Good evening everyone, im erin burnett. Outfront tonight, breaking news in the war between israel and gaza, this is the scene over the skies of gaza city. This is moments ago. This is the shot from the camera where carl was standing. Moved out of shot so you can see what was happening in gaza. Benjamin netanyahu is preparing for the long haul. Telling hicitizens to quote, be ready for the long haul today. We have reports tonight, from both sides of the conflict tonight. We will go to jerusalem in a moment. But i want to bring with carl penhall in gaza city. Carl, i know you made the decision to stand next to your camera. This is what you are seeing explode over the skies in gaza right now. Absolutely, erin. I think both you and our viewers will be much better off looking at the action going off over gaza city tonight. And across much of the gaza strip. The picture you are looking at there is illumination flares that have been fired by the Israeli Military drifting slowly down on to gaza city. This is something that is now been going on for the last hour an a half. Big artillery guns across gazas eastern boreder with israel, firing these illumination rounds and trying to light up some kind of target. Also perhaps just shedding light on the area so that surveillance apparatus, such as israeli drones can take a look at la is going down on the ground. Tonight there is no moon whatsoever. And that is why these illumination round are needed if those drones have a good look of what is going on down in this part of gaza. The worrying thing, of course, is that these rounds, these illumination flares are dropping down on very densely populated areas, if the drones do see anything, start to call in artillery strikes in this area. There are going to be absolutely huge problems. Weve also im going to let you listen to the sounds here. Want to let you know we are still okay from our vantage point. That was, as you heard, a very loud explosion. The smaller pops, those are the illumination flares exploding. That very large explosion that sent even the building where we are rocking. That was from some kind of artillery as it has been sent in. Drones overhead quite clearly. Spotting some target beneath and sending in missiles or bombs perhaps. You are seeing more i lum nation round dropping down around gaza city. In the last few moments as well, overhead. We have heard and seen f16s, fighter bombers, heading down toward the south of gaza. It is a dark night. But you can spot those f16 fighter bombers because as they go, they pump out again flares, decoy flares, to stop any militant surface it air missiles locking on to them. We have seen those f16s heading down to the south of gaza and seen twin airstrikes going in there, sending up huge fire balls p. Let me be quiet for just one moment and ill let you look at the scene. Carl, you talk about the explosion that we see live, you talk about how it rocked the building. Can you tell at all where that explosion landed . From my vantage point, we cant tell where the explosion was. It was west of the position. That would put the explosion in gaza city towards the coastal area, towards the beach area. But again from our vantage point, we cant see where that explosion occurred. But what it does seem quite clear, is that with this amount of illumination flairs going up over gaza, it is quite clear that the Israeli Military is looking for something. They are trying to shine with these flares, a bright light on to gaza city to spot the targets below using their drones. And we can hear intent drone activity overhead. It is difficult to say how many drones, but certainly, a lot of movement overhead with these drones and we have seen the f16s fighters in action. Carl, please stay with us. You are looking at a live picture from the camera. Carl is standing right next to it. Reporting on the phone and what you are seeing here over a very densely populated part of gaza city with flares and explosion we just heard. A very loud explosion from israeli artillery. Also with us and sarah, has been reporting on the israeli side of this. Sarah, when we look at these pictures and you hear carl talk about the flares, lights illuminating such a densely populated area, it gez right to the heart of the entire issue. Which is whether killing civilians is justified and the only way in this crisis. What is the israeli side of the story, of what were looking at here, a moonless night with the flares and explosions . I think what you have been hearing from israel is number one they try and make sure that civilians on the ground make sure they know there is a becoming campaign. Those flares, often part of that where they illuminate the sky. They told several neighborhoods to leave their neighborhoods today and go into certain parts of gaza city in order to be safer. We know sometimes they drop pamphlets down. The israelis line has always been that they believe that hamas uses people as human shields, and they said that time and again. And as you know, inside of gaza, ten densely populated by any measure, palestinians say we have very few places we can good to get out of the way of these bombardments and military strikes. Now, we do know that we have heard of one of the deadliest strikes today, that hit the al shippa hospital and israel saying they have radar proof that shows there were four rockets sent by hamas or other groups inside of gaza, that ended up, landing, two of them on the hospital clinic and the other inside the refugee camp and they say that is what ended up creating ten deaths and killing of these ten eight children. So israel blaming hamas. So theres is a lot of back and forth, erin. I think right new what youre seeing is this fight thats going to be protracted. We heard that from netanyahu today. Ceasefire doesnt look like it is happening any time soon. And carl, where you are standing right next to the picture, where we are looking at live from the flares, you felt where you were standing carl and you know any more about that explosion now . Yeah, we are just getting word from cnn colleagues here in gaza city that that explosion appears to have taken place right on the mosque. That is a hamasrun mosque. Interestingly enough, as well, it is opposite the gaza house that belongs to the president of the palestinian authority. But it seems that the airstrike was targeting the mosque near his house. That is the largest explosion weve heard in gaza city for several hours. Also, worrying quite clearly saying the Israeli Military has in the past dropped pamphlets on certain areas of gas why or sent Text Messages telling people to clear out of their homes. But the worrying thing tonight is that the Israeli Military sent Text Messages to residents of northern gaza telling them to flee to gaza city. But right now, these illumination rounds wrs explosives going off in gaza city, right in the area where the Israeli Military hold in the north of the strip. From north to gaza city, putting themselves once began in the line of fire. That does illustrate that palestinians here have no place to flee. They have no place to run and tonight it looks like they will have no place it hide, erin. Carl, please stay with us. I want to bring in now again as we keep this live picture up of what is going on. You and you all just saw the explosion of the al amine mosque. Former National Security adviser to president bush and president of the american arab ibs tut. Tut institute. Steven, this goes right at the issue here, which is the issue of civilian casualties and whether they are avoidable and what situation are they ever receivable. The united states, president after he spoke to benjamin netanyahu. Is israel at risk of losing the heart and minds of its allies . And i should say, of this most important jl eye . Ally . Certainly it is. These kinds of casualties, israel im sure is going out of its way to minimize them. You can minimize them. You cannot eliminate them. And part of hamass strategy is to feature these civilian deaths and suffering of the Palestinian People on International Media as a way it put pressure on the israelis to accept a ceasefire. It is regrettably part of the tactic. It is part of the tactic. And yet you hear carl penhall reporting. And leaflets are coming down telli telling people to flee. His point, that they dont have anywhere to go. Look. Gaza is one of the most crowded places on earth. And with gaza city in particular. The density and poverty and despare are just overwhelming. I think as im watching these pictures of the little kids who are living in gas why and what they see and how they feel, their theirs mothers feel as they are watching this all happen, with nowhere to go. I think it is rather shameful to say that theyre being used as human shields. This is their home. This is where they live. And they have nowhere to go other than to be at home. There are tweets from people in gaza saying, you know, im not a human shield. Im just at home. And my home was bombed. Ive been there too many times. Seen those people in the camps. Poverty in gaza. To not feel tremendous compassion for what they are undergoing. And let me just say that ive heard this argument, that netanyahu says the palestinians use their suffering. I dont know of anyone who uses suffering the way netanyahu does. They have been exploiting this issue now, every single casualty played out in such dramatic ways. Here we have over a thousand people dead and frankly hamas is blamed for it. I held no sympathy for hamas. Tactics are delowerable and ideology is despicable. But this is something that israel has done. They have provoked this situation. And right now they want to shift the blame to somebody else because they cannot accept responsibility for the dedisaster of the humanitarian disaster theyve caused. Steven, i imagine they have very serious questions about james analysis. Well, in terms of the sympathy for the suffering of the Palestinian People, we all have to feel for that. What is going on is, you know, the israelis are once again trying to damage hamas and to try to buy some quiet from these recurring missile attacks. They tried this in 2000 8. They tried it in 2012. They say the threat returned. What netanyahus thinking is, is there something they can do this time that will hurt hamas to the point where hamas would agree to some kind of arrangement whereby in fact they would demill tarize and get the muscles out steven, i want to break in briefly. Go back it carl. There is an f16 flying right where you are, carl . Absolutely, erin. There is intense drone activity overhead right now. We also just heard another f16 flying overhead. It seems to have been flying lower than normal. We have seen those f16s going by, pumping out decoys. The decoys flairs they pumped are trying to avoid that thing. It is indication they are getting ready to target something, erin. We will keep listening to that. In carls shot. Making sure steven and james know that as well as viewers. So far we have seen one explosion, where a mosque was the target of the explosion by the Israeli Defense forcing. Steven, what about the point, though. I guess, the question to you, james, michael, former ambassador from israel to the united states, wrote in his words, in the washington post, israel must be allowed to crush hamas. And he said, that means civilians will die. But there will be fewer who die if israel is allowed to crush hamas now. And there is a pause that allows hamas to once again use money for its allies, to buy more weapons and rockets and attack again. Is that for me . Or steven . Yes, for you, sorry. Here is the issue. I lived through the invasion of beirut in 1982. And ten years later they were sitting down and talking to them. And weve seen this not just in 2008 and 2012 but israel went into gaza in 2006, in 08, in 10, in 12. Every two years they do it. They call it mowing the lawn. But the lawn keeps coming back. The at end of the day, as steven knowes, as the president tried in a second term, a piece agreement that provides justice for palestinians, and security for the israelis and u. S. Has it play a much more vigorous role than that at end of the day. But we havent. We havent accomplished it. But tried to destroy or there is no violent solution. There is no violence to end the occupation. No violence to squash the resistance. There has to be a settlement. Steven, is it something in your view that the world must accept. That there will be thousands of civilian deaths . No, the world doesnt have to accept it. The question though is how does this end in gas why and can it end in a way that reduces the risk that it will occur again. This is the third round weve had of this. I think the question is, can we get to a position where hamas agrees to demilitarize. We had that agreement before and it was never enforced. Can hamas get to the point where it will accept demill that raization and return to gaza to insure that the agreement is complied with and to begin to open up gaza to the flow of goods and materials that they need to rebuild gaza and can that provide a more sustainable basis and ultimately maybe even a path towards a broader negotiations settlement the way james talked about. All right. We will hit pause here. Brief moment of quiet as can you see in the live picture from carls camera shot. There was another loud explosion and carl will figure out exactly where that struck. Just before that, it did strike a mosque a moment ago as you were watching live. Breaking news of explosions in gaza. Our coverage of this continues with live pictures here from our cameras live in gaza city. And talking about breaking news on what is on the black boxes. And what happened that instant. Malaysia airlines saying now it could change its name. Well be back. Ement good bacteria found in two parts of your digestive tract. Im doubly impressed phillips digestive health. A daily probiotic. You got a Little Something on the back of your shoe there. A price tag danger price tag alert oh. Hey, guys. Price tag alert is this normal . Well, progressive is a price tag free zone. We let you tell us what you want to pay, and we help you find options to fit your budget. Where are they taking him . I dont know. This seems excessive decontamination in progress. I dont want to tell you guys your job, but. Policies without the price tags. Now, thats progressive. train horn vo wherever our trains go, the economy comes to life. Norfolk southern. One line, infinite possibilities. Fierce, through the nerain and lightning wandering out into this great unknown and when its done, believe that i will yell it from that Mountain High i was born free its the chevy summer drive. See your local chevy dealer. Abe get in punch it let quicken loans help you save your money. With a mortgage thats engineered to amaze thanks, g. Breaking news. A barrage of explosions over gaza tonight. You have been watching it live on this program. These are live pictures of what is happening in gaza city. This is a live picture from carls camera. A picture, fighting is raging between hamas and israel. A mosque has been hit. You are seeing flares illuminate and we have heard two significant explosions. Carl is standing next to the picture on this phone to talk us to. Your building has been rocked by the first explosion of the hamas mosque. There was another explosion, i believe, right . [ inaudible ] all right. Carl was saying that his phone dropped. He is dialling back in. As soon as he dials back in, i will bring him in. Former National Security adviser to president bush is with me and the president of the american arab institute. You cant call the use of civilians human shields in gaza city because it is so densely populated and people have nowhere to go. Do you agree . It is very difficult. You know, the israelis were calling james the authority and i but the press reports were that the israelis were calling for civilians to vacate certain areas and hamas was saying to them, no, stay in your houses. You know, this is, you know, this is an unseemly thing to do because it maximizes rather than minimizes civilian casualties. You understand from hamass standpoint why they do it. But you know, the victims here are the people of gaza city and thats why, the issue is, how does it end and can it end in a way that avoid the repetition of the cycle which we have now seen, now for the third time. James, is this, though, the reality is, that hamas is willing to kill its own people. To allow its own people to be killed because they benefit when those images are slohown around the world. Thats the horrific proof, they benefit. I think thats an unfair way to characterize it. Im no supporter of hamas. But israel held on to the fact that three young teenagers were dead. They knew it, held on to it for a couple of weeks. Exploited the hell out of it. And went around the west bank arresting hundreds of palestinians. Sides do that in war. But the issue is that people are dying because israel is killing them. And killing them in ways that do not give them any hope or any option, any horizon. Heres the point. In the best of times, right after oslo, the border was closed. Palestinians lost the single largest source of income, which were daylabor jobs. 80 of youth in gaza were unemployed for almost 20 years. These young men fighting and dying have never add job or prospect after job. You want to end hamas, you want to end violence and extremism, create hope. Give palestinians a sense that there is a Better Future for them. That borders will be open and that commerce can take place and that in fact they can have jobs and produce families and live a descent life. Hamas preys on the despare and thats where extremism comes from. If you want to end that, create hope. Carl, sorry we lost you for a moment there. Tell us about the explosion wre just heard. I also want to pick up on a comment your guest made thereabout hamas telling people to stay in their homes. We heard a loud speaker message telling p em to go inside for your own protection. That was a message to tell people to take cover. Take cover. Why . Because there had been no warning in this part of gaza city that the Israeli Military would be targeting this part of the gaza strip tonight. And at the moment, that we heard that loud speaker message telling people to go into their homes for their own protection, that was because the illuminating flares were coming done and the flares come with a very heavy canister and if that canister falls to earth, it complainings very heavily on the pavement. That could easily go through the roof of somebodys house. It could kill somebody if it falls on them. Also incidentally, about 300 yard from where we are now, theres a u. N. School, one of the shelters for these displaced gaza people, and we saw a couple of the illuminating rounds falling into that school as well. Luckily th