Gruesome new evidence emerges of atrocities committed during the hamas surprise attack. Climbing to 1200 amid new rocket strikes. On the ground, israeli troops amassing near gaza. Conditions growing more intense. Food and fuel running out. The warren terg the sixth tai with the talks aimed at their lease as the u. S. Secretary of state heads to israel this hour. The other major breaking story were following, congressman Steve Scalise wins the republican nomination to be the next House Speaker beating out rival jim jordan, but the house remains paralyzed tonight as scalise tries to lock up the support he needs to win a full house vote. Welcome to our viewers in the United States and Around The World. Im wolf blitzer. Youre in the situation room. This is cnn Breaking News. Tonight israeli leaders are renewing their vow to crush hamas as the world is getting a fuller picture of the scope and the horror of the hamas attack that triggered this increasingly deadly middle east war. Our correspondents are covering all the Breaking News on multiple fronts. First, lets go to our chief international correspondent, clarissa ward. Shes joining us from israel. Clarissa, you were among some of the first journalists to see the kibbutz where more than a hundred people were killed by hamas on saturday. Tell our viewers what you saw. Reporter well, wolf, the scale of the destruction, honestly, was just mind blowing. It has taken days and days for the Israeli Military to even take the step of allowing journalists into this kibbutz because of the scale and amount of hamas fighters there with the army for days on end. You can see the aftermath and the horror for those who described it going door to door, house to house, executing people, abducting people. Very streaking in some of the eye witness discussions, how calm, how easterly at ease these hamas fighters were. There wasnt any zones they were in horror. Important to remember though, wolf, these bunkers were built to protect people from incoming rockets. They do not have theyre not safe rooms or panic rooms with extensive locks on the doors so unfortunately many of these bunkers then turned into execution chambers. People found them trapped inside them but unable to stop hamas fighters from getting inside. We actually spoke with one man originally from ire land who was separated from his 8yearold daughter. She had gone to a sleepover at a friends house who also lived in the kibbutz. He described to us the agonizing moment after two days of waiting for answers, he was rescued. He finally found out that his 8yearold daughter emily had been killed. Listen to his reaction to that news, wolf. They just said, we found em emily. Shes dead. And i went, yes i went, yes and smiled. Because that is the best news of the possibilities that i knew. That was the best possibly that i was hoping for. She was either dead or in gaza. And if you know anything about what they do to people in gaza, that is worse than death. That is worse than death. The way they treat you. Theyd have no food. Theyd have no water. Shed be in a darkroom filled with christ knows how many people and terrified every minute, hour, day and possible years to come. So death was a blessing, an absolute blessing. Reporter wolf, he went on to say to me, what kind of a crazy world is this that we are living in, that a father would actually say this . That a father would actually feel this way . But he said that others in the community had felt the same way, that in some way there was somersy in knowing that little emily at least went quickly and did not have to live through the horrors that more than 100 hostages are currently going through, wolf. So heartbreaking, clarissa. Thank you very, very much. I want to go to the situation in gaza right now and the rising death toll there as Israel Retaliates for the hamas attacks with new airstrikes and, quote, a complete siege of the territory. Cnns Senior International correspondent Ben Weederman is with us. How dire are the situations in gaza right now . Reporter theyre dire. We understand from our people on the ground in gaza city that within the last half hour there have been more airstrikes on that area. Now at 2 00 in the afternoon local time the only power plant in gaza shut down. It ran out of fuel as a result of what israel is calling its complete siege on gaza cutting off food, fuel, electricity and perhaps even water. Only the lucky few who have generators still have electricity. Now hospitals have generators but theyre reporting that they will soon run out of fuel for those generators as well. Now the death toll at this point stands at about 1,100 so far. In addition to the injured, in addition to ordinary civilians, things like medics. We understand from the Palestinian Emergency Service that is at least ten medics have been killed and here you can see some video of some of these medics reacting to the news that one of their comrades has been killed. And in addition to that, of course, others like journalists, we understand that at least seven journalists have been killed since saturday as well in this war, wolf. Ben wedeman, thank you very, very much. Here in the United StatesPresident Biden issued a stark new warning to iran in the wake of the hamas attack on israel. Lets go to our senior White House Correspondent m. J. Lee. What did the president say . Reporter wolf, the situation in israel continues to be an overwhelming focus for this president. He was briefed by his National Security team again today and he held his fourth phone call with Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. And just tonight the president dropping by a roundtable of Jewish Community leaders held here at the white house alongside Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff who is jewish. U. S. Administration officials are very concerned about making sure that this conflict doesnt bleed out over israels borders and the recent movements, the president said, of u. S. Military assets into the region was very much meant to be a message of deterrence sent to one country in particular. He also revealed that in his conversation with Prime Minister netanyahu earlier today that he stressed the importance of making sure that civilian deaths can be minimized. Here he is. Weve moved the u. S. Carrier fleet to the eastern mediterranean. Were sending more fighter jets to that region and made it clear, made it clear to the iranians, be careful. Ive known beebe for over 40 years. Very frank relationship. I know him well, and the one thing that i did say, that it is really important that israel, all the anger, frustration and just cannot explain it that exists is that they operate by the rules of war. Reporter the president also trying to deliver a message of support to the Jewish Community that is grappling with the atrocities of the past few days and some of whom simply do not feel safe anymore. Heres what he said. The United States has israels back, and i have yours as well, both at home and abroad. You know, you can see the pain in some of your faces as i walked into this room. You worry about kids being targeted at school, about going about their daily lives. We must all do our part and forcefully speak out against antis antisemitism, attempts to deny and distort the facts. To be clear, there is no place for hate in america. Reporter the president said he is working around the clock on the Hostage Situation in gaza. I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home. Wolf . M. J. Lee. At this hour Antony Blinken is u. S. Envoy involved in Hostage Negotiations as the fate of americans held by hamas in gaza remains very much unclear right now. Lets bring in our chief National Security correspondent alex marquardt. Give us the latest. Reporter its clear this is a huge priority for the Biden Administration and devoting a huge amount of resources to figuring out where the hostages are and getting them out. Theyre going with blinken to israel. We know fbi negotiators and agents are also involved as well as the Intelligence Community trying to figure out how those hostages were taken, where they are. The Defense Department has a Special Forces team on the ground in israel that is there to help with intelligence and planning according to the secretary of defense. In terms of the numbers that were talking about with, wolf, the israelis have said 150 people have been taken hostage by hamas and gaza. There are 17 americans that are unaccounted for. That doesnt necessarily mean they are hostages. We did hear from the white houses john kirby that a very small number of americans, less than a happened be full, he said, are among those 150. Its also very difficult to figure out where they are. They could be in bunkers or tunnels. There are different groups a among hamas. Heres a little more of what kirby had to say. We dont know where they are. If theyre in one group, broken up, being moved, to what locations. All of those questions were working hard to answer. Reporter wolf, weve also reported that the nation of qatar is helping out. They are in direct contact with hamas. Unclear what success theyve had with getting in touch. President biden has said the full force of his administration is behind this effort. He did not want to detail all of the efforts he said today because then i wouldnt be able to get them home. Wolf . Whats the latest, alex, of the u. S. Assessment of irans role in this attack . Reporter they have not found any smoking gun in terms of direct role by iran in this attack. Their role in planning, executing, approving. It is clear that they have they are certainly responsible or complicit, the administration said, in some ways because of their longtime backing of hamas. I spoke with a senior israeli official who said its hard to believe that iran would not have known hamas was planning Something Like this. Our colleague Matthew Chance spoke with another israeli briefed on the intelligence who said iran must have known about this operation before it happened. But the administration certainly has not ruled out some kind of iranian responsibility. They have not found that direct role. We know that Israeli Intelligence and direct intelligence have gone back through what theyve collected to tie iran to the attacks. Alex thank you. Were getting new information right now, an effort to try to secure the release of the hostages being held by hamas in gaza. Becky anderson has the reporting on talks regarding possible, i repeat possible prisoner exchanges. Reporter thats right. Diplomatic sources confirming to me, wolf, that the qataris are in touch with israel and hamas on the possibility of the exchange of women and children who are being held in gaza. The exchange would be for women and teenagers who are being held. There are prisoners. In that. 4 theyve rejected that at any way at this point. More as we get it. See what happens on that front. Becky anderson, thank you. Just ahead, more Breaking News. Growing uncertainty right now over the House Speakership as congressman Steve Scalise wins the republican nomination and the job still faces holdouts in his own party. Republican congressman Mike Mccall Is Standing by. Well get his reaction after the break. Were following multiple breaking stories. In the middle east, the war with hamas. Here in the United StatesTracking New Chaos in the House Of Representatives. Congressman Steve Scalise winning the republican nod for speaker even as multiple members of his own party now still say theyll refuse to back him when a vote comes up on the house floor leaving him short of the majority. Lets get an update right now from cnns melanie zanona. How many republicans signal theyll oppose skong man scalise . Reporter at this point he is well shortnd of the number of votes needed. This is despite the fact he has support from jim jordan who was his chief rival in the speakers race. Over the last three hours Steve Scalise has been meeting individually with members, trying to win over holdouts. He won over congresswoman anna falina luna. She now feels comfortable backing scalise. Wolf, there are plenty other members who still have concerns and say they will not back Steve Scalise on the floor at this point. Lets take a listen. Im not supporting Steve Scalise. Ill be voting for jim jordan. The leader i want to stand behind is jim jordan. I think the leader is a g good man. They compare themselves to david duke. Reporter so Steve Scalise is facing a very similar dilemma to what Kevin Mccarthy faces. He ultimately went to the floor and it took him 15 rounds to get the gavel. This time around republicans want to avoid the same public display of dysfunction so it is a huge function of if and when Steve Scalise is going to go to the floor, but in the meantime the house is paralyzed all while Critical Issues and aid to israel and Government Funding Hang in the balance. On capitol hill. Thank you. Lets get to all of the Breaking News with republican congressman michael mccall. Hes the chair of the House Foreign Affairs committee. Thank you for joining us. I want to get to the vote for House Speaker in a moment. Let me start with the truly awful situation still in israel right now. You received a briefing on the hamas Terror Attack earlier today. What stood out for you from that briefing . I think what stood out was what we didnt hear. You know, the idea that ron had no fingerprints on this operation. We all know that iran provides 100 million to hamas every year and the weaponry and rockets involved. Also on the intelligence failure, which i asked questions about, how did we miss this . How did the Israeli Intelligence miss this . We know the Egyptian Intelligence Service handed this off days before the terrorist invasion, if you will, or attack. So theres a lot of questions about that. Were most concerned about, wolf, an escalation in the region and that being not just containing gaza and hamas and gaza. By the way, the next phase will be house to house, building to building which will get more violent and more bloody, but also how can we prevent hezbollah from getting into this in lebanon or these radical islamic groups in syria and containing iran itself. We dont want this to escalate into a sort of global jihad war, if you will, in jerusalem. So our intelligence is very important here in terms of prevention. Im very glad the administration has sent the both the battleships and the Aircraft Carriers to the mediterranean as a sign of deterrence. We are supporting israel and condemning hamas. The first resolution or bill that will go to the floor whenever we get a speaker or a chair, i hope its soon, will be my bill supporting israel and condemning hamas. Well, let me just follow up, mr. Chairman, on the potential of a warning from egypt to israel. Can you say unequivocally based on the intelligence youve seen and heard, they didnt receive a warning from egypt about this imminent attack from hamas . I believe they did. We just dont know at what levels that occurred. Im sure there are a lot of threat screens coming in to Israeli Intelligence, particularly out of gaza and the west bank. But, you know, the thing is, wolf, we know hamas has been planning this attack for quite some time, perhaps even up to a year ago, and the idea that it was not caught raises some concerns. Also when it comes to groups like hezbollah and iran as well. We need to make sure we dont make that mistake. For israel, this is like their 911, it really is. Its reminiscent of what we went through in the United States when we did have a failure of intelligence and we had this horrible, you know, killing of americans. On the scale that ive seen in israel, its horrific. I was at one of the kibbutz down near the border, the closest one to gaza a year ago then speaker mccarthy, and we met with all of the people there. They talked about the threats from hamas, 4,000 rockets have been fired a month before that. I saw the day care center. And then i forgot a call last sunday telling me that there was a massacre in that kibbutz, in that community where they were all slaughtered. The day care center, the children were killed and even babies were beheaded. I mean, this is gruesome stuff. Its very sick. Very sick, indeed. What should the u. S. Response be, mr. Chairman, if evidence is uncovered showing iran was directly involved . Well, ill tell you what, wolf, i dont like the idea of us lifting sanctions so that 6 billion can go into iran to fund more terror activities. I know the administration will say its only for humanitarian purposes. We all know this money is fungible but dont take my word for it. The president of iran said, i will do with it what i want. When you have the president of iran saying that, the Administration Needs to take a pause on the 6 billion they have slated to go into iran maybe in the hopes of some Nuclear Iran Deal because we know they were behind a lot of what hamas does. Theyre basically a franchise of iran in the gaza and they are a terrorist organization. Iran is the largest state sponsored terror and i dont think we should be funding it. The Administration Says the u. S. Treasury department will control that, those iranian monies being notched qatar to doha, qatar, and it will only be allowed to go for humanitarian purposes, food medicine, medical supplies, things along that line. Let me move to the other Breaking News right now, mr. Chairman. Congressman Steve Scalise won the republican nod to become the next speaker of the house but many republicans, as you also know, say they will vote against him. Are you confident he can get 217 votes on the floor of the House Of Representatives to avoid a protracted floor fight . Ive got to hope so, wolf. I think not only for my party but for the sake of the nation. We have to govern and we cant govern without a speaker in the chair. We cant move a National Security aid package for israel and other conflicts if we dont have a speaker and a chair and the longer we play games with this, the more dysfunction that people see on the floor it only emboldens our adversaries. Chairman xi talked about how it doesnt work. The ayatollah loves this. When we all agreed as a family in our conference and in a closed setting to support whoever got the most votes and now you see people backing out of this. I think its dangerous, particularly, wolf, the timing of this with the threat from hamas and israel and from other countries, putins invasion in ukraine, chairman xis threat to the pacific. This is no time to be playing politics and we need a speaker of the house so we can govern for the american people. Congressman michael mccaul, thank you so much for joining us. Thanks, wolf. Thanks for having me. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration says its unclear on the condition of americans who may be among the estimated 150 hostages being held by hamas in gaza. Were learning more about the details on the people who are missing and others being held captive right now. What are we hearing from the families during these very difficult times . Reporter wolf, there is so much uncertainty. So many people have no information about their loved ones. We are getting new details about how they were taken. We have to warn viewers some of you may find some of the video in the story disturbing. Reporter Mill Tapts Yell as a pickup truck approaches. In the back, 22yearold is filmed lying almost naked and being beaten. He was taken hostage at the Music Festival last saturday. Omers parents wanted the world to see this video. The uncle says hes in poor health and needs medication. Horrifying to see your nephew in a situation being hit, brutalized, ill, high fever, getting physical illness left in this situation. Of course, we assume that he will not be treated very good. This video shows 22yearold Abiratar David being led around shirtless. In another video hes shown tied up in the back of a truck looking horrified. His brother wanted us to show the video as excruciating as it is. It was very hard to see that video. It made us very angry, very sad but also a little bit optimistic because we saw that hes okay, that hes fine, that hes not injured. Reporter this video shows people cheering as a kidnapped 85yearold grandmother ya yafar addar is paraded down the street in a golf cart. Her granddaughter cant understand why anyone would want to take her. We dont know how long she can stay without her medicine. Every minute she doesnt have her medicine shes in a lot of pain and suffering. Im sure shes alone. Reporter when we first saw this video of shawnee logan, she was in the back of a truck with a militant, breaking his leg, one person spat on her. We heard she is alive and that she has a bad head injury and is in the hospital but thats all we know. Reporter one analyst says this about the hostages. These hostages are meant as two things, one, Human Shields like the rest of the 200 people in gaza are Human Shields for hamas, and second its bargaining. Reporter a diplomatic source tells cnn qatar is mediating between israel and hamas to Exchange Women and children being held as hostages in gaza for Palestinian People in jails. Antony blinken is a u. S. Deputy special envoy for Hostage Affairs who will work to try to get americans released from hamas activity. A lot of activity going on behind the scenes. Thank you very much. Well be back with more of the Breaking News after this. Right now we want to update you on the story of 22yearold Oli Ahrad Who was killed after the attack at the Music Festival in israel. We spoke to the brothers when they had not yet learned his fate. Oli told our father he is surrounded by many terrorists that are shooting on them with machine guns and hand grenades. He update my father that he must take an action. He must confront them because he dont want to stay like a duck on the road. They shoot him again in a scene from the holocaust. Saturday noon and from 7 a. M. On saturday we didnt hear nothing from our brother. His funeral was held today in israel. Im joingd once again by his brothers. We are so, so sorry for your unimaginable loss of your younger brother. Can you update our viewers on what you know, what happened, and how are you holding up now . We would like to thank you all for having us in your show and giving us the ability to talk about our brother. We buried him today. We saw in the identification process, he was out of conscious and the monster shoot a full magazine on him, including his face, to make sure he will never wake up again. Thousands of people came to pay respect today. When one of the girls that was rescued by him shared the story on the terrorist attack, she called him my guardian angel. Tell us how youre doing and how your family and community are reacting and experiencing . How are they doing . Its unimaginable. We are fighting to stay optimistic. We are trying to do it for ari, of course. Its unbelievable situation and its a nightmare. It certainly is. Shay, yesterday we spoke about your brothers bravery and strength. Tell us a little bit more about how he will be remembered. You know, Remy Brother Alway Say during the attack, mentioned during the funeral, many would run away but it shows him and for me its not a surprise. This is the values, this is the ideals that he believed. So this is the situation we handling now. Waiting to help for the greater good. Is your family getting any support from the Israeli Government . Does your family have questions that still need to be answered . Yes, were receiving help from the government. Taken care by the government but still there is a lot of questions that we are waiting, expecting answers. Shay, as you look at the horrible situation that has developed over the past few days, what is your hope for the future . First of all, i would like your permission to thank President Biden on his speech yesterday. He encouraged us since we were exposed to many homes of the hamas massacre. Our brother went out to celebrate and today we buried him. Im so sorry. Shay, nir, may he rest in peace as he say. May his memory be a blessing. Thanks so much to both of you for joining us. Thank you. Coming up, youll hear from a woman whose relatives are missing after hamas attacked their kibbutz. welcome to big tobaccos fantasyland. The industrys idea of a healthier tomorrow. Where vapes are deemed safer. Nevermind that theyll increase your risk of lung cancer. And theyre antiaging. Because youre more likely to die younger from a stroke. In big tobaccos fantasyland, the deadliest industry can rebrand itself as your friend. Lets get back to the Breaking News were following as the war between israel and hamas rages. Were also hearing from families speaking out about their loved ones who remain unaccounted for. Im joined by leal seifer. She has relatives missing while others escaped. Thank you for joining us. Were so sorry for whats going on with your family in israel. They live in an area located near the gaza border. Take us through what happened when they stormed their kibbutz . They had their daughter caramel, their son and daughterinlaw and granddaughter over the night before, friday night, for shabat dinner. They spent the night. They woke up to the sound of rockets and sirens and immediately knew something wasnt right so they hid in the house. Terrorists came in and one by one pulled them out of their home. They took kinera, handcuffed her, barefoot walked her through the streets. We dont know what happened to carmel. They found two others hiding. They tied the hands together and threw the three of them together in a car, four terrorists, and put another member of their kibbutz in the trunk. They started driving towards gaza. They realized if they got to gaza they may never come out. So when the car stopped, they encountered a tank and the terrorists got out to investigate what was going on. They said we have to make a run for it. They ran out of the car. Yarden was holding gaffin three years old in her arms. When she couldnt hold her, she passed her off. They split up. They tried to evade them. Elon hid in a field with his daughter for 24 hours, all night long and was able, thank god, to get back to the kibbutz in the morning. They dont know what happened to yarden. Shes still missing. Elan went back to hasnt found any sign of her body, any signs of struggle, nothing. Karmel, we still have no idea what happened to her. And kineret, who we saw the terrorist video parading her and other members of the kibbutz down the street, a few days later i happened to be online, and i saw a video of the same four people they had just shown walking laying on the street of their kibbutz unmoving. And i could clearly see kinerets shirt and shorts. But we havent found her body. Oh, my god. We dont know if she is alive or dead. We have that video, liel, the video you just described. And this is something you think is important for the whole world to see. We want to warn our viewers, its very, very disturbing. How were you able to find this, and how has your family dealt with all of this . Every hour of the day in the middle of the night, i kept searching online for information about the hostages taken from beeri, and i saw that article in the Washington Post that morning. I saw a thumb nail, and i got a sinking feeling in my stomach. But i didnt see her in the thumb nail and i couldnt bear to watch it. Later that afternoon, my husband saw the video and came to me and said, i think this is kineret, i think you need to watch. And i knew i had to. And when i saw it, i sent it to my mother. It was middle of the night in israel. They called up kinerets sisters and brothers and told them what we had seen. And its so very difficult to watch. Liel, thank you so much for joining us. We are just so sad to hear this story. And our heart goes out to you and your family. But thanks for sharing the story with us. We will stay in close touch with you if thats okay. Of course. Thank you. Thank you. And Cnns Anderson Cooper is joining us now from ashdod in israel just a few miles north of the gaza border. Anderson, youve been hearing similar stories of people whose loved ones are missing and kidnapped. And its so, so sad to hear this. I know you spoke to one woman, was just so painful to hear her story. What strikes you about this conflict, anderson . Um, wolf, i mean, that poor woman who you just spoken to. Ive spoken to, i dont know how many people who have experienced similar horrific losses. Theres not anybody in this country who does not know somebody who has been kidnapped or killed, mutilated, wounded, is missing. The yeah. There is such sadness here, and there is such anger here, and there is such resolve here for what is to come. I dont think anybody can really understand, given how chaotic this asurprise attack, how unorganized things have been. As you just heard, its up to Family Members to scroll through jihadist videos online, to look for word or an internmage or th loved one. Its unspeakable. Im so sorry for all the people in israel. But its so painful for all of us Around The World to hear these stories, see these stories. Youre getting them very, very much up close and in person. And its very painful im sure for you as well. What are you bracing for now based on everything youre hearing and seeing, anderson . Well, you know, listen, i think our Matthew Chance has had the chance to talk to a senior israeli official about discussions that are going on, and we heard from him a little bit of this from Jake Sullivan yesterday about diplomatic discussions going on about what to do with american citizens who are in gaza right now who are desperate to get out, and also what to do about the civilian population in gaza to try to, as much as possible, get them separated from hamas and away from hamas. There are talks, according to Matthew Chances reporting, the senior israeli official, about trying to figure out about the egyptian crossing, the egyptian border in the southern part of gaza and whether something can be worked out with egyptian authorities who have been reluctant to allow that border to be opened to get Gaza Civilians out. But that is one, perhaps, avenue to get american citizens out of gaza who have been visiting Family Members who live there, and also according to Matthew Chances reporting with the senior israeli official, they are discussing the idea of as many as 2,000 gazan residents a day being allowed to cross over into egypt. Its up to egypt whether or not to accept that or decide to do that where they would be housed is another question. But, obviously, discussions are underway that would certainly be something that israeli authorities, you know, have to take into consideration, any kind of ground incursion into gaza the densepacked nature of it more than 2 Million People who live there. And so anything that can reduce the civilian population there i think is something thats of interest to all sides here. Except, perhaps, hamas who want the civilian population there to shield them as much as possible. Anderson coop reporting from ashdod, thank you. Anderson will have much more 8 00 p. M. Eastern time later tonight on Anderson Cooper 360. We will all be watching. Right now i want to bring in a professor for peace and development over at the university of maryland. Professor, thanks so much for joining us. First of all, let me get your thoughts on the Palestinian Civilians in gaza right now who are under bombardment as power, food, and water seem to be running out. How much worse do you fear this will get for them, and how urgent is the need for some sort of humanitarian corridor . Look, its a horrible scene. I watched what you put on the israeli victims, and its really heartbreaking. Its hard to see, hard to watch. And my heart goes out to the families and the victim bes. I look at the palestinian side and i see that the overwhelming majority of people are civilians who are getting killed and my heart goes out to them. It is really hard to watch civilians getting hurt, vulnerable civilians who are helpless getting hurt. Whether theyre jewish or arab, whether theyre israeli or palestinian. And that should be the Guiding Force here in thinking about this. When you look at the palestinians in gaza, obviously, its a very densely populated area. Its 2. 2 million. And its very hard even if you can figure out that youre going to extricate some. Its easier said than done logistically. Remember, the israelis had very few settlements around gaza, not very heavily populated. And when the government told them to leave, they couldnt even figure out how. Even in a country like israel, they didnt have buses, they didnt have logistics. The cell phones were not working. So even just the logistics of moving people was hard for israelis. Imagine what its like for palestinians there who dont have electricity, dont have water, who dont have in some cases medical supplies, certainly transportation. Its really devastating. And i fear, you know, when you look at the numbers now, wolf, you and i have talked this over the years. The devastation of war in the middle east. When you look at whats happened in four days, today probably reached 10,000 people dead and wounded between israelis and palestinians. 10,000 people between dead and wounded between israelis and palestinians in four days. And overwhelmingly civilian victims. This has got to stop. And, look, i understand what happens in times of war. Hearts harden in a way that you just only look at your own survival, your own pain, and you want to lash out, the urge for vengeance is unlimited on both sides we see this happening over and over again. Thats why we need sober leadership. Vengeance is never a strategy. Its not a moral strategy. And its not one that will get too good results. Destruction and devastation might make one feel one day, two days. But in the end it doesnt solve the problem and it creates more problems than it solves. Its a horrible, horrible situation all around. Professor of the university of maryland, thank you very much, as usual, for joining us. Appreciate it very much. And for more information about how you, our viewers, can help humanitarian efforts in both israel and gaza, go to cnn. Com impact or text relief to 707070. And you can make a donation. For our viewers, thanks very much for watching. Im wolf blitzer in the situation room. Erin Burnett Outfront starts right now, live from israel