Live updates on the Israel-Hamas war: according to IDF footage, a tunnel is visible beneath Al-Shifa Hospital

Our knowledge

• Negotiators from the United States, Israel, and Hamas are getting close to reaching an agreement that would see some of the hostages taken during the terrorist attack on October 7 released in exchange for a halt to hostilities, sources involved with the talks told NBC News. However, they caution that nothing concrete has been agreed upon yet. The U.S. stated that negotiations for a settlement were ongoing.
• The World Health Organization has declared that Al-Shifa, which was formerly Gaza's primary hospital, is now a "death zone" and no longer serves as a medical facility. The location, which has come to represent the suffering of Palestinians under Israeli attack, was open for inspection by officials.
• A scarcity of fuel for their incubators caused concern over the destiny of thirty-one "very sick" preterm newborns in Al-Shifa, prompting an international evacuation. Following Israel's invasion of the hospital, hundreds of patients and employees have left; nonetheless, as Israel gets ready to advance its offensive farther into the enclave, southern Gaza is still under heavy shelling.
• The IDF reported that footage from the Shin Bet security service and the IDF today reveals a portion of a 55-meter-long tunnel that Hamas used to hide under the Al-Shifa hospital. Both Hamas and hospital employees have disputed that they run a command center beneath the hospital, but we were unable to independently confirm the video, the specifics of what it was purported to depict, or the IDF's allegations.
• The most recent national NBC News survey indicates that a sizable majority of American voters are dissatisfied with President Joe Biden's handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Democrats are the group most affected, with the majority of them thinking Israel's military intervention in Gaza has gone too far.

• In Gaza, over 1.6 million people have been forced to flee, and according to local health experts, over 13,000 people have died. According to Israeli estimations, the terrorist strike on October 7 by Hamas claimed 1,200 lives, while 236 individuals are currently being held captive in Gaza. To account for the captives who have been discovered deceased, the original number of hostages has been lowered.

Macron intends to send medical supplies to Gaza via a hired airplane.

Today, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, announced his intention to charter a brand-new airplane to deliver ten tons of medical supplies to Gaza.

Macron reported that planes had already flown over 100 tons of relief supplies to Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza. Approximately 500 critically injured passengers will be treated by "two mobile medical units" on the next aircraft, he wrote on X.

In addition, he said that an amphibious helicopter carrier with 40 beds would arrive in Egypt "in the coming days" to treat serious casualties and, if needed, help move hurt civilians to neighboring hospitals. He also stated that France is ready to send up to 50 sick or injured kids to French hospitals.

Macron emphasized the necessity for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants while also stating that the liberation of hostages, which includes eight French people, remained a top priority.

An in-depth examination of American drone activity in the midst of Hamas hostage negotiations

US drones operating without weapons have flown above Gaza since October 7. Over 200 hostages were abducted into the enclave by Hamas more than a month ago, and they are currently looking for them using cameras.

NBC News was informed by Col. Nicholas Pederson that he believes the efforts of the Air Force "could play a critical role if we get to that area."

Throughout the Nevada desert, the drones and cameras are controlled by "Hunters," the term given to the pilots and their teams. By tracking targets for days or even years, the remote pilots obtain a clear picture of what the drone camera sees.

Through satellite communication, the cameras are able to gather information from a forest fire or identify a valuable target. The footage is sent back to the American base. Also capable of killing are the drones.

Numerous targets are under our observation. As we watch, they commit heinous crimes against others. We really simply look at the big picture of the influence we are having and concentrate more on the mission part of it," one pilot remarked.

Supporters of religious parties gather in large numbers in Pakistan to protest Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

LAHORE — PakistanToday, in the eastern city of Lahore, tens of thousands of followers of the biggest religious political party in Pakistan staged a protest against Israel's bombardment of Palestinians in Gaza and against what they claimed was the international community's inability to protect Gazans.

Along with anti-American and anti-Israeli chants, the passionate assembly demanded jihad, or holy war.

The capital, Islamabad, and the port city of Karachi hosted sizable demonstrations by Jamaat-e-Islami this month.

To get to the gathering site, supporters—many of them were women and children—marched for many miles while brandishing banners and placards bearing pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli messages.

Global demonstrations in favor of Palestinians, according to JI chief Senator Sirajul Haq, rouse international governments and give voice to the voiceless.

The words and resolutions of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, he warned, will not hold water. Instead, Muslim leaders must take action to break the aggressor's hand.

GOP candidates run the danger of alienating voters over Biden's stance on Israel.

President Joe Biden's support among younger voters looks to be declining, and Muslim and Arab American voters in crucial swing states have said they will never support him again since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began last month. A campaign has even been started to leave the top of the vote blank in 2024 in opposition to the president, whom they believe is supporting the Israeli government too lightly even as the number of victims in Gaza rises.

Republicans, on the other hand, see a chance to capitalize on the recent rifts that have emerged between elected Democrats, left-leaning activists, and core Democratic constituents — but not by directly appealing to people who wish to see Biden moderate.

One national GOP strategist told NBC News that's "because they're so far-left on this issue." Furthermore, I fail to see how Republicans, who support Israel, could continue to support you and still win over them. We tried all we could to put some gas on the fire. I don't see how Republicans can fully turn around, though, if their problem with Biden is that they feel he's too close.