Transcripts For CNNW CNN 20240703

All of you watching in the United States and all around the world. Im in london with the ongoing coverage of israel at war. It is 10 00 a. M. Here in london, noon in gaza, where the Border Crossing into egypt opened about two hours ago for the first time in weeks. Then close d just minutes later. Youre looking at live pictures. It was just enough time for 20 trucks with muchneeded humanitarian aid to cross from egypt into gaza. Hamas says the trucks were loaded with medicines, medical supplies and limited quantity of canned foods. So 20 trucks crossing over into gaza. What we have been hearing from officials is that many more are needed. More than 400 or so were making this trip on a daily basis prior to this conflict. We are starting to see the start of that aid going in. Meanwhile, hamas took the unexpected step of releasing two american hostages on friday. A mother and daughter. Judy and natal ira nai were tak. Their father said he couldnt wait to see his daughter again. I have been waiting for this moment for a long time, two weeks. I havent been sleeping for two weeks. Tonight im going to sleep good. I spoke with my daughter earlier today. She sounds very good. She looks very good. She was very happy. Shes waiting to come home. Im going to hug her and kiss her and its going to be the best day of my life. Israel says the Hostage Release was the result of military pressure. A statement from the group claimed it was done for humanitarian reasons. A mass is believed to be holding about 200 hostages. Lets Start Talking about the crossing so much desperation for so many trying to get that aid into gaza. Give us a sense of how many trucks have gone in, when they will be distributed and any hope for those wanting to get out of gaza. Thats a really important that last point there. Were seeing pictures this morning from our journalists on the ground of people waiting, sitting at this crossing, wait og to get out. They think this crossing is going to let them out soon. But that hasnt happened. Its just aid getting in. That aid is very welcome. We mentioned already 20 trucks. Thats not enough. There needs to be more. 20 trucks is the agreed amount. Thats the amount that the u. S. President biden along with the president of egypt and israel all agreed would be the amount. We waited for days. It was meant to be friday. Then it was saturday. Its finally opening. But this is just a short amount of time. Clearly, the situation is very tense. You can see on the other side of the border there have been people on the jipgs side happy about it opening and this aid finally getting in. We understand it was the egyptian red crescent enabling this along with the United Nations on the ground. Another form of the u. N. Accompanying them and distributing it to civilians. We have a comment from the u. N. Themselves on this aid and how welcome it is. They posted on twitter talking about it. They say this is the start of a sustainable effort, thats what they are confident it will be. The start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies. Now the meaning behind that is that there needs to continue to happen. This cant just be one convoy of 20 trucks. It needs to continue. Thats very clearly reflected on the humanitarian situation on the ground. The dire need for food, water, medical supplies, this entire area has not received any aid for 14 days since this conflict first started. So really, we have to wait and see if more aid gets in. Sustainable. Thats exact lit key line. Thats what we have been hearing from any ngos. We know that about 219 trucks are waiting on the ra fa crossing. Fah crossing. We know egypt is holding a peace summit in cairo. Talk us through what we can expect to come from this meeting given the fact that as you and i have been discussing, United States are now part of discussions. What are we hoping to get out of this . There are some notable absentees. There are had 34 countries arriving for this summit. And clearly, this is a sign that diplomacy needs to start happening and needs to start deescalating the situation. Thats what everyone on the ground is saying. And were hearing this morning saying just this summit is an important first step. Just get ting people around the table with various Different Reasons and for being there, talking about this is really important. But the United States is not. So the amount of agreement that comes out it depends. But i think its notable how many people decided to turn up. Theres a sense of urgency. If you look at the hostage sbags, kwut qatar was the mediator. Clearly various different state actors talking to each other, getting to some kind of negotiation can, in some case cans, create some positive results. Positive results for those two families. Much more is needed. And also making sure conflict doesnt escalate. Thank you very much. As we have been reporting, hamas freed two american hostages. Earlier my colleague spoke with an Idf Spokesperson about it. This is what he had to say. There are 201 other families that are torn to pieces by this huge tragedy. We have to do everything we can in order to bring them home. I do. The to ask you about those other hos hostages. 201 hostages still being held captive from dozens of countries. Do you have any indication about the condition of those still in captivity and any other developments on negotiations for their release . We are being very cautious about saying anything. Its a very delicate issue. It is much more important than us reporting to it at this time. We are happy to see that the the International Community and the red cross did have access and were involved in the release. And we will continue to be cautious in our actions in order to bring them home as soon as possible and get them released hopefully safe and sound. Unfortunately, we dont trust hamas. How can you trust a Terrorist Organization that butchers babies, abducts, kills, massacres the unfathomable of this organization, and everything they are doing currently is i i would say psychological terrorism. Lets try to keep that in the context thof conflict. Thats why hamas can never, ever be in a position of power to conduct terrorism from the gaza strip. It was a relief to their family. Lets get more from whitney wild. Reporter The Walk To Freedom in a snap shat. 59yearold Judith Raanan and her 17yearold daughter are finally safe after two weeks as hostages. They are headed home after many prayers and tears. A communitys fear now replaced by joy. Our prayers have been heard, we are so overjoyed. They travelled to israel from illinois and have been missing since the hamas attacks on october 7th. They were visiting a kibbutz for her mothers 85th birthday. She had no idea if they would ever return. I am very worried about my sister and my niece. My niece is not even 18. Shes supposed to be celebrating her birthday on the 24thth of this month. We know that young women are being raped and injured. Judith is not very, very healthy. Reporter is she says hamas cud napped 11 other Family Members from another kibbutz and they are still missing. Though cnn cannot independently verify that information. As you can imagine, we are devastated and we are having a hard time. Her brother is looking forward to hugging his younger sister again and help ing however he can. She recovers from the trauma. At least from my father natalie is doing well, is composed. We are ready to start this incredible journey of healing and trauma relief for her. Both judith and natali are artists, kind souls. Reporter the Israel Defense forces met them at the gaza border friday along with International Committee of the red cross. Transferring them to a Military Base in the center of israel to meet Family Members. As one family readies to embrace their loved ones, the families and friends of hundreds more are left to wait and wonder. They have gone through the most evil period of their life, and by people that inflicted just terror and horror to them and to so many others, and our job is to be there for them. President biden spoke with both friday by phone. U. S. Officials are racing to try to bring home the ten other Americans Still in hamas hands. While one family celebrates the return of their loved ones, for other families a simple trip to the supermarket is tempting fate. The city of ashkelon is believed to be the most heavily bombarded. You can see its south of tel aviv, but just north of gaza. As we hear from jeremy diamond, living your life under rocket fire can leaves your nerves raw even when running mundane errands. Go inside. Reporter this is life in ash ke lon. The most fired upon city since hamas launched its rockets 12 days ago. Fear still grip some. Other ignoring the sirens whales. We were outside. We are very careful. When were inside, bod is protecting us. Every missile has an address. Reporter in a city where 90 of businesses have closed, this supermarket is a lifeline. Theres a lot of businesses that are closed. But the supermarket is working. People have to eat. They have to drink. You come once a week . Once a week. Were very afraid. Reporter getting to a bomb shelter isnt an option for everyone here, prompt ing the city evacuating thousands. We still have around 35,000 people that actually leave without shelters. So each and every rocket, it means its at risk for them. We are trying to find solutions for them. Reporter more than 1200 rockets have targeted ashkelon. While most are intercepted by the iron dome, 200 have made direct hits displacing families from their homes, causing c casualties and shuttering businesses like this bakery. Translator when we got here, everything was in pieces. The door was out of place. There was the smell of gun powder. Everything was destroyed. We are starting to put things right. Reporter in the basement of an unassuming building, as ashkelons ceo takes us into the citys Emergency Operations center, where officials track incoming rockets headed for the city. Rescue teams, police, ambulance, everything is going from here. So before the rocket even lands, you can see where it would land . Yes, we have an estimation where its going to land. Reporter until then the First Responders wait and pray. Jeremy diamond, cnn, ashkelon. Israeli forces are standing by ready to move into gaza at any moment. Well give you a Look At P Preparations for a Ground Invasion ramp up. Thats just ahead. Could israel face new threats on more than one front. We look at concerns around hezbollah and what that could mean in terms of a wider military strategy. Both those angles, a after this short break. Youre watching cnn. The idea of citizens preparing for the next stages of the war, youre looking at tanks lined up near the border with gaza right there where the prospect of a Ground Incursion is looming. In a news conference, the Idf Spokesperson said the current priority is the return of more hostages. In gaza itself, the hospital says israel demanded the immediate evacuation of the building. Ahead of an airstrike overnight. They request residents in the Northern Area to evacuate in order to mitigate civilian harm. The World Health Organization says such demand would be impossible to carry out given the hospital currently houses around 12,000 displaced people and hundreds of patients. As israel prepares for the potential Ground Incursion, the u. S. And its allies are urging the country to be strategic and clear about its goals. U. S. And western officials said there should be a particular emphasis on avoiding civilian casualties. Brian todd takes a closer look now the at how Hundreds Of Thousands of Israeli Forces are getting ready to move into gaza. Reporter israels Defense Minister said gaza will never return to what it was, an only nous signal of whats to come when israel launches i its Ground Invasion of gaza. One of the Biggest Forces in the world is preed for a contested environment like this is the idf, but there is no bloodless war. They will take a lot of casualties. They know that. Reporter with more than 300,000 soldiers and reservists getting ready for combat, military Analysts Expect the israelis to launch the invasion on multiple fronts. This is gaza city and what we can expect is for the Israeli Forces to most likely go in this way and this way. Probably the preponderance of force will be in this direction into gaza city. Reporter inside gaza, experts say this will be urban combat, possibly even tougher than what was seen in this foot aage from the 2014 invasion of gaza. Block to block, building to building, and vicious. The Israelis Facing Ab enemy that knows every corner. The challenge is they have time to prepare. No matter what u you, you have e forward and wait until a defender shoots you. Look how narrow this alleyway is. Look how this soldier has to point up to see if there are any fighters above him. This is a Perfect Place for these fighters to be situated, for them rain down fire. Reporter often caught in the clots fire, Palestinian Ci Civi Civilians Hamas does not shy away from using civilians as Human Shields in a combat environment. Hamas wanted all those people to stay. Its put in barricades and destroyed other things in an effort to fix them in place. Reporter to ambush the israelis, hamas will use sophisticated ieds, snipers hidden on buildings, another asset the israelis will have to navigate, hundreds of miles of tunnels known as the gaza metro. With the Command Controls and the communication rooms and supply rooms and for launching the rockets. Reporter theres the added complication of the hostages hamas is holding. While two hostages have been released, there are likely up to 200 more still inside gaza. Many of whom analysts say could be held in the tunnels. Does that mean they will go into the tunnels to try to get them . Or is it just too dangerous . Its very dangerous, but in certain circumstances, the israelis will probably feel the need to go into these tunnels. Reporter the dangers dont end even in the areas that the israelis will have secured. Former cia director David Petraeus said in the areas they capture, they have to conduct counterinsurgency operations because hamas will try to come back. Brian todd, cnn, washington. Lets get more on the wider threats israel could be facing. I want to bring in a Senior Fellow at the institution for National Security studies in israel. I appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. We have been seeing strikes. We have seen towns evacuated because of this growing threat. How did you read its actions and intentions here on the hezbollah side . Good afternoon from tel aviv, israel. This is a good question. I think hezbollah is trying to operate the needs the threshold of war or what they believe is israels threshold. I think this possesses a risk for both sides because neither side knows exactly what the other sides threshold is. When we talk about hezbollah, one needs to understand this is not hamas. This is Something Else. Even back in 2010, the defense said, and i quote, hezbollah possesses a danger and has more missiles than most countries in the world. Since then, hezbollah numbers of rockets and missiles and the precision of guided missiles, those numbers have just grown. This is Something Else were witness ngt north. What were you seeing today . The New York Times is reporting that u. S. Officials learned that the Israeli Defense minister, another hawkish officials, supported a Preempt Strike after that brutal attack against israelis on october 7th. President biden has been urging against it. How do you see the u. S. role here and who can reign in hezbollah . I dont think theres an agreement inside the war cabinet or even the israeli public what should be the best policies of hezbollah. One of those options is a preemptive strike on hez be baa la. But i dont think theres on agreement on that. The fact that the u. S. Is here, the navy assets and other assets in the region, not just for hezbollah, but to deter israel from moving forward perhaps with this option. I think u. S. Publicly even said this he doesnt want to open another front. They want to contain that focusen on the south. Some in israel actually think we should do that, but some think we should take advantage of the u. S. Presence here and do Something Else, something wider because hezbollah possesses a much bigger threat than hamas. That is very interesting context. Thats important that you brought up. Let me give the perspective of lebanon. The Foreign Minister told cnn this. We are very worried that the world could spread. Wefd had wars. And were trying to have peace in the north and southern lebanon. So lebanon doesnt want war. Help us make sense of this for our viewers around the world. They are not really in it. So is this just to signal solidarity with hamas or to divert resources from israels efforts in gaza. Absolutely. I think hezbollah is encouraged by hamas success. Both are going to lean on the success they gained on october 7th. I think they they are in a weak position and might take advantage of that. Also, it wants to show solidarity with hamas and try to deter any idf thinking from the ground entry into gaza. I think hezbollah is restrained by several factors. And i named some of those factors. First of all, as you mentioned, the damage that the idf response might cause lebanon, jonot just hezbollah, but the country of lebanon. Also iran perhaps desired to preserve hezbollah power because it represents some kind of deterrent that israel might in the nuclear insulation attack. And i also think hezbollah is in a different stage now the last two weeks. First, because Israel Military preparedness and also the u. S. Factor. I think if it does not affect the hezbollah populations, they control to an extent. I wonder how much appetite there is domestically for another war. Im guess anything sort of military engage the would only worsen that. We appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. Were going to take a short break and be back after this. Welcome back. You are looking at the Rafah Crossing at the egypt gaza birdier. Two hours ago, it had been long enough for 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to pass into the palestinian area. Volunteers on the egyptian side celebrated that moment chanting we opened the road. St t the first humanitarian aid to reach gaza since the israelhamas war broke out two weeks ago. This comes on the heels of the release of an American Mother and daughter held captive by hamas. U. S. President joe biden spoke to them to offer support. Hes how america s top diploma is reacting. We welcome the release. We share in the relief that that familys friends and loved ones are feeling. But there are still ten additional americans who remain unaccounted for in this conflict. We know that some of them are being held hostage by hamas, along with an estimated 200 other hostages held in gaza. Meantime, the idf says its preparing for the next stages of its war against hamas. You are looking at tanks lined up near the border with gaza where they have been now for days. But the prospect of a Ground Incursion is moving. We are covering all the angles and joins me now with the the latest. Lets get to the breaking news in the last two hours. Theres 20 trucks making their way into gaza. Its a trickle, but talk us through what we know about the distribution, when thats going to happen and clarify for our viewers around the world where civilians were able to cross the border. Right. First of all, nobody has been able to cross. All we have seen today is the 20 trucks going into gaza. Thats after very intensive diplomatic efforts. As you mentioned, that is a trickle in the ocean of need on the ground. Lets just take a pause and think about how much effort it required to get just 20 trucks into gaza. Youre talking about President Biden had to negotiate. Again, just to get 20 trucks across. When you look at the need on the ground, this isnt even going to fill the deficit. We understand 7 out of 21 of the primary want hospitals in gaza have already shut down because they are unable to run power. They dont have the medical supplies required. When you talk about the distribution of this aid, its going to be extremely complicated by the fact that airstrikes continue to rain down on gaza. So this is going to be very difficult. You have to remember there are more than 200 trucks according to the United Nations waiting on the egyptian side. And that waiting game means more lives lost. We saw those tanks waiting on the israeli side as the strikes continue. Israels Defense Minister told Nic Robertson at one point week that troops will soon see gaza from the inside. What are you hearing here about if or when a possible inkurgs will take place . We have seen troops amass for days on the border. I think whats most concerning is to see that spiraling Out Of Control humanitarian crisis on the ground in gaza and to understand that that could only get much, much worse, according to the United Nations if Tens Of Thousands of israeli troops enter gaza. I want to just start by Playing A Sound Byte so we have a context of how this could play out from the former israeli ambassador. Take a listen. We will try to minimize the civilian casualties, but we are determined to eliminate hamas. It will not be easy. We encourage the population to move out of gaza. When we come in, were going to hand down hamas and eradicate him so the population must move south. They shouldnt blame anyone ls but themselves. I want to first pick apart that move to the South Portion of that sound byte. Some 1 Million People, thats half the residents of fwaz is a, have been displaced already, forced out of their homes in this con flikt. They are desperate to find safe haven. Some of them have fled south, butt United Nations says there is no safe place. There have been heavy airstrikes on the south. We have heard and spoken to family who is have left their homes to be caught up in bombardment. The whole of this strip is being besieged, so no matter where the family goeses, they are looking at food shortages, no power, no medical care, and you have to remember that the entire area is sealed off. They announced a siege of the gaza strip. That means 2 Million People are trapped in a war zone. Half of the population of gaza is children. This is simply not how a humanitarian evacuation works. You have to provide corridors. Tough provide ways for people who are incapable of moving. Pregnant women, handicap, children, people who are wounded, you have to provide a way for them to move and provide a safe haven, which doesnt exist right now. Theres no infrastructure. Sol say we cant move patients because it is a life sentence. Thank you very much. Were going to take a short break. Back after this. Demonstrations in washington marched the white house calling for a ceasefire in gaza. Around the world from europe to australia, more protests showing support for the palestinian people. In the middle east and beyond, thousands in the streets raising their voices to protest israels actions in its war on hamas. All this while the anger toward israel and its western allies reaches fever pitch. Our Senior International correspondent ben wedeman reports from beirut. Reporter death to america, death to israel shouts the Master Of Ceremonies at this rally. To a crowd of a few hundred supporters of hezbollah and its shia ally, who dont want to be passive bystanders to the bloodshed in gaza. We want the resistance to liberate palestine. Words and slogans like these are not new, and as the death toll in gaza soars, passions are reaching the boiling point. Earlier this week, twice protesters north of beirut tried to reach the American Embassy stopped only by riot Police Firing tear gas and water canons. In egypt a rare unauthorized demonstration demands regimes act to stop israels war on hamas in gaza. In jordan, the country where many trace their roots back to historic palestine, they call on the government to shut the american and israeli embassies. But in lebanon, its not only protests on the border with israel, its juch a notch below war. In south lebanon, every day hezbollah is striking israeli targets, four, five, six times a day. Here in beirut, they are holding rallies talking about doing more, but so far, hezbollahs main backer has threatened the front. Notably silent is hez baa las leader. I asked a Parliament Member if his group is ready to go to war with israel. The he answered to that, the absentee will come later. The daily attacks on the border are a hint of what that answer woucould be. Ben wedeman, cnn, beirut. We are taking a short break. Well be back after this. As the war against hamas enters its third week, it seems children often and the stories are heartbreaking. We have to warn you this next story contains graphic images, some viewers may find disturbing. Reporter why, why have you gone, my son, he wails. He wanted to be a pilot. Youre only sleeping, kissing his boys lifeless body. Every day of this war has brought pain, pain no parent ever wants to live through. Every 15 minutes in gaza, a child is killed. More than 1,500 children killed so far in a war thats only just beginning. A war they didnt choose. For which they are paying the heaviest price. Those who live haunted by what they have survived, they still have parents to hold their hands. This 10yearold still doesnt know a strike that left him injured the way his mom, dad and three sisters, hes not the only one to left to comfort him. He wakes up and cries. They give him pain killers and he goes back to sleep, she says. Im worried about the shock when he wakes up and finds out that his mother and father are gone. Hes the youngest. He was so attached to his parents. He used to play football with his dad. He would go with him everywhere. Families here say they all heeded the israeli militarys warning and moved south thinking it would be safe. But it wasnt. Medics injured, she lost her mother and siblings in an airstrike. The girl in the third grade, what did she do . Did she shoot israelis . She didnt. Peaceful people in our homes we didnt launch any rockets. We didnt do anything. 9yearold was out playing when his family home was hit. Hes a hospital with head injuries. We were Playing In The Garden when suddenly a missile landed on us, he says. Trees fell on me. My mother, my father are in injured. My uncle brought me unconscious to the hospital. Most of the injured in gaza are children and women with no power, no water and medical supplies running out. The health care they need is on the verge of collapse. Around half of gazas population are children, most have only ever noun life under a blockade and war. Now in this kill box, no place safe from israels relentless bombardment. Desperate from any promise of safety many have fled the hospital grounds. The constant buzz of military drones overhead has become part of existence in gaza. Some find a little escape from this Living Nightmare no child should ever endure. Their neighborhood was flattened by airstrikes. We have been living in so much fear, panic and anxiety, she says. Whenever i hear airstrikes, i dont know what to do. I hug my mom and they are now living. Get upset when i see injured here in the hospital, julia says. When i grow up, i want to become a doctor to treat them so they can get better. Its a war on hamas, they say. But it is the youngest who bear the brunt. Violence, they cant control trapped in this race against death. Cnn, london. Just heartbreaking images and stories right now. The Executive Director of the World Food Program joins us now. We appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. I know how busy you are. We showed our viewers in the last two hours the Rafah Crossing border opening for aid to get in following all that waiting and desperation. Can you just confirm on your end the trucks making it through, the negotiations and what happens now. Well, thank you for covering this. Trucks went through today. Were thrilled. The problem is we need more. We need safe and sustained access. Days go by, we need more. And starvation is rampant now. And we need to be able to get in there and make sure we can feed people. These 20 trucks, how will this be distributed . The need is people are desperate. This is just a trickle. As you know, he was already on the ground. So we had a network set up. So as you know, we are a large logistics operation, and this is what we do best. We just want more. We want to be able to feed more people right now. How soon will it be distributed . Does it need to be checked on the Gaza Pseudoor has that already been done . My understanding is the what i can see is the trucks are rolling smoothly and transfers are being made. The problem is with this is we want to make sure we continue and smake sure we get millions f people. We need to make sure that by the end of this year, we have 100 million just to sustain what were going there. Its a tough place to be right now. This is a matter of life and death. I understand theres like 219 trucks waiting on the other side. So im guessing the hope here is that this isnt a one off. So talk to the next stage, making sure this is a sustainable effort to keep the supplys going. What are you hearing . Im hearing just that. This cannot be the last convoy. It just cant. Theres too many lives at stake here. So i have also been watching the peace conference, so im hoping we take all of the people in their Leadership Positions and they will remember to get in there with food and medicine and lifesustaining items so with dont lose anymore people than we already have. We showed our viewers a report from the spiraling humanitarian situation on the ground. What are your teams been telling you . Paint us a picture. Its catastrophic. It really is. Water, electricity, fuel, the humanitarian disaster, we cannot let this continue. Theres too many lives at stake. Our emergency crews, the other sustaining means, its being transferred. Thats whats available. Suns dwe really appreciate yu taking the time to bring us this context from the the latest on the ground. Appreciate it. Thank you. Before we go, if youd like to help the humanitarian relief efforts, head to cnn. Com impact. There you will find a list of vetted organizations answering the call on the ground. Thats at cnn. Com impact. And that does wrap this hour of cnn newsroom. Cnn this morning is next with more of our ongoing coverage of israel at war. Thank you for your company. Have a good day