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Hello, and welcome to have you as joining us here in the United States are round well the am streaming us on cnn max. Im mostly church just ahead as israel launches new attacks across gaza, us officials repeat their warnings the stay out of a city thats become the last refuge for more than 1 million palestinians. Donald trumps former fixer, Michael Cohen, is set to take the stand. And then the former president s highstakes Criminal Hush Money Trial. We will break down what cohens expected to say and why his testimony could be critical. And more than two years into russias unprovoked war on ukraine, Vladimir Putin is replacing his longtime Defense Minister with an economist who has no Military Experience for my plan this is cnn nice with rosemarie to have you with us. Well, as israel continues to plan an expansion of its Military Operations in rafah, the Palestinian Death toll from the war has passed 35,000. That is according to gazas Ministry Of Health on sunday, there is large explosion in gaza as the Health Ministry says, at least 63 people were killed over the weekend meanwhile, us officials are warning that a full israeli invasion of rafah could lead to matter civilian deaths. The us Secretary Of State is, it could leave a vacuum filled by chaos. So far more than 300,000 people have evacuated from rafah they say they have no safe options let them have a rule. We are tired and lost. We dont know where to go and a small area we are lost. No one is standing with us, not netanyahu nor muslims are saudi arabia nor any arab country this is the destruction we are working as workers. I left with a shirt and a torn undershirt. Im working as a worker for ten shekels. We are suffering from the high prices from one side and the war from the other side. We are displaced, i swear since five days, i only had one meal israel says it has opened a new crossing to allow humanitarian aid into the enclave in coordination with the United States. They western Erez Crossing is in northern gaza. The un says, no aid has come through. Some hold on gaza, over the past several days. And cnns Paula Hancocks has more on the Aid Situation and the evacuations from a rafah 300,000 palestinians are believed to have Evacuated Rafah sofar these figures were getting not just from the un on the ground, but also the Israeli Military. And this is as the idf is continuing its limited operations at this points in eastern rafah, but they are calling for civilians to evacuate. Many of them were hearing from unrwa for example, the un group on the ground are literally moving anywhere. They possibly can. Theyre being told theres an area along the coast, almuwasi witches considered according to the Israeli Military, a humanitarian safer zone. But according to the un, it is an inhumane displacement pointing out that this area, that they are being told to move towards is simply not suitable for the sheer number of people and the humanitarian support simply isnt there at this point. Now, the humanitarian support and the aid that is getting into these areas of a rafah or and Southern Gaza had been severely hampered over recent days since this operation began. We know that the Israeli Military is in control of the rafah crossing. This was a key crossings to get the humanitarian aid trucks in. And we understand that egyptian officials at this point or not coordinating with israel to get more trucks. And because they are citing security concerns, its not just managing to drive a humanitarian aid truck through into the gaza strip. You are driving into a war zone and it is extremely difficult to then be able to safely distribute the aid once inside. Now we understand according to the Israeli Military, that they have opened another crossing there. They say in the north of gaza, theyre calling it the western Erez Crossing. But at this point, the critical concentration of displaced is in the southern area, is in the rafah area. And to un teams on the ground, they are rapidly running out of aid to be able to help those people. Now when it comes to the fighting as well, we are hearing from the Israeli Military that its not just in rafah that they are engaging hamas. They are also fighting in central gaza. They are fighting in northern gaza. Jabalya refugee camp for example. The Israeli Military say that they have issued Evacuation Orders there as well as they are fighting hamas. They say they have intelligence that hamas has try to regroup and try to reassemble in this particular area. And this is an area that the Israeli Military said that they had cleared and that was controlled by them and had been operated in many, many months ago. So this this really is an indication of how difficult it is for hamas to be totally destroyed as the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted, his military will do Paula Hancocks, cnn, abu dhabi Us National Security adviser, Jake Sullivan spoke with his israeli counterpart and read those growing concerns about israels Military Offensive in refer the white house he discussed how to quote, ensure the defeat of hamas without an expanded invasion of the city cnns Kevin Lib Tech has more american officials are continuing to warn strongly against a Ground Invasion of rafah, really channeling President Bidens view that american weapons should not be used in an operation that they view as illadvised and very, very bloody. And those concerns were raised in a phone call on sunday between President Bidens National Security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and his counterpart in israel, the white house says that sullivan raised those concerns discuss alternatives to a Ground Invasion of rafah, israeli National Security adviser said that those concerns were being taken into account. But at the end of the day, these concerns or nothing new President Biden has been raising them with the israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on phone calls dating back to february. And there are no signs that netanyahu is necessarily taking those views into account. He has said that a Ground Invasion of rafah is necessary to completely eliminate hamas that view is completely at odds with what we heard from american officials officials on sunday, including the Secretary Of State, antony blinken, who said that a Ground Invasion of rafah could launch a hamas insurgency listen to more for a little bit of what he said. They will be left holding the bag on an enduring insurgency, because a lot of armed hamas will be left, no matter what they do in rafah or if they, if they leave and get out of gaza as we believe they need to do then youre going to have a vacuum and vacuum thats likely to be filled by chaos, by anarchy, and ultimately by hamas again we have the same objective as israel. We want to make sure that hamas cannot govern gaza. Again, we want to make sure its demilitarized. We want to make sure that israel gets its leaders. Thats what were determined. We have a different way and we think a more effective, durable way of getting that done will remain in conversation with israel about exactly that. Now blinken also said that the us believes israel has killed more civilians than hamas members over the course of this war. He also said that the us hasnt seen a plan from israel for security and governance and gaza once this war ends, its a really taken all together. These are some of the strongest words that weve seen from the biden minutes directed toward israel since the start of this conflict. And it really does go to show that this relationship and this war are very much reaching an inflection can point. Kevin live tax, cnn, traveling with the president at rehoboth beach, delaware alon pinkas is former israeli Consul General in new york. He joins me now ally from tel aviv, israel, appreciate you being with us good morning, rosemary. Good to be with you. So israel appears to be preparing to expand its Military Operations into rafah, even as us officials warn that a full invasion could lead to massive civilian in casualties. And as it continues to pause, sending bombs to israel. So what do you expect Benjamin Netanyahus next move will be well hes. Hes defied everything we thought he would do. His defied reason. Hes defined the us. Hes defied the reality on the ground. The Military Reality on the ground and most importantly rosemary, hes defied the very idea of commiting, op are drafting an idea for postwar gaza to right now, if he, if he intends to push forward with this offensive in rafah, which remains to be seen by the way, because the scale and the scope of such an operation varies and, you know, a Ground Invasion may not happened and may not happen. And we may yet see this thing burning until found in two, three days. But if he does go on if he if he serious about his on attainable goal of eradicating hamas and israel needs to essentially occupy the gaza strip indefinitely. And i dont see that happening necessarily so why is it that Prime Minister netanyahu appears to be willing to alienate his countrys biggest ally by possibly Invading Rafah despite calls from the us not to do so. And despite advice on how to defeat hamas without an expanded invasion of rafah, well, in one word, rosemary politics and towards personal politics in three words, cindy personal politics and combine, combine these three options and you understand his modus operandi. He has a vested interest in prolonging and lengthening the war. He knows that if the war ends now, which by the way, rosemary, any, any hostage deal that is accompanied by a a ceasefire, a sixweek ceasefire, and eight weeks ceasefire, four weeks ceasefire would de facto end the war. And if the war ends now that he cannot claim victory, he cannot claim that hamas was eradicated or that it was militarily politically, most importantly, politically toppled. I go back to the segment that you showed from secretary blinken. Hes exactly right. If israel stays, theres chaos. Its israel leaves without a postwar plan. Its chaos. Now, mr. Netanyahu, since more or less november, rosemary is deliberately seeking a confrontation with the west because he thinks thats good for him politically in terms of maintaining his coalition its not exactly sparked smart statesmanship, but politically he thinks its beneficial so where do negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal stand right now . And what happens to those hostages if the idf does go ahead with this planned in version of rafah tragically and i know its hot, its a horrible thing to even suggest on your show. Nowhere. I cannot see negotiations proceedings, certainly not in a positive way. Given an Israeli Offensive and laugh, even if its less than a full invasion then theres the question of duration, even if the invasion or operation is limited in scope, it could still go on for a few weeks in which case i dont see any negotiations. And this goes to the Something Else how the two sides defined victory, Israel Defines victory as eradicating hamas hamas defines a win or victory by merely standing on their feet and waving flag. Even eight, waving a flag, even if its the very last flags. So both sides. And again, this is tragic. Both sides seem to have a disincentive to end this at this point because neither can get what it wants and thats the thats the tragedy because inbetween are hundred and 30 hostages and hundreds of thousands, if not 1,000,000. 5 upon the desolate palestinians them being shifted from one side to another without access to food, water, medicine. Hello, im pingos. Thank you so much for joining us and for sharing your perspective on this issue, pushing thank you, rosemary day 16 of Donald Trumps Criminal Hush Money Trial will kick off in the coming hours. Trumps former attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, is expected to take the stand and prosecutors say its entirely possible they will rest their case by the end of the week. Cnn, zach cohen has more prosecutors in Donald Trumps Hush Money Trial are expected to call a key witness to the stand on monday, the testimony of Michael Cohen, trumps onetime attorney and fixer could make or break the manhattan district attorneys case against the former president. Hes the only one witness who will testify about trumps involvement in both the alleged decision to pay Adult Film Actress Stormy Daniels 130,000 to keep her from going public about a past encounter with the former president ahead of the 2016 election. And the plan to reimburse cohen for advancing the money. Now, tying trump to both the decision to pay daniels and the reimbursement is critical for prosecutors who are seeking to prove trump allegedly falsified Business Records to keep daniels quiet. Now, the jurors have her already heard a lot about cohen from other witnesses who have testified over the last three weeks and most fit has been unflattering. Trumps Defense Attorneys would like we try to further undercut cohens credibility during what a shortage be a attends crossexamination prosecutors meanwhile, have tried to lay the groundwork for cohens testimony by introducing documents including emails and texts. They say backup, his version of events ultimately, the case could come down to whether or not the jury finds cohens testimony credible, or if trumps attorneys are able to convince them otherwise zachary cohen, cnn, washington and earlier i spoke with Criminal Defense Attorney and former new york prosecutor, been either via learner about the significance of Michael Cohens turn as star witness while we heard so much about him through other witnesses who tend to corroborate what he is expected to say. We still also know from other witnesses that he does have credibility issues, but they key testimony that were going to hear from Michael Cohen is about that crucial meeting in February Of 2017 . Side of the white house inside of the oval office. Well, Michael Cohen is expected to testify that he and donald trump had this conversation about the hush money that was paid to Stormy Daniels and how he was supposed to be we paid for that hush money in order to conceal that testimony from ever coming until light that about Stormy Daniels herself while the prosecution views cohen as a star witness who can potentially link and alleged coverup scheme back to trump. The defense paints him as a liar with the no credibility motivated by revenge, which narrative will likely when and which has the stronger evidence so the defense is going to go with that Michael Cohen is obsessed with donald trump has been obsessed with donald trump four years that hes constantly posting about donald trump talking in the media about donald trump and his soul fixated on donald trump that he has become delusional. And you heard some through the defense is opening statements, so thats how we know. Thats where theyre going with donald with Michael Cohens testimony in terms of the prosecution to prosecution is going to allow Michael Cohen to be the person that he is and then later argued that this type of person is the same person that donald trump need it. And trusted to fix his problems to try to harsh storm for me, daniels to try to hush and conceal this from ever comic delight and end. The prosecutions going to tie Michael Cohens testimony and all the corroborating evidence, including meetings, telephone, records that Audio Recording that we already heard earlier in the trial, as well as statements that were made previously in order to to find and tell this jury that you can find them cr