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More Shelling in Gaza; Toledo Advisory Still in Effect; Ebola Patient in the U.S.; Palestinian Officials: At Least 10 Killed in Strike Near U.N. School; U.S. Spy Plane Evaded Russian Encounter; Child Molester Caught After Airing of "The Hunt"

Aired August 03, 2014 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world. I'm Fredericka Whitfield.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Jake Tapper, live in Jerusalem.

WHITFIELD: We start today in the Middle East where Gaza is rocked by another blast near a school. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 10 people died today in shelling near a United Nations run school and shelter. U.N. secretary general Ban-Ki Moon calls the attack "a moral outrage and a criminal act." The U.S. State Department calls the shelling attack, "disgraceful."

The Israeli military says its forces were targeting Islamic Jihad militants in the vicinity of the school and it's reviewing what happened. A military official also says that Hamas has made a special effort to fire from U.N. facilities. This is the third time in the past few weeks we've seen blasts surround U.N. schools in Gaza.

The rockets keep flying, however, toward Israel, as well. The Israeli military reports at least 80 rockets have been fired into Israel since midnight.

Also today, the funeral for an Israeli soldier who originally was thought to have been captured by Hamas. The Israeli military now says Lieutenant Hadar Goldin was killed by a suicide bomber.

Jake Tapper is live for us in Jerusalem. So Jake, the big news in Gaza, more shelling and, of course, right near a U.N. school causing more casualties. What is the end game here?

TAPPER: Well, I don't know what the end game is, but I can tell you that the statement from the U.S. State Department about the shelling of this U.N. school turned shelter is the strongest language that we've heard yet when it comes to how Israel is acting in this military conflict.

I'd like to read this if I could, from (INAUDIBLE) she's a spokeswoman for the State Department. "The United States is appalled by today's disgraceful shelling outside a U.N. school in Rafah, sheltering some 3,000 displaced persons, in which at least 10 more Palestinian civilians were tragically killed but coordinates of the school like all U.N. facilities in Gaza have been repeatedly communicated to the Israel Defense Forces. We once again stress that Israel must do more to meet its own standards and avoid civilian casualties. U.N. facilities especially though, those sheltering civilians must be protected and must not be used as bases from which to launch attacks." That is apparently little comment aimed at the Palestinians whom Israel says have been firing from near if not specifically at U.N. facilities.

But this is, perhaps, the strongest part, Fredericka. "The suspicion that militants are operating nearby does not justify strikes that put at risk the lives of so many innocent civilians." That part in particular I am sure will not go over well among Israeli leaders, Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: And meantime, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying yesterday that the military will continue its operation to destroy Hamas tunnels. Any update on what they've meant by regrouping?

TAPPER: No. In fact, you know, here in Israel on the ground, there is a lot of talk of how the ground offensive is going to come to an end soon and talk among the Israeli people. It's a little different than the talk among the American people, for instance, because there's conscription here. Everybody has to join the military with a few exceptions.

So the buzz here has a little bit more relevance than in the U.S. when only one percent of the population serves. But whether night or day, we should point out that there is no lull in the battling here. And CNN's Martin Savidge has made his way to Gaza City. Sara Sidner, of course, at the Israel-Gaza border. I want to bring them in to the conversation.

Sara, let's start with you. Bring us up to date on what's happening at the border, what you see.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're in Ascalan (ph) near the border, Jake, and what we have been hearing for a lot of the day. There's been sirens going off across southern Israel. We have talked to the IDF just moments ago, they told us 119 rockets now at this hour fired towards Israel throughout the day.

108 of them fell in open areas. So no one injured, nothing damaged, eight of them intercepted by the iron dome. We heard two of those right over our head when we were just outside the city of Ascalan (ph), very, very close to the border. We could also see some smoke. You can see sort of smoke in the sky from the iron dome as it strikes and intercepts those rockets.

And in talking to people who live in this particular neighborhood where we were, the fear is palpable. I mean, the families, especially. And one mother especially talked about how her children had been inside for now four weeks. And that it's just a mad house in there. They want to be able to take them outside and enjoy their day or at least go to the park. This was the first day that she had gone out to the park in that long.

And then hearing these explosions overhead as she terrified her as it would any mother. But she also spoke about the mothers in Gaza and how as a mother she felt horrible about the number of children and other mothers who have been killed. And so this conflict continues to go on. People very tired of being scared on both sides.

Here in Israel, they also buried one of their own, one of their soldiers, and that certainly affects the entire country. There is a lot of anger in this country. Towards Hamas, a lot of anger about going through this every three years or two years. And they really want the fighting to stop. But when you ask them how that's going to happen, most people say they don't see it happening. They see this happening every two or three years, they're just not sure what the end game is. Jake?

TAPPER: And the anger and fear in Israel is matched on the other side of the border by desperation and despondency in Gaza. Lets go to Gaza City now, Martin Savidge, you've been saying flares and more there, what can you tell us?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Jake, I was just listening to Sara's report there, the number of rockets, that's a pretty significant number. I mean to go well over 100 in one day. We haven't seen that in quite some time. What's interesting is it was given us the impression last night, at least from the Israeli prime minister this was winding down, clearly Hamas and the other militant groups here are trying to send a signal like, "oh, no, it may not be winding down. They have a say in that."

Tonight, we should point out it's very dark behind us because most of the electricity is out in Gaza. So sometimes the illumination has to be manmade. We can show you an example of that. Israeli flares that create this golden moon light. That was only in specific areas. And these particular flares that we watched, actually lasted for about half an hour.

We're not sure why the area was being illuminated. We certainly don't have any idea what was going on there. We didn't see any strikes, we didn't see any artillery coming in. So it's unclear at this particular point. But those were coming from Israeli mortars. Then earlier, before the sun went down, something outgoing from here. What we saw was the flashes, it's usually off to the left of the camera's view here. And then you hear the thunder which is an indication these are rockets being fired. They just roar right off. And then quickly disappear.

But because it was twilight, you get that brilliant light. And a short time later, we heard that there were sirens being sounded in Israel. So a clear indication that these are rockets. May not be Hamas, could be other Islamic jihadist groups that are firing them. We do know they are using the city as a shield when it comes to try to prevent Israeli counter strike. Jake?

TAPPER: Martin Savidge in Gaza City, Sara Sidner, near Ascalan (ph), thank you so much. Fredericka, back to you. WHITFIELD: Thanks so much to all of you. Let's turn to Ohio where people are scrambling to get bottled water in Toledo. They haven't been able to grab a glass of water from the sink all weekend long. Toxins caused by algae blooms are contaminating the city's water system.

CNN's Alexandra Field joining us now. Alexandra, officials are still testing the water. But when might this advisory be lifted?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, we're hoping to hear more of the results from those tests later this afternoon. And you can imagine that people are becoming eager to drink their water again.

But right now, elected and environmental officials are saying that they really need to look at the test results from a number of different locations before they can determine whether or not this water is now safe to drink.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD (voice-over): The National Guard delivering water by the truck load. The Red Cross handing out gallons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come get some. Come get it.

FIELD: The store shelves are empty, and people in Ohio are clamoring for cases.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I don't have water, my baby doesn't eat. That's going to be an issue.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can't wash up, you can't cook, it's hell.

FIELD: 400,000 people in the Toledo area are without drinking water. Boiling it will only make the problem worse. The warnings first issued on Saturday.

MAYOR MICHAEL COLLINS, TOLEDO, OHIO: I want the community to know that everything is being done that is humanly possible.

FIELD: The issue appears to stem from algae blooms growing in Lake Erie. This photo shows a previous bloom so large you can see it from space. Routine testing of the water supply turned up two samples with readings from microsystem (ph), a toxin sometimes released by algae blooms. More testing is underway. But additional results are needed before the ban can be lifted.

COLLINS: All I can tell you is everything is trending in a very positive direction.

FIELD: Businesses and restaurants are closed for the weekend. Officials say the water is safe for adults to bathe in. But that's not recommended for people with sensitive skin or weakened immune systems. The toxin can cause sickness and affect the liver. In the worst cases, it can lead to liver failure. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was stressful at first, definitely worrying

about I have a couple of dogs at home and four children, and I wanted to make sure we had enough water to brush our teeth and be able to drink it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't know about it until you don't have it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD: Certainly these algae blooms are a recurring problem at water treatment facilities in Toledo. They have to use a chemical in order to neutralize the toxins and make the water safe for drinking. So what they're trying to determine right now, Fredericka, is why this level, the level of toxins may have spiked over the weekend.

WHITFIELD: All right. Alexandra Field, keep us posted. Thanks so much.

The American doctor who contracted Ebola has now been in a U.S. hospital for more than a day. How did that hospital prepare for his arrival? And what's the latest on his condition?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The American doctor infected with the Ebola virus has been in an American hospital for a full day now. There has been no reported change in his condition. Dr. Kent Brantly was evacuated from Liberia to an Atlanta hospital with a highly specialized treatment unit.

His wife and family were able to visit him. Since his return, Brantly and his family were separated by glass during the visits. Ebola has a high mortality rate. And the outbreak in West Africa has already killed more than 700 people.

CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has witnessed the Ebola outbreak in West Africa firsthand. He also teaches at the Atlanta hospital where the U.S. patient is being treated. And Dr. Gupta got the chance to sit down with the doctor who is going to be responsible for treatment of the Ebola patients.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Keep in mind now. This has never happened before in the United States. It's never happened before in the western hemisphere where you have a patient who has the Ebola infection. So it's really a question of how prepared they are.

Also, just what is the risk? And is it worth it? I sat down and talked to Dr. Bruce Ridner and asked him about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA (on camera): People in Atlanta are really concerned. They're mainly concerned by saying "Look, we get it, we know the risk is small. But it would be even smaller if these patients did not come here." If you don't have anything magical to provide, why take the risk at all?

DR. BRUCE RIDNER, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST EMORY UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: I think you've been in that part of the world. And you know the level of care that can be delivered. These are Americans who went over there to supply humanitarian mission of medical care for these individuals and our feeling is that they deserve the best medical care to try and resolve this infection that they can get.

Most of the medical care consists of supportive care and our sense is based on speaking to providers in that part of the world that given our training, given our knowledge, given our unit, we can supply that support and care than can be provided in the current environment.

GUPTA: Part of that best care involves a pretty non descript room. You're looking at it there. This is that isolation area that we've been talking about. It's physically separated from other patient areas. You can't tell by looking at these pictures, but it has certain things in the way that the air is filtered. Keeping the patient safe. Keeping people around the patients safe.

Family members who want to visit can get as close as one to two inches away looking through a pane glass window. There's an ante-room where doctors, healthcare professionals can change their clothes and put on these so-called space suits to try and keep them safe, as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GUPTA: In fact, Dr. Ridner showed us what that space suit would look like for him. I wore something similar to this when I was in Guinea. But these particular space suits are really designed to be impermeable, not to let any fluids in whatsoever. Cover every square inch of the body. Even an air humidifier, air recirculator that goes around the mask, as well.

It's all part of what they're going to be doing. But, again, keep in mind that everything you're looking at here, all these protocols, all these safety measures have never actually been implemented for a patient with Ebola in the United States. So this will be a first for Dr. Ridner. It will be a first really for all of us. Back to you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much.

So what happens next for these two American Ebola patients? Let's bring in Dr. Stephen Morse. He teaches epidemiology at Columbia University and he also is one of the founders of the Center for Public Health Preparedness. Good to see you.

We all saw that dramatic video of the Ebola patient getting out of the ambulance. Ever so gingerly, it really caught many people by surprise, thinking he was going to be on a stretcher. But instead he actually walked out. What - how encouraged were you when you saw that? When you saw these images of him right there stepping off with the assistance of another person in the - in that jump suit. What struck you?

DR. STEPHEN MORSE, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: I think it was very encouraging. I think that the longer he stays without having serious disease. As long as he looks like that, I think the better the chances. So I think we were all very encouraged by seeing that happening.

WHITFIELD: What are the stages of his recovery? Meaning, what are the measurements that doctors will be taking and looking at to determine whether he is, indeed, getting better?

MORSE: Well, the major things are temperature and platelet and other blood counts. Platelets are involved in blood clotting. Just make sure the blood counts are normal. And, of course, they'll look for any physical signs of - and symptoms like headache, abdominal pain, sore throat early on. But if he, hopefully, after they'll watch him for 21 days, if his condition doesn't change, hopefully the fever will start going down before then. And I think he'd be out of the woods at that point.

WHITFIELD: And you heard Dr. Sanjay Gupta reminding everyone this has never been done before, meaning a patient with Ebola being treated in the United States. So it really is a test for everyone, the entire medical community. How do doctors proceed with what to prescribe him, how to treat him. There are no vaccines. What will he be receiving while being hospitalized?

MORSE: Fredericka, as Dr. Gupta said, I agree. The only thing we can do is supportive therapy. Basically intensive care as we would for anyone who has really severe illness, you know, very bad case of whatever it is that in this case involves a lot of abnormalities and blood clotting as well as some other problems and multiorgan failure in the worst case.

So you try to deal with each of the symptoms, make sure the patient has enough hydration that the fluids are at the right level. Make sure the patient can breathe, try to treat any other infections they may have like secondary bacterial infections. You know, and, of course, we also talked about the infection control aspects.

They may try some experimental - there are about four experimental therapies now right now that are in the pipeline. And they may try to test some of those under a compassionate use or emergency use authorization

WHITFIELD: And those are meds? Those are medicines?

MORSE: Yes, these are - three of them are medicines. That are fairly broad spectrum. But they do seem to reduce the growth of the virus. We don't have anything really, no silver bullet. We don't have anything really good to offer them.

WHITFIELD: Dr. Stephen Morse, thank you so much, from New York.

MORSE: Thank you. It's my pleasure.

WHITFIELD: Still ahead, caring for the wounded in Gaza. Hospitals and doctors are simply overwhelmed and some young Palestinian victims are receiving medical care in a surprising place. We'll show you, next.

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WHITFIELD: Let's go back now to Jerusalem and our Jake Tapper. Jake?

TAPPER: Fredericka, Israelis and Palestinians have lost loved ones on both sides of this horrific conflict in Gaza. But of course, hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed by the number of wounded. Some young Palestinian victims, however, are receiving medical care in a surprising place.

CNN's Martin Savidge shows us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Three-year-old Rhonda Al Shar (ph) has burns over 50 percent of her body. She doesn't know her mother, brother and grandfather are dead. Killed in the same Israeli air strike that wounded her. Yet, Rhonda (ph) is considered lucky. She's out of Gaza.

The images of dead and wounded children in Gaza have shocked many. These images get far less attention. Victims Israel has allowed out of Gaza to be treated in Israeli and Palestinian hospitals where the care and their chances for survival are better. But to get here, the wounded risk their lives a second time in a dangerous ambulance ride across the front lines.

(on camera): As you can see, this is a very busy place. There are over a dozen children being treated here and more keep arriving.

(voice-over): But those numbers are far lower than expected.

RAFIQ HUSSEINI, DIRECTOR: We expected hundreds of cases, but we only got a couple of dozen cases.

SAVIDGE: To understand why, you have to understand a process that is bewildering even for those involved how children are chosen.

First, they are selected by doctors in Gaza, approved by the Palestinian authority and coordinated with the International Red Cross. But none can come without Israel's final say.

Fourteen-year-old (INAUDIBLE) lies in a coma after an explosion struck her bedroom as she slept. In a complicated process, only she was cleared to come. Her fearful family back in Gaza gets updates over the phone.

One month old Abdul Rakma (ph) needs possible heart surgery. The infant was allowed, but not his mother. Her paperwork was out of date. The boy's aunt believes Israel only granted permission for the child out of guilt. Abdul's brother was one of four boys killed on a Gaza beach by Israeli artillery. They gave him life because they took a life, she says.

Despite more than 8,000 wounded in Gaza, only 60 have come to Israel. Each side blames the other for the pitifully low number. And for a bureaucracy so badly twisted by war, only it can consider a badly burned motherless three-year-old lucky.

Martin Savidge, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: Heartbreaking images. Fredericka.

WHITFIELD: Indeed. All right. Thanks so much, Jay.

All right. You've heard of the game chicken. What happens when it's between a Russian jet and a United States spy plane? Details on that straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Bottom of the hour now. Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the top stories crossing the CNN news desk right now.

Despite yesterday's border fire, in the distant crews returned with cadaver dogs to the wreckage of the Malaysian plane in Eastern Ukraine. Seventy recovery team members were also on site today. Ukrainian government officials said they were trying to hold off on combat near the crash site. Flight 17 was brought down on a surface to air missile. All 298 people onboard were killed.

And a terrifying scene out of Istanbul, Turkey, a rare tornado ripping through right there. Weather experts say hot temperatures triggered this twister. Flash flooding forced road closures across the city and left some stores submerged. So far, there are no reports of injuries.

And there was an injury for Tiger Woods today. Take a look at his tee shot on the ninth hole right there. And then after that swing, you see that he looks like he is hurt. He said he injured his back on that swing. Woods tried to continue playing but had eventually withdraw from the tournament. He had back surgery back in March and was out for three months.

And there may be a new Ghostbusters movie coming to the theaters. It is not a done deal yet, but "Time" magazine is reporting that talks are underway at Sony Pictures for a new film. (INAUDIBLE) and this one, it might be led by a female. But would not be a sequel to the first movie which was released back in 1984.

TAPPER: Back now to the latest violence in Gaza. A strike today near a United Nations run school that also served as a shelter. Palestinian officials say at least ten people were killed. The U.N. agency that ran the school released this statement. It says in part, quote, "we vigorously condemn today's Israeli strike and find it incomprehensible that such violence has happened again only four days since we carried out dead and wounded civilians who had sought refuge to the U.N. installation. We again call on the Israeli authorities immediately to investigate this appalling incident in Rafah," unquote. The Israeli military says it was targeting three Palestinian Islamic

Jihad militants on a motorcycle near the school. They are reviewing the strike.

I'm joined now by Chris Gummess and he is a spokesman to the U.N. relief and works agency. He's in Tel Aviv, Israel. Chris, tell me what you know about the strike near the school today.

CHRIS GUMMESS, SPOKESMAN, U.N. RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY: I think the important thing to say is that the Israeli press certainly are of mind on this story. The state department and the headline is U.S. appalled by, quote, disgraceful shelling of U.N. school. So I think that encapsulates the sense of international outrage about this incident.

You quite properly ask about the incident itself at about 10:45 this morning, there was a shell that came in just outside adjacent to the main gate. We say and our report suggests that nine people were killed and 27 were injured. To be clear, we phoned and we notified the Israeli army no less than 33 times about the location of this school and the fact there were thousands of people who had taken refuge there.

You remember, in the (INAUDIBLE) incident four days ago, we said, we notified the Israeli army 17 times. Well, this is double that. The last call was put through an hour before this fatal shelling.

And that's why we say, and again, it's something which the state department has endorsed that there has to be an investigation just according to the state department as there has to be investigations into the previous incidents. Because you know, when you have a situation where U.N. designated its safe areas, sanctuaries are being hit. There really is nowhere safe for people in Gaza. And that's a matter, I think, quite justifiably of extreme concern. Not just to us in the U.N., but I think the wider international community.

TAPPER: Chris, can you recall a statement from the U.S. state department about an ally that was as strongly worded as this one?

GUMMESS: Well, you are, Jake, someone who knows that relationship, perhaps, and the public statements of the state department better than I. I'm on the ground. Here, a humanitarian not a political actor. But certainly, it's interesting that this statement is worded as it is. And that the state department uses the word like "disgraceful" and "appalled." And I think there is a sense, that perhaps might rather embarrassing and (INAUDIBLE) show the motion, although not intended for the cameras, a few days ago may have added to that sense that, you know, you have to understand in and the world has to understand that this is not fake indignation. This is visceral and genuine outrage at what is happening to people who are coming to our shelters.

And, you know, for people in America, perhaps the emotion of a safe area is distant. In Gaza, it is palpable, dramatic, and real and more to the point, it can be life saving. And sadly for nine people today in Rafah in southern Gaza, it was not.

TAPPER: Tragic and underscoring the point there's no place safe in Gaza.

Thank you so much, Chris Gummess.

Fredricka, back to you at the CNN center.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Jake.

All right. So imagine this, a U.S. spy plane in a game of chicken with a Russian jet. Sounds like a movie plot. But guess what, it's not. We'll tell you what happened.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. We will have more live coverage from the Middle East in a few minutes. But now to another big story we're following of international intrigue. A U.S. spy plane similar to this one here evaded an encounter with the Russian military a day after Malaysia airlines flight 17 was shot down. What was it doing up there?

CNN's Erin McPike is at the White House. So Erin, we know the U.S. has five planes and they conduct secret missions often. But how is it that the U.S. air force plane encountered a Russian military jet?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, this U.S. air force spy plane was indeed spying on the Russians and then got caught. Now, as you mentioned, this was just one day after that Malaysia airlines plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine. So this U.S. air force plane was an RC-135 rivet joint. And what it was doing was conducting an electronic eavesdropping mission on the Russian military.

Well then, what was unusual about this is the Russian military used a land based tracking system to track that plane and then sent up a Russian fighter jet to try to intercept that plane. Well, that keyed off the U.S. air force and they then had to send the plane out of there into another zone without permission. It went over Swedish air space.

We've got a comment from the U.S. state department official who says, quote, "we acknowledge a U.S. aircraft veered into Swedish air space and will take active steps to ensure we have properly communicated with Swedish authorities in advance to prevent similar issues before they arrive."

The key thing there is that we have been hearing from U.S. officials they expect this sort of thing could happen again. Now, we do know that Russian jets and U.S. jets controlled by the government do come into close contact often. This happens a lot over Alaska. There was also a near collision in April over Japan. But what's interesting here is that the Russians were tracking this jet.

Now, also, President Obama has said that the U.S. is not returning to a cold war with Russia but episodes like this make it feel that way, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Erin McPike. Thanks so much from the White House.

All right. We're following the conflict in Gaza, as well. Typically, neighboring Arabs would agree. But this time, they're getting less support.

But first, this week's CNN hero.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUAN PABLO ROMERO FUENTES, CNN HERO: My country is violent history has created very violent presence. Gangs are everywhere. Kids are exposed to drugs, to violence, and to lack of opportunities for them to improve their lives.

I was a teacher in the same community that I grew up. My students were dealing with the same problems that I was dealing 20 years ago. I wanted to change that. The best thing for me to do is open my house doors and bring them here.

Eight years later, I am still running the program in my family house. We provide classes so they find their own passions. We give them a decent plate of food. Children are powerful, just they don't know that yet. So I created a safe place for them to realize that they are able to change aspects in their lives and their community.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

FUENTES: A violent country, the only weapon we can have, it's love. I still believe that we can change this country. I see potential in kids' dreams and ideas. They are the ones who try to writing the new history in Guatemala.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Let's go back out to Jerusalem and our Jake Tapper -- Jake.

TAPPER: Thanks, Fredericka.

Arab leaders usually support Palestinians against Israel. But it's been very fascinating. In this conflict. Hamas is finding very little support from its Arab neighbors.

CNN's Brian Todd has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just two years ago Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal embraces then Egyptian president, Mohammed Morsi, during a high-level meeting in Cairo. A powerful symbol of legitimacy for Meshaal and Hamas. For Morsi and the Muslim brotherhood which backed him, a deeply concerning image for Israel.

ROBERT BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: That has now fallen apart. The Muslim brotherhood. The leadership in jail.

TODD: After tossing Morsi out, Egypt's authoritarian government has turned against Hamas and Egypt's not alone. Across the Arab world, the rulers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the united Arab emirates are looking the other way leaving Hamas all alone.

FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST, FAREED ZAKARIA GPS: Their eyes on we don't want these kinds of guys to win. If Israel beats them up, well and good.

TODD: None of those Arab leaders would publicly support Israel. But none are rushing to defend Hamas in this battle. Our efforts to get comment from their representatives in Washington and in the region met with stone silence. But Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief writing in an Arab newspaper says Hamas' readiness to cause a great deal of suffering clearly shows Hamas is irresponsible. And on Egyptian TV, commentators don't hold back in blasting Hamas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In this --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are revolted by you. Get lost. You make us nauseous. The whole world goes to hell because of you.

TODD: Hamas is seen by many in the Arab world as an extension of the Muslim brotherhood. A huge Islamist political group which the rulers of Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have been battling against for years.

BAER: The Muslim brotherhood/Hamas succeeds in Gaza, the question will be, why can't they take over the gulf states or Egypt?

TODD: What they really fear is democracy. Hamas and the Muslim brotherhood won power in actual elections.

KHALED ELGINDY, FORMER ADVISER TO PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP: They have been part of these uprisings, revolts all around the region in Egypt and Tunisia and elsewhere for Democratic reform. And they certainly don't want to see that kind of reform happen in their own countries because they are worried about maintaining their own regimes.

TODD: This conflict may well drag on. Israel, analysts say, will likely get more breathing room, more latitude to keep pounding on Hamas all in a wink and a nod all unspoken at least publicly.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: And Fredericka, that's it for me. I leave you with this closing thought. It was a strange moment when I saw that the Gaza health ministry had downgraded the number of individuals had been killed since this conflict began in the Gaza Strip down to 1,803.

Good news, I thought, presuming that many of them were civilians. But then it turns out the reason behind it is so horrifying as we talked earlier today because of the body parts being mutilated and body parts being sent to different hospitals, there was an over count. So, it's kind of a bad news/horrific news situation -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Terrible. Very horrible.

All right. Thank you so much, Jake Tapper, good reporting there from Jerusalem. We'll see you there throughout the week.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. We're getting more details on the events that led police to a shootout with a fugitive in New York City. A fugitive that had been featured on "THE HUNT" with John Walsh seen on CNN in the U.S.

Deborah Feyerick has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The search for suspected child molester and fugitive, Charles Mozdir ends here inside a tiny smoke shop selling things like pipes and palms (ph) in New York City's West Village . The shoot-out at this smoke shop in Manhattan's busy west village.

BILL BRATTON, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: Mozdir fired upon the officers at very close range and the officers returned fire.

FEYERICK: The U.S. marshal's New York/New Jersey regional task force tracked Modzir to the busy street. After a profile on CNN's "THE HUNT" with John Walsh.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My son sat me down and said, mom, I have something to tell you.

FEYERICK: Charlie Mozdir, his friends called him, was suspected of molesting his 5-year-old godson as the boy's mother slept nearby. The segment was still airing when a Florida woman called a hot line with a crucial lead.

STEVE JURMAN, U.S. MARSHAL: The tipster stated, I know Mozdir.

FEYERICK: In New York, people who knew him, knew him not as Charlie Modzir. They knew him as John Smith, the heavy guy with the bushy beard and ponytails who seemed to blend in with the darker, slightly seedier side of life here on west 4th street.

JURMAN: He had a history of working in smoke shops. He had a hobby of blowing glass, which would come in handy at a smoke shop.

FEYERICK: And he seemed friendly enough On Yelp, customers rated the man they called big John as super helpful. Another saying, quote, "John is the dude. He was pretty chilled and very helpful."

He was also under the radar, living blocks from the shop in apartment 3a with his black Labrador, lucky. A neighbor who also has a black lab described him as weird.

NATASHA CHALLAPALLY, NEIGHBOR: The way he just stared at you and just not friendly and, you know, just gave out bad vibes despite being a dog owner. Because usually, people on this block when they have dogs, they're friendly.

FEYERICK: Police later searched his apartment and recovered a computer, a laptop and West Virginia driver's license.

JURMAN: He managed to do everything in cash. Probably obtained a very good fake I.D. trying to live completely off the grid.

FEYERICK: Off the grid until "THE HUNT," and the crucial hot line tips that followed.

Around lunchtime Monday, the U.S. Marshals regional task force made its move. An NYPD detective went in and identified Mozdir. He was alone and weary. When he saw the two U.S. marshals run in, that's when he grabbed the .32 caliber revolver and was able to get five shots.

BRATTON: During the exchange of gunfire, the detective and two marshals were wounded. Charles Mazdir was shot dead.

FEYERICK: One U.S. marshal was shot near the leg, another in the arm. The NYPD detective assigned to the task force shot three times including in the abdomen. Modzir had an additional 20 rounds of ammo in his pocket.

BRATTON: The way to see is where the vowed edge and the one we covered in the vest.

FEYERICK: All the officers were treated and relieved. Modzir's life as a fugitive traveling from his California home to Mexico, Georgia, Florida, and New York, had come to a violent end.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.

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WHITFIELD: And of course you can watch "THE HUNT" tonight, 9:00 Eastern Time.

That's going to do It for me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Thanks for being with me and Jake Tapper today. Now, THE NEWSROOM continues with Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto.