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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Israel Faces International Outrage; Second Ebola Patient Coming to U.S.; Fighting Near Flight 17 Crash Site

Aired August 04, 2014 - 05:30   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 promising to cease fire in Gaza this morning, but, well, it may already be over. An hour ago, a refugee camp was reportedly hit by an airstrike, dozens injured.

We are live in Gaza and Jerusalem with what's happening right now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Ebola outbreak, the virus rapidly spreading, expected to go global. This as one infected American gets treatment here in the United States. Well, another soon to join him. What is the status of the outbreak?

We are live with the very latest.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. Great to see you this morning. I'm John Berman.

FEYERICK: And I'm Deborah Feyerick in for Christine Romans. It is now 30 minutes past the hour.

And after a violent, bloody weekend, Israel is being accused of violating its own cease-fire this morning with an airstrike on a Gaza refugee camp.

The Israelis have been the target of international outrage after Sunday's deadly bombing in the U.N. shelter which left 10 people dead in Gaza.

The U.S. State Department called the attack disgraceful. The U.N. went a step further describing it as a moral outrage as well as a criminal act.

Israel announcing that it is now suspending most of its fire, opening what it calls a seven-hour humanitarian window that started an hour ago.

John Vause begins our coverage live from Gaza.

And, John, it appears that the Israelis want relief agencies to be able to bring food in, but they also don't want to suspend any military operations in that area. Is that sort of -- is that correct?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That's pretty much it right now, Deborah. What we have a situation with the Israelis, they said they recognize that this is a dire humanitarian situation which is getting worse by the day here in Gaza. So relief trucks tried to cross the border from Israel into Gaza on Sunday. They couldn't get in because of the ongoing fighting so they turned back.

Now that this window is open, we assume at least trucks are now coming across the border. But they want to continue on destroying those Hamas tunnels. Essentially they want to get in and get out as soon as they can because all those soldiers inside Gaza, essentially, they remain targets of Hamas militants.

So most of that work now is heading down towards Rafah, the southern part of Gaza. That's where that school was hit on Sunday. Well, certainly outside the school was hit by an Israeli missile, though targeting three members of Islamic jihad and ended up with shrapnel flying everywhere killing at least nine other Palestinians. That's according to Gaza health officials here.

So those military operations continue on. At this point, Hamas says that they are not going to honor the cease-fire. And it seems as if they have now resumed their rocket fire. Sirens have been heard over a number of town in the southern part of Israel.

They have in fact been pretty quiet once this humanitarian window came into effect. Those rockets, I guess, being fired in the last few moments. Israel says since midnight, they have fired 23 rockets into Israel -- Deborah.

FEYERICK: Well, we'll see where that humanitarian aid goes. And hopefully it's going to the people who need it so desperately right now.

John Vause, thanks so much.

BERMAN: John was talking about the idea of rockets going out of Hamas area in Gaza into Israel. This, about two hours into this partial, conditional, temporary cease-fire that Israel did declare. Meanwhile, they do appear to be redeploying ground troops in Gaza. Israeli military officials in Jerusalem insists it's not a drawdown, it's just sort of a re-deployment.

Our Sara Sidner joins us now live from the Israel/Gaza border this morning.

First, Sara, I should ask you, are you seeing any of these rockets that John was just talking about?

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No. We are in an area that has not had any sirens since the Israeli called for cease-fire has happened. We do know that there have been three sirens that have gone off far away from us in other areas. The only thing we heard was this morning before the Israeli called for a cease-fire at 10:00 a.m., around 6:45, just over our hotel, the Iron Dome took out one of the rockets that was fired.

There were about 20 or so rockets that were fired before the cease- fire was called for. And again Hamas has said that they are not going to recognize this cease-fire. However, this is the quietest it's been for the past couple of hours before those sirens went off that we've seen in the past few weeks here. It has really been -- there was a lot of fighting yesterday, a lot of -- the sound of a lot of rockets, more than 119 rockets fired from Gaza toward Israel.

But Hamas pointing out and the Palestinian Health Ministry that there was a strike at 10:20, right, 20 minutes after the cease-fire was called for by Israel and they blame Israel for it. We talked to the IDF, the IDF not confirming that it was them responsible for the strike. They are looking into it at this hour -- John.

BERMAN: We are seeing information right now, Sara, the Israelis are claiming that a leader of Islamic jihad, an official, was killed or at least targeted in some of those strikes.

While this is happening, Sara, there is a redeployment of Israeli troops that were inside Gaza. A lot of tanks, a lot of personnel moving out or at least moving to the outskirts, it seems.

SIDNER: Right. In some areas, the Israeli military saying that they were moving some troops in some areas, telling residents that they can go back to those areas.

I can tell you what we have seen. There have been some tanks. We've also seen some troops, actually moving around. So they wouldn't say that they were leaving the area, but they were moving from right on the border back a bit. It may be that they are reshuffling, that they're changing guards, so to speak, but we have seen movement on the border of troops.

And others reporting that inside Gaza, there has been some movement there, away from certain areas where residents are being told that they can go back to those areas but still pounding away at Rafah especially overnight. We heard quite a bit of that -- John.

BERMAN: We should note, as you said, you open your report this morning, Sara, you are at the border, by mentioning it is the quietest you've seen it in several weeks. That at least the positive development. Let's hope that holds.

Sara Sidner for us on the border, appreciate it.

FEYERICK: A second American infected with Ebola is expected to be flown to the U.S. tomorrow. Officials in Liberia confirmed that Nancy Writebol will depart from a medical evacuation team. She's said to be holding her own and is in good spirits.

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. BRUCE RIBNER, 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 Isa, the doctors are going to be trying an experimental serum. Is this something that could be applied in a much larger way if it does work on these two patients?

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, it seems like, it was really heard overnight, really, Deborah, that we heard from Dr. Kent. He had received this experimental serum before coming to the U.S. in Liberia. We haven't heard as to whether the aid worker, Nancy Writebol, has also received it. But what we have heard from the doctors in the U.S. is that both Nancy and Dr. Kent are showing very positive, very encouraging signs. And they say they are cautiously optimistic about their recovery.

Now Nancy is expected to arrive sometime on Tuesday in the U.S. She will be joined -- she will be going to Emory University Hospital with alongside her colleague. We know that Dr. Kent Brantly has been making a very good recovery. So the doctors say he has been walking, he's been conversing. He actually even spoke to his wife for a period of 45 minutes and she said that he was in very good spirits and he was very grateful.

Doctors obviously cautiously optimistic about their recovery. Meanwhile, though, in West Africa, we are seeing governments really struggle to stem this deadly virus that is -- that is growing faster than you can control. The number still at more than 700, Deborah.

Governments trying to do whatever they can. Overnight, we have heard that Sierra Leone government has called today, declared the day reflection and prayer, telling people not to leave their homes and to stay at home, not to go to work, stay at home with their families.

They have deployed 750 military and medical teams. The military will be going to really bolster the checkpoints they have in place. Medical teams will be going to these villages that have been infected trying to educate them about the virus, trying to contain it. It really just goes to show how hard it is to contain this virus when you have poor medical infrastructure, then you also have people who are not very -- that don't accept the Western way, the western medicine and then you have families who are burying their dead, you know, by touching them. So trying to control this is a very, very big challenge -- Deborah.

FEYERICK: Absolutely. And the only way it appears to be able to do that is right now isolation and quarantine. But it will be interesting to see whether in fact that serum does have positive outcomes and whether it can be applied to a much broader population.

Isa Soares, thank you so much.

And happening now, a tough water ban for 500,000 people with no end in sight. New developments overnight coming up ahead.

BERMAN: Plus a deadly mudslide in California leaving hundreds stranded. We have incredible new video to show you right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: We are still waiting to learn when more than 400,000 residents of Toledo, Ohio, can drink their tap water again. Overnight test results are in and a ban on drinking water remains in place. The order to stay away from the city water supply first came on Friday after a type of algae that gives off a harmful toxin called microsystin was found in Lake Erie where the city supply originates.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From the lake. They have to find a way to treat it once it gets into their inlets. And that's where the -- 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: As you can imagine, stores quickly sold out of bottled water after the announcement on Friday. Today, Toledo public schools have canceled all athletic practices and summer meal programs that were scheduled.

FEYERICK: Thousands of firefighters battling 14 huge wildfires and a state of emergency is declared in northern California. Most of the fires have been sparked by lightning strikes. 117,000 acres scorched so far with eight homes destroyed, hundreds more threatened. Officials forced to evacuate patients from a long-term care facility in the town of Bernie about 200 miles north of Sacramento.

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

FEYERICK: And Indra Petersons has a look at your forecast.

Boy, the difference between north and south, it's pretty dramatic there in California.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Definitely dramatic. If you think of California, too, you've been thinking about these draught conditions, how dry it is. A lot of people don't understand. That's really we've been talking about farther to the west. And the mountains and deserts typically at this time of year, you get a lot of that monsoonal moisture. And here's what's scary. This area is used to seeing mudslides like this because all it takes is one these heavy thunderstorm, and all of that rain comes down these steep canyons and really brings in those torrential mudslides that they are familiar with.

This is something they see sometimes every year and it does take campers by surprise. Because whether you are here or 50 miles away where you get the rain, you're still talking about all that rain coming right now that hillside into that exact same region.

The good news, finally seeing that low that was bringing all that moisture lifting out of the region today so they will get a little bit of a breather to try to clean up that site. But otherwise, across the country, that is not going to be the case. Into the southeast, talk about tons of moisture out here. We're talking about the same frontal boundary still hanging out in the southeast and we still have bertha, which is actually strengthening out there.

Likely to be a hurricane overnight tonight. Right now, seeing 70- mile-per-hour steady winds. Seventy-four miles per hour. That's all it takes to be a category one hurricane. And again, as we take a look at the projected path here, you're going to see -- it's expected to strengthen off the Carolinas tonight into that category one hurricane. Best news of all, though, is going to make its way offshore and stay away from the U.S. mainland.

All the models are in agreement, staying away.

BERMAN: Keep it that way. Indra Petersons, thanks so much.

Want to take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY" now. Kate Bolduan joins us.

Good morning, Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Good morning, guys. Happy Monday. We are following that Israeli cease-fire, some kind of cease-fire that's under way right now in Gaza. It comes a day after another deadly shelling near a U.N. school causing strong condemnation coming from the United States and the United Nations.

We are going to talk with the Israeli and Palestinian officials about the conflict, getting both sides on this.

And also Anderson Cooper is going to be joining us live. He's on the ground in Jerusalem. He'll be joining us there.

And then we're looking at the increasing concern about the spread of Ebola virus. The second American infected with Ebola is set to be headed back to the United States and will be treated in Atlanta where the first American patient, a doctor, is already.

Can officials keep this virus contained? What needs to be done on the ground in order to better protect Americans? We're going to talk with the experts and also look at a special infrared camera here on set. Get a demonstration that could be used at airports to help detect if people are sick. Another line of defense in order to keep people safe -- guys.

BERMAN: A lot going on this morning. Glad you are there to keep an eye on it.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, guys.

BERMAN: Thanks so much, Kate.

FEYERICK: Thanks.

BERMAN: Happening right now, a rush to find remains of those on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Investigators at the crash site are finding more as the war between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels rages all around them. We are live with the latest, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Devastation and despair in the south of China. At least 381 people killed by a powerful earthquake Sunday in Yunnan Province. More than 1800 people were injured. Officials are now looking frantically for anyone who may have survived in the rubble of 12,000 homes that collapsed. Random thunderstorms are complicating efforts to bringing water and food for the survivors.

BERMAN: More remains of victims from the attack on Flight 17 now making the long journey home. Investigators at the scene in eastern Ukraine shipping body parts to the city of Kharkiv where forensics experts are preparing them now to be flown to their loved ones. But the team's attempt to return to the crash site this morning disrupted again by fighting.

Kellie Morgan, live from Kiev.

Kellie, what is the latest?

KELLIE MORGAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we understand that the convoy was heading out to the crash site again this morning, but had to stop due to shelling in the area. And it's unclear whether they've actually been able to get to the crash scene for a fifth day. Now the battle between the Ukrainian forces and separatists' side, this was always going to be a very challenging task for this team of investigators.

They are effectively working at a crime scene or dealing with a crime scene that is 19 days old. The key thing is to recover remains. They are working in extreme heat. It's in the high 80s here in Ukraine at the moment. Obviously, that's an issue with the remains. Some of which they believe are still possibly under some heavy debris that is strewn across that -- strewn across that crash site.

Now to do that investigation effectively, they are going to need to bring in some heavy haulers equipment. And that's no easy task because the roads, and I've been on some of them out there in that region, are in very poor condition.

We know the scene has been contaminated and tampered with as well. In fact the Dutch-led team only were able to collect the DNA from 25 victims last week. Those victims had been taken to the Donetsk morgue two weeks ago. Now those remains will be on that flight which is due to take off here from Ukraine in around three hours. Of course those bodies will be sent to the Netherlands where they'll be given a ceremonial welcome and eventually repatriated -- John.

BERMAN: The work goes on in a very difficult circumstances. Kellie Morgan live in Kiev for us this morning. Thanks so much.

FEYERICK: And wanted and on the run. A suspected killer featured on CNN's "THE HUNT" has been found. New developments coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: A suspected killer featured on CNN's "THE HUNT" with John Walsh found dead after a huge manhunt. Shane Miller was suspected in the deaths of his wife and two young daughters. His remains were found not far from where his truck was last spotted in California. Now this is the second death in as many weeks involving a suspect featured on the CNN series.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN WALSH, HOST, CNN'S "THE HUNT": He's been out there over a year. So the Shasta County sheriffs and the U.S. Marshals who were part of this manhunt reached out to us and said, we have identified him by dental records. It's definitely Shane Miller. The body is pretty decomposed, but he had ID on it.

And again, it's just wonderful. He was the first guy that I profiled on "THE HUNT." He was one of the reasons I came back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: An anonymous tip led authorities to the gruesome discovery on the banks of a river in northern California.

And as we said, you know, this show, which just debuted, what, a month ago has already had enormous results.

FEYERICK: Well, there's no question about that. The question is, how long this guys was actually dead.

BERMAN: Right.

FEYERICK: But the fact that he came to public attention, it's the same thing that happened a week ago Monday, where they have this man who had been a fugitive for two years. But once his face was displayed everywhere, people began to realize that oh, my god, I have seen this person.

And law enforcement will be the first to tell you as you know that it's with the public's help that they tend to track these people down. It's not that they're not doing their job. They're doing a great job.

BERMAN: That makes the difference. FEYERICK: Yes.

BERMAN: Thanks so much for watching, everyone. That's all from us today.

"NEW DAY" starts right now.

FEYERICK: Have a great one.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, a qualified cease-fire now in place after fierce fighting overnight. Another U.N. shelter is hit by shelling. Israel being called out by the U.S. and U.N.

Anderson Cooper is there.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also breaking, swept away. Take a look at this video. Fast-moving mudslides sweeping away homes, burying cars in California. Thousands stranded, including about 500 kids at camp. Rescue operations are still happening at this hour.

We have the very latest.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Dramatic change in a sudden reversal of fortune. The doctor battling Ebola, his prognosis is improving, this after he walked into the U.S. clinic by himself. His fellow American set to be flown back soon.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta has the very latest.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.