Since leaving office last week. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. Im wolf blitzer in jerusalem. Youre in the situation room. Were following this hours breaking news. New civilian casualties in gaza including a family of nine killed in what palestinian Officials Say was an israeli strike on their house inside a refugee camp. That came on the heels of this strike on a marketplace. At least 17 people died in this incident. According to palestinian officials, the death toll is now at least 1,432 people. The majority the palestinian Officials Say civilians. Despite growing criticism from the u. S. And the United Nations, israel is vowing to continue its mission to wipe out hamas tunnels with or without a ceasefire. Were covering all angles of the breaking news this hour with our guests, our correspondents here in the middle east and around the world. Lets begin in gaza. Cnns john vauss is there for us. Whats the latest . What are you seeing . Reporter well, wolf, just a short time ago there was a sound of what seemed to be heavy caliber automatic be weapons fire coming from that direction over there. Around this time last night, we were told by hamas that there was in fact close fighting between hamas militants their fighters and israeli troops on the ground here in gaza. For most of the day here though the israeli air strikes did seem to wind down. Gds has always been chaotic. But not like this. With the electricity out, traffic lights dont work. Water pumps and Sewage Systems are offline. A few who can be afford it have generators and that includes the hospital here, crucial lifesaving equipment now powered bid two megagenerators running 24 7. Its been like this since gazas only power plant was hit on tuesday. And fuel storage thanks exploded into flames. Palestinians say all of this was caused by israel. By attacking the power plant and cutting electricity, theyre killing can the civilian life never gaza, a spokesman from the Electric Company told me. But israels military tells me the power play plant wasnt a target. The palestinians who work here say there has been incoming fire onto the power plant for three days before these fuel storage thanks were hit. In fact, they say on sunday, the Administration Building just over there took a direct hit. Israels military says theyll look into those claims, as well, but the u. N. Says if it was dribrately hit, that would be a violation of humanitarian law. But right now, for more than a million palestinians like this man, no electricity means long danz nights inside with nothing to do. No tv, no radio, no lights. Too scared to go out because of air strikes. Stuck in a small tworoom apartment with another family, 17 in all who fled from the north after their homes were hit by artillery. All the children feel so scared when they cut the electricity, she says. They Just Keep Holding their mothers. Before the fighting began is, gaza actually got most of its electricity from israel but transmission lines on both sides of the boarder were damaged either by hamas rockets or israeli missiles. Both sides blame the other. Is the palestinians say repair work could take up to a week but say theres still no agreement with the israeli Electric Company on when that working begin. But just last month, an israeli politician called to cut the electricity to gaza for good. An idea not without support in israel. Especially since the palestinians havent paid the electric bill for years. Owing israel tens of millions of dollars. And wolf, we did hear from an Israeli Defense forces spokeswoman who said that they have reviewed all of the information from naval, ground and air forces who are in the region of the power station at the time that it was believe the to be hit. They say every indication at this point is that the Israeli Military was not involved. The palestinians though do disagree. We had a few technical problems earlier. I was telling that you theres been the sound of heavy machine gunfire coming from that direction, as well. It was around this time last night when we heard a similar sound of heavy machine gunfire so it could indicate that what they said to us, that there was fighting between hamas militants and Israeli Soldiers fairly close fighting on the ground here in gaza. Wolf in. John, be careful over there. Let us know whats going on. If you see the flares coming up, let us know immediately. Well check out the situation. Meanwhile, the u. N. Human rights high commissioner is now suggesting israel is deliberately denying International Law with attacks on homes, schools and hospitals and u. N. Facilities in gaza saying they do not appear in her words to be accidental. Cnn pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has more on the growing criticism israel is facing. What are you hearing over there, barbara, at the pentagon . Wolf, across the administration today, there is growing horror and criticism of the civilian casualties in gaza that the u. S. Believes israel is responsible for. Another gaza building destroyed. The people struggling amid the wreckage and carnage. Israeli military videos showing what it says are hamas rockets firing from civilian areas. A u. N. School hit, a marketplace became an instant killing ground. The reality of gaza today is that no place is safe. Israel using american ammunition in some these strikes even as the u. S. Calls for Israeli Forces to do more to protect civilians. The shelling of a u. N. Facility that is housing innocent civilians who are fleeing violence is totally unacceptable and totally indefensible. And it is clear that we need our allies in israel to do more to live up to the high standards that they have set for themselves. The pentagon is resupplying is israel with tank mortar grenade and other ammunition stocks. Israel even by more illumination rounds like this to light up the gaza sky at night. Were worried about civilian casualties. The blame israel says lies with hamas using civilians as hume shields. Carl ben paul sees the weapons the israelis are using they have howitzer field guns, they have thanks, using mortars. Those are not precision weapons. Those are what are called area weapons aimed at inflicting mass casualties on an enemy force, but when you look at gaza, of course, the problem there is that this is not only a debsly populated but also a heavily built up area with very few open spaces. Retired u. S. Army Lieutenant General mark hert ling says selling ammunition is part of u. S. Policy for supporting israel and believes it is doinging what it can. But the weapons use were the never planned for urban areas. For artillery and mortars, you can fire several miles away but again, you dont have the resolution of knowing exactly what youre going to hit. This school illustrates the awful reality. The israelis say they were fired on. They fired back. And there may have been stray israeli fire. We are operating under the understanding that there are civilians in the area. We are doing that with the knowledge of the commanders. An israeli officials tell us they actually have pulled back from dozens of planned attacks when they learn that there are civilians in the area but wolf, still, the u. S. Position as of today is that israel can and should do more to protect civilians in gaza. Wolf . It certainly is. That emerged through several statements coming out of washington today. Barbara starr at the pentagon, thanks very much. Lets get some reaction from israel. Joining us once again is mark regev, the spokesman for the israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. Thanks very much. Yesterday when we spoke, you said you were investigating that attack on that u. N. Shelter that killed all those civilians. The white house wasnt sure who was responsible. That changed today. Listen to the White House Press secretary josh earnest. The israelis have said it is possible that there was stray israeli fire. So while we underscore account importance of a full and prompt investigation of this tragic incident, as well as the shelling of other u. N. Facilities and schools that have been hit had, it does not appear theres a lot of doubt about whose artillery was involved in this incident. Are you blaming israel . Youre saying. When we said last night already we didnt rule out the possibility that it was errant israeli fire but we said responsibility lies with those who are turning u. N. Institutions into a combat zone. And our forces were taking hostile mortar fire and when youre in the dust and when youre in the dirt and youre in a combat zone and time is precious, if someones shooting at you, you shoot back. Im not justifying if there was an accident. If we inadvertently did in fact cause those deaths, we will of course, do an investigation. Thats an operational failure. We regret every civilian casualty. But lets be clear here. If hamas is turning a u. N. School where refugees are seeking shelter, if theyre turning that into a combat zone, it just shows what hamas is. They dont give a hoot about human lives. Are you acknowledging now that the weapon that killed those people in that u. N. Shelter was in fact, an israeli weapon . Im not because we dont know that for a fact. We said honestly, yesterday after our initial investigation we know there was combat in that area, combat forced upon us by the Hamas Terrorists who were shooting mortar shells at our forces. We know there was an exchange of fire. We dont rule out the possibility that it could have been an errant israeli shell but dont know that for a fact. I want to say israel does not target civilians, does not target target solutions. If this was misfire, it was an honest accident. No one deliberately targeted civilians. Let me be clear. The u. N. High commissioner for civil rights navi pilae said she doesnt believe you necessary. She said none of the israeli strikes on homes, schools or u. N. Shelters in her words appears to be accidental. I want to be clear here. Anyone who understands International Humanitarian law and the laws of war knows the most important principle is the separation of knob combatants from combatants. Thats the first and primary law of war. And what does hamas do . Hamas deliberately blurs the difference between combatants and noncombatants. They shoot at israeli civilians and you know today we passed 2,800 rocks fired at israeli cities from gaza by Hamas Terrorists. Theyre indiscriminately shooting at our civilians. At the same time, theyre embedding their terrorist military machine in schools, in mocks, in urban areas in, football stadiums. Uing Gaza Civilians as a human shield. Also, wolf, hamas is actually guilty of a double war crime. What israel doing . Were being targeted. Theyre shooting rocket after rocket at our people day after day, are close to 3,000 rockets on israeli cities in a period of three weeks. What are we supposed to do . I mean, if its illegal for us to shoot back, you are denying my country its right to selfdefense. Did you, israel, destroy that power plant in gaza with an air strike or artillery fire because all those people, hundreds of thousands of people are without without power in gaza right now . We did not targeting that power station and we did a thorough investigation of all the forces, air forces, ground forces, naval forces so if in fact it could have been a mistake someone could have hit the power station. We believe its not clear who hit the station. A lot of rockets fired by hamas at us malfunction, they fall short. They fall in the grassy strip. We saw two examples of that earlier this week when a hamas rocket landed on a school. All the hamas spokespeople say israel, israel. We could prove through photographs it was clearly a hamas rocket. That could have happened here, as well. A lot of officials u. N. Officials and others are saying if you did take out this power plant this time, it wouldnt have been the first time israel did it. In 2006 after the israeli soldier was captured, the forces acknowledged they blep up the power plant for what they said hamas did in capturing that israeli soldier. This time i can assure you it was not a target. We have no evidence that anyone shot at it. When we make a mistake, if there is irand the fire, we admit it. The story on the beach two weeks ago, there it was a mistaken identification and we hit four boys and anpresident perez who you interviewed this morning publicly apologized because we dont see the people of gaza as an enemy and make a maximum effort to minimize what the experts call collateral damage. What is our challenge . Youre dealing with a ruthless terrorist organization that has the opposite goal. Not only are they trying to kill israeli civilians with those rockets, they are interested in Palestinian Civilians dying, putting them in danger so as to shield their own terrorist machine. One final question. How close are you and hamas to a ceasefire that the u. S. , the u. N. , others are trying to put together . You know, this conflict could have ended two weeks ago when we accepted the egyptian ceasefire proposals. It was hamas that rejected those proposals. How close are we to a ceasefire . Id say ask hamas. Even today, we had more than 100 rockets firing on israeli cities by hamas in gaza. Weve done ceasefires in the past. Israel has had fire for hours and always hamas continues shooting. A ceasefire means hamas must too stop shooting mark regev, thanks very much for coming in. Thanks for having me. Were going to hear from a top palestinian official in ramallah in a few moments for his understanding whats going on. My exclusive interview with shimon peres speaking candidly about the fighting in gaza. Where he disagrees with the Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu. Were live here in jerusalem and this is the situation room special report. You make a great team. Its been that way since the day you met. But your erectile dysfunction it could be a question of blood flow. Cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be Ready Anytime the moments right. You can be more confident in your ability to be ready. 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Keep them safe. The eightpassenger chevrolet traverse, with the highest possible Overall Vehicle score for safety. Chevrolet. Find new roads. Remind me to tell her happy anniversary. [ cortana ] next time you talk to caroline, ill remind you. [ siri ] oh no, i cannot do that. Oh, and remind me to get roses when im near any flower shop. Sure thing. Remind you when you get to flower shop. I cant do that either. Cortana, its gonna be a great night. [ beep ] oh wow thanks for the traffic alert. I better get going. Now that is a smart phone. Oh, wait its cause you make me smile were live in jerusalem following the breaking news the United Nations human rights commissioner all but accusing israel of deliberate lit defying International Law with strikes killing gaza simpbz that in her words do not appear to be accidental and accusing hamas of violating International Law with its random firing of rockets into pop located areas of israel. Joining us now is hugh sam zum lot, a member of the palestinian United Nations delegation. Usam umlatt thanks very much for joining pass. Is hamas violating is International Law by firing more than 2500 rockets and missiles randomly into Populated Areas of israel . Well, the whole situation is really in a striking violation of basic human rights and International Law indeed. I believe that so far, the striking images from gaza is what calls for our intermediatate attention. And perhaps really during a time when you are seeing 1,420 palestinians being murdered more than 8,000 injured, and 240,000 displaced, by the way, wolf, be in a proportion terms, if we compared this today, you asked, this would mean that you have quarter of a million god for bid americans being killed with this operation, almost 1. 5 million being injured and more than 44 million americans again god for bid being displaced. Start with hamas and ask about hamas is really missing the point as we leave it today. But the israelis say the only reason theyre doing what theyre doing in gaza is because their populated centers are being attacked by hamas with rockets and missiles and also point to the tunnels, as well. Do they have a point, the israeli israelis . I dont think so, wolf. They dont have a point. What the israelis have been doing over the years even before hamas has existed has continued. The israelis claim its about the tunnels and they claim its about the rockets and here on the west bank, we have no tunnels and no rockets. Yet, the israelis still are killing palestinians on a daily basis. There are, as you know, colonizing the land. And in the west bank. Let me talk a little bit about these tunnels. Of course, the tunnels are not just the creation of this war. The tunnels have been there in gaza for the last seven years and the root causes of the tunnels is israels imposed siege on the people of gaza. This is an act of dignity by the people of gaza to try and underneath so they provide basic goods