Transcripts For CNNW CNN 20240702

Military pressure on hamas with expanded Ground Operations in gaza. Gaza residents report the israeli airstrikes have become more intense than ever. Nearly all communications in and out of enclave still appear to be down. And the mounting death toll in gaza led the u. N. General assembly to vote for an immediate ceasefire, it was denounced in light of the october 7 attack. Now officials spoke to erin burnett about why this wont end like other conflicts in the past. They killed 1,400 people with the most spectacular, cruel violence, injured over 5,000 people, took 230 people hostage, including 30 children, including 30 children. And israel has decided we can no longer live with this Jihadi Enclave on our borders. This is not another round thats going to end with ceasefire and hamas deserved. This is a war hamas declared on us on october 7 and a war that were going to win. Still, hamas leaders have been defiant and continued to launch rockets into israel. Three people were wounded when a rocket hit a fourstorey building in tel aviv late friday. We have been following all this from dubai, good to see you. What more are we learning about israels incursion minto gaza. There is confusion about whether this is the start of something larger or a significant change, yet not the full Ground Invasion that we were thinking might be launched this evening . Yeah. Its a really good point. The israeli official that we saw on air also couldnt confirm whether this is a fullon invasion or the incursion. We are working to confirm just how many idf, you know, went into gaza overnight where we saw intensified action by Israeli Forces and whether theyre still on the ground. What we do know is that communications are down. We dont know if this is strategy or whether infrastructure was specifically hit. But theres a definite shift here that were seeing in terms of the idf strategy into gaza. This has been imminent, we have been hearing about a fullon Ground Invasion for some time. It has been delayed. And weve seen israelis going in and then exiting. Weve seen intensity in the early morning. The idf alleging that hamas is using hospitals to wage war against israel, and i spoke to the Director General of the gsz hegaza health ministry. So in the hospital, the biggest hospital, some more than 50,000 civilians are just staying within the premises of the hospital. Yeah, so, look, weve got Tens Of Thousands of people that have gone to hospitals thinking this is a safe area. The hospitals are also in a very miserable scenario right now as well. And when youve got the Idf Intensifying Fighting and also now embarking on this potential ground incursion, the calculus is completely shifted. Yeah, absolutely, and you know, i want to really get your perspective from the region there. We know qatar has been active as a facilitator in the hostage negotiations. They were hopeful that in fact there could possibly be a large hostage release. What now . Yeah. Yeah, i miean yesterday there ws a lot of hope. There was the Mediation Talks and negotiations handled by th qatar ease. We told we could see a large number of hostages released at one time. Now we dont know where those negotiations stand at this point in time. We had seen, you know, four hostages released in a span after week, and that is where we saw the intensity of the fighting, sort of subside over those periods. And once we understand further of what the idf is trying to achieve with the raids that it is embarking on, perhaps well get a little more insight. But we just dont know. You also mentioned something really important here. That the u. N. Has adopt ed a resolution, calling for an immediate and sustained humanitarian truce. Important to know, 12 countries did not vote pourfor this resolution. Further complicating things weve seen delay after delay in terms of what the idf is planning to do in gaza for various reasons, trying to get aid into gaza. Theres been International Call for some kind of delay in terms of what the idf will be doing, and then you also have the big question about the hostage negotiations, how this complicates that scenari o with us now is cnn military wesley clark. He is former nato supreme allied commander. It is good to have you on board here as we try to parse what is going on on the ground. There is continued debate, right . As to this hour, whether this is a fullscale Ground Invasion that its always promised. Maybe it is something smaller, still significant but smaller in scope . What are your thoughts as you see these on unfolding . If i listen to what the Prime Minister said hes going to do and he is really spokesman about destroying a loss, its going to be a very large, long and sustained operation. Now, whether this incursion started at dark in israel is going to be the first part of that or it is just going to be a larger rate, we dont know yet. We will have to see if israeli troops hang in there or come out. And we will have to find out what else is happening in the area. Is there another incursion Somewhere Else thats not being reported, for example . Those matters have to be revealed. We just dont know right now. You know, the fate of the hostages, as we try to figure out what is going on on the ground, the fate of the hostages becomes central to the military strategy. Do you believe israel has essentially forsaken their fate with this kind of Ground Invasion . No. I think it is the opposite. What we have seen for 70 years, really, since the korean war in which the United States and britain were engaged is the use of diplomacy, hostages, negotiations to stall, frustrate and degrade combat operations. That is certainly part of the game that hamas is playing with the hostages. I think the best way to get the hostages out, and this is my opinion, is to strike hard and keep the pressure on hamas. I think what i have experienced in my time in uniform and afterwards watching these, is when the pressure is off, there is no change. We know that hamas is capable of Keeping Prisoners there for a year or two. So it is just not feasible. Without knowing what is happening in the negotiations, that would be my impression. It doesnt mean we shouldnt try to negotiate to get the hostages out. It may happen. We may learn something. It may help us get the hostages out another way. But in general, if these operations are not pursued and there is a pause. It is delayed two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, it gives hamas more time. It puts pressure on israel. It degrades the alternative of going to get those hostages. So, i dont think it is incompatible to do the operation and also seek to bring the hostages out. Unfortunately, that kind of equivocation, whatever it is, is really hurting the families right now, the families of those hostages waiting to see exactly what israels policy on this will be, what their plan is. I want to get to what is going on on the ground in israel. You said this is going to be a long and difficult war. Are we talking months or years . When we look at one of the other conflicts on the globe right now, you talk about russia and ukraine, we are far into that, rather than anyone imagined we would be. Is that what we are talking about as well . I think the two conflicts are really not comparable. In the case of russia and ukraine, you have a major Russian Force fighting a conventional war against a major ukrainian force backed by the west. Here are, what you have is a Terrorist Group that has taken over the area of palestinians. It has used palestinians to feed their organization. It is using them now as hostages. And its intent is to stay in place, build up its power, and try to destroy israel. Its an extra central threat to israel. And it may take two weeks, four weeks, eight weeks, months, we dont know. But as long as israel sees this as an existential threat, i think they are going to take action against it until they finish what they can with this operation. Given what you are saying, what do you make of the u. S. And eu efforts to engineer a humanitarian pause . At the same time, trying to temper that with israel. Are you sure this kind of Ground Invasion is the best strategy for what your goals, your mission is . Well, i think the United States and israel see eye to eye. I think there was also concern in the United States about potential for this spreading to the region. The United States is talking to all the actors in the region, all the israelis are not. The United States has its own concerns for our own people who are hostages as well as americans who are caught up, American Palestinians In Gaza who are trying to get out. So the two countries have slightly different interest on this, may be substantially different, but fundamentally, the United States is behind and supports israel. In terms of what the u. S. Does do, i dont have to remind you, it is a tense and dangerous time. This more aggressive posture i would call it towards iran and its proxies, do you think that will have the desired Deterrent Effect for the United States . Well, i dont think the policy is yet aggressive toward iran. It is wayward reacting to iran. The two groups, one is arriving, those are forces that were meant to send a signal to iran to back off. Iran didnt listen to that signal. It is joking and teasing, having its proxies, snipe and send missiles and rockets and so forth. Not a full effort by iran, but an effort to claim its emblem as a resistance or force against israel and the United States. So the United States strikes that have been conducted against iranian arsenals in syria after our troops have been yet, some 30 americans have taken off with injuries, many with Brain Injuries from concussion. I think its an appropriate response, not an aggressive response, but it warns them to stay out of this. We will see if that has the desired impact on iran. General wesley clark, we continue to see the bombardments in gaza, we appreciate you. Thank you. Gaza is largely under a Communications Blackout amid the looming threat with the Israeli Ground defense as they continue targeting hamas. A local provider says most of the phone and Internet Leaks have been decimateted as Thehe Enclave is pounded. With the outside world are severely disruptive, not impossible multiple humanitarian groups saying they cant get in touch with their teams on the ground. In fact, palestinians who maintained connection reached by cnn say they have split their families if you can imagine. So at least some members would survive in case of an israeli airstrike. Others talk about Hearing Explosions but without stable communications they cant check to see if their families are okay. The leader of the u. N. Agency sent a dramatic message about the humanitarian situation. As we speak, people in gaza are dieting. They are not only dying from bombs and strike. Soon, many more will die from the consequences of the gaza strip. Basic occurrences, medicine is running out. Now, the Health Administrator has responded to joe bidens public questioning of the reliability of palestinian casualty figures in the conflict with israel. By publishing the names of what it says are thousands killed since the start of the conflict on the week of the October 7th Attacks by hamas that killed 1400 in israel. The Israel Defense forces have launched an air campaign against the militant group and imposed a siege of the gaza strip. Israel says the strikes will continue until all of the more than 200 hostages are released. We are reporting on the controversy around the death toll. Reporter families are mourning and counting their debt. In the endless stream of funerals, throughout gaza as palestinians bury their loved ones, doubt is cast on the death toll being released by hamas. Hamas seized control of gaza in 2007. No elections have been held since. The militant group is the political Military Power here. It controls the government and therefore all the ministries, including the health ministry. President biden says thats why he has no confidence in the reported gaza death toll. I have no notion that palestinians are telling the truth about how many have been killed. Im sure many have been killed in the price of waging the war. Reporter this is how the Hamas Run Health Ministry responded, publishing this document, a 212 page report listing the i. D. Numbers, names, sex and age of more than 6700 palestinians it says has been killed since october 7th. Among them, nearly 3000 children. The total figure is expected to be higher because of hundreds of unidentified bodies, it says. The Ministry Says it is committed to accuracy. It accuses some of dehumanizing palestinian victims. Our people are not anonymous indices that can be ignored, it said. The Palestinian Authority which rules the west bank also hit back. There are uncertain leaders who dont want to see it. The numbers are correct. They are our members. The numbers fit us from the hospitals, both gaza, every single day that are received by our ministry. Reporter skepticism over the death toll spiked after the explosion at this hospital. Within hours, the Health Industry said it received 471 who were killed. He gave an estimate of 100 to 300 killed. It was at least a couple hundred. That is terrible. That is atrocious. That is sad. We agree with the families and loved ones who were affected by that. The numbers are not reliable. Reporter Rights Groups and the u. S. State department have cited the hamas run ministry in the past. But they said recent statements and figures from hamas are unreliable. Human rights watch, an independent body responded. We have done research during multiple rounds of escalations. We have always on the Ministry Of Health data to be generally reliable. The conversation should focus on how World Leaders can stop further atrocities and not picking whether it is a number that is generally proven to be accurate, maybe a little off. Reporter and access is limited. Foreign media has been denied entry into gaza. For local journalists, conditions on the ground make reporting difficult. Cnn and other news outlets cannot identify the figures. And while some argue over the death toll, bodies keep piling up. Cnn, london reporting. Two days after the deadly shootings in maine, the suspected gunman has been found dead. For families of the victims, noun now comes the process of healing. We have e the latest frorom mai next. A Tightknit Community is now weakening the long road to healing and mourning the loss of 18 People Killed in Mass Shootings. For 2 days, residents sheltered in place while Law Enforcement carried out a massive manhunt for the suspected gunman. Now the people of lewiston, maine can breathe a sigh of relief as the threat is over. Officials say they found the body of the suspected gunman. Omar has our report. Reporter after a more than 48 hour manhunt, the suspect in the Mass Shootings at both of these locations in lewiston, maine has been found dead by a parent selfinflicted Gunshot Wound according to Law Enforcement. This has been the end of what has been a tense chapter for many in this community, wondering where this person may be especially given the violent nature of what Police Believe he did. To give you an idea of where the body was found, we are outside the bar and grill which was the second location of the Mass Shootings that happen on wednesday night. This body was found 10 minutes away from here in the town over from lewiston which is where we are now in lisbon, maine. It was found near a recycling plant. As we understand from Law Enforcement services, a plant where he was fired from recently. So at this point, this now begins the next phase of investigation for officers to figure out, okay, what led up to the actions that they say he carried out over the course of wednesday night . And why did this happen . That is one aspect of the investigation that continues. However, the main priority everyone had been looking for of trying to locate this person is now over. It is a sigh of relief for many in the community. It is a sigh of relief for leaders in the community as they laid it out in the latest Press Conference. They found the body at 7 45 p. M. Eastern time on friday night. It wasnt until hours later they announced. What they were doing in the meantime was notifying the families of victims. They also said they notified the family of the suspect as well, if family they said had on the whole been cooperative throughout this entire process. While there is still more investigative work ahead, there is a lot more grieving ahead for many of the families here affected, at least 18 total. But so many more lives were shattered based on the lives they touched. As one resident told us, they are not just numbers. They are people. It is those people that are going to live on in this community for much longer than the 48 hour manhunt. Omar gimenez, cbsn, houston maine. I want to bring in daniel who is a supervisory agent. It is good to see you, daniel. There is relief in the community. We are not following a manhunt any longer. And yet, theres a bit of frustration. Police did not disclose much in the Press Conference. What is your take on how all this unfolded . Well, it is curious as to why they are keeping certain details from the public and not releasing it just yet. There is a reason. They have trained for this type of scenario. They have trained for these types of Press Conferences. The fbi, dealing and leading with other Law Enforcement agencies have vast experience in identifying how to deal with these situations, unfortunately, in the United States we often have these mask have faulty type of instances. It is very well documented as to how to proceed in these events. Have a Press Conference as soon as possible following the event. We learn about these things from the mistakes weve made in the past when maybe a Press Conference wasnt held or where certain information wasnt kept, you know, wasnt released to the public just yet. But the investigators are nonstop. They are working the various scenes as to collecting the evidence. The fbi and the e. R. Response teams, the computer analyst, they are advertising fortunately, the fugitive is no longer in play. They can focus as you were saying on the long road to healing. I want to point out it is rather chilling to hear that he may not have died within minutes or hours after the attack. It is possible he was actually alive perhaps 1. 5 days until he killed himself. What do you make of that . Listen, at this point we are all theorizing. Anything is possible. He could have died immediately after. He couldve died 1. 5 days later. We dont know. Thats what the medical examiners working alongside the authorities in maine and lewis, they are going to determine the time of death. Clearly, we know the method of death. Then at that point once we know approximately what time of death was, then they will go back and talk to the search teams who looked through the area and determine why he wasnt found. If he had been, say, dead before the incident, why wasnt the body found . Or if he had died hours before you know before the body was found, then we will understand where he was going for those two days. Theres a lot of answers that need excuse me a lot of questions that need to be answered. At which point, we will be able to start putting other pieces together. The gun debate is front and center. Im not asking for anything political here. What im asking is materially, keeping this kind of man from having access to any firearm let alone this kind of assault weapon, i mean, do you think we have learned anything new in how to prevent that . I think an incident like this always brings forth a conversation. That is the point that has to be had. We have to have a conversation. There are two sides of this aisle. There are two sides of the argument. Both feel they are in the best position to say im always right. The conversation should be had as to how do we prevent guns getting into the hands of those who shouldnt have guns because of maybe a problem with a mental stability or other reasons. Listen, like i said, im not going to get into a position of what couldve happened or Monday Morning quarterback situation because im not familiar with the entire case. I will not be able to give you the best opinion on it without knowing all the facts. But, what we can do is continue to have a conversation. That is the most important part. Being able to talk about gun control or gun rights, and people having with at least some relief for the community there. Appreciate it. Thank you, paula. Still to come for us, the u. S. Raises concerns of war spreading throughout the middle east as israel expands Ground Operations in gaza, and using one of the largest hospitals as a command center. What it tells us about israels next move as it expands its war on hamas. The white house on friday wouldnt say if israel had informed the u. S. Before wlauwla launching an expanded Ground Attack friday. And how concerned the Biden Administration is about the israel hamas war escalating. Listen. Very concerned. That is why the president ordered extra naval in the area and boosted the air and missile defense. Its while we added aircraft to the region and its why we have messaged privately and publicly we dont want to see anyone else. We are concerned about that possibility. Meantime, the u. S. Defense secretary sptressed the importance of the counter attacks and he said a delivery is urgently needed. More now from the pentagon. The pentagon watching the situation in gaza closely, as what appears to be a larger crowd inversion is as it goes after ham has. This is israels war to fight and they will not deictate or order the israelis how to fight. They will go to u. S. Best practices in decades of war, including instead of a large scale ground incursion, israel goes with the air attack. Is it something that is heeded in is that clear in the hours and days ahead. The u. S. , as well as the conflict in gaza, if that spreads to the rest of the region. We have already seen some spill over, even if the u. S. Doesnt see a connection between gaza and iraq or syria, and take a look at the map. You will get a sense of the attacks and four different sites in iraq. For different sites in esyria, and many had different attacks. The u. S. Carried out strikes in syria against groups that are af affiliated with the revolutionary guard, and it degreed an Ammo Facility and a weapons facility. The u. S. Does not want the conflict to escalate behind gaza or be connected to what the u. S. Is doing in iraq or syria against isis this. That is what everyone is looking at with eyes on gaza. Now, the new u. S. House peeker said he spoke with Benjamin Netanyahu on friday, he called it a privilege. He says the House Of Representatives stands with israel and the congressman from louisiana was just elected as speaks wednesday after Party Infighting left the house in chaos. Israel is claiming the largest hospital in gaza is the largest command center. It appears to sway Public Opinion ahead of a Ground Strike in gaza. Translator the buildings, he does his command and control in different departments of the hospital. He uses this places in order to do Commander Control for terror activity, launching rockets, et cetera, et cetera. It is here that in the chief hospital that hamas operating the command and control cells. This is where the direct rocket attacks, and Hamas Terrorists operate inside and other hospitals in gaza with a network of tunnels. Hamas has an entrance to the tunnels from inside the hoofl. From different places in the hospital, you can go to around ground tunnel for shelter. The Director General tells cnn hospitals are used to treat patients onlily, and they called on the u. N. , arab and islamic countries to stop the madness of bombing a medical system. It put the Israeli Military on high alert. To duckduckgo on all your Devie Duckduckgo comes with a builtn engine like google, but its pi and doesnt spy on your searchs and duckduckgo lets you browse like chrome, but it blocks cooi and creepy ads that follow youa from google and other companie. And theres no catch. Its fre. We make money from ads, but they dont follow you aroud join the millions of people taking back their privacy by downloading duckduckgo on all your devices today. The moit on Friday Signalses ska late of Ground Operations in gaza, three weeks of they killed 1400 people. And israeli man says he is consumed by concern for his sister. Jake tapper asked if he is worried that israels air strikes will make it tougher to get his sister home . This is my main occupation, and every day, we have significant worries. Every day im sorry. It can be a day of rape, torture, a day of dying, dead, illness. Every day is a worry and most of my worries come from my treatment of hamas or disrespect. I dont know which stronger word to use to think what hamas might be using. I have more lets say respect to what our military is doing, and i hope they are cal culativ in their operations, and whatever happens inside gaza. Jake tapper there. Now, a northern israeli town next to the gorden in lebanon has been a ghost town. Civilians have been replaced by israeli soldiers. Cnns jim from northern israel. Reporter now, the town is abandoned. The 2,000 residents fled in the wake of the attacks. Israels too close to the board with lebanon. From too many windows. Reporter now based here are hundreds of idf soldiers. We dont eidentify them due to security. Here and other places in the area. So we need to keep ourselves under cover to make sure we are not exposed. Reporter its surrounded on three sides by lebanon, territory controlled by hezbollah, and that is why the town has been evacuated. Because of the threat and soldiers based here now say they face three threats from he hezbollah. They are on constant alert for the possibility of the next one. The towns mayor has relocated people to the south and keeping them to return. The when is far from clear. The old status quo is no longer sustainable. Not with hezbollah faters on on their doorstep. We dont want a war. We want to move the threat out of southern lebanon. We can make a peace deal, or if not, we will have war. The Israeli Military does not comment. For now, on app ration designed to defend and deter and the threat is reel. We are advised not to linger too long in he has dzbollahs line line. The soldiers, their job is to make sure that the town can come alive again. Do you believe that people will be able to come back to a town like this again or is it just too close to lebanon, to hezbollah . I know that we will do everything to make them feel protected and safe. Someone who his last luggage, still asking why. I dont know. That is a hnew reality in northern israel and also in the south, and communities empty by the threat here. Many people demanding increased Military Action across the board, but that portends costly exercises with uncertain military outcome. Thailand suffered some of the highest casualties in the terror attack. We will go to families who dont even k know if l love ones a arl alove. The top israeli official tells cnn that the country is quote, beefing up pressure on hamas. The comments come as israel says it is expanding Ground Operations in gaza, intense air strikes struck gays with communications as rockets were seen in the sky, hundreds of people meantime from a group called jewish voice for peace, gathered in Grand Central terminal in new york friday night calling for a cease fire in gaza. The demonstration remained peapeaceful though there are reports of dozens taken into custody. It did have a knock on effect also with travelers some of them being delayed. The protest is unusual for Grand Central. So thailand is calling for the release of 18 of its citizens believed to be hostage in gaza. 33 other thai nationals were killed during the hamas attack on october 7th, some of the highest foreign casualty numbers of that day. Cnns ivan watson traveled to remote villages of thailand, a report of ierchs includes graphic images that some viewers may find disturbing. Reporter the empty back roads of Northeastern Thailand seem a world away from the war in israel and gaza. But even here from the countrys poorest provinces thr scars from the middle east. Do you think that this man wanted to kill you . He tried to cut my throat after i passed out but because the knife was broken he couldnt finish the job. Reporter 30yearold spent years working as a Migrant Laborer at this turkey farm in israel in c kibbutz holit. In the minutes of the attack on israel on october 7th, he streamed this video live. He head hid for hours but was found by a palestinian man armed with a kitchen knife. They got into a savage fight. He git you . When we were fighting, he bit my arm. Reporter he says he was left for dead and later cared for by other thai migrant workers. Now after more than four years, working in israel, hes eunited with his family in thailand, recovering from deep physical and psychological wounds. At the start of the latest hostilities there were nearly 30,000 thai citizens working in israel many of them from poor farmingt villages in this region. Families says their relatives signed five year minimum contracts to work in israel. They wouldnt come home from israel, because it watts worth it. The money you could make would dwarf what you could make in the rice paddies in northern thailand. His 29yearoldson was expected to come home next year. After half a decade of work in israel. This is the bunker. This video shows he and other thai workers on the morning of the October 7th Hamas Attack Taking Shelter in a bunker. It is the last they heard from their son. This is money here. Until this image emerged on social media. He and several other men held hostage by amped militants. His father and mother now desperate for their sons return. I have no words he says. I want my son back. In a statement to cnn thailands deputy Prime Minister called for the release of all house tadges, adding, quote, our thai citizens earned a living in order to raise their families in thailand and have no interest in gaza. They watch and wait, praying for their sons freedom. Ivan watson cnn, thailand. Wondering what those on the ground movements mean for their loved ones held hostage in gaza. Kimber will pick things up from here and well have more of our continuing coverage of israel at war. In just a moment. Ftc the power goes out and we still have wifi to do our homework. And thats a good thing . Great in my book who are you . No power . No problem. Introducing stormready wifi. Now you can stay reliably connected through Power Outages with unlimited cellular data and up to 4 hours of battery backup to keep you online. Only from xfinity. Home of the xfinity 10g network. And welcome to all