The boys were all between nine and 11 and from the same extended family. There were killed as they ran away from an initial blast suggesting they may have been targeted intentionally. Calling theon, debts does tragic. President obama also limited the mass killings of palestinians but defended israels attacks by saying they are in selfdefense. The palestinianamerican teenager whos beating by Israeli Forces was caught on video this month has returned to the United States. He wasbu khdeir says watching demonstrations and East Jerusalem when he was seized. The video shows him lying on the ground as the officers repeatedly beat him with batons. He was left with facial bruises and severely swollen eyes and lips. He was a cousin of mohammed abu khdeir, the Palestinian Teen kidnapped and burned alive in an apparent revenge attack for the killings of the three israeli teenagers. Moments after landing him in florida wednesday night, tariq urged supporters to remember his cousin and the dozens of palestinian children killed in the ongoing israeli assault on gaza. Theres one main thing i want to say. Story becausemy im an american. But i hope you will also remember my cousin, 16yearold palestinian named mohammed abu khdeir. I want you all remember my cousin and a 36 kids that died in gaza. In the past several days. They have names like mine. I hope the violence. For their sake. No child, whether they are palestinian or israeli, deserves sodie that way will stop im glad to be back home again. Rocks we will go to gaza after the headlines. The Obama Administration has expanded u. S. Sanctions on russia and the latest round of the standoff over ukraine. Speaking at the white house, president obama said russia has failed a drop military support for prorussian separatists. Given its provocations and ukraine, today i have approved a new set of sanctions on some of russias Largest Companies and financial institutions. Whom with our allies with ive been coordinating closely the last several days and weeks, ive repeatedly made it clear that russia must halt the flow of weapons and fighters across the border into ukraine. Russia must urge separatists to support a ceasefire that russia needs to pursue internationally mediated talks, and agreed to meaningful monitors on the border. The new sanctions are the most expensive on russia to date with targets included extensive on russia to date. Ukraine has seen continued violence in recent weeks with u. S. Backed kiev government watching major attacks on southeasternng areas. President obama suggested he will approve an extension of Nuclear Talks before sundays deadline for an agreement after briefing from secretary of state john kerry, obama noted significant progress but said key gaps remain. Talks over the last six months, iran has met its commitments under the interim deal we reached last year, holding progress of its nuclear program, allowing more inspections, and rolling back its most dangerous stockpile of nuclear material. But as we approach the deadline of july 20 under the interim deal, there is still some significant gaps between International Community and iran and we have more work to do. So over the next few days, we will continue consulting with congress and our team will continue discussions with iran and our partners as we determine whether additional time is necessary to extend our negotiations. A federal judge has struck down the Death Penalty in california on the grounds sentences are carried out in an arbor terry arbitrary and random manner. He wrote carney said the delays and unpredictable outcomes amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Hundreds of prisoners are in californias death row for the nooks effusions of been carried out since 2006 when a federal judge ruled against lethal injection. A Swedish Court has upheld the arrest warrant that is cap the culex founder Julian Assange confined in ecuadors London Embassy for over two years. Is wanted in sweden for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct, though the charges have been filed. His attorneys a petition for the warrant to be with ron, arguing it cannot be enforced while assange is in the embassy and swedish prosecutors refuse to question him there. But the motion was dismissed on wednesday without explanation. Defense attorney Thomas Olsson vowed to appeal. We will appeal against this decision. We dont agree with the District Court in the judgment of the. Eed to overrule this decision we cant accept the situation is withstanding. How surprised are you today the judge did not want to go along with your argument . I think legally, we have a very strong argument. But this case it was probably a very difficult decision for the court to take. We had to wait several hours for it. We are hopeful for the appeal. Wednesdays hearing marked the first formal legal debate over Julian Assange his status since he took refuge in june 2012 and ecuadoran embassy. To see our interviews with Julian Assange from inside the mse on Independence Day weekend, go to democracynow. Org. Those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. Welcome to all our listeners and viewers from around the country and around the world. Fivehour humanitarian truce has just ended in gaza. The break was requested by the United Nations to allow residents of the gaza strip to gather supplies and repair damage following 10 days of attacks by israel. The death toll in gaza has reached at least 227, mostly civilians. One is really has died since the attack began. There is a report today of a new ceasefire agreement between but detailsaza, remain unclear. On wednesday, in israeli gunboat shelled the beach killing four boys who were playing there. The boys were all between the ages of nine and 11 and from the same extended family. Seven other adults and children were wounded in the strike. The scene was witnessed by a number of international journalists, including france 24 correspondent. We witnessed the incident, the first wreck occurred and we went out onto our balcony. This happened right in front of the hotels on the gaza beachfront where most of the International Media are staying. There were many witnesses of this incident. There was a very loud strike that hit a structure that is run on the gaza port. Many people looking out onto there. After the first wreck happened, we saw for very Young Children running way from the point of impact on completely empty beach. Clearly visible from a distance. That is why excuse me, that is when there was a second strike that hit the other children, saluting four children so leavingt beach four children dead on the beach, very shocking incident. These children were clearly simply playing around and were very am a very clearly visible from a distance. The Health Ministry condemned the attack on the four children. The Zionist Occupation created a new crime and the children who were playing their the gaza port which led to the death of four children died on the spot. , clinically dead. Medical teams are still in the area looking to evacuate the dead and wounded from the site that was completely destroyed. A large number of injuries arrived at the chief medical center. President obama said he was heartbroken by the deaths of siblings in gaza but maintain israel has a right to defend itself. Israel has a right to defend itself from rocket attacks that terrorized the israeli people. Theres no country on earth that can be expected to live under a daily barrage of rockets. Over the next 24 hours, we will stay in close contact with our friends and parties in the region and use all of our diplomatic resources and relationships to support efforts of closing the deal on a ceasefire. We go to gaza city where we are joined by democracy now correspondent sharif abdel kouddous. Can you tell us what happened yesterday . Tell us what happened on the beach. Well, as you heard, these four young boys aged between nine and 11 were playing on a pier jutting out into the sea, right in front of the hotel which houses many Foreign Correspondents. Eight kids actually playing. Apparently, enable gunboat fired on them. One of them was killed and the rest of the children began to run. Theres a lot of rubble and twisted metal. About 20 or 30 yards away from that while the children were running, which indicate an adjustment was made to get a direct hit on these children, they were hit i spoke to a witness, a fisherman who was right there who said the kids were blown apart. One landed about 20 meters from the other two. They were all killed. Mohammed was 11 years old. One was 9, 1 was 11, and another was nine. All from the same family. They were cousins. There are four others who were injured. Two are in the hospital. I spoke to one of them and he said they were just playing on the beach. You said they go to the beach everyday. They come from a family of fishermen. He said he was right next to his cousin mohammed when the strike hit and he somehow managed to survive. Another one is suffering deep psychological trauma. Deep shock from what happened. Today met with the mother of the 11yearold who was killed, mohammed, and she said he was a child that love the sea. He has seven sisters. His father ruined his back about 10 years ago fishing. They were waiting for him to grow and become the family breadwinner. Theres just deep in the deep tragedy and sorrow in the house. This is just some of the stories of people who are killed in gaza. As we know, almost 50 children have been killed over this 10 day bombardment and close to 230 people overall have been killed. Were just approaching go ahead. We also have on the phone with us tyler hicks, New York Times photographer who was on the scene when the children were killed. Welcome to democracy now you wrote a firsthand account today in the times of what you saw. And you tell us in your own words . Yes, actually, my hotel room overlooks the beach, a perfect view of that area that was hit yesterday. For mostn out working of the day. This happened in the late afternoon. I heard a loud explosion, a big crack right outside the window. I immediately looked outside. My driver was here with me. This jetty that goes out into the water just outside smalldow with a structure, like a shack, that had just been hit by a bomb. At that time i could just see one child running away from that into the open sand. I knew there was a strong possibility there would be injuries or even deaths because of this. I quickly started to grab my cameras, my protective flak jacket, when another second explosion happened outside about 30 seconds after the first one. When i looked back out, that very boy that i had seen running was then lifeless, killed on the beach in the open, along with three other boys who were playing with him. Tyler hicks, prior to these attacks, had there been any shelling going on in that area or any missiles that you could see or rockets being fired . Not in that area. Has rockets,f gaza you know, its hard to tell exactly what these are. Drone rockets from a unless you can do the forensics thoseally know about things, you cant really tell exactly what it was. One thing we know is it is coming from israel. Quietarticular area is a little strand of beach, sometimes a few fishermen out trying to catch small baitfish, occasionally a few children we learned later these kids have been warned by their families not to play on the beach because it is an open area. But they were be no reason this is not a military area. This part of the beach has hotels that are frequented by journalists. Mas would beplace ha gathering. Certainly, not this little shack along the seawall. The rubino reason people would be there is no reason people would be out there in the sweltering sun having some kind of meeting that would be attacked. Tyler hicks, as you have been covering this, it is the Israeli Military used the words this was a tragic outcome those quote when their missile from the ship of the children. They did not say tragic mistake. They said tragic outcome. Can you explain from covering the situation for a while now . They have a very sophisticated military. They can see what is going on, whether it is from a drone, from a ship i mean, they know what theyre hitting. It is pretty hard, in my man,on, to mistake grown children nonts, for more than four feet high wearing s, scattering from the initial explosion. In my opinion, it would be pretty obvious, especially given the 30second window between the first explosion and the second that killed three of the four. One was killed by the first on. Enough seconds should be to assess whether or not those civilians orwere actual hamas militants. Sharif abdel kouddous, i want to go back to you for a moment. This temporary lull in the fighting, the talk of another possible truce. Can you talk about that . Mentioned, there was a fivehour ceasefire that expired just as we went to air. Earlier today, and the streets were crowded for the first time in 10 days. Thousands of people going to market to buy muchneeded food and water and just to see each other after these 10 days of bombardment. Things and atms, people are trying to withdraw money. I expect it will go back to gaza returning to being more because town, to being quiet except for the sounds of war that are everywhere. The incessant buzzing of drones overhead, loud booms from warships, the screech of f16s and the constant blast of missiles raining down. Their hit so many homes. Theres destruction almost around every corner. Threestorye two, concrete buildings completely buckled under. Their insides are spilled out into the streets. Peoples belongings. They hit many graveyards, which are open spaces where i guess the Israeli Military believes rockets are being fired from. The driver im working with your said the israelis are even trying to kill the dead with here said, the israelis are even trying to kill the dead. Those to the north you came after the Israeli Military dropped leaflets warning of attacks, entities u. N. Run schools. It is very hot and humid. Usually between 10 to 20 people, families crammed into one room. Many are sitting on the floor. They do not have enough mattresses to go around. Very little food and clean water. Many people have said, as well theymas officials, that feel abandoned by the International Community. That this is going on and been allowed to go on. Theyre asking for people to intervene and for this to stop. Sharif, youre just come from egypt. I was wondering if you could talk about the ceasefire agreement. The first one reported there was a secret conversation, phone conversation over the weekend between the president of egypt ministernd the prime benjamin netanyahu. The mass says they were not consulted on this. Can you talk about the significance of this in the next ceasefire . Sisi apparently did have a secret phone call with netanyahu, the first time to speak with them since and inaugurated in early july. This apparently was at the urging of john kerry, according to report in haaretz. The difference between the last president that sisi ousted, mohamed morsi, is the Muslim Brotherhood had close ties with hamas. Morsi sent in as Prime Minister into gaza during the bombardment , which the people of gaza said was a great show of solidarity. Other leaders came in after that including the turkish Prime Minister. He was toasted for brokering a ceasefire. I think sisi is trying to historic egypts role as a broker between palestine and israel. Hasin this instance, sisi as isantly vilified ham trying to collude to overthrow the military and the state. They have destroyed hundreds of titles that link between gaza and egypt in the interim, and the ceasefire agreement that was negotiated, a hamas official confirmed they were not consulted whatsoever. They learned about the agreement from the media when it was reported. I think this was a move to try and restore egypt as being seen as a possible broker, but also to marginalize hamas as a political movement. There is talk of a new ceasefire. The details are not apparent yet. Everyone wants the shelling and the bombing to stop. Are the reports of a Ground Invasion, possibility of the israeli troops lined up on the gaza border . Keep hearing different reports. There was an unnamed Israeli Military official who spoke with a Foreign Correspondent by Foreign Correspondents yesterday. Thank each day passes, a Ground Invasion becomes more likely, saying it was very possible. If that happens, and we can only imagine the level of violence will only go up. Sharif, thank you for being with us. Please be safe, sharif abdel kouddous, democracy now correspondent reporting from gaza. Also want to thank tyler hicks, Staff Photographer at the New York Times. We will have a link to his report at democracynow. Org. Tyler hicks is the photographer who worked with the New York Times reporter who died as he. As leaving libya tyler hicks carried him over the border. When he was leaving syria, that is. We will be back in a moment. [music break] this is democracy now , democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. Im amy goodman with juan gonzalez. This week saw the first planeload of children deported to honduras since president obama vowed to speed up the removal of more than 57,000 youth whove fled to the United States from Central America in recent months. The group of 38 deportees included 21 children between the ages of 18 months and 15 years, along with 17 female family members. A