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Defense Minister Won't Put Timetable on Gaza Operation; CNN on the Scene as West Bank Clashes Escalates; Gaza Aid Worker Sees Effects of Airstrikes First Hand; Norwegian FM Speaks to CNN About Israel-Gaza Conflict; Israeli Intensifies Airstrikes on Gaza as Militants Fire More Rockets at Israeli Cities; CNN is Here to "Create a Positive Force in a World Where Cynics Abound". Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired May 14, 2021 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Well, it's 6 pm in Jerusalem. It is the same time in Gaza. It is 7 here in Abu Dhabi. Welcome back. More bombs falling more

rockets launching more people dying and now Israeli artillery fire into Gaza.

Israel getting forces in place, should it decide to launch a ground incursion into Gaza. It is unclear if Israel will make that move. But what

is clear is this. Palestinian health officials now reporting 119 people killed in Gaza this week in intense Israeli airstrikes 31 of them children.

More than 800 people are wounded upwards of 10,000 are displaced in Gaza their homes reduced to rubble some families now seeking refuge in a UN

school in Gaza City. Power is now out in much of the Gaza Strip a small area of land packed with nearly 2 million people.

Well, Israel's military says Palestinian militants have fired more than 1800 rockets towards the country over the past five days. Many have been

intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome Defense System but some have hit their targets and an 8th person there has died 200 more are injured.

So when will it end? Israel's Defense Minister says there are "Many, many more targets to attack from the Israeli side no time limit on Israeli

military operations all while international diplomacy to end this conflict spotters along".

Let's start with Nic Robertson this hour on the scene for us along the Israel/Gaza border and describe the situation where you are what you are

seeing and what you are hearing, Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, Becky, we're very close to the border. These are the tank troops, the troops infantry troops,

if you will, with--

ANDERSON: I'm going to stop you for one moment. I'm going to stop you for one moment. Nic I'm going to stop you for one moment. I do just want to get

to Bethlehem on the West Bank where Ben Wedeman is standing by let me just get to him.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky just a moments ago multiple - launcher just - dozens of valleys right over us.

They would land in all around us in fact you can see some of them around here.

They have this first what were well over 100 young Palestinians who have been here all day long, in a sort of a back and forth running battle with

Israeli forces. Now it seems that the Palestinian protesters have moved back. But this is just one of many clashes that are ongoing in the West

Bank.

We understand from the Palestinian Red Crescent, that more than 300 people have been wounded in today alone across the West Bank. And the Ministry of

Health, the Palestinian Ministry of Health says that at least 7 people have been killed. So if you look at those numbers, you look at the death toll.

What is clear is that what we've seen in Jerusalem, what we've seen over the last few days in those mixed Palestinian Israeli Jewish Israeli cities

in Israel is now being this situation is now added to that which one does - killing unrest on the West Bank in solidarity with what's going on between

Israel and Gaza, Becky?

ANDERSON: Ben, I wonder if you can just stand out of the shot whether you can get your camera man to just pan around or indeed just give us a shot of

what is going on behind you.

WEDEMAN: Yes.

ANDERSON: Looks as if he has lost his ear piece--

WEDEMAN: --around here is that some of these young men they're you know, they're teens, they're in their 20s and I realized that I probably

interviewed their fathers here years ago.

[11:05:00]

WEDEMAN: And those rarely troops up there who are guarding Rachel's Tomb, their fathers, probably we're here, or relative of them. And you get the

feeling that this is a conflict that until it's resolved, this is going to go on and on.

And these young men like this young man right here - perhaps his son will be out here protesting, as well. And therefore, unless this problem is

resolved, I think both sides need to realize that this is the fate of their children and their grandchildren until they finally resolve this problem.

The problem, of course, being the fact that between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean there is a population that is living with very little in

terms of civil rights, political rights, and therefore you will have generation after generation, protesting clashing people dying until this

problem is resolved. Unfortunately, my earpiece has disappeared. So I'm just going to have to hand it back to you, Becky.

ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman is in Bethlehem, and just before we got to Ben, I mean, he was in a cloud of what looked like sort of fog from whatever was

being fired by the Israeli forces from behind him in order to disperse those protesters on the streets.

And Ben, really, they're just giving you sort of a sense of where this is at and where it might go. And let's just remember, I mean, listening to Ben

is important. Ben has been covering the hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians for years, and I am talking decades.

So it's not like Ben is new to the situation on the ground there in Bethlehem but, he has been explaining to us what he sees is, is really a

very worrying escalation on the streets of the West Bank. And indeed, he was in Lod yesterday in an Israeli City, where we saw similar scenes, what

has been described by the Prime Minister of Israel as anarchy, intolerable on both sides and Israeli Jews attacking Israeli Arabs and vice versa.

Right, let's get you back to Nic Robertson, who we were talking to just a few minutes ago before we went to Ben. He is on the Israeli Gaza border and

Ben's narrative, of course, will be familiar to you, Nic, and what Ben is describing as a generational issue, and there on the West Bank, is also of

course, a generational issue to those residents of Gaza.

You were on the Gaza border with Israel, where there is a buildup of Israeli artillery? I don't know you want to sort of open your shot up for

us so that our viewers can see what that artillery build up as you were describing what is going on? And what are you are hearing on the ground,

Nic?

ROBERTSON: Yes, Becky, we've changed positions from where we were about an hour ago. Interestingly, those rockets being fired from Gaza, the Iron Dome

intercepts that we heard several rounds of and the fighter jets overhead last hour, it's been very quiet.

These are both armored personnel carriers, and tanks down there are lined up. And as I was talking to you before, this is the military force that has

been deployed here along the border. They can do what their political leaders tell them to do. You were just mentioning Benjamin Netanyahu, we

have just heard from him in a statement, and I think it's quite instructive.

He says, look, we said that we would go after Hamas hard and hit them hard. He said we've done that he said that they had taken to their tunnels in the

past 24 hours. And we were able to hit them in their tunnels.

We've shown he said that we can reach them and that we will continue to reach them. The language that is using that is we've hit them hard, is not

saying we have to hit them harder still. So it doesn't appear.

And I was saying this last hour, it doesn't appear at the moment from the deployment and the political language being used, that these troops are

going to be going over the border into Gaza.

But what is happening across the border in Gaza is a result of the of the strikes as a result of the rockets being fired out as a result of the

artillery that was being fired last night.

And that is that people in Gaza civilians are scared and they've been taking and taking to you and designated shelters in schools that the UN is

saying are basically too crowded. They're not big enough not fit for purpose.

[11:10:00]

ROBERTSON: So there is a concern there that while the tempo might be dropping off here, and the political language is not talking about an

escalation, per say, that fear pervades on the ground. And the death toll and casualty list on both sides here speaks to that fear and concern that

this isn't over. And we don't know where it goes from today, Becky

ANDERSON: You are our International Diplomatic Editor, and you will have been speaking to your sources behind the scenes. We are on in the

international communities. There are two fronts at present, aren't there?

There is a meeting that will be held on Sunday, perhaps even earlier now at the UN Security Council, whose members have actually failed to present a

joint statement a joint declaration and condoning violence on both sides and the Americans actually vetoing a council statement in the past couple

of days in the vetoing another meeting until now.

So we know that member states will meet over the weekend to discuss what they believe needs to happen next. And we have regional mediation efforts

going on and Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, for example and certainly speaking to Israelis and Palestinians, if not actually on the ground.

What's your sense of what is going on behind the scenes and how big a window the international community and other regional leaders are giving

the Israeli government at this point?

ROBERTSON: You know, I would refer to Benjamin Netanyahu again, who spoke really about this just a few minutes ago. He said that he thanked not only

President Joe Biden, but Emmanuel Macron in France, Boris Johnson in London, he didn't name them, but he said France and the UK and President

Biden and Germany and Austria for standing up and saying that Israel has the right to self defense.

And I think this gets to that answer that the Prime Minister of Israel still believes he has a window to continue to respond militarily, rather

than turn to diplomacy yet, Becky.

ANDERSON: Nic Robertson's on the border. Nic, your insight is invaluable, of course. Thank you. Let's get you back to Ben Wedeman who we spoke to

just moments ago. He is in the midst of what are these clashes on the West Bank joining us now live.

Ben, you didn't have your earpiece in earlier on. So you and I couldn't communicate. But you were describing what is going on the ground and your

analysis of just where this goes next? You just described what we are seeing now.

WEDEMAN: Becky, Becky. Yes, well, let me tell you what you're seeing this. This is really fires multiple rounds of tear gas. It's moved forward. It's

been racks are raining down around it. The troops are now getting back - get back into the vehicle.

I just heard what sounded like live fire, multiple live fires. And anyway, these rocks are just pouring down around and I think any moment now it's

going to fire with the tear gas. And as I was always saying in the previous lives, this has been a day of intense crashes across the West Bank.

There are racks coming all down around this watch your head. And yes, it's pretty crazy scene here, Becky. There is tear gas right across the street

is landed. Our producer getting started just got hit on the head with the rock. But fortunately, he's wearing his helmet to put a helmet on Richard

to keep his deer head safe.

So yes, this is the scene let's move a little bit out just to get a look. So the Israeli - is right there. And the rocks going in the direction of

the Israelis, the Israelis are firing back with tear gas. And, yes, it still hasn't fired. It's a barrage of tear gas. But yes, OK, Becky, if you

have a question, asks away.

[11:15:00]

ANDERSON: Ben, I'm just going to stay on these on these images for a moment. As you and I discuss, as we have been doing now over the past 48

hours, and your experience of scenes, perhaps not necessarily like this but your experience of these hostilities and your concerns about where this

goes from here.

WEDEMAN: This is a sort of the curse of this holy land so to speak. That generation after generation is destined to fight one another until this

problem is someday resolved. And when we've seen going back to 1993, with the Oslo Accords, which was an attempt brokered by the United States to

resolve this conflict, after a few years, it fell apart.

And since then, basically, since the Second Palestinian Intifada that broke out in September of 2000. It has been this, there has been violence, and

there has been death on both sides, massive destruction. There have been some half hearted attempts to resolve the issue.

But essentially, goes on and on and on. And certainly when you speak to people my age on both sides, there's a certain weariness that their

children have had to live through this and their grandchildren probably will.

And so it's depressing, that somehow this problem cannot be resolved. I mean, the reasons for that are many, and I don't think we have enough time

to get into them. But this is reality. This is reality. When you hear diplomats and former peacemakers talking about things like the two states

solution it's a pipe dream.

It was tried it didn't work. It's time for something new. Is that a one state solution? I don't think there's the political desire among the

leaders on both sides for that. But certainly, what is the other solution? I don't know, Becky, I just don't know.

ANDERSON: Well, a bi-national state while we are seeing these sorts of scenes certainly seems as much of a pipe dream, as many will say the two

states solution is at present. And Ben thank you. Ben Wedeman and his team are in the West Bank in Jerusalem.

It's been a busy, what, 17 minutes and we are just learning that protests took a violent turn in Jordan today. Police fired tear gas to keep

protesters away from the border with the West Bank. Protests have been going on all week in Jordan against the Israeli strikes in Gaza, and the

Israeli government's actions against Palestinians in Jerusalem.

And we are well aware, we've been reporting on this now, for days that this current uptick, this current escalation in violence, ultimately, that which

we are seeing between Israel and Gaza, and ultimately, starting with the hostilities, disturbances clashes in Jerusalem at the Al Aqsa Mosque, and

indeed, with the protests and demonstrations against the evictions of Palestinians from homes in East Jerusalem. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Well, much of Gaza is depending on generators and other power sources, for now at least after Israeli airstrikes took out much of Gaza's

electricity grid. The Gaza electricity distribution company says crews are desperately trying to reconnect that power.

My next guest is one of the many Gaza residents who have had to flee their homes Yousef Hammash she has been posting pictures of the destruction that

he has seen in one tweet, he makes a plea for peace.

We deserve a better life. Gazans are human beings he says. Yousef Hammash works for the Norwegian Refugee Council and lives in Gaza. He saw his

apartment building hit once on Tuesday, then again, on Wednesday. He joins us live from Gaza.

And I am so sorry for everything that is happening to you, your family, your colleagues and those other residents of Gaza, those who are going

about their business in an innocent way. Describe what you are going through? Just describe what your experience has been over the past few

days?

YOUSEF HAMMASH, GAZA ADVOCACY OFFICER, NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL: OK, Becky this is a situation of thousands of people in Gaza who had to flee their

houses and facilities. On Tuesday at 6 pm I was at my house with my pregnant wife and my three year old daughter when drawn airstrike has hit

the apartment below my apartment.

So I had to escape as soon as I can because usually as we understand, during the escalation when Israeli air forces attack by drone airstrike,

it's going to be followed by war plane. So all what I was thinking is just to escape from that place and have to deal with my three year old daughter

who was breaking out my pregnant wife, who I had to flee and escaped to my parents' house and the same neighborhood

Then the first night there which was crazy night, one of the longest night I ever lived, like most of that is because of the north area when the

Israeli air forces attacked by 30 airstrikes in one minute on one place. That was insane experience.

The next day, I went back to my apartment to check the damage that had been happen and I need to take some clothes. This is the only T-Shirt I have.

This is my outfit for now. So I went to my house to bring some stuff also for my wife.

Directly after I entered the apartment, they attack the same house below my apartment again. So I had to escape one more time to my family house at the

same neighborhood. And we lived one of another night of the craziest night we ever lived.

So we decided that next day to flee from my family house to my grandparents' house and settle here convincing ourselves that we're going

to be much safe. I don't know what they think. But we went there so I spent there - so and after that a lot of other relatives had to move and to flee

from other places to my grandparents' house.

So there were lots of people. So I had to go to my father in law house with the fourth house that I have to flee in four days in normal.

ANDERSON: How do you cope?

HAMMASH: I have to cope. This is not only my situation, this is for example, and we as Norwegian Refugee Council one of our main work were to

serve the displaced people. But now as we became the people, I and other several colleagues had to clear up their apartment, we are just trying to

cope as other 2 million people outside. This is not my only situation Becky.

ANDERSON: What's the impact if the electricity grid is hit? And or well, what's the impact when you do not have electricity in Gaza? Is that is the

fear at this point?

HAMMASH: Exactly the Israelis imposed a siege on Gaza for the past 14 years. And we had 4 hours of electricity sometimes - sometimes it increases

to 8 hours, then it became again 2 hours sometimes they sometimes for a few days we don't have it.

So I think Gazans are really aware of this issue of electricity. It became part of our life for the past 14 years that we are having electricity

cutting every day. But under this condition under this hostility escalation bombing everywhere and without electricity trust me Gazans are afraid from

the night day by day they want to live the day and they don't want the night to come every day. This is story of 2 million people that are afraid

from the night.

[11:25:00]

ANDERSON: Let me ask you what sort of support does Hamas an organization designated as a terror group? What sort of support does it have for its

actions in firing nearly 2000 rockets indiscriminately into Israel?

HAMMASH: OK, Becky, I'm a humanitarian and I work on international organization. We are not really - it's not our sector to think or to talk

about it. I'm not really involved in any political party so as we are - we should, I'm a Gazans, but we are forced to be neutral to serve these

communities that we are working with across the world.

Not only our issue on Palestine everywhere, as an - your council staff we are not interfered in the political scene. But I can say that there are

others 2 million Gazans doesn't have any matter with this issue. They are just being born and under this condition for a few days, and they doesn't

have any choice. It's not by their choice, actually to be in the situation.

ANERSON: Do you see a future for you and your family in Gaza?

HAMMASH: We are hoping. Yesterday we live - I didn't imagine that I'm going to wake up the next day like the house or the north of Gaza where the

Israeli airstrike did 450 airstrikes in 30 minutes everywhere in the north area of Gaza.

So again we are hoping to live day by day until this escalation finish. And then we start to think our future. But this - must stop then I think I will

start to plan for a nice future, I hope.

ANDERSON: Do you have any sense of optimism that, you know, despite how bad things are, this has been a significant uptick significant escalation in

hostilities? Do you hold any optimism that there will be peace between Israel and the Palestinians going forward? Whether that be a one state or

two states? What is the solution at this point?

HAMMASH: Becky, as Gazans we are living this situation since years. This is not the first escalation here. We are - we are experienced this kind of

hostilities and escalations for about - when I'm 29 years old, I live now - my three years daughter have witnessed more than any child in this planet

can witness.

And as Gazans this narrow piece of land that 350 to 350 or 40 kilometer, which contains 2 million people, they are looking for any sorts of

solution. They just want to live their lives as normal people. They want - take of the siege, freedom of movement, just as I said you mentioned my

tweets, we deserve a better life as human beings.

We don't - personally, I don't care two states solution one state solution. We just want to live. This is all the Gazans what they're hoping to

continue their life, as normal people on this planet that as 7 billion people are living on this planet. That is 2 million people, but they just

need to live same life, same right. That's it.

ANDERSON: We wish you the best for you, your kids, your wife and your family. And please stay safe. And please stay in touch. And we hope to

significant de escalation.

HAMMASH: I hope this escalation finish soon. And by the end of our interview, I really hope that the international community do their duty and

stop this escalation immediately to stop the loss of life and loss of civilian infrastructure.

And also we are hoping in the mid time in immediate time that the Israeli allowing for the first aid responders and humanitarian aid to go into Gaza.

And also we are hoping that this is not going to be continued and if it's finished soon. It's not going to be our situation more in the coming months

or years as what we are seeing since this.

ANDERSON: Yes. Listen, what we hope for peace for all and there is no doubt about that. I'm sure you feel the same way you are looking for a decent

life and that means peace for everybody, of course. Thank you.

HAMMASH: Thank you.

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: Well, the push for peace in this Middle East crisis, or at least a de escalation of what is this current violence, the Norwegian Foreign

Minister tells me what she thinks can be done that is just the ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: The Israeli Palestinian violence pulling the U.S. focus back to this region of the Middle East. President Joe Biden expressing support for

Israel's right to defend itself. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: There has not been a significant overreaction. The question is how we get to a point where they

get to a point where there is a significant reduction in the attacks, particularly the rocket attacks that are indiscriminately fired into

population centers?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, last hour, I spoke to a U.S. Democratic Congresswoman who says her government must be held accountable for the nearly $4 billion in

aid it sends each year to Israel. And there's been largely ignoring the plight of the Palestinians she says under Israeli occupation, take a

listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETTY MCCOLLUM, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRAT: For far too many years, the federal government here in the United States has turned a blind eye to the

expansion of settlements turned a blind eye when Israel passed its Jewish state law, which made Arab citizens who are citizens of Israel become

second class very similar to Jim Crow laws that we've outlawed and worked hard to ban here in the United States.

So the occupation is the underlying problem here. And the United States has to be an honest broker and ending this occupation and also making sure

those Palestinian basic human rights are protected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that's Congresswoman - Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum. The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations confirms that the UN

Security Council does plan to meet on Sunday to discuss this escalating violence. Diplomat say the U.S. objected to a call to hold the meeting

today.

Well, the U.S. Secretary of State saying he hopes for a real de escalation by waiting for a few days. The Norwegian Foreign Minister has been pushing

for this Security Council meeting in the country has a long history of talking to both sides in this conflict. I started by getting a reaction to

the scenes of violence unfolding on the ground. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

INE ERIKSEN SOREIDE, NORWEIGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I think it's absolutely terrible for everyone to see what is happening with a very deteriorating

situation where the level of violence escalating, and there is human suffering and loss of human lives on both sides.

[11:35:00]

SOREIDE: And that is also why Norway and other countries have been very eager to emphasize the need for de escalation and also to restore calm.

There's a need for an immediate ceasefire, because this cannot go on. We can run the risk of this entering into a full scale war, if de escalation

doesn't happen.

ANDERSON: The Israelis told me on this show yesterday that they were not interested in a ceasefire, your response?

SOREIDE: I think everyone needs to focus now on what can be done to de escalates the situation? And I see that the comments from members of the

Security Council have been very unanimous in the very urgent call for ceasefires and de escalation.

And my very clear impression is that all council members are interested in constructive dialogue and no member has really shut the door to any kind of

action or statement. We are still hopeful, since this is ongoing work, that it will be possible to also have a council statement.

But the most important thing right now for us has been to call for another meeting that is scheduled to take place on Sunday morning. But given the

situation on the ground, of course, it could be changes in the schedule to have the meeting even sooner. That would be I think a good solution right

now.

ANDERSON: Foreign Minister, what should the official statement say?

SOREIDE: There is no doubt that Israel has the right to self defense, but it also has the obligation to have a proportional self defense. At the same

time, we have been condemning attacks on civilians on both sides, we have been very clear also in much of the civilian suffering and the plight that

has taken place on the Palestinian side for a long time.

And I've had a very good dialogue both with the Americans with my Israeli colleague and also with my Palestinian colleagues over the last days, to

give the same message to them and also to, to make them aware of and understand that Norway, together with other council members will hold this,

this issue high on the agenda because it's a very, very serious situation. And if we do not de escalate now, and if there is no ceasefire, we run the

risk of a full scale war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that the Norwegian Foreign Minister. Well, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the region is Lynn Hastings. And she issued a

statement calling for this fighting to stop to avoid more deaths and injuries. And she called the situation quite alarming.

I talked with Hastings a short time ago about the prospects for de escalation. That's the word you're hearing a lot of isn't it at this point,

and those that may be able to help that happen. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LYNN HASTINGS, U.N. DEPUTY SPECIAL COORDINATOR FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS: I, of course, speak to the Americans on the ground all the time,

the special coordinator himself is in touch with the Americans at different levels. The Americans are sending their envoy he arrived last night.

And so there are discussions on going there. There are obviously discussions ongoing between our offices in New York, with the ISFY as well,

so that type of communication is going on several times a day. There's no doubt about that at all.

Of course, we are calling for an immediate de escalation now, which means we want both parties to stop firing missiles or rockets and whether or not

that happens over the next 48 hours. We cannot say right now. But that is our goal. And that is what we as the United Nations have been asking them

to do.

ANDERSON: The Israelis told me during this show yesterday that they were not interested in a ceasefire. Where does that put negotiations at this

point and any prospect of a de escalation?

HASTINGS: It obviously makes the negotiations very difficult if that is their position, but that's what negotiations are all about. To continue to

go back to the table to come up with ideas about how we can achieve this de escalation?

One of the ways of course, is to at least let humanitarian assistance in so we can bring people in take some non essential stuff out and as I said

before bringing the fuel the health kits, and the water and sanitation kits and also food.

ANDERSON: By vetoing a statement and a meeting at the UNSC have Joe Biden has the U.S. effectively green lit Israeli action on the ground at this

point to your mind?

HASTINGS: Well, we would have as I said we prefer - we are calling for de escalation. That's where it's should be right now. I don't know whether or

not this has green lit or not and that will remain to be seen?

[11:40:00]

HASTINGS: We would like all parties to stop now. We as the UN are calling for that, and we don't see any reason for any delay.

ANDERSON: You will have spoken to the Israelis, and indeed I assume the Palestinians, you tell me, have you spoken to Hamas, for example? If so,

what are those stakeholders telling you?

HASTINGS: So the UN, again, before this escalation, and now and afterwards, we'll continue to speak to the Israelis and Hamas. As I've said, we have

staff on the ground in Gaza. We work with these types of organizations around the world to ensure that humanitarian assistance is provided. And

those discussions are ongoing.

Certainly, right now, as you pointed out, there doesn't seem to be much of an appetite for de escalation. Both sides, I think, are trying to prove

their points and obviously, well beyond that.

ANDERSON: We understand that there are mediation efforts being attempted by regional countries such as Egypt, and Qatar. What do you know about what is

going on with these key stakeholders behind the scene and how much progress if any has been made?

HASTINGS: Yes. So, of course, there are different interests across the region. And again, many of these countries in the region themselves don't

agree on the best solution. We - I can only speak to the efforts that are being made by the United Nations, bilaterally with Qatar and Egypt.

And again, those types of discussions are ongoing. There are obviously other efforts ongoing parallel to that which we aren't included in, we're

not included in the organization for Islamic Conference, for example. But as I've said, the Saudi Arabians have called for that organization to have

a meeting on Sunday to decide what their position should be, and how they will be able to contribute to a de escalation and ultimately see ceasefire?

ANDERSON: It doesn't sound as if these multi tracks are unnecessarily coordinated to your mind. Is that a problem?

HASTINGS: Not necessarily, it's always better to have one message that would be the way to do it. But again, there are different interests

throughout the world. Different member states have different interests, and they have different lever points, or leverages to actually be able to bring

about a ceasefire.

All of these member states, of course, are part of the United Nations. They're not necessarily part of the Security Council right now. But they

all play a part and then whatever their messages are through the United Nations, through the organization for Islamic conferences, through the

quartet, whatever the case may be. I wouldn't - I wouldn't discourage efforts that are trying to bring about a ceasefire.

ANDERSON: You are the Deputy Special Coordinator on Middle East Peace, that process, you could argue has been dead in the water for years. Should you

argue that actually, it does have life? What has this current escalation in violence done for that? What's the impact at this point?

HASTINGS: Well, it's obviously not good. I do want to highlight, of course, that there is a new angle this time around with the violence that is going

on inside of Israel, between Arab/ Palestinian Israelis and Israelis, Jewish Israelis, that type there are many clashes going on.

And it's bringing a new dynamic that I think, nobody really expected and isn't sure how that is going to play out and how that is actually going to

impact the Middle East peace process? It may impact it in a positive way or negative way. But we don't really know at this point.

I did just want to highlight for your viewers that that is a new element in all of this. As with previous escalations, unfortunately, they do occur,

but it has not meant that there has never been a return to the table. And as I said, I am an optimist and we will continue to work and try and

provide support to the parties to come together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: It's good to hear that the UN Representative on the ground is an optimist. We need some optimism at this point. Thank you.

[11:45:00]

ANDERSON: Coming up after the break as rockets and artillery rain down on Gaza, much of the Arab world voices their scorn against Israel's firepower

more on that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, the escalating violence between Israel Hamas and on the streets with Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs is eliciting some strong views

from the region here. Here in the UAE, the Foreign Affairs Minister calling on Israel to fall in line with international law.

Strong words from his cattery counterpart in called Israeli Aggression war crimes the Saudi Foreign Ministry also condemning the "Blatant attacks"

carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the sanctity of the Al Aqsa Mosque.

Well, the Turkish President calling on the international community to teach Israel a strong and determined lesson. Well, fire from a new direction into

Israel. The Israeli military says three rockets were fired from Lebanon. They landed in the Mediterranean near the Northern Coast of Israel. A local

Israeli official says the rockets exploded at sea.

A high ranking Lebanese source also confirmed that the rockets were fired in Lebanon. Hezbollah rally in support of Palestinians is underway. Let's

get straight to Salma Abdelaziz, who is in Beirut.

And it's not clear, when in fact, the Hezbollah as organization is denied that those rockets were fired by them. And that's certainly not what we

were suggesting in that introduction. You've been at this Hezbollah rally there in support of Palestinians in Gaza what were being said? What was the

atmosphere?

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Well, Becky, just a few moments ago, this rally did clear out it was a rather brief but very a loud rally that

occurred here in the neighborhood in Southern Beirut. This was of course, organized by the political militant group Hezbollah.

We haven't heard from Hezbollah's Chief in almost a week so really, since these events escalated. But this is one way that the group is making their

position and their voice known and loud. I spoke to one gentleman who was in the crowd; he brought his two children, his pregnant wife. He said it

was important for him to be here today, take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They sent a message to Arab world we don't ever and never can be--

ABDELAZIZ (on camera): Will never forget.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will never forget our bus.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABDELAZIZ: Now, that's just one voice of course, you're hearing here. And this again was a rally organized by Hezbollah. So a lot of the rhetoric

that you would expect they would have against their very bitter enemy Israel that they have fought multiple conflicts against accusing them of

war crimes, accusing them of crimes against humanity.

It's important to remember its Eid-Al-Fitr here. This is one of the most important Muslim holidays in the calendar year. It celebrates the end of

Ramadan, so it's not lost upon people here, Becky, that families in Gaza were spending that time under bombardment worried about their loved ones,

wondering if they're going to make it through the night.

ANDERSON: And we refer to a number of rockets being fired into or certainly from Lebanon, towards Israel, as we understand it. They fell into the sea.

What do we know about who was responsible for those?

[11:50:00]

ABDELAZIZ: That was definitely a moment of concern and a moment of worry last night, Becky, when that happened. Three rockets fired from southern

Lebanon, they did land in the Mediterranean Sea, as you've said so no civilian loss there, no infrastructure loss there.

What we know so far is that Hezbollah has not spoken on this. What we know is actually from the Lebanese military that put out a statement this

morning to say that there is three more rockets that were found in the vicinity of - campus it is a Palestinian refugee camp in Southern Lebanon.

The authorities telling us that this is not an area usually where they've seen military activities, highly unusual. They told us for this to occur

from this camp. But again, it just shows how wide ranging these tensions is? They said they are still trying to zero in on suspects.

But the key here, Becky, is the fear and concern that hate could escalate. But many here are taking comfort in the fact that Hezbollah has not claimed

responsibility that Israel has not responded so far. So the hope it's just an isolated incident, Becky?

ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. But you know you can understand the concerns. Thank you. All right, that's Salma Abdelaziz who is in Lebanon for us.

We're going to take a very short break back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: The last two hours and indeed all this week, we have heard the cries for peace from those caught up in this current conflict. And as we

often see, in conflict zones, kids are the most victimized in a reality that frankly and understandably they do not understand, but a reality that

they may have to live with for time to come. Arwa Damon looks at the effects the ongoing violence is having on Gaza's children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A sister unable to comprehend the loss of, a father gripped by gut wrenching pain a

family unable to understand why? Why did 11 year old Hussein Hammad (ph) have to die?

A Palestinian Children's Rights Organization says the cause of death is unclear. There were both rockets being fired and warplanes overhead. The

Health Ministry in Gaza says it was an airstrike in the family's mind there is no doubt.

Why did you have to kill him? His uncle asks? They kill and there is no one to make them answer for it. The whole world is watching. How can the adults

unable to cope with their own sorrow, wipe the tears of the children and reassure them that everything will be alright that this too shall pass?

Loss like this it never does two year old Yazan (ph) dead along with two siblings and a young cousin Ibrahim Hassanin (ph) also dead Hamada (ph) and

Ahmad Alamo (ph) the growing list of children forever gone. There is no escaping from Gaza a densely packed tiny strip of land under Israeli

blockade from where Hamas fires rockets towards Israel and Israel dispenses collective punishment.

[11:55:00]

DAMON (voice over): Where there are no shelters. No air raid sirens, just warnings from the Israelis that send families pouring into the streets with

what they can carry. What should we do this father asks helpless? Of course we will leave, should we wait for them to kill us and our kids?

There are no reassuring words, no tucking their children safely into bed telling them that the nightmare is over. Please, please, people have some

empathy with us. We are dying every day. This is too much another father pleads.

Israel says it strikes are precise targeting Hamas. But targeting someone in a residential apartment building is to target all of its residents. The

shockwave ripples through the neighborhood windows smash walls crack and crumble shrapnel flies. And even if they managed to flee before the

strikes, all they owned in life is reduced to rubble.

No one can promise these children that once they heal and go back home, if they even have a home to go back to that they will be safe to do so would

be alive. For this is Gaza where even if this round of bombardment does pass, the next one will always loom? Arwa Damon, CNN, Istanbul.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, for now loom on and on because we've been telling you this week, something is broken, very badly broken.

And that is why we've been covering every dimension of this story for you this week from the ground in Israel and in Gaza, and speaking to decision

makers around the world to highlight that and to help push us towards what we hope is a better future for people on both sides of this. And in doing

so I am reminded of what Ted Turner said when founding CNN more than 40 years ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED TURNER, FOUNDER, CNN: To act upon one's convictions while others wake to create a positive force in a world where cynics abound to provide

information to people when it wasn't available before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that's why we started and that's why I work here. And that's why my team works here as well to be a force for good in a world

where cynics abound the arc of justice I know is long, but it does bend towards justice and peace and that's what we want for everyone. I leave you

with a reminder of the value of it amid this scene of war. Good evening.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST: The Israeli military as bombarded Gaza with heavy artillery fire and errors. Here's what's coming up?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: This has been the scene for several hours burning tires occasionally, Israelis are firing rubber--

(END VIDEO CLIP)

END