President Biden’s unflinching backing for Israel in the wake of the worst terrorist atrocities in their history was welcomed across that country as the strongest expression of support from anyone to ever sit in the Oval Office," White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told Fox News Digital. "He quickly sent military aid to Israel, and he has been clear that the United States will ensure Israel has what it needs to protect itself, - and those Americans living in and traveling to Israel - from terrorism."

The comments come after a group of Republican senators led by Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., introduced legislation Thursday that would require the president to transfer "all unexpected balances of appropriations made available to Gaza to the Department of Defense, to be available for grants to Israel for the Iron Dome short-rage rocket defend system."

"In the wake of Iran-backed Hamas’s savage attack on Israel in which over 1,300 people in Israel were murdered, including 30 Americans, and as Iran-backed Hamas terrorists continue to launch missiles and rockets into Israel, the American people have seen the images of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense systems repeatedly intercepting rockets and saving the lives of countless civilians," Hagerty told Fox News Digital. "My legislation requires the Biden Administration to halt U.S. foreign assistance from going to Hamas terrorist-dominated areas and instead to redirect these resources to help Israel resupply its life-saving Iron Dome interceptors. The United States should unequivocally support the right of Israel to defend itself from terrorists."

Fox News' Michael Lee contributed to this update.

Some Palestinians who followed the Israeli military’s orders to evacuate the northern parts of the Gaza Strip are now heading back home from the south due to airstrikes there as well, with one saying "I might as well die in my own house," a U.N. spokesperson says. 

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson with the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters Friday that "We remain very concerned that Israeli forces’ heavy strikes are continuing across Gaza, including in the south," according to The Associated Press. 

"The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there," she continued. 

Shamdasani also said the rights office had heard accounts about people wanting to migrate back north, including from one unidentified Palestinian who said "I might as well die in my own house," the AP reported. 

Israel at one point last week warned the 1.1 million people living in the north of Gaza to evacuate the area within 24 hours as a "humanitarian step in order to minimize civilian casualties" ahead of the military's response to Hamas' terrorist attacks. 

"Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields," the Israel Defense Forces said in a news release. 

Fox News' Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this update.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Yemen in a show of solidarity with Palestinians living in Gaza.

The protests come as Israel continues its bombardment of the Gaza Strip and has clashed with Palestinians living in the West Bank in its campaign to wipe out Hamas. Israel Defense Forces have amassed tens of thousands of troops on the border with Gaza and exchanged fire with Hezbollah terrorists on the border with Lebanon as the conflict has escalated since Hamas infiltrated southern Israel and massacred Israeli civilians on Oct. 7. 

At least 5,600 people have been killed in the war on both sides, including at least 1,400 Israeli civilians and soldiers and 32 Americans. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry claims at least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and the West Bank and more than 13,162 wounded. At least 11 Americans are feared to be held captive by Hamas.

Pentagon officials said a U.S. Navy destroyer intercepted several missiles fired near the coast of Yemen on Thursday, though it was unclear what the missiles were targeting.

The missiles were launched from Yemen and were heading north along the Red Sea, "potentially" toward targets in Israel, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said.

Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this update.

The deputy mayor of Jerusalem demanded "proof of life" for the more than 200 hostages estimated to have been taken from Israel by Hamas militants and other assurances before humanitarian aid promised by President Biden or any other government arrives in Gaza for Palestinians. 

"The first thing we need is proof of life. We haven't had anything," Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum told Fox News Digital. "We haven't had the Red Cross being able to see them. We haven't had the U.N. even talking about the hostages. What happens to our hostages as 3- and 5-month-old babies, and their mothers, mothers with three children, young women serially raped, paraded down the street, an old lady with dementia in a wheelchair, people ridiculing her down the street and abusing her. Who are these people and why?"

"This is something that I think we cannot give up on the hostages," she said, speaking from Israel via Zoom. "We need to demand, if you want humanitarian assistance, we understand that. But we need our hostages to be a priority for all governments and for our government. And any type of humanitarian assistance has to be conditional on the assurance that our hostages, especially the injured ones, will at least be having medical treatment. And we haven't had any assurances of anything." 

President Biden announced Wednesday that the U.S. is providing $105 million in humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. 

"I'm all for humanitarian aid, but the problem is that the leadership in the West Bank is corrupt. So they steal from their people. They also pay terrorists pension, life pensions for every Jew they kill," Hassan-Nahoum told Fox News Digital. "And that's why in the United States, you guys passed the Taylor Force Act after a man called Taylor Force, who essentially was killed, murdered by Palestinian terrorists, and his killers are getting a life pension. And the American government passed a law that they wouldn't give any money to the Palestinians until the ‘pay for slay’ policy was rescinded, which it never was. And so I understand that President Biden is doing this from a good place."

Fox News' Danielle Wallace and Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this update.

Republican lawmakers called out far-left Democrats for their refusal to condemn Hamas as the war continues in Israel. 

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., described members of the "Squad" as "a disgraceful bunch," on "Fox & Friends" Thursday. Lawler specifically took issue with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., for "repeating a lie" that Israel was responsible for bombing a hospital in Gaza. 

"The fact that Rashida Tlaib stood outside yesterday in this rally saying and repeating this vile, disgusting lie that Israel bombed a hospital and offering no remorse despite the fact that the administration said it was a lie. It shows what a disgusting person she is. She has no business serving in the House of Representatives."

Tlaib spoke at a protest before hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators entered the Cannon House Office Building. Capitol Police told Fox News that approximately 300 demonstrators were arrested, including at least three who were charged with assault on a police officer during the demonstrations.

Lawler said Tlaib's actions were "disgraceful" and he emphasized the need to eliminate Hamas.

"The fact that we have sympathizers as members of Congress is so unbecoming and so horrifying. You think about it when you walk through the halls of the House of Representatives and you see where Abraham Lincoln sat and John Quincy Adams, and you think about the history of this chamber and the things that we have fought for in this country to make sure that people are free," said Lawler. 

"And you have people that defend terrorist oppressors who attacked the free state of Israel, the only democracy and beacon of hope in the Middle East. And these people attack them. It's disgusting. It's vile."

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said on "Hannity" that it's "undeniably crazy" for members of Congress to be part of the "propaganda machine" for Hamas. 

Fox News' Elizabeth Heckman contributed to this update.

ISRAEL - OCTOBER 19: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant receives information about the operations during his visit to Israeli soldiers near the Gaza border as the clash between Israeli army and Palestinian factions continues in Israel on October 19, 2023. (Photo by Israeli Defense Ministry / Ariel Hermoni / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday outlined three planned phases for the war against Hamas, detailing what will happen in Gaza if Hamas is destroyed. 

The long-term plan is not for Israel to control "life in the Gaza Strip," Galland told lawmakers in a meeting in Tel Aviv. 

“We are in the first phase, in which a military campaign is taking place with [airstrikes] and later with a [ground] maneuver with the purpose of destroying operatives and damaging infrastructure in order to defeat and destroy Hamas,” Gallant said, according to the Times of Israel. 

The second phase of the war will be to "eliminate pockets of resistance" after Hamas is defeated. 

“The third step will be the creation of a new security regime in the Gaza Strip, the removal of Israel’s responsibility for day-to-day life in the Gaza Strip, and the creation of a new security reality for the citizens of Israel and the residents of the [area surrounding Gaza],” Gallant said, according to the report. 

President Biden gave an address from the White House’s Oval Office Thursday night, when he provided an update on two conflicts happening across the globe, including Israel’s war with Hamas and Russia’s continued fighting in Ukraine. He vowed America would not be on the sidelines of either conflict.

His brief remarks, however, were met with some criticism as Republicans and others accused him of trying to fix problems that he previously caused and attempted to use the slaughtering of Israelis and the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza to request additional funds in the Ukraine conflict.

"The shame of it all is that we wouldn’t be in this terrible position if Joe Biden hadn’t been so weak in Afghanistan, so slow in Ukraine, so pandering to Iran, and so absent from the border," wrote Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate who is beating him in some head-to-head polls. "The world is on fire, and America needs strong new leadership to deal with it."

Some critics called his speech "unbelievable" and "completely disgraceful."

In his Oval Office address, Biden focused on Ukraine, which included him saying he will send an "urgent budget request" to Congress on Friday "to fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine is a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations."

Fox News' Lawrence Richards contributed to this post.

Social media users trashed the Biden administration on Thursday after it shared an image of President Biden greeting U.S. troops in Israel without hiding the soldiers' identities. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / Contributor)

The White House took serious heat on social media Thursday for posting an image of President Biden meeting with U.S. troops in Israel without obscuring their identities.

Though the White House account deleted the photo soon after sharing it on Instagram, X users ripped Biden’s team for the dangerous mistake, accusing the administration of "compromising" the troops’ identities while they were in Israel defending U.S. interests in wake of Hamas’ terrorist attack on the U.S. allied country. 

Journalist Sam Shoemate shared an edited image of the post X, claiming that the White House shared it without obscuring the faces of what appeared to be special forces on Wednesday night.

He wrote, "The Whitehouse media team shared this picture last night (I added the black boxes) without blurring or censoring the faces of the ‘Delta Force’ (CAG) operator’s faces. They deleted it an hour later after hundreds of thousands had already viewed it. This is a massive failure on the Biden admin."

The caption on the original White House post stated, "In Israel, President Biden met with first responders to thank them for their bravery and the work they’re doing in response to the Hamas terrorist attacks."

During a U.S. Department of Defense briefing Thursday, Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder was asked to confirm if the soldiers depicted were in fact U.S. special operators and if there was a policy against taking photos of special forces.

Ryder punted to the White House, stating, "I'd have to refer you to the White House on that. I just don't have any to provide. Thank you."

Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin confirmed the White House’s blunder on Thursday afternoon, posting, "NEW: The White House admits they accidentally doxxed US Special Forces by posting an uncensored photo of them w/ Biden in Israel."

He added the White House’s statement, which said, "As soon as this was brought to our attention, we immediately deleted the photo. We regret the error and any issues this may have caused."

Fox News' Gabriel Hays contributed to this update.

Journalist Ilana Curiel answered the call to action and saved two of her friend's children after Hamas terrorists attacked his home.

Photojournalist Roy Edan's son Michael, 8, and daughter Amalya, 6, were barricaded in a closet with their mother's body for hours when they managed to call their aunt, uncle and the police to tell them their parents were murdered.  

"Luckily the kids were resourceful. They managed to get a call out to Roy's brother who got in touch with a special commando unit," she told FOX News on Thursday. 

"I rushed over there. We're talking about the evening because everything was chaos, absolute chaos in the morning of that October 7th," she said.

Curiel, a reporter at the English-language Israeli news outlet Ynet, told The U.S. Sun that Edan, who she'd worked with for years, didn't respond to her messages the day Hamas launched its surprise attacks on Israeli civilians, and she started fearing the worst.

"I got word that his wife was probably killed and that his two children were barricading themselves inside of his safe room," she told the outlet. "I wasn't quite sure if the children were alive or dead… I decided to rush over there, hoping that at least two of his kids were alive."

She drove through heavy shelling to carry out the task, describing the road she took to get the children and take them to safety as the "pathway to hell," according to the report.

Thanks to Curiel, they are now recovering with family.

Fox News' Taylor Penley contributed to this update.

Asaf Pozailov is a longtime reporter with Israel's Public Broadcasting Corporation. (Courtesy of Asaf Pozailov)

Asaf Pozailov has seen a lot while working for Israel's public broadcaster for 14 years, but nothing like what he's seen in the past 13 days.

In fact, the veteran reporter at the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation says at one point after Hamas first launched its terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, he couldn't believe the words coming out of his own mouth on the air.

"I don't think any human can understand the atrocity and the war crimes and the extreme horrors that have been going on," he told Fox News Digital. "People keep asking me how I feel, and I keep saying that's a tough question, because first of all, you can never grasp these atrocities, and second of all, I know that once I let myself sink into it, I won't be able to function." 

On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists breached the Israel border and went on a rampage, shooting, burning and killing Israeli civilians while taking hundreds of hostages. Entire families were slaughtered, music festival attendees were cut down with bullets and villages were burned. It's been called the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, and Israel is now at war.

Pozailov and fellow Israeli journalists have been tasked with covering the most calamitous attack on the Jewish state since its founding in 1948. Pozailov mainly works as a field correspondent, although since the war began he's also broadcast from the IPBC's national news radio station.

He texted with Israelis, who later died, who informed him there were terrorists inside their house. He spoke with someone in charge of taking care of the victims' bodies who recounted how three generations of an Israeli family was found tied up and executed. He interviewed an attendee of the music festival where 260 people alone were killed by Hamas fighters with guns, rockets and grenades. Two photographer colleagues of his were among those killed in the wider assault.

Pozailov said Hamas' actions put it on par with some of the world's most notorious terrorist organizations.

"The level of cruelty, you don't even see in ISIS, you don't even see in al-Qaeda," Pozailov said.

Fox News' David Rutz contributed to this update.

This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows both the Egyptian, left, and Gaza Strip, right, sides of the Rafah border crossing Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Satellite photos analyzed Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, by The Associated Press show a massive convoy of semitruck trailers lined up at the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side, likely waiting for approval to cross into the besieged Gaza Strip as the Israel-Hamas war rages. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite photos reported by the Associated Press appear to show a convoy of semitruck trailers likely carrying humanitarian aid lined up at the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side.

The images, shot Thursday by Planet Labs PBC, show 55 trucks waiting in two lines, just a third of a mile away from the border. There are over 50 smaller vehicles visible in the image as well, many appearing to be with aid organizations, waiting at the crossing.

The convoy is likely awaiting permission to cross the border into Gaza to deliver desperately needed assistance to the over 2 million Palestinians who live there and have been caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas. 

Israel has cut off food, water, fuel and electricity to the Gaza Strip since Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack, in which at least 1,400 Israeli civilians were massacred. Israeli men, women and children, young and old were brutally raped, tortured, set on fire or killed in other horrific ways in the deadliest terror attack in Israel's history. 

In response, Israel has continually pummeled the Gaza Strip with airstrikes ahead of an anticipated ground invasion to eradicate Hamas, which hides military targets behind civilian infrastructure. 

Israel, after days of negotiations involving world leaders including President Biden, has agreed to allow limited aid to pass into Gaza through Rafah. Israel said the supplies could only go to civilians and that it would “thwart” any diversions by Hamas. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000 tons of aid were positioned at or near Rafah.

Work began Friday to repair the road at the crossing, which had been damaged in airstrikes, with trucks unloading gravel and bulldozers and other road repair equipment filling in large craters, the AP reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this update.

A woman and a girl hold pet carriers and other belongings as they prepare to depart from Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on October 19, 2023, as part of an evacuation in the area amidst heightened tensions between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah. (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel will evacuate residents in the city of Kiryat Shmona, which is near Lebanon, as the Israel Defense Forces announce increased activity at the northern border.

Israel's Ministry of Defense and the IDF said the city's residents will be evacuated to state-funded guest houses following a plan approved by Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

"A short while ago, the Northern Command informed the mayor of the city of the decision. The plan will be managed by the local authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Defense," the MoD said on X, formerly Twitter.

The IDF gave a summary Thursday of recent activity at the Lebanese border which included: nine launches crossed from Lebanon into Israel, four interceptions by the IDF Aerial Defense Array and several anti-tank missiles fired from Lebanon toward Israel.

The force said it responded by "returning fire to the origin of the strikes, thwarting a terrorist cell using an IDF unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and striking Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure using tank fire."

Fox News' Yael Kuriel contributed to this report.

President Biden announced Thursday he would be submitting a joint urgent budget request to Congress on Friday in support of Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars.

"American leadership holds the world together. American alliances keep America safe. American values make us a partner they want to work with. You put all of that at risk if you walk away from Ukraine and turn our backs on Israel," Biden said during his address to the nation. 

"Tomorrow I will send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs and support Israel and Ukraine. It’s a smart investment that will pay dividends for American security for generations," he said. 

Biden did not specify the amount of the package, but said it would "keep American troops out of harm's way," and would help build a safer world.

He added that it would "sharpen" Israel's military, and ensure the nation had what it needed to continue defending itself against terrorist attacks from Hamas.