The Lead with Jake Tapper

The Israel Defense Forces announced this evening that it is expanding its ground operations against Hamas in Gaza. Gaza residents tell CNN that these are the most intense air strikes they have experienced since the war began 20 days ago. There are reports of widespread power, cellular, and internet outages across the Gaza Strip. It is still unclear what these ramped up attacks will mean for hostage negotiations. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our correspondents are on the ground in Lewiston, Maine where a manhunt is underway for a mass shooter. That CNN crew heard loud bangs near the last known address of the Maine mass shooting suspect. Also, Israel Defense Forces tanks raid Gaza as Israel prepares for “next stages of combat.” Plus, a Hamas delegation reportedly visited Moscow as Russian state media claims Hamas has discussed hostages with Russian officials. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A diplomatic spat between Israel and the United Nations has broken out, with Israeli officials calling for the resignation of Secretary General Antonio Guterres. This as the main UN agency working in Gaza said it will be forced to halt its operations later today due to a lack of fuel, exacerbating a grave humanitarian crisis. Plus, Rep. Mike Johnson secured the speaker's gavel without losing any GOP votes Wednesday after weeks of party infighting left the House in chaos. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It has been 17 days since the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas which caught Israel by surprise, setting off a cascade of responses and consequences that now includes a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The World Health Organization said that six hospitals have shut down due to a lack of power. A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces says no fuel will enter Gaza because of concerns it will be stolen by Hamas which controls the Gaza strip. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hamas has released two more of the hostages it kidnapped from Israel during the October 7th terrorist attack, according to multiple sources. Plus, the United Nations is calling the situation in Gaza hospitals “dire” as a low rate of humanitarian aid trucks have entered Gaza. Also, according to sources, intelligence shows Iranian-backed militias are ready to ramp up attacks against U.S. forces. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two U.S. citizens, Judith Tai Raanan and her 18-year-old daughter Natalie Raanan, who had been kidnapped by Hamas, have been released and are now back in Israel. Israel believes Hamas still has around 200 hostages and believes most of them are still alive. Plus, humanitarian aid that has been stuck in Egypt should reach Gaza within "24-48 hours," US President Joe Biden said Friday. Also, an airstrike hit a Greek Orthodox church inside Gaza. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden will address the nation from the Oval Office this evening for only the second time in his presidency. He is going to try to convince Americans why it is critical to provide tens of billions of dollars to support two allies in their two wars, Israel and Ukraine. Plus, our correspondents in the Middle East provide updates on the conflict, including the likeliness of the Rafah Crossing in Gaza reopening this week. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Biden arrived in Israel hours after a devastating explosion in the courtyard of a Baptist hospital in Gaza. The president said earlier today that the deadly hospital tragedy in Gaza may have been caused by Palestinians. Biden also announced Israel agreed that humanitarian assistance can cross into Gaza from Egypt. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Israel Defense Forces said the cause of a blast at a hospital in Gaza which has likely killed hundreds of people was a Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. However, Palestinian officials blamed ongoing Israeli airstrikes for the lethal incident. The blast resulted in Jordan cancelling a planned summit between President Biden and the leaders of Jordan, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority. Plus, Rep. Jim Jordan fails to win speakership on the first House vote. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New warnings emerge about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Today, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to Israel after meeting with multiple allies throughout the Middle East, trying to get a humanitarian corridor open for innocents to evacuate Gaza before Israel ramps up attacks on Hamas. For daily information on the Israel-Gaza conflict, check out CNN’s podcast ‘Tug of War: Attack on Israel’ here: https://link.chtbl.com/-lB8n-bJ To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices