I want to make two things clear. One is we're going to continue to support Israel as they go after Hamas.

The security assistance continues to flow. That's not going to change. We're also going to do everything we can to make sure that they are properly accounting for the civilian population and minimizing the damage and the casualties as much as possible.

The other thing

that we're not going to take our foot off the gas on is seen if we can get another positive

place so we can get more hostages out and just as critically more aid in. That's National

Security Council spokesperson John Kirby laying out the top priorities for the Biden administration

in the Israel-Hamas war.

We'll show you what else he had to say about the failed negotiations for another humanitarian

pause in Gaza. Also ahead, the latest on a string of attacks on an American warship and

multiple commercial vessels in the Middle East.

Plus, speaker Mike Johnson gives a timeline for a vote to launch an impeachment inquiry in the House of

Representatives into President Biden. Good morning and welcome to way too early on this Monday, December 4th.

I'm Jonathan Lemire. Thanks for starting your day and week with us.

And we'll begin this morning in the Middle East. Israel is now expanding

its war operation into southern Gaza. Before their military campaign was focused on the northern

part of the strip, now Israeli defense forces are pounding targets in the south and ordering

more damrohards to evacuate.

Over the weekend, officials announced that they've hit more than 400 Hamas targets,

while the health ministry in Gaza claims that hundreds of people were killed in the new

Israeli strikes. The United States is urging Israel to protect civilians in the territory.

Now, Israel's expanded military operation comes just days after a temporary truce with Hamas

collapsed.

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