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CNN International: Taiwan Hit By Strongest Earthquake In 25 Years; Protesters Vent Their Anger Inside The Israeli Parliament; Blinken, Foreign Ministers Meeting Focuses On Ukraine; White House: No U.S. Involvement In Damascus Strike; Ugandan Court Upholds Draconian Anti-LGBTQ Law; Biden: "Outraged And Heartbroken" Over Aid Workers' Deaths; Appeals Court Hearing Today On Texas Immigration Law; Oklahoma Supreme Court Hears Appeal In Reparations Case; U.S. Cities In Path Of Totality Prepare For Solar Eclipse. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired April 03, 2024 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

AMARA WALKER, CNN HOST: Welcome to our viewers all around the world, I'm Amara Walker. This is CNN NEWSROOM.

Just ahead, emergency services in Taiwan are racing against time to rescue victims trapped under the rubble after the island was hit by its strongest earthquake in 25 years. The very latest on the efforts.

Then the deaths of seven aid workers in Gaza trigger outrage around the globe. We will discuss how this impacts the future and aid missions.

Plus, NATO foreign ministers are gathering in Brussels with one mission ensuring military support for Ukraine in the years to come.

We begin in Taiwan and we want to show you live pictures where it is 8:00 p.m. there and rescue operations are underway after the strongest earthquake there in a quarter of a century. At least nine people have died, more than 900 are injured. You can see that building there leaning on its side.

Rescue workers scramble to free dozens of people who are trapped in highway tunnels. Dozens have been rescued so far. The 7.4 magnitude tremor shook the island's east coast just before 8:00 in the morning, local time there with the epicenter close to the eastern coast there, Hualien City. It was followed by strong aftershocks.

And this is a glimpse of what emergency workers are up against now.

The quake triggered landslides that forced the closure of a major highway. You're also hearing that some of the initial deaths included hikers killed by falling rocks in a tourist hotspot.

CNN's Hanako Montgomery has this update from Tokyo.

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We know that at least nine people were left dead. And more than 900 people were actually left injured because of this very powerful earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks. We also know that of the nine people who died, all of them were killed in Hualien County where, you know, it was very close to the epicenter, and actually where most of the significant damage has been taking place.

And just for context, Hualien County is located on the eastern coast of Taiwan, it's a very popular tourist destination. It's also a rural area, and coincidentally where most of Taiwan's earthquakes actually occur. So we also know that 56 people were trapped in Hualien County. Originally, that number was up to 131. But rescue operators were able to rescue all the people trapped in those tunnels to safety.

Now, in terms of the rescue operations, the Taiwanese defense ministry has dispatched military troops to coincide and to work with local governments try to get people to safety, get them out from underneath the rebels of their homes and buildings. And this is really common protocol that you see in Taiwan.

When you see a natural disaster of this magnitude, military troops do work with local governments to try to get people again to safety. But one thing that was actually affecting disaster relief efforts today were the damage roads. You saw, you know, a main highway from Taipei, the capital of Taiwan to fallen county actually partially destroyed. So military troops had to use some aircrafts to get to that part of the island.

WALKER: All right, Dr. Mohammad Heidarzadeh is the Secretary General of the Joint Tsunami Commission at IUGG, that is the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics. He is joining us now.

Professor, thank you so much for your time. I mean, the images are just devastating, especially as rescue workers are trying to get trapped people inside these tunnels out. It's evening right now in Taiwan, still a lot of people are trapped. What is the biggest danger rescue that, you know, danger that rescue workers are facing right now to get people out?

MOHAMMAD HEIDARZADEH, SECRETARY GENERAL, JOINT TSUNAMI COMMISSION, IUGG: I would say you're having one of the largest earthquakes actually in this year and to a question. The largest, the most danger that we have now is the aftershocks. Usually, earthquakes of this type, this size, usually they are followed by thousands of aftershocks.

Just if you remember, three months ago, we had a large earthquake in Japan. And following that earthquake of more or less the same size and magnitude 7.5 in Japan, we had 8,000 aftershocks.

[08:05:06]

And sometimes, some of these aftershocks can be very big like magnitude 6, magnitude 6.5. Already we had more aftershocks just a few hours ago. And I would say this is a major risk and major problem that we have at this time.

WALKER: Yes. And Professor, let me ask you about the tunnels in Taiwan specifically in Hualien County where these rescue efforts are taking place. I understand that you are also a civil engineer by trade. So if you could talk a little bit about the structure of these tunnels that connect to these, you know, these highways over the Pacific Ocean. How are they built? Tell us about the integrity of them because, obviously, Taiwan sits, you know, right on the ring of fire. So there are codes, I'm sure, that are put in place, aren't there?

HEIDARZADEH: Usually, we are not very much concerned about the integrity of the tunnels. Maybe we have some incident, but usually, they are actually safe because they are kind of protected by the earth. And they are in areas that Japan and Taiwan that are facing lots of earthquakes.

We have a very high quality building codes for making making tunnels. As I said, in general, tunnels or say, for example, when we have a large earthquake in Japan or in Taiwan or other places, usually we recommend people to use the underground tunnels because they are usually safe. But, obviously, as you reported, your colleagues reported that there are some incidents sometimes maybe a very limited incidents.

WALKER: And are these incidents do -- with the tunnels due to the landslides, you know, I guess trapping people on side, is that what we're saying in this case?

HEIDARZADEH: It does actually a major challenge definitely because we are having, I mean, lots of cascading impacts from an earthquake like fires, landslides, tsunami, liquefaction. And I would say, yes, they -- I mean, also the buildings itself, that the buildings of the tunnels, they are safe, but, you know, they are -- we are dealing with a very complicated cascading impacts of an earthquake.

For example, when I was in Japan just two months ago, we had a fieldwork after the Japan earthquake. We saw that majority of the fatalities actually they were caused by cascading impacts, mostly from landslides and fire.

WALKER: So what should people be doing separate from the rescue workers to stay safe to -- from these cascading impacts that actually happen aftershocks right?

HEIDARZADEH: This is very important. The only thing we say always is to stay away from vulnerable and damaged buildings because we are actually expecting thousands of aftershocks and even a small aftershocks. If some buildings are already damaged with a small aftershocks, they could be collapsing.

And the same thing for landslides because landslides can be triggered only within a small magnitude earthquakes that a magnitude 5 or magnitude 5.7, 5.5, they can easily trigger landslides. And the most important thing to keep in mind is that please stay away from your damaged buildings.

I mean, just moved to safe zones designed by the governments and stay away. It's always tempting to come back to your home, but we have to keep in mind that we are dealing with -- we are going to have thousands of aftershocks in the next two three weeks. As I said, in Japan we have 8,000 aftershocks.

WALKER: Wow. Yes. I mean, I also come from earthquake country in Southern California and that's the most terrifying thing after going through a major earthquake over 7.0 are these aftershocks. You just don't know when they're going to hit and you know that there are so many buildings that are vulnerable as a result.

Let me ask you about the rescue workers work. Not just the tunnels, but there are also people who are trapped in Taroko National Park. Several -- we know that this is a tourist hotspot. You know, people go to hike and take a look at these beautiful soaring cliffs and canyons. What are rescue workers up against when they're, you know, speaking of the geography there and of course, the threat of aftershocks?

HEIDARZADEH: I mean, the challenge is that, you know, we have to keep in mind that, you know, in these areas, we are having lots of different impacts from earthquake, like as I said, liquefaction, landslides. So they have to be very, very careful and watching, you know, every -- I mean, most of the lands and most of the areas after an earthquake, they are actually very vulnerable to collapse.

And they collapse actually just, you know, a few days after because, you know, constantly the area is going to be shaking. So, the rescue workers, everyone walking in that area. We are actually, I mean, just to give you a perspective on what's going on, we are actually looking at area with a distance of like 70, 60 kilometers in that area, we call the epicentral zone. It's going to be shaking, you know, with many earthquakes. And that's very important to --

WALKER: Yes.

HEIDARZADEH: -- you know, to be very careful.

[08:10:17]

WALKER: We're looking at these images of these buildings that are literally tilted to one side at a really harsh angle there. I'm just curious. I mean, these buildings could collapse with aftershocks. Is that your assessment?

HEIDARZADEH: Yes, definitely. I mean, first of all, these buildings can be used again because, you know, it's impossible in terms of the engineering point of view to repair them. And they definitely would be collapsing. And not only these buildings would be damaged, but also would be impacting, I mean, the roads, also the neighboring buildings.

WALKER: Yes.

HEIDARZADEH: Many of these small buildings around these big buildings could be actually impacted --

WALKER: Yes.

HEIDARZADEH: -- in different ways by this collapsing buildings.

WALKER: Still a very risky situation there. Dr. Mohammad Heidarzadeh, thank you very much for your time and your insight.

We're getting new images now from inside the Israeli parliament where protesters are showing their anger.

Family members of hostages stormed the gallery of the Knesset, upset over the government's failure to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza. You can see them jumping over the stands as authorities are trying to contain them. Many painted their hands yellow.

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets this week demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Meantime, the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza is sparking international condemnation demand for answers and drawing an apology from Israel for what it is calling a grave mistake.

World Central Kitchen has released the names and photos of the seven killed in that Israeli strike, saying they were heroes and beautiful souls who died when in what it calls a targeted attack. Many of them in their 30s.

The aid convoy says its convoy -- the aid group, I should say, says its convoy was fired on despite coordinating its movements with the IDF in advance and being clearly marked. The Chief of Staff of the Israeli military is apologizing for what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. GEN. HERZI HALEVI, CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF, ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES: The IDF works together closely with the World Central Kitchen and greatly appreciates the important work that they do. The IDF completed a preliminary debrief. I want to be very clear, the strike was not carried out with the intention of harming WCK aid workers. It was a mistake that followed a misidentification at night during the war in a very complex conditions. It shouldn't have happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALKER: CNN's Melissa Bell joining us now live from just outside the Knesset in Jerusalem. Melissa, let's start with the protests, the chaos inside the Knesset. And, of course, we saw the hands painted, you know, yellow, which has become, you know, associated that color with the plight of the captives. What more do we know about what happened there?

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think what was some of the most -- one of the most remarkable things about those images, Amara, we're hearing after we saw those protesters breach, the public gallery of the Knesset building just behind me, some of the opposition politicians begin to chant with them, now, now now.

And, of course, that has become the chant. One of the rallying cries of those who are fighting, have been protesting against the policies of this government for the last four days. Many of them hostage family members to try and get more done to get their loved ones out of Gaza. Now, there were the images just now here inside the Knesset, but also remarkable images last night, Amara, this four-day protest drew to a close. In fact, in front of me, all of the tents that had been set up for the last few days are now being dismantled because this was the last day. The idea was that they were going to try and get the attention of politicians ahead of this several week recess that starts today.

The idea being, you know, how can you go off on your break when our loved ones are still in captivity? The images I mentioned last night, were the protesters, many of thousands, thousands of them gathered here outside the Knesset, making their way over to the residence of Benjamin Netanyahu but also the Israeli President Herzog with some really angry scenes between protesters and police, including one family member of one of the hostages still inside being wrestled to the ground by police as she tried to breach those barriers.

[08:15:02]

So, a great deal of anger being expressed here in that protest against the policies of the government. Essentially what protesters have been telling us is that there were many different ways to go about getting the release of these hostages. And nearly six months into their captivity, and the brutal war that is followed, they believe that the government has not done enough to focus on the hostages, and has instead focused on pursuing this brutal war against many of these protesters have said to us, the long term security interests of Israel. Amara?

WALKER: And also, there's been a lot of outrage from around the world regarding the seven aid workers with the World Central Kitchen who were killed in Gaza. What do we know about how that attack might impact future aid missions in Gaza?

BELL: I think it's one of the big questions that we have this morning after hearing, Amara, that World Central Kitchen that had played such a crucial role, remember, in getting around this substantial land blockade, near total land blockade. It is a trickle of aid that's able to get through the land routes.

What World Central Kitchen had done was open up that maritime route with ships of aid that would come from Cyprus to this jetty, this makeshift jetty that had been set off -- set up off northern Gaza. The fact that they're announcing the suspension of their activities, a huge blow to getting aid to the Gazan people and of course it leads to further pressure on Israeli authorities to do more -- to let aid in.

Now, as you mentioned, we heard yesterday that fairly fulsome apology in English from the head, the chief of the general staff who spoke of not only the fact that this had been a mistake, explaining more about the circumstances of how this strike had happened, a misidentification, he explained and how they intended the IDF to do more to further coordinate, to better coordinate their work with humanitarian agencies.

Because remember that that has been crucial to their message in these last few weeks, that they're trying to work hard to get relief to the more than 1 million Gazans that the U.N. believes are now facing famine. This not just a blow, of course, to the families and friends and colleagues of all those who lost their lives tragically yesterday, but also to the image of Israel in the messaging that it's been given -- giving about what lengths it's going to to try and get help in.

And I think it's significant also that we heard such angry words from President Biden himself, not just the White House over the course of the day, but President Biden speaking of his outrage and his heartbreak. And I think that's something that you've heard more and more clearly expressed by the American president. A growing sense of frustration and open anger at the way this war is being prosecuted, Amara.

WALKER: Yes. Biden's use of the word outrage is something that we have rarely heard when he's been describing what's going on in Gaza.

Melissa Bell, thank you very much for that.

America's top diplomat is attending a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Fresh from meeting the French president in Paris Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is discussing how to help Kyiv as Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine.

NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance needs to give Ukraine a commitment to ongoing support and rely less on voluntary contributions.

I want to bring in CNN's Nic Robertson for the latest on this developing story. Hi there, Nic. NATO Chief Stoltenberg says the alliance must ensure to supply weapons to Ukraine for the long haul. And of course, the question is, well, how can that be achieved?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, he talks about it in terms of shifting the dynamics of support, and that is because that's what it takes to fight a long war. What's happened until now is, you know, NATO nations who make up 99 percent of the countries that are supporting Ukraine have kind of reached into their own military arsenals and pulled out all the kit that they're not using.

The French we heard over the weekend giving several hundred armored fighting vehicles. But what's needed in the future, not just for Ukraine, is a commitment that allows them to plan. They need to say to themselves, OK, we're going to try and have another counter offensive next year, let's say. So we kind of need to order that material now.

The manufacturers also need to know that there's a long, an ongoing commitment to ramp up, for example, the artillery production, all those artillery shells that Russia has tens, hundreds of thousands more than Ukraine does. Ukraine's losing on the front lines because it doesn't have enough, but the manufacturers who need to make them need to know that there's a firm and ongoing commitment because they have to create new plant lines in their factories, all that sort of thing.

So what Stoltenberg is saying is, OK, let's make a plan, let's reorganize, let's get ready, let's do that. And the proposition that their work -- the foreign ministers are working on, which probably won't get decided ultimately until the big leaders' summit in Washington later this summer is for a $100 billion fund to give a five-year commitment.

[08:20:07]

Now, some people are talking about kind of Trump proofing NATO and Ukraine against any decisions, if Donald Trump was elected to be president. But this is the big reach that they're looking for at this leaders' summit.

WALKER: Nic Robertson, appreciate it. Thank you very much.

The U.S. is pushing back against claims it was involved in a presumed Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria. A top U.S. official is warning against any retaliatory attacks by Iran against American forces in the region, but Tehran says it holds the U.S. quote, "answerable" due to its support for Israel product.

Frederik Pleitgen is standing by to tell us more about that. All right, so what are you learning about the U.S. assessments on this attack?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's quite interesting because there's certain things where the U.S. says that they're fairly confident about some information, but there's also a lot of gaps in it as well, Amara. First of all, the U.S. does assess that it was the Israelis who were behind the strike on that diplomatic compound.

However, the U.S. then also says that they are not certain what kind -- this is the Pentagon, by the way, that they're not certain what type of building that was, whether or not this was a diplomatic building. However, we do have to say this was Iran's diplomatic compound of the Iranian embassy in Damascus that was hit.

This was one of the annex buildings to the actual embassy. The U.S. then also goes on to say that it had no prior knowledge of the strike taking place and also did not know the target of the strike. It was interesting, the spokesperson for the Pentagon saying that the U.S. does not condone or support strikes on diplomatic buildings. So that certainly is kind of an interesting nuance in all of that.

But you're absolutely right, the Iranians definitely coming out and saying that they hold the U.S. also accountable for this. This was actually the Iranian foreign minister, quite powerful actually in the hierarchy there in Iran. The U.S. yesterday at a U.N. Security Council meeting, once again saying that it did not know anything about this strike. And certainly was not involved in it in any way, shape or form.

The U.S. definitely going quite a ways to make that point. And, of course, one of the reasons for that is that the Iranians certainly do have and are a force in the greater Middle East region. Certainly, if the Iranians want to retaliate against the United States, it could be quite dicey for a lot of the American forces that are still on the ground in Syria and in some other Middle Eastern countries as well.

And that's also why the deputy U.N. ambassador of the United States yesterday at that Security Council meeting warned the Iranians not to escalate the situation by lashing out now against Israel or, in general, lashing out in the Middle East. Certainly, a very important point as we are in a very important time window right now as well.

The Iranians have said yesterday, once again last night, that there will be a decisive response for them at this point. Of course, unclear what exactly that response and how far reaching that response is going to be, Amara.

WALKER: Yes, of course, a lot of concern about this marking a significant escalation.

Frederik Pleitgen, good to see you. Thank you so much.

Still to come, a court in Uganda refuses to strike down one of the harshest anti-homosexuality laws in the world. What's next for the protesters?

Then more on our top story, the powerful and deadly earthquake in Taiwan. We are live in the region with the latest on the urgent rescue efforts.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:25:39]

WALKER: Uganda's constitutional court has upheld one of the world's harshest anti-gay laws. The measure was adopted in May of last year and it outlaws gay marriage, threatens life imprisonment for consensual same sex relations, and calls for the death penalty for what it describes as aggravated homosexuality. The court did, however, take issue with certain sections. It said violated the right to health and privacy.

CNN's David McKenzie is in Johannesburg with more. Tell us more about this decision, and as challengers could now take it to the Supreme Court, right?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think they will take it to the Supreme Court, Amara. This is certainly a bad day for them, for the activists and for the human rights lawyers who were pushing the constitutional court to get rid of this law on either procedural or legal grounds or both.

But, in fact, it was a very strident victory for those pushing this homophobic law in Uganda that, as you say, is very draconian measures against those who identify with the LGBTQ community. Now, most of those provisions still stand in the law.

As you mentioned, there is some issues of health and privacy that they struck down from the law, but it is certainly a very difficult day for those living in Uganda from that community, many of whom have fled into other nations like Kenya and here in South Africa because of the persecution they face. Now, the legal persecution they face in that country. Amara?

WALKER: Yes, and the death penalty. It's just incredible.

David McKenzie in Johannesburg. Thank you so much.

Still to come, urgent rescue efforts in Taiwan following its most powerful earthquake in a quarter of a century. We will have a live report ahead.

And the battle over the border. The state of Texas tries to convince a U.S. appeals court to let it do a job ordinarily reserved for the federal government.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:30:02]

WALKER: Right now, rescue crews are trying to reach dozens of potential survivors who may be trapped the majority of them in tunnels following Taiwan's most powerful earthquake in 25 years. Officials say at least nine people were killed and more than 900 injured with the 7.4 magnitude quake struck the eastern side of the island.

Dozens of buildings have collapsed and military troops have been dispatched for disaster relief. You can see that building there just leaning on the edge. The quake was followed by strong aftershocks and more are expected after over the next several days, possibly reaching a 7.0 magnitude.

CNN's Hanako Montgomery joining us now live from Tokyo. What is the latest? It is evening 8 30 p.m. there in Taiwan. What do we know about what's happening with the rescue operations?

MONTGOMERY: Yes, Amara. You know, like you mentioned, really, really shocking images and footage coming out of Taiwan. So in terms of the latest information that we have about the scale of devastation like you mentioned, we know that at least nine people have been killed and also more than 900 people have been left injured because of this really powerful earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks that just shook Taiwan.

Now, we also know that in terms of the nine people that were killed, all of them were found dead in Hualien County, which is very close to the epicenter and it's located on the Eastern Coast of Taiwan. Now, a bit of context about Hualien County, because it was very close to the epicenter, we're seeing the largest scale of devastation here in this specific part of Taiwan.

We also know that it's a really tourist hotspot. It's also a rural area and also where coincidentally most of Taiwan's earthquakes occur. Now we also know from Taiwanese authorities that right now 137 people are still trapped in Hualien County. They're saying that a majority of them are in a mining area and rescue operators are desperately trying to get those people out and to safety.

They're doing this by -- the Taiwanese government dispatching military troops and also working with local governments trying to get to those people, trying to get some kind of communication to them. Now, Taiwanese authorities are also worrying about those aftershocks like you mentioned. We could be seeing several in the next few days of some, you know, with magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 7.0, which is really, really significant.

And Amara, you know, as someone who lives in a really seismically active country, Japan, these aftershocks are no joke. They're really terrifying. They can be just as strong, if not sometimes occasionally stronger than the original earthquake. And you don't know -- you don't ever know when they're going to take place. You don't know when they're going to stop. So again, it's really traumatizing for people in Taiwan.

Also, we know that this is really just compounded by the fact that tomorrow is tomb sweeping day for much of the Chinese speaking world. Tomb sweeping day is a day when people visit their ancestors' graves and pay respects. But because of this earthquake and the aftershocks, many of their plans are disrupted, Amara.

WALKER: Yes, and you're right about these aftershocks. I mean, it just makes the rescue efforts even more urgent because, as we can see in the video, you know, there are so many buildings that are severely damaged, you know, leading on one side. And, of course, you know, you've got to get these people out who are trapped before these aftershocks take place again.

You talked about Hualien County being a tourist destination. In terms of people trapped, there are some tourists who are also trapped in the Taroko National Park. Is that correct?

MONTGOMERY: Yes, Amara, there were some tourists trapped actually in the Taroko Gorge, like you mentioned. Earlier today, actually, we heard about 75 people trapped in tunnels in Hualien County and also some tourists trapped in Taroko Gorge. Actually, of those nine people we know to be dead. Three of them were actually people who were hiking and were walking along Taroko Gorge.

So again, this is a, you know, a tourist hotspot in Taiwan. This is a really a destination for both domestic and international tourists. So it's really devastating to see such a tragic event being associated with a beautiful part of this island.

WALKER: Yes. And, and of course, the expectation is, I would imagine, Hanako, that the death toll is expected to rise?

MONTGOMERY: Yes, Amara. I mean, we're still confirming with the Taiwanese authorities about, you know, how this death toll might increase over the next few hours. Like you mentioned, you know, it's approaching night in Taiwan. So we don't know whether rescue operators will be able to detect all those who might be found dead because of this earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks.

[08:35:02]

So as as I've mentioned, you know, there are still several dozen people trapped that Taiwanese authorities are trying to get to. So we could potentially see that death toll increase. I mean, hopefully not, of course, because again, this is a really tragic thing to happen to Taiwan. The strongest earthquake that the island has seen in a quarter of a century, Amara.

WALKER: Hanako Montgomery, thank you so much. You know, the images just speak for themselves and it's just really extraordinary to see the cars shaking from the force of the earthquake and, of course, the aftermath of it all. Appreciate it. Thanks so much.

U.S. President Joe Biden says he is outraged and heartbroken over the deaths of the workers in Gaza, the aid workers. His statement on the subject Tuesday was expressed in some really blunt language. Some of the bluntest we've heard from him since the start of the war in October.

He said Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians. And he added even more tragically, this was not a stand-alone incident.

CNN's Arlette Saenz joining us now live from the White House. Arlette, tell us more about, you know, what's happening inside the White House, the conversation, and of course, these very strong comments, really rare comments that we're hearing from Biden.

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, President Biden's statement responding to the death of these aid workers for World Central Kitchen really amount to some of his sharpest language yet when it comes to criticizing Israel's approach in Gaza. A senior administration officials tell CNN that the death of these aid workers really raised the frustration of President Biden and his top advisers to a whole new level.

That was evident in the statement released by President Biden last night, where the very first words were, quote, "I am outraged," a word that he has rarely used in this conflict. The president also in his statement called out Israel for not doing more to protect civilians, including humanitarian aid workers.

He said, quote, "This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memory in terms of how many aid workers have been killed. This is a major reason why distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza has been so difficult because Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians." Incidents like yesterday simply should not happen."

The president also spoke by phone with Jose Andres, the chef who founded World Central Kitchen, to extend his condolences for the lives lost, including one dual U.S.-Canadian citizen. But this episode really lays bare more of the tensions that have been existing between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

For months now, the administration has warned Israel to take greater care to protect civilians, increasing their warnings, talking about the suffering facing the civilians, Palestinians in Gaza. And he's also pressed Israel to make it easier to get humanitarian aid in. Now, this also comes as the president is facing domestic pressure here at home with Arab, Muslim and young voters increasingly frustrated with his handling of this conflict and his relationship with Netanyahu as they've waged this campaign in Gaza.

Last night, the president hosted a meeting with a small group of Muslim leaders where one attendee told CNN that they did discuss the death of these workers. Now, this meeting was attended in part by some doctors who have recently visited Gaza to see the suffering there firsthand.

One of those doctors told CNN that he walked out of the meeting in protests and trying to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. So these are all frustrations that President Biden is hearing directly from Arab and Muslim and young voters directly.

And it also comes, as many are closely watching to see whether this incident, the death of these humanitarian aid workers, will in any way shape the president's approach going forward when it comes to his handling of the crisis, handling of Netanyahu at a time when he is facing a lot of pressure here at home.

And the international community has also expressed outrage about the way that this campaign is being waged in Gaza.

WALKER: Yes, the pressure is building, but also seemingly boiling over.

Arlette Saenz, thank you so much at the White House there for us.

Well, one of the most significant battles between a U.S. State and the federal government will be argued in front of the U.S. Appeals Court in just hours from now. At issue is a law passed by the state of Texas that allows police and courts there in the state to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.

Now, immigration has traditionally been controlled by the federal government, not individual states. So the appeals court hearing will directly address the constitutionality of the Texas law. Critics say the law will lead to racial profiling. And, of course, we've seen a lot of fear in those communities.

Now, regardless of how the appeals court rules, it is widely expected that the issue will eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

[08:40:02]

Our Rosa Flores has been following the story. She's covering the appeals court hearing in Houston, Texas. Rosa, tell us more about what we expect to hear from both sides today.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amara, good morning. What we're expecting is for both sides to get about 30 minutes of oral arguments. But if I were the state of Texas, I'd be a little nervous right now. As you mentioned, this law is very controversial. We've seen pretty much court ping pong with this law with the law going back and forth between several layers of the court.

Well, the appeals court just issued an order last week that kept SB4 blocked. Now, the oral arguments that are happening today, they're going to be in the same court. The same justices are going to be hearing oral arguments.

Now, last week, the order that was issued was a 2 to 1 vote, and in the majority opinion, the chief judge made it very clear, and she didn't have to go into all these details, but she did, in her majority opinion, she, in essence, said that her concern is the constitutionality of this law. That she doesn't believe that this law is in line with the U.S. Constitution.

Now, I want to dial back the clock a little bit because it's not just this justice who has concerns about this law being unconstitutional. It's not just Democrats. There's also a Texas senator, a Republican, when this law was being debated on the Texas Senate floor, who came out and said that he didn't believe that this law was constitutional.

Now, this is notable because this individual is not just a Texas Republican. He is a prior author of the law who said that this law was -- this bill was taken away from him, given to another Republican. And the reason why all this happened was because he was not comfortable with the clauses that were being added to this law because he was not comfortable about the constitutionality of this law, where this law was going.

Here's what he said on the Texas Senate floor. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN BIRDWELL, TEXAS STATE SENATE REPUBLICAN: And we are setting a terrible precedent for the future by invalidating our obedience and faithfulness to our Constitution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: Now, Texas Senator Birdwell went on to say that one of the things that he believed was not constitutional was a measure in this law that states -- that the state of Texas has the power to deport individuals. He specifically said that under the U.S. Constitution, that's a power left to the federal government.

Well, guess what the majority opinion from the appeals court also said. Something very similar. I'm going to read it to you. It says, quote, "The Texas removal provision," -- meaning deportation -- "bestows powers upon itself that are likely reserved to the United States," i.e. the federal government.

Now, this chief judge goes even further and says to the state of Texas, yes, I understand that you're frustrated by the immigration issue on the southern border. And the state of Texas has argued that it is being, quote, "invaded by migrants," and that the federal government is not doing enough, and that it has a right and a constitutional right to defend itself. But this chief judge specifically said that the inaction by the executive branch, by the president, in essence, federal policy, when it comes to immigration, in part, was due because of inaction by the legislature, Amara. And you and I both know that Congress has been in a gridlock and a lot of times does not fund these policies properly.

Well, that's what the chief judge said in her majority opinion, and it's the same court that's going to be hearing oral arguments today. Now, could these justices change their minds? Absolutely. But we're going to have to see.

WALKER: And that is why they're hearing -- listening to this hearing, but of course really passionate arguments on both sides. Really appreciate you breaking that down for us from Houston. Rosa Flores, thank you very much.

Still to come, a question of justice, 100 years in the making. Survivors of perhaps the worst race riot in U.S. history just want their day in court.

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[08:46:15]

WALKER: Attorneys for the last two 1921 Tulsa race massacre pleaded their case before the Oklahoma State Court on Tuesday. Both women are 109 years old and they are fighting for a chance to argue for reparations from the state for what happened more than a century ago.

So here's what we know about what sparked the massacre. It started after allegations that a 19-year-old black man had assaulted a 17- year-old white woman in an elevator. He denied the rumors, but it didn't matter. White residents of Tulsa banded together while black residents rushed to prevent the accused from being lynched. In the following hours, an estimated 10,000 person mob descended on Greenwood District, completely destroying the area known as Black Wall Street.

CNN's Omar Jimenez spoke with one of the survivors, still fighting for justice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What do you remember about the time?

VIOLA FORD FLETCHER, TULSA RACE MASSACRE SURVIVOR: People getting killed and houses, property, schools, churches, and stores getting destroyed with fire and then someone in the neighborhood saying to leave the neighborhood, if not, we're going to kill all of the black people. It just stays with me. You know, it's just the fear that I have lived in Tulsa sense, but it's -- I don't sleep all night living there.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): 109 years old mother Fletcher, as she's known, is one of only two people alive who remember firsthand what the 1921 Tulsa race massacre was like. Sitting with us alongside her grandson and niece. JIMENEZ: How do you think your life would have been different if this had not happened?

FLETCHER: I would have gotten an education to where I could get a better job, like, especially being a nurse.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): It's part of why Tuesday, lawyers for these survivors argued to the Oklahoma Supreme Court that Tulsa has to look at what the massacre survivors lost and make things right.

DAMARIO SOLOMON-SIMMONS, ATTORNEY FOR TULSA MASSACRE SURVIVORS: And we're hoping this court will give us the opportunity to prove our case.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Back in 2022 was when a judge initially allowed part of their case to move forward.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A change is coming.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Fletcher's younger brother, known as Uncle Red, also was a survivor. But in May 2023, on Viola Fletcher's 109th birthday, she was back in court fighting a new motion to dismiss the case.

FLETCHER: I didn't feel very nice about it, but I'm willing to do that again, you know?

JIMENEZ (voice-over): And she's being tested on that because a few months later the case was dismissed. So the families appealed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court where the defendants argued in part --

JOHN TUCKER, ATTORNEY, TULSA REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: These individual plaintiffs lack standing to bring a claim for public nuisance.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): Now a new chance for the survivors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): But Uncle Red died before he got that chance. He passed away in October 2023 at 102 years old. His daughter is carrying on his fight. But the direct ties to what happened in Tulsa are quickly shrinking.

JIMENEZ: This now replica home represents really the only home built in the 1920s still standing. It was actually built in 1926 after the original owner's first home burned down in the 1921 race massacre. It really represents what life was actually like for many of those living in this community at the time.

JIMENEZ: The community did rebuild after the 1921 massacre. And then, this highway, built right through the heart of the district as part of federal highway acts in the 60s dealt it a final blow.

MICHELLE BURDEX, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, GREENWOOD CULTURAL CENTER: The highway separated the business district from traffic flow, from access.

[08:50:03]

JIMENEZ: What is this highway represent to you?

BURDEX: The second destruction of Black Wall Street.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): It adds up to about a century lost for families trying to do what families are supposed to do -- give the next generation a solid head start.

IKE HOWARD, OLDEST GRANDSON OF VIOLA FORD FLETCHER: Instead of having a leg up for my father and my father having a leg up for me, all we had was setbacks.

JIMENEZ (voice-over): And he says it can be traced to his grandmother in 1921. Now, throughout the interview, his grandmother's hearing wasn't always perfect.

HOWARD: He said, even after everything happened --

JIMENEZ (voice-over): He often had to repeat my questions, but as we wrapped up --

JIMENEZ: All right, you look great, you sound great.

FLETCHER: Well, good.

JIMENEZ: Oh, you heard that? How was that?

JIMENEZ (voice-over): She still has hope. The other 109-year-old survivor is Lessie Benningfield Randle. Her family told CNN, in part, "We plead for this case to advance. Let us honor them while they're still with us."

FLETCHER: I think we should get justice to be fair, and I think the court should feel the same way.

YVONNE KAUGER, OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: When I went to high school, I knew about the Trail of Tears, but Greenwood was never mentioned. And so, I think regardless of what happens, that you're all to be commended for making sure that that will never happen again, that it will be in the history books.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JIMENEZ (on-camera): Regardless of what happens, well, it's now in the hands of the Oklahoma Supreme Court justices to make this decision. And it's not just the city of Tulsa that's being sued here, it's also the Tulsa Regional Chamber, the Oklahoma Military Department, basically any other department or group that these survivors feel are responsible here.

But just to put things in perspective, we're not just talking about if the Supreme Court justices agree, then the survivors get their reparations and then it's a happy ending for them. This is just for the right to go to trial because if the Supreme Court justices side with these survivors, it just goes right back down to a lower district court and then they begin the process toward a trial, which as we know, takes time.

And both of these survivors are 109 years old. It's time that they may not have a lot of left.

Omar Jimenez, CNN New York.

WALKER: But they sure do have a lot of fights still left in them. Omar, what an incredible story. Thank you.

Still to come, people in the U.S. are scrambling to lock in their plans for next week's total solar eclipse. We've got tips from some hardcore eclipse watchers next.

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WALKER: Some of the biggest names in music are calling on the industry to protect artists from the threat posed by artificial intelligence. More than 200 artists including Billie Eilish, Kasey Musgraves, Ja Rule and Jon Bon Jovi have signed an open letter addressed to developers and tech companies. It reads in part, "We must protect against the predatory use of AI to steal professional artists' voices and likenesses, violate creators' rights and destroy the music ecosystem."

Cities in the U.S. are making preparations for next week's solar eclipse. In Arkansas, officials are getting ready for eclipse watchers to descend on that state. And that means putting more emergency personnel in place to make sure things go smoothly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY COY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR, CRAIGHEAD COUNTY: We've kind of been putting out ahead of time to kind of treat this, especially if you live here, treat this like a winter storm event. For instance, the fire department, they may change from taking a big engine to a medical call to taking more of a a truck or an SUV to a medical call that allows them to get there a little easier and a little quicker.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[08:55:21]

WALKER: Meanwhile, in Maine, the governor says her state has been preparing for the eclipse since last year, and that state is expecting up to 40,000 visitors.

In Texas, people are counting on tourism dollars to boost the local economy. One restaurant in the city of Red Oak is adding extra staff and refreshing its menu to cater to all those visitors.

Make sure to join us Monday for the total solar eclipse as it travels from Mexico across America and into Canada. Our special coverage starts at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. That's 5:00 p.m. London, 8:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi.

And that is our time. Thanks so much for being with me here on CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Amara Walker. "CONNECT THE WORLD" with Eleni Giokos is up next.

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