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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Negotiating Peace in Gaza; U.N. Ready to Rebuild Gaza; Ebola Crisis Widens; Pistorius Murder Trial

Aired August 07, 2014 - 05:30   ET

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

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, trying to find permanent peace in Gaza. This morning, negotiators working to find common ground between Hamas and Israel as time left in this three-day cease- fire runs out.

We have live team coverage straight ahead.

Also Ebola emergency. The Centers for Disease Control issuing its highest alert here in the United States, this while the deadly virus rages across Africa. Communities quarantined, travel ban as an infected Spanish priest arrives in Madrid, bringing the virus to Spain for the first time.

We're tracking all the latest developments live for you.

Welcome back, everyone. I'm Poppy Harlow. It is half past 5:00 a.m. here on the East Coast. Glad you're with us.

Day three of the cease-fire in Gaza. And all remains quiet between Hamas and Israel at least for now. Egyptian mediators are planning to shuttle between Palestinian and Israeli delegations to try to hammer out a longer truce. This one expires just after midnight Eastern Time.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urging Israel and the Palestinians to try to hammer out a permanent two-state solution to this crisis but as we know that has been tried time and time again.

Let's go to Reza Sayah. He is live in Cairo for us this morning.

Reza, we are just half an hour away from when officials say they are once again really engage in those -- in those peace talks. However, this is still a process that as not as many would think. This is not an around the round table process with all voices there. This is the Israelis talking to some negotiators and this is the Palestinians in a different location talking to negotiators.

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and that makes the process very complicated and it makes it difficult to monitor. But some good news within the past hour. This Palestinian official who told CNN that the talks are set to resume in about 30 minutes, sounding optimistic saying that there has been some progress in the talks.

When asked about the prospects of the two sides extending the cease- fire beyond 8:00 a.m. local time on Friday, the official indicated that they are hoping for a longer term agreement beyond just a cease- fire. And that seems to be where the two sides are stuck. That seems to be where the impasse is.

There is growing indications over the past 24 hours that the Israeli delegation was fine with pushing for an extension of the cease-fire. However, at least some members of the Palestinian delegation were not on board, notably Hamas. Hamas, of course, with the most at stake here. They have been doing the fighting in Gaza. Essentially, they said we are not here to extend the cease-fire and delay this process. We want to get down and start talking about our core demands, the major issues.

Of course among those core demands, the lifting of the blockade, the opening of some of the border crossing, the release of some of the prisoners. Some Palestinian officials were not convinced that the Israelis were here to do that. And they said that's what they were here to do. And that caused a little bit of a complication. What could create more complication moving forward is that some members of this Palestinian delegation seem to be OK with extending the cease- fire.

And when you have other members who are not, Poppy, that could create division. So some critical hours ahead. It's a high stakes chess match with a deadline coming in at 8:00 a.m. local time on Friday. We'll see where things go.

HARLOW: And you certainly have the division in terms of the different factions brokering on the side of the Palestinians versus the Israelis.

We'll see what happens, Reza. Thank you for the update, live from Cairo for us this morning.

Over 1900 people have died over the four weeks in this conflict. More than $4 billion in infrastructure damage has also happened. U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon has declared the U.S. stands ready to help rebuild in Gaza. But there's a big caveat. He says this will be the last time.

The Israeli's continuing to hammer Hamas for the hundreds -- thousands of civilian casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting that Israel's assault on Gaza was proportional and justified.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: The tragedy of Gaza is that it is ruled by Hamas, a tyrannical and fanatical terror group that relishes civilian casualties. They want civilian casualties. They use them as PR fodder.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Meanwhile, Hamas is calling for a rally in Gaza City today.

John Vause is live for us from Gaza.

John, I understand that in just the last few moments, you have gotten new details in terms of what the Egyptians are pushing Hamas on in these negotiations. What are they?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're being told by sources here in Gaza, who have a pretty good handle on what is actually happening in Cairo right now. Hamas went to these negotiations among their demands, reopening and rebuilding the airport here and opening a sea port. Well, apparently, they've been told those issues are not for cease-fire negotiations, they are for down the line, much further down the line when you have a peace deal with Israel.

That's significant because Hamas has never recognized Israel's right to exist. The best they've ever offered Israel is what's called a hudna, which is an extended maybe 10-year period of peace or relative peace, if you like. A long cease-fire. So Egypt is saying those issues are off the table.

Hamas also went to Cairo wanting to get the Rafah crossing reopened. That's the border between Gaza and Egypt. The Egyptians saying that's not an Israeli issue, that's an Egyptian issue. That is not on the table right now. So -- and they've also apparently told Hamas that when the fairly moderate Palestinian Authority is willing to send its own security forces here, which is being led by the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, when those forces are ready to take control of the Rafah crossing, that is when they could begin talks about that border being reopened.

So the Egyptians who are relaying this information between Israeli's as well seem to be taking a pretty tough line when it comes to Hamas -- Poppy.

HARLOW: Yes. They certainly are. And in terms of Israel's demands, the main one being that Hamas completely demilitarizes. And that is something that also seems really unlikely.

The sense from the people on the ground there, John, what is it? Because now they've had two days to emerge from the shelters they have been in to go home. Some of them finding their homes destroyed.

Do they think that if an agreement isn't reached in the next 20 hours that they're going to have to go back into those shelters and then the strikes will begin once again?

VAUSE: Well, that very much is the fear. And in terms of demilitarizing Hamas, they always made this distinction and make of it what you will, but they say there is a definite two splits here. There is the political wing of Hamas and then there is the military wing of Hamas.

And they say that, you know, these two -- these two bodies operate fairly independently of each other. And what Hamas has said over and over again is that the military wing will never, never disarm, certainly not voluntarily. So that's going to be an issue if that's what the Israelis are continuing to demand.

As far as the people here in Gaza, well, there is that big rally planned for the next couple of hours here in Gaza so I guess that will be an indication of just how much support is out there right now for Hamas. But there is certainly fear here that if there is no agreement, if they can't come to some kind of deal here, maybe they will go in the next couple of hours. But then there's what happens after that.

HARLOW: Right.

VAUSE: What -- is this just going to be another few days? Will there ever be some kind of permanent deal here? And if they don't get that, then yes, people here are very worried that the fighting will resume. But they also believe that they have to have something to show for 28 days of that Israeli military offensive -- Poppy.

HARLOW: Right. Right. And for all of those deaths. You know, people caught in the middle on both sides of this conflict. Let's hope that they can reach some sort of agreement.

Thank you very much, John. Appreciate the reporting.

We're going to tell you the latest now on the global Ebola crisis. The CDC is issuing its highest alert, level one. This is reserved for only the most serious public health emergencies. It is an all-hands- on-deck response for the deadly virus in West Africa.

President Obama is trying now to keep everyone pretty calm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Despite the fact that we have to take this very seriously, it is important to remind ourselves, this is not an airborne disease. This is one that can be controlled and contained very effectively, if we use the right protocols.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Meantime, the FDA has OK'd the use of unapproved test for Ebola, but in terms of a vaccine to combat this fast-spreading virus, we don't have one. It's at least a year away. As for the two Americans infected with Ebola, they are showing signs of recovery -- that is good news -- at an Atlanta hospital where they are being treated. Of course we know they got that experimental serum and it appears that that may be what's working.

In West Africa, the Ebola virus is spreading with really breathtaking speed. Over 1700 suspected or confirmed cases now in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Well over half of the people infected there have died, 932 fatalities.

In Sierra Leone and Liberia, state of emergency has been declared, troops being called in now to quarantine all of the Ebola victims. The impact of this outbreak, it's being felt globally. A man in Saudi Arabia has died after visiting Sierra Leone on a business trip. Happening -- testing is happening right now to see if it was, indeed, Ebola that killed him.

Also Spain, air lifting an Ebola stricken 75-year-old priest out of Liberia, bringing him home for emergency testing this morning.

Our Erin McLaughlin is tracking all the developments from London.

And Erin, I know this is the first time someone infected with Ebola is in Spain. What are they saying about his condition and frankly the preparedness of the facilities there to take care of him in isolation?

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Poppy. This is Spain's very first Ebola patient, 75-year-old Father Miguel Pajares arrived in Madrid around 2:00 a.m. Eastern from Liberia. He arrived on board an Airbus A-310, which was specially equipped for his repatriation.

Accompanying him, a Spanish nun who also worked at the same NGO, although according to media reports, she is not exhibiting signs of the Ebola virus. However, they do want her back in Spain for observation.

Now Pajares, we understand, contracted the Ebola virus at a hospital in Liberia. He was there taking care of the hospital's director who actually died of the disease. He gave an interview to CNN Espanol on Monday in which he described his symptoms. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIGUEL PAJARES, CAUGHT EBOLA IN LIBERIA (Through Translator): I got a fever and drowsiness. I sleep. I'm always half asleep. I have no appetite at all. Today, I spent the day without eating anything. I have no appetite and energy. I have tried to eat. I have also a lot of joint pain, especially pain around the hips. And my knees are also affected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLAUGHLIN: Now we understand from family members that his condition has deteriorated since that interview, which perhaps explains why Spain was so keen to get him repatriated back to Madrid for treatment.

Now in terms of that treatment, we understand that an entire floor inside the Madrid hospital has been cleared out, especially kitted with cameras so they could pretty march monitor him 24/7. Some doctors and nurses associations have raised concerns about that hospital's ability to treat an Ebola patient, although, Spanish authorities have insisted that they are ready and highly capable to do this. We do expect a press conference at around 6:00 a.m. Eastern to further update us on his condition -- Poppy.

HARLOW: All right. So a press conference in just under 20 minutes' time. We'll get you an update for that, folks, by the way on "NEW DAY.'

Erin, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Well, how did the Taliban capture Bowe Bergdahl? The Army sergeant is in his second day today of talking to Army investigators about that. But a big question is, is he opening up about all of the details that day he was captured? Also two huge storms barreling towards Hawaii. Nasty looking.

Indra Petersons is tracking all that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: More questions today for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl in the army's investigation of his disappearance from his combat post in Afghanistan back in 2009. He's talking to Major General Kenneth Dahl who is leading the Army's investigation on this.

As you know Bergdahl was held by the Taliban for five years in captivity before he was released in May in a swap for five senior Taliban prisoners. Some of the soldiers who served with Bergdahl claimed that he deserted his unit and that's why the Army is investigating.

All right. Time now for a look at your forecast with meteorologist Indra Petersons who is joining me here in the studio so I don't have to be all alone.

Thanks for being here.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The ladies. We have ladies. And you know what, it is close to the weekend which is huge because all we want to know where is it going to be nice? Well, the northeast is getting better and better by the day. Now if you're in New England today, some light scattered can be out there. The bigger story is going to be the Rockies down to the southeast. That's where we're going to start to get some of the heavier rain as the frontal boundary starts to sags down to the south.

So heavy amounts of rain even as we go through Saturday. That's going to be the concern there. But I think the big thing on everyone's mind right now continues to be way out in the Pacific. The concern of course is two hurricanes that are out there making their way toward the Hawaiian Islands. You can actually see now the track brings that by later today. You mean, this afternoon, it could still -- it's out but still be a hurricane before it makes land fall.

It's going to be borderline tropical storm or hurricane. What are we looking at as far as impact here, well, heavy amounts of rain. We also have those warnings out there. Hurricane warnings and tropical storm warnings. Heaving amounts of rains. Storm surge of course, those very strong winds and right behind it, just a couple of days behind it. Of course (INAUDIBLE) Julio.

HARLOW: Yes. I feel for people who are on vacation in Hawaii right now.

PETERSONS: Can you imagine?

HARLOW: Yes. I've been there when it's rainy and higher time. Not a fun vacation. You'll be with us early tomorrow morning, going through all of that.

(CROSSTALK)

PETERSONS: Bright and early.

HARLOW: 4:00 a.m. All right. Thanks, Indra. Appreciate it.

It is the beginning of the end in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial. The Olympic athlete accused of murdering his girlfriend but has he convinced the judge that it was a tragic mistake as he claims? We'll take you live to South Africa with the latest on that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: The Oscar Pistorius murder trial is nearing its ending. Closing arguments under way this morning in South Africa. Prosecutors with one last chance to try to convince the high court that the former Olympian is guilty of pre-meditated murder for the shooting death of model for the shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

Kellie Phelps live for us from the courthouse outside of in Pretoria. You have been following this the entire time. It has been months long and to really long delays. And today is it for the state.

All right, Kelly, not sure if you can hear me. Can you hear me, Kelly?

OK. Kelly can't hear us. We are going get her earpiece fixed so she can hear what we are saying. But we are going to get back to her because the state is making its case right now. The prosecution trying to prove pre-meditated murder in the case of Oscar Pistorius, the judge telling them . They judge telling them, they just really have today to finish doing that, then it is on the defense's side. We're going to hear as Kelly reported earlier will keep on top of it straight ahead here on CNN.

Also coming up here on EARLY START, U.S. corporations moving their headquarters overseas. This has been happening for years to legally avoid taxes. But now President Obama says it's got to stop. And he wants to do it with or without Congress. We'll check on that next on EARLY START.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: All right, an update now on the Oscar Pistorius trial in South Africa. Closing arguments under way. Let's go straight to Kelly Phelps live from outside the courthouse.

The state is making their case. How are they doing?

KELLY PHELPS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, they are painstakingly poring over every tiny discrepancy in Pistorius' testimony from bail all the way through the trial. In order to put a strong argument forward that he's tailored his evidence because he is lying. They've come up very confidently today. And it will be interesting to see how it compares to the defense's closing tomorrow. But they have certainly put the defense in a position where they're going to need to raise their game.

HARLOW: I know, Kelly, that the state, in their closing argument, has revealed something key about what the defense is going to claim tomorrow.

PHELPS: We have heard right at the beginning of today, for the first time in this trial that the defense is, indeed, changing a core part of their version of events. They have previously only relied on the defense of mistaken belief and self-defense. And we have now learned that they have added a new defense to that. The defense of incapacity. It's highly unusual to change your approach at such a late stage in the trial.

And the defense will need to work very hard to explain that away in a manner that doesn't make it look like they are clutching at straws.

HARLOW: Yes. Absolutely. Fascinating this case has been going on since March with some significant delays and now it is in the final days. As you said to me earlier it looks like the judge said, I'm not here next week so this is coming down to just a few days from now until it is all wrapped up. We will see.

Kelly, thanks for the update. Live there from Pretoria. We appreciate it.

Thank you all for joining me this morning on EARLY START. "NEW DAY" begins right now.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight, Israel agrees to extend a cease-fire beyond tomorrow's deadline. But Hamas, so far, refusing. Are rockets about to fly again in Gaza?

We are live in Cairo and Jerusalem with the latest.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Also breaking, Iraq's largest Christian city overrun by the terror group ISIS. Tens of thousands of Christians now fleeing, fearing for their lives. Who will intervene to save them?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: High alert. The CDC now at level one emergency, its highest level in response to the Ebola outbreak.

Our Sanjay Gupta was inside the CDC when they made that call. He joins us live.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY, with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.

CUOMO: Good morning. Welcome to NEW DAY. It's Thursday, August 7th, 6:00 in the East.

Negotiations resuming any moment between Israel and the groups representing the Palestinians. The temporary cease-fire is running out. Seventy-two hours, it was set for 19 hours until it ends. It is holding, and Israel says it is willing to extend it.