Were coming to you from jerusalem the end of the seventh day of this deadly crisis. Its been two hours since we expected an official of hamas, the militant organization that controls gaza, to come before cameras in egypt and announce a period of calm. But that announcement has not happened. Instead, the office of the e jimgs president , Mohamed Morsi, told cnn the Egyptian Government has no plans to make an announcement tonight. Since wednesday of last week militants have fired hundreds of rockets into israel. Were about to bring you one familys harrowing story of dodging the rocket that hit their home today. Random attacks like this provoke ferocious air assaults on gaza by the israelis, which also continued today. [ gunfire ] about two hours ago a reuters camera in gaza city caught this explosion. Cnns ben wedeman reports a building near the city was likely hit by an israeli air strike in gaza. He was on live with hala gorani when the explosion happened. Take a look. I think its pretty clear that we are moving in the direction of [ gunfire ] i can hear shattering glass out there right now. The building just shook of course because i was looking at the camera i didnt see where the blast took place. Anybody see it . Okay. To the north of this building here. So despite talk of cease fire, hala, it appears that the guns are still firing. The Gaza Ministry of health says 114 palestinians have been killed and at least 900 injured since last wednesday. The Israeli Military announced that an israeli soldier was killed by a hamas rocket this afternoon bringing the Israeli Death toll to five with at least 70 people wounded. Our cnn crews are monitoring the situation on both sides of the israeli gaza border. In addition to their reporting, we expect to hear from the secretary of state Hillary Clinton who arrived in tel aviv about an hour or so ago to meet with the israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu right here in je reduce loam. Thats expected to begin shortly. Were expecting statements from Hillary Clinton and Benjamin Netanyahu. You will hear and see those statements live. Well see if they announce anything closely resembling some sort of cease fire. Despite the expectations that the diplomats are close to reaching some kind of cease fire agreement, today was anything but a period of calm for civilians in southern israel. We visited a neighborhood in beer sheva earlier today, visited members of a family who narrowly escaped death. The hamas rockets came toward beer sheva and hit the ground. People scrambling for cover even in residential neighborhoods. This house was hit by a rocket a few hours before we arrived. And from the outside it didnt look too bad. But inside its another story. A mother and father and four of their children were inside the home when it was hit, when the sirens went off they had less than a minute to run into their safe room. And they made it. They survived. We did the procedure the husband says. We went to the safe room, closed the door. We heard a big boom and straight after that an electric outage. He says the young girls were in a little hysteria. We were lucky we entered the safe room. His wife says their fear was at first for the family and to protect the children. Then later when they saw the incredible damage, they were stunned. We will go to a hotel for a few days until they find us an alternative home she says. Their 9yearold daughter said she was frightened when she heard the initial siren and then the large explosion. An israeli member of parliament who came to the house minced no words in what he thought israel had to do. They are ready to go further. Theres a major debate in israel on whether thats wise. A former commander and mayor of beer sheva says iz ray leer air power can get it done alone. While we were in the city 11 hamas rockets entered the city. Some interintercepted by the iron dome system. Others got through and caused casualties. We were allow today go inside the emergency medical command center. Sirens alert them and they brace for the onslaught of calls. Were inside an israeli ambulance. Weve just left the command Center Heading towards an area where rockets just landed and currently there are injured and maybe even worse. Well see whats going on. Sharon howard is the Liaison Officer helping to coordinate medical care. Many casualties, also medical units also join to take care. Turns out it was a woman overwhelmed by fear during the rocket attack. Very common these days. Back at the command center, the sirens kept going off. Both the israelis and hamas say the other size had not agreed to the terms yet for a cease fire or for calming the hostilities. Lets go to our Senior International correspondent, arwa damon. Whats going on . Thats right, wolf. Just a few moments ago in the span of a minute there around six or seven explosions we saw in the distance, balls of fire rising up. And then of course the sound rumbling across the city. They were pretty much across the entire horizon. There have been a fair amount of intense explosions here to say the least. One of the blasts happening just around the corner from our live location shaking the building, breaking glass. Gaza residents have been saying that normally they would see this kind of intense activity in the later hours at 1 00, 2 00 in the morning. But weve really been seeing it ever since darkness fell on this night. We had been seeing earlier in the day rockets being fired here towards from here towards israel. After we saw one of them being fired we shortly heard from our Jerusalem Bureau that the sirens had gone off there. So most certainly any talk of a cease fire at this point in time just seems like its really, really something that is entirely unachievable. Yeah. It seems like that here as well. But, arwa, you know theres been a lot of speculation that it may be imminent the u. S. Embassy by the way in tel aviv has just release add photo of the secretary of state Hillary Clinton here in israel getting ready to meet with the israeli Prime Minister. It will be intriguing to see what they have to say. But arwa, what about the leaflets being distributed in gaza . Tell us what youre seeing. Well, earlier in the day around midday we did see leaflets being dropped over the city. We managed to get our hands on one of them effectively very straightforward the Israeli Defense forces warning residents in certain areas, mostly in the northern part to stay away, to leave their homes. And in fact this goes so far as to name the routes that they should take to come to the center of the city. And theyre telling residents they needed to leave because that was the only option they would have to effectively stay safe. We went to a school where a lot of these people were gathering. And the schools were just overwhelmed. Arwa, im going to interrupt you right now. Were hearing Prime Minister netanyahu and the secretary of state speaking right now. Lets listen in. The worst enemies of israel are doing everything in their power to maximize the number of civilian casualties. Obviously no country can tolerate a wanton attack on its civilians. Now, if theres a possibility of achieving a longterm solution to this problem through diplomatic means, wed prefer that. But if not, im sure you understand that israel will have to take whatever action is necessary to defend its people. This is something that i dont have to explain to americans. I know that president obama, you and the American People understand that perfectly well. And i thank you once again for your support. Welcome to jerusalem. Thank you very much, Prime Minister. I look forward to productive discussion this evening at such a critical moment for israel and the region. President obama asked me to come to israel with a very clear message. Americas commitment to israels security is rock solid and unwavering. That is why we believe it is essential to deescalate the situation in gaza. The rocket attacks from terrorist organizations inside gaza on israeli cities and towns must end. And a broader calm restored. The goal must be a durable outcome that promotes regional stability and advances the security and legitimate aspirations of israelis and palestinians alike. President obama has emphasized the same points in his multiple conversations with president morsi of egypt. And we appreciate president morsis personal leadership and egypts efforts thus far. As a regional leader and neighbor, egypt has the opportunity and responsibility to continue playing a crucial and constructive role in this process. I will carry this message to cairo tomorrow. I will also be consulting with president abas in ramala. Let me also say to echo the Prime Minister, im very pleased that the iron dome Defense System is performing so well. Our partnership in support of this system represents americas enduring commitment to the safety and security of the israeli people and to israels right to defend itself. But no defense is perfect. And our hearts break for the loss of every civilian israeli and palestinian and for all those who have been wounded or who are living in fear and danger. I know today was a difficult day. And i offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who were lost and injured. In the end there is no substitute for security and for a just and lasting peace. And the Current Crisis certainly focuses us on the urgency of this broader goal. So in the days ahead the United States will work with our partners here in israel and across the region toward an outcome that bolsters security for the people of israel, improves conditions for the people of gaza and moves toward a comprehensive peace for all people of the region. And i thank you, Prime Minister, for your hospitality and look forward to our discussion. Thank you. All right. So there you see the secretary of state, the Prime Minister of israel making statements clearly no cease fire agreement was announced by either of them. Although there were some intriguing hints from both the Prime Minister and the secretary of state that maybe something is in the works. Hillary clinton saying that theres an effort now in her words to deescalate the situation and achieve some sort of broader calm restore a broader calm. This word calm all of a sudden over the past few hours were hearing increasingly rather than a phrase like cease fire agreement, were hearing in the shortterm maybe there can be a calm, the situation can be deescalated, if you will. And then they can move ahead. Israel can achieve in her words security and that the palestinians condition in gaza can be improved as they all work towards some sort of comprehensive agreement. But the bottom line if anyone was expecting a formal announcement by the Prime Minister or the secretary of state that a cease fire agreement has been achieved, they will be disappointed in learning that no such agreement was announced here in jerusalem over the past few minutes. The secretary of state now goes into this meeting with the Prime Minister of israel. Tomorrow morning shell be meeting with the president of the Palestinian Authority before flying to egypt to meet with the new president of egypt Mohamed Morsi whos been very intimately involved in trying to broker some sort of cease fire agreement. Hes got agreement with hamas and israel, the egyptians as all of our viewers know they do talk to hamas. Well see what emerges over the next 24 hours. Right now no agreement from jerusalem, and no agreement from cairo, hamas doesnt announce a cease fire agreement as well. Were going to talk about whats going on. Prime minister netanyahus speaker is standing by. [ male announcer ] in blind taste tests, even ragu users chose prego. Prego . but ive bought ragu for years. [ thinking ] wonder what other questionable choices ive made . I choose date number 2 whooo [ sigh of relief ] [ male announcer ] choose taste. Choose prego. Its not for colds, its not for pain, its just for sleep. Because sleep is a beautiful thing. 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[ male announcer ] dayquil doesnt treat that. Huh . [ male announcer ] alkaseltzer plus rushes relief to all your worst cold symptoms, plus it relieves your runny nose. [ sighs ] thank you [ male announcer ] youre welcome. Thats the cold truth earlier today a hamas leader pleaded with arab governments to keep pushing for some kind of cease fire. Listen to this. Translator we ask our arab brothers more stances and more more creativity to help the Palestinian People and to end the israel aggression and to stop the massacres that has been committed by the zionist occupation. Lets get some reaction to whats going on. The spokesman for the israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu. Thank you for coming in. My pleasure. No cease fire you suggested earlier in the day amidst reports it wasnt going to happen. Whats going on . I think bear mention to two words the Prime Minister used tonight in his public remarks. He said we want a longterm solution. Its clear hamas weve been hitting them hard, their military infrastructure, their command and control, their missiles, their launching sites, their communications, theyre taking blows from the Israeli Military. We are going to hit them as long as they keep attacking our civilians. I think anyone in our situation would try to stop them shooting those rockets. But the bottom line is i think hamas probably wants a timeout. When hamas thinks cease fire, theyre talking about a fulltime of quiet and rest and regroup and then attack the next week. Thats not a solution. Thats kicking the can down the road. So what do you want . We want as the Prime Minister said, a longterm solution. How do you ensure that . Its difficult when you have a prickly customer like hamas. But i think with the help of regional players like the United States and others, its possible to create arrangements which we think can we hope bring longterm peace and quiet to the israeli civilians in the south who ultimately just want to live normal lives. They want to be able to live without the fear of an incoming rocket. How do you work out those arrangements . Israel doesnt speak to hamas. The u. S. Doesnt speak to hamas. Youre basically relying on the Egyptian Government of Mohamed Morsi. And we hope that the egyptians can play a positive role in this. Lets be clear here. Israel has options. If the diplomatic process proves to be unsuccessful, we will act as my Prime Minister said earlier today. We can defend ourselves and we can use our military to silence those rockets, to prevent those rockets. We prefer a diplomatic solution. And the diplomatic ball is in play. The two leaders, my Prime Minister and secretary clinton are meeting now as we speak. Shes going obviously to egypt tomorrow to continue talks there. I hope that this diplomatic path brings fruit that we do get the peace and quiet that we want. Well see. Either way, well give a certain amount of time for this diplomacy. We hope it can work. We prefer the diplomacy succeed. But israel will not sit be idly. Youre not ruling out a Ground Invasion by Israeli Forces, tanks, armored tender nel carriers, thousands of troops into gaza . Is that what im hear sng. Without going to the details of a possible military operation, i want to say the following, we prefer a diplomatic solution if its possible to create a longterm period of quiet for israeli civilians in the south. We would prefer that. Thats our first option. But if that appears not to be a real option, of course we will use other means to bring peace and quiet to protect our people. Ultimately, wolf, the obligation of every government is to protect its citizens. And we have an obligation to protect our citizens in the south whove been on the receiving end of these rockets for much too long. Are you seeking assurances as part of an agreement from the United States . Look, if it was just between israel and the United States, we wouldnt have a problem. If it was just, you know, for the americans and israelis to find a solution, we wouldnt be here now. The problem is hamas, which is a very brutal and extreme organization committed to a very radical agenda. And people watching have to remember hamas isnt just israels enemy. Hamas is the enemy of ev