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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Israel Announces 7-Hour Cease-Fire; Second Ebola Patient Coming to U.S.; Obama Hosts African Leaders

Aired August 04, 2014 - 04:00   ET

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

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: Israel implementing a cease-fire unless Hamas fires first. The death toll rising in the bloody weeks on conflict. Is there any end in site? Live team coverage from the ground in Gaza and Jerusalem, ahead.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Ebola outbreak out of control in West Africa. Health officials warning this deadly virus could soon go global. This as one infected American recovers in a Georgia hospital. A second soon to join him. We are live with the latest developments.

FEYERICK: Good morning, everyone. And welcome to EARLY START. I'm Deborah Feyerick, in for Christine Romans.

BERMAN: And I'm John Berman. Great to see you today.

It is Monday, August 4th. It's 4:00 a.m. in the East. We'd like to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world.

FEYERICK: And we begin with more international condemnation of Israel. After Sunday's deadly bombing and another U.N. shelter in Gaza left 10 people dead. The State Department calling the attack disgraceful. The U.N. going a step further, describing it as moral outrage and a criminal attack. Israel announcing it is now suspending most of its fire, opening what it calls a seven-hour humanitarian window that started just an hour ago.

John Vause begins our coverage, live from Gaza.

And, John, does Hamas seem to be willing to support this cease-fire? And if so, what can actually be physically achieved in seven hours?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point, Hamas says they will not go along with the cease-fire. In fact, they say they don't trust the Israelis. They believe this is just an attempt to divert attention away from what happened at that U.N. school, which is being used as a shelter down in Rafah. The Israelis say they were, in fact, targeting three members of the Islamic jihad, another militant group here in Gaza, as they're on a motorcycle. Apparently, they passed near the front gates of the school when a missile was fired. Nine people, according to Palestinian officials here died from shrapnel after that missile was fired.

As for what can be done during that seven-hour cease-fire, if you like, that unilateral cease-fire -- well, they need to get aid into here, they need to get tents, they need to get medical supplies into Gaza, they need to work out some way to try and get the water back on, they need to maybe even try to fix the electricity situation here.

So, there's a long list. Not much can be done. But at least they can get the tents and emergency shelter into Gaza. We know that at least according to the Palestinians here, more than 10,000 homes have been destroyed in the past few weeks.

Also, Deborah, we are hearing reports at this stage about 20 minutes after that humanitarian window went into effect, there was some kind of strike here in Gaza City, we're not entirely sure who was behind it, whether it was, in fact, an Israeli strike, whether it was a Hamas rocket which went astray. But what we are told is a home has been hit in an area known as a Shati beach camp. It's a refugee camp.

At least 30 people have been hurt, many of them, women and children. Doctors are treating the wounded. We are contacting the military to see what may or may not have happened -- Deb.

FEYERICK: And, John, just quickly, who supplies the tents and the food. Is it the Palestinian Authority, is it Israel, is it Egypt, is it other groups? Where does that come from?

VAUSE: Right now, I know the Red Cross and Red Crescent are certainly trying to get supplies into Gaza. They had three trucks waiting at the border yesterday, trying to cross because of the ongoing fighting turned around. In the past, when they had cease-fires, the Israeli's sent in aid. We also know that there has been shipments coming in from other aid organizations around the world.

So, you know, it is a multiple number of agencies and governments which try to get aid into Gaza. My understanding is getting aid in here has not been a political issue. It is just one of safety, trying to get those trucks across the border.

FEYERICK: And, finally, also, John, Israel suggesting there may be an end to the ground war in Gaza. Is there a suggestion of that or indication from where you are?

VAUSE: Yes, certainly, apart from this incident at the Shati beach camp, which we are looking into, it has been very quiet, at least from where we are. And we certainly have seen the dust on the horizon as the tanks and troops have been pulling back towards the Israeli border. These ground troops, many of them out actually of Gaza and being redeployed.

There's still a lot of activity down south, around Rafah. That is a close military zone, we're told. Israeli troops continue with the operation to find the last of these Hamas tunnels and destroy them.

The feeling is that once that is done, once the ground troops are out, then, as sad as it seems, it goes back to business as normal, business as usual. Hamas will fire their rockets and Israel will go to blocking them. Kind of how it was before the troops moved in -- Deborah.

FEYERICK: All right. John Vause for us there in Gaza, thanks so much.

BERMAN: As John mentioned, right now, this conditional seven-hour cease-fire is supposed to be in place. As John also said, it does seem that Israel is redeploying its ground troops in Gaza. One of the big questions now, though, is, is Israel ready to start negotiating, talking, looking for more permanent settlement here?

Our Saima Mohsin is live in Jerusalem this morning.

Good morning, Saima.

SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

I think just yet, talks are quite far away, of course. The Israelis didn't even go to Cairo for those planned talks that were due to take place in the 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire that we should have had over the weekend. Palestinian delegation arrived in Cairo. I assume turned back.

There is no talk of talks just yet until, as far as the Israelis are concerned, but Hamas stops firing rockets into Israel. Hamas says they won't stop because they have the right to defend themselves, as Israelis say they have the right to defend their nation. And because of Operation Protective Edge continuing, particularly the ground operation is continuing.

We should point out, as well, John, this morning, that the precise nature of this cease-fire is also controversial. First of all, it was announced unilaterally by Israel. Israel declared a cease-fire. We understand from Hamas that there was no discussion or agreement from their side to it.

And, of course, then, for want of a better word, call it a selective cease-fire or limited one, because Israel pointed out, this does not apply to Rafah, the area we have seen so much fighting in. That we haven't seen over the last few weeks, but we have seen an escalation in over the last few days here.

And then, Israeli soldiers will not stop operating in the areas they are already in. So, that means there is -- there may well be some fighting in the area. Although Israel is saying they will not strike unless they are struck themselves.

But, of course, if Hamas doesn't agree to the cease-fire and they see this as an operation that is continuing in their territory, whether it'd be decommissioning the tunnels or whatever, we are likely to not see this cease-fire make it through the seven hours. And, of course, we must remember, in all of this, it's called a humanitarian cease- fire because there are thousands of people affected by this, almost 10,000 injured that need to get medical treatment, many -- hundreds of thousands in shelters trying to get out, get to their homes, assess the damage -- John.

BERMAN: Saima Mohsin for us in Jerusalem, thanks so much. As you say, Saima, this cease-fire, at best is conditional, temporary and partial. Our thanks to you. FEYERICK: And the second American infected with Ebola is expected to

be flown to the U.S. tomorrow. Officials in Liberia confirm that Nancy Writebol will depart with a medical evacuation team. She is said to be holding her own and in good spirits.

Her colleague, Dr. Kent Brantly, is already receiving treatment at Atlanta's Emory Hospital. His condition is described as improving. Doctors in Emory insisting that there was no choice but to bring the two patients back to the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. JACK KEARSE, EMORY UNIVERSITY: 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 supportive care much better than can be supplied in their current environment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And Isa Soares is tracking the latest developments live from London.

And so, what are you hearing about the move to bring the people back and what that suggests for other who may become infected?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Deborah.

What we're hearing is a specialized air ambulance with an isolation unit already made its way to Liberia to go and pick up aide writer Nancy Writebol. It's a similar set up we saw with Dr. Kent Brantly. The flight is expected to land some time on Tuesday. We haven't been given the specifics so far.

But, really, Nancy Writebol would join Dr. Kent Brantly at Emory University Hospital. We saw the images over the weekend of really the doctor arriving back in an ambulance. We saw someone in a white suit walking out, the first kind of tentative steps. We were told that Dr. Kent Brantly was the one that kind of walked into the hospital. We assume the pictures we have been looking at is the doctor.

We've been told that he's in good spirits. He was able to speak to his wife for 45 minutes, of course, through a glass wall. She said, I'm quoting him, "He's in great spirits and he's so grateful."

The doctors, meanwhile, saying that he was able to talk, able to converse. All signs are very encouraging. We've also heard, Deborah, that he's been given an experimental serum before leaving Liberia. We don't know the details of that serum.

All this points to very encouraging signs. And doctors at Emory University Hospital basically tell us they are all cautiously optimistic that they can really have a good -- that both cases have a good chance of recovery.

Emory University Hospital has fantastic capabilities. It, you know, has its unit. For more than 10 years, they have treated a case of SARS previously. They have a system where it's so isolated.

You know, they have to have a special system of air that really doesn't affect the rest of the hospital. They also have an intensive care unit where basically it's isolated from the hospital and they have patients -- they have experts in this field that really rivals many other countries. So, they are in good hands and for now, at least, it looks as though both are sharing positive signs -- Deborah.

FEYERICK: Certainly encouraging, and clearly, he's the first known patient with Ebola to be treated in the U.S. with this experimental serum. There's talk of a potential vaccine some time soon.

Isa Soares, thank you so much.

BERMAN: A Tennessee doctor who treated Ebola patients in West Africa has placed himself in quarantine inside his own home. Dr. Alan Jamison worked in the same Liberian hospital where Dr. Kent Brantly contracted Ebola. And even though he is showing no symptoms, he plans to remain in isolation for 21 days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ALAN JAMISON, SELF-QUARANTINED IN TENNESSEE: The risk was becoming greater and greater. And the concern is if I were to contract the infection while I was there, I would not have the facilities available for a better level of treatment that are available in the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Dr. Jamison has kept himself quarantined since July 25th. He admits he did come in contact with his daughter when she picked him up at the airport, but claims he has not had contact with anyone else since.

FEYERICK: And President Obama is getting set to welcome African leaders to Washington for a three-day summit. It's part of an effort to get big American companies to consider larger roles in Africa. The meetings come despite the backdrop of growing problems in African nations including militant gains in Nigeria and the Ebola outbreak, which forced leaders of Liberia and Sierra Leone to cancel their trips.

BERMAN: It's a timely discussion to be sure.

Happening right now, we have new developments for people in the Midwest. The tap water ban in parts of Ohio. Toxic algae poisoning the water supply for nearly half a million people. There are breaking developments we'll tell you about just ahead.

FEYERICK: Plus, breaking news in California. A deadly mudslide leaving hundreds trapped this morning. The very latest, next.

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BERMAN: A 400,000 residents of Toledo, Ohio, are waiting to hear when they can drink their tap water again. Overnight, results are in and the ban on the tap water does remain in place. The order to stay away from the city water supply came Friday after a type of algae that gives off a harmful toxin called microsystem was found in Lake Erie where the city supply originates.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't treat it from the lake. They have to find a way to treat it in the inlets. That's where the issue is coming in. How do you get it out? Because as you know, you can't boil it and you can't put too toxic of a chemical in to treat it, because then you have another problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: It may come from run offs from farms in Lake Erie. Stores quickly sold out of bottled water after the announcement on Friday. And Toledo public schools have now canceled all athletic practices and summer meal programs for today.

FEYERICK: And in southern California, heavy rain and mudslides shut down the San Bernardino town of Forest Falls. Flash floods carrying heavy debris cut off roads to the area and there's been at least one person killed. As many as 500 children at a church camp are trapped. Rescue teams are bringing in bulldozers in an attempt to reach them by tonight.

BERMAN: Meanwhile, a different story. A state of emergency in northern California. Thousands of firefighters battling 14 large wildfires. About 117,000 acres have been scorched so far, with eight homes destroyed and hundreds more threatened. Officials are forced to evacuate patients from a long term care facility in the town of Bernie. That's about 200 miles north of Sacramento.

FEYERICK: And tropical storm Bertha is gathering strength in the Atlantic. It may become the second hurricane of the 2014 season, in the next 24 to 48 hours. It is not expected to make land fall moving past the Bahamas Sunday and now, curving a little bit to the north there and the Northeast. It could brush the Atlantic coast of Canada as a post-tropical cyclone later in the week.

BERMAN: Seventeen minutes after the hour. More bodies pulled from the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Investigators working overtime to work the crash site as the war between Ukraine and pro- Russian rebels rages all around them. We are live in Ukraine with what's happening, right after the break.

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BERMAN: Devastation in southern China. At least 381 people killed by a powerful earthquake Sunday in Yunnan Province. More than 1,800 injured. Officials are now looking frantically for survivors in the rubble, about 12,000 homes that collapsed. Rain and thunderstorms complicating these efforts to bring in relief, tents and water, also food for survivors. FEYERICK: And Iraq's largest dam and a key oil field are now in

control of Sunni militants. They also seized three more towns in heavy fighting with Kurdish forces. By taking over the Mosul, Sunni fighters now have the ability to flood major cities or withhold water from them in their bid to topple Iraq's Shiite-led government.

BERMAN: The remains of more victims in the attack of Flight 17 now making the long journey home. Investigators at the scene in eastern Ukraine shipping body parts to the city of Kharkiv where forensic experts are preparing to have them flown back to their loved ones.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PIETER-JAAP AALBERSBERG, HEAD OF DUTCH RECOVERY MISSION IN UKRAINE: At the moment, we are searching the area for human remains and personal belongings.

The whole area, we have five selected and prioritized spots where we expect to find most of it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Slow effort, but heroic in its own way, as the fierce fighting between the pro-Russian rebels and the army rages all around these investigators.

Kellie Morgan is live from Kiev this morning.

Kellie, what's the latest?

KELLIE MORGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, John. Well, those remains that have been sent up to Kharkiv will be leaving on a flight in just under five hours now heading to the Netherlands. The remains on board the flight are what experts recovered from the crash scene on Friday and on Saturday. They also, there will be remains found at the Donetsk morgue, that are being held at the Donetsk morgue. So, that will also be being sent back to the Netherlands.

Now, the other thing the recovery team was able to do was get access to a wagon where there were some victims' belongings, suitcases and cameras that are being held in a wagon. So, that -- those belongings will be sent on a future flight back to the Netherlands.

As for the search, they are going to be heading out to the scene again today. There is fighting, as you say, on the perimeter of that cease- fire zone where they are operating. So, difficult circumstances. The priority still is to find remains. They didn't find any remains yesterday, just belongings.

But there is concern there could be remains under the debris at the scene. That's going to require some more sophisticated equipment to be brought into the scene. But a very difficult task for these experts working under extraordinary circumstances.

BERMAN: And, Kellie, what's the status of the conflict now? There had been the sense that the Ukrainian military was consolidating some of its gains.

MORGAN: Yes, absolutely. The Ukrainian military says it has been making some significant progress in recent days in regaining rebel held territory. Its focus, really, is cutting off aid, a corridor between the main rebel centers in Donetsk and Kharkiv, and the Russian border. They really need to cut off that corridor, which is where they claim that Russia has been supplying weapons to the rebels. Of course, Moscow denies that.

Yes, the fighting continues around the city of Donetsk and Luhansk, and the experts suggest they need to get the job done as soon as possible, where it's not going to take days, it's going to take weeks to do their job at the crash scene.

BERMAN: Kellie Morgan in Kiev -- thanks so much, Kellie.

FEYERICK: And royalty and world leaders gathering in Belgium today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. Ceremonies are being held in the city of Liege, the first target of Germany's invasion in 1914. The fierce conflict there brought Britain into the war. Today's ceremony, Belgium's King Felipe will deliver an initial address, with Prince William and the presidents of France and Germany also speaking.

BERMAN: The war to end all wars, not really.

FEYERICK: We thought.

BERMAN: Yes.

Happening now: Israel withdrawing troops in Gaza, promising to cease its fire this morning unless Hamas strike first. Of course, it's temporary, conditional and partial. Can it hold, though, for any amount of time? We'll have live team coverage, next.

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