Free, visit otter. Ai. Ai or download the app im melanie zanona. On capitol hill, and this is cnn you are in the cnn newsroom. Hi everyone. Im jessica dean in new york. We have breaking news out of Northern Gaza tonight where israels prepared to reopen the erez Border Crossing. And to use its Port Of Ashdod to get humanitarian aid into gaza. Just hours before the israelhamas war reaches the sixth month mark. This is the un humanitarian aid chief calls the situation in gaza a quote, betrayal of humanity with 33,000 People Killed there. And many stars just this week, a deadly israeli strike killed seven humanitarian aid workers from World Central Kitchen. Cnns Nic Robertson is in jerusalem for us tonight and it gunfire and explosion since were here today at the erez Border Crossing what does this tell us and what are you learning yeah, we went down to the Border Crossing today to see what the premise variations. Werther would be going on for the expected aid convoys to go through the Erez Crossing. We didnt see any preparations. There was a meeting between the idf and the world food program. Theyre friday, but we didnt see anything. But what we did here was heavy gunfire could hear heavy explosions in the distance this immediately tells you that for any humanitarian convoy going in its going to be dangerous . No surprise. But it is also an indicative of the fact that the many hurdles that convoy is going through there will face like Erez Crossing principally a pedestrian crossing. It was where workers to gaza would come into israel every day and back out at the end of the day or at the end of the week. So it not really constructed for heavy goods vehicles, aid trucks to go through, but it can do it but the road structures, Road Networks beyond the erez Border Crossing many of those have been hit by a, by bombs, by missiles, by artillery. Some of them were seen on satellite imagery. Those roads completely impassable the tarmac is completely blown apart. So its not clear how the aid convoy and trucks would be at a getting we dont have any details from the Israeli Government yet about how many trucks about what could be on those trucks . Its about how theyll screen the trucks, make sure that the goods on board meet with their requirements. So there are a huge number of unknowns. What is very clear is that the commitment when its been made by the Israeli Government to go ahead and open it. The expectation from the white house says that the government will make good on that promise. Its something the, the white house has been asking the Israeli Government to do for months, every state Anthony Blinken here in february as the government, the Israeli Government to open Erez Crossing because its in the north of gaza. And thats where the worst humanitarian suffering is the un says about 300,000 people People Living there and many of them on the verge of starvation soon need is huge. Precisely how its going to play out sunday here really isnt clear to it. This yet nick, we also learned the body of one israeli hostage was returned to his family in israel last night. Tell us more about this yeah a lot cat csia from nir oz, a kibbutz is very close to the gaza border. I spent a lot of time with families to matt kibbutz and this is a kibbutz where i think more than in 70 people were kidnapped. A very high number of people were kidnapped. And his family, a distraught because they say that the government missed opportunities to bring him back. They say that while he was in gaza, he was pictured at least twice alive as a hostage as recently as early this year and the fact that the government wont prioritize a so many hostage families are demanding that they do prioritize bringing hostages back home, whatever price it is to get a truce with hamas these families want the government to do that and they say, this is a case of an absolutely missed opportunity. They said a government might portray him as a victim of the war, but they feel that as a victim of the government mishandling this war. And this is why you have protests on the streets of tel aviv of haifa versus area this evening and alone on the coast in israel people coming out and calling for this government to step down that netanyahu is responsible and they want him to step down. They want another government in place. Base. And this is obviously a huge pain for for gods family today. Of course, of course in our hearts go out hi to them, just an unimaginable grief. They must be going through as those hostages. They still remain in gaza. All right. Nic robertson for us. Thanks so much for that. Our tonight. Also tonight, vowing revenge, new threats of retaliation from iran, highest ranking commander after israeli warplanes bombed neurons, Embassy In Syria this week, the remarks coming at the funeral for seven military officers, members of irans revolutionary guard who were killed in that strike. And now america is on high alert for great quote significant attack by iran in The Middle East that could target israelis or americans. Cnn, white house correspond. Priscilla alvarez joining us now, live from washington, dc for scylla. How is the white house reacting to these threats from iran . Well, the white house is in close touch with israeli counterparts as they both track what potential attack i ran could launch, but they both describe this as inevitable. Now we should make clear here that the us has conveyed to iran that they were not involved in that israeli airstrike that you just mentioned that killed several top iranian commanders and that they did not have advanced knowledge of that airstrike and warned i rather they should not use this as a pretext to attack us personnel and facilities. So all the same though, this is something that the us and israel are on high alert they expect that there could be an attack as soon as this next week, this could target us or is really assets in The Middle East since is specific to that region. Still, its unclear when this would happen how it would unfold. We could happen in multiple parts or in multiple different ways. So the us staying and very close touch with israel as they track all of this. Of course, the big concern here is if i ran directly a attacks israel, because that could threaten a much broader regional conflict. And that is something that the us has been trying to avoid. Of course, the white house has tried to navigate all of this quite delicately because they do not want there to be a wider regional conflict. So how exactly this unfolds is really going to be the key here in trying to contain this. But all the same as of tonight as of today, the us and israel still very much tracking this something that could happen as soon as next week in The Middle East. And Priscilla Biden Ministration is also warned iran against attacking any american assets. Do you know if theres any plan to reposition us forces at this time . Hi our understanding is that is not the case, but again, as i mentioned, this is something that the us is tracking very closely, but they did issue those stark warnings to our ran two again, not use this. It rayleigh airstrike on a consulate in damascus as a pretext to go after the us. In fact, theyve made it quite clear that iran should not come after the us. Now of course, whether i ran heats, those warnings unclear, but for now, its very much a waitandsee mode. And also preparing to getting a position for whatever could happen on the horizon. All right. All right. White house correspondent Priscilla Alvarez with that update for us. Thanks so much. And joining us now is the former israeli ambassador to the United States, michael oren, a great to have you on. Thanks so much. For being with us on this saturday evening. I want to ask you first, how concerned you are about these threats from iran and what you think it might mean for israels war on hamas as the us now prepares to protect its own assets, theyre in The Middle East dwell its always good to be with you. We assume that in striking at iran, iran both threatened to strike back in the past. That hasnt always strike back when the United States eliminated a Qassem Soleimani the heads of the basket, the highest ranking Military Figure in iran back in 2020 funny, iran threatened to retaliate and never retaliated and have them to this day. But we cant afford to be that certain cavalier about it and so a forces are on high alert leaves were trapped where four canceled for soldiers over the weekend. Typically, those involved in ground to air defense so were prepared, but that doesnt mean israel wont that wont continue to defend itself against iranian aggression iranian proxies like his bowl in the north have been Firing Dozens of rockets at israel. Our entire northern part of the country, Northern Galilee is rendered uninhabitable by hizballah missiles, which are made and sponsored paid for by iran. So israel has to defend itself against iran, not just against his butler. And were set to mark the six months of the israelhamas war tomorrow im curious what you think the chances are that any progress can be made in these talks that are going on in cairo this weekend, the cia director is there but to get these hostages home and also potentially come to terms on a ceasefire of sorts. Well, im not a spokesman for the Israeli Government. I want to be very clear about that. So this is my personal opinion. That personal thing is that the chances are very weak the United States washington, the europeans have been signaling to the hamas that all they have to do is hold on for another week or to create situations where israel is killing more palestinians because hamas is using those policies as human shields. And eventually the world will impose a ceasefire, permanent ceasefire. And thats what hamas wants house was a ceasefire. Theyll naval look to emerge from the tunnels and declare victory and prepare the onslaught against israel because thats precisely what its, what its leaders say theyre going to do this. Well do it 1 million times over until they destroy israel. Thats what hamas wants. And the signal theyve been getting from much of the west is just hold on for another week or two why then would hamas want to agree to a temporary ceasefire and give up what they regard as assets, those assets being the hostages themselves. I think good. Wouldnt be prepared to agree to a temporary ceasefire as long as six weeks and return for a number of hostages. Maybe 40, maybe the women hostages, maybe the ill and the elderly hostages. Its been suggested and perhaps even released security prisoners, prisoners from israeli prisons but i dont think hamas is there any commas understands that time is on its side at this point, and without an israeli invasion into the southern part of gaza, the rafah area that hamas will not be pressure in any way to give up all the hostages and israel, is reopening is Nic Robertson, my colleague was just explaining to us the Erez Crossing to allow more aid into gaza what do you make of that move . And what does it mean that its coming on the heels of president bidens call with benjamin netanyahu, in which biden said the administration s policy on the war could change unless israel increased aid flow and protections for civilians and aid workers. What are you . Think about that in its totality good question. Theres an i certainly welcoming since the beginning of this war, six months ago, ive been an advocate of expanding aid to the Palestinian Civilians in gaza for moral reasons, but also for strategic reasons. Hamas has an interest in having palestinians suffer the greater number of palestinians who die in this war who are, starved and displacements word that works in hamass favorite because hamas wants a ceasefire. And the ceasefire, hamas kalisa, itll get through International Pressure on israel. And the pressure mounts with every day of palestinian suffering so its an israels interests, not just morally but strategically to reduce that suffering. Now, its not, its not an easy position and israel, many Israelis Field and this is across the political spectrum, right, left, centre. Believe that by holding eight is the only way that israel has to assert pressure on hamas to at least let the red cross visit the hostages least know which hostages, let us know which houses are living in. We who are dead. Much less release the hostages. But i think thats kind of a faulty logic because that assumes that hamas actually cares about the palestinians it actually doesnt their wants to see more palisades and suffer and die. Therefore, its in israels interest to increase that aid. And i certainly welcome that. I think that president bidens recent conversation with the Prime Minister and apparently a very hard conversation gave President Minister Netanyahu a certain amount of leverage to go back to the farright members of his own coalition and say, hey, what can i do . The president is pressuring me sometimes that works like that and diplomacy, you understand, if thats the outcome, its a good outcome and i hope more if it continues and when it comes to that strike on World Central Kitchen aid workers in gaza earlier this week we had former cia director leon panetta on with cnns jen sciutto talking about the Idf Standards and tactics. I just want to play a clip of what leon panetta said and then i want to get your reaction sometimes if youre going to do it and you want to make sure that youre hitting the right to target you have to be able to verify to take time to make sure that the information that youre getting is accurate. With regards to targets and i have to tell you that in the past, at least in my experience, the israelis usually fire and then ask questions what do you, what do you make of those comments from leon panetta . There . I have to react to my my friend and former colleague beyond panetta have a high regard for him, but take issue with it it was a terrible, terrible tragedy. There were violations of israeli Standing Protocol and two Senior Officers now have been removed from their positions as a result of that. But these really news tonight has been reporting about the many instance that incurred in your herd in afghanistan during the tenure, among other secretary of defenses leon panetta, wary American Forces killed large numbers of aid workers and the reaction in the world has not been remotely the same. And this is not in any way to excuse the mistakes that happened with the murder of these the death of these seven workers, not in any way. It was a terrible, terrible tragedy, unforgivable unexplainable. But it happens in a war and israel is engaged in a densely populated, very, very complex Combat Environment where the distinction between terrorists and civilians cannot always be ascertained and the israeli army goes to a very long process, detailed process of approving every Bombing Raid Mistakes happen again, no explanations, no excuses. But the United States experienced very similar mistakes during his terms, during his time there. Its wars in iraq and afghanistan all right. Former israeli ambassador to the us, michael oren. Thanks so much. We really appreciate you coming on. We appreciate your time thank you still the. Com the countdown to the total Solar Eclipse is on how small towns in The Path Of Totality or preparing for their big moment plus the searches on furman, who is believed to have set part of senator Bernie Sanders office on fire we have details on that incident. Youre watching cnn newsroom check. We hear nothing the Space Shuttle accident, its usually not one thing. Its a series of events is that part of the wing coming apart Space Shuttle columbia, the final flight premieres tomorrow at nine on cnn. To me, harlem is all. But home, is also your body. Last one i asked myself, why does it pilates exist in harlem . So i started my own studio, get an a brickandmortar in new york is not easy chases. Inke supported us from studio one to studio three. When you start small, you need some big help and j. 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