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One World with Zain Asher
FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison; Israeli operation at Al-Shifa Hospital enters 11th day; Traffic Cam Shows Key Bridge Moments Before Collapse. Aired 12-1p ET
Aired March 28, 2024 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[12:00:00]
ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right, coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. Bianna Golodryga is off today. You are watching ONE WORLD. I
want to bring you breaking news in CNN right now. Sam Bankman-Fried will spend the next 25 years in a federal prison. Sam Bankman-Fried is going to
be spending the next 25 years in a federal prison. That is the sentence he was just handed down in a New York courtroom.
The former FTX crypto boss was convicted of both fraud and conspiracy back in November. Prosecutors in his case estimate the FTX customers lost more
than $10 billion under his watch. Bankman-Fried sentencing comes nearly five months after he was found guilty of one of the largest white collar
crimes in history. Once again, if you're just joining us, Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
Let's go straight now to CNN's Kara Scannell joining us live now from New York. Kara, this is interesting for several reasons. But we know that the
prosecutors had been sort of angling for about 50 years in prison for Sam Bankman-Fried. His defense attorneys were saying it should be more like
five or six years. The judge went straight down the middle 25 years in federal prison. What more can you tell us on that front?
KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, I mean, a 25 year sentence is still a long sentence in a white collar case. And the judge had gone through. Sam
Bankman-Fried spoke before the judge. The judge weighing all of this. He said he thought the 40 to 50 year sentence recommended by prosecutors was,
as he put it, you know, substantially greater than necessary.
But he said he hadn't heard a word of remorse from Sam Bankman-Fried who was standing there in the courtroom. And he said that because Bankman-Fried
as he put it with exceptionally smart and a great marketing guy, he wanted to send a message to him and to deter him from committing any other crimes
when he is released from prison, saying there is a risk that this man will be in a position to do something very bad in the future and it's not a
trivial risk.
And at that point, he then imposed the 25 year sentence. Bankman-Fried is 32 years old. So when his sentence is up, he'll be about - he'll be 57
years old, still time for him to work and certainly not the potential life sentence that he would receive if he got a significant - more significant
sentence. You know, but this came after Sam Bankman-Fried addressed the judge in the courtroom.
He stood up he told the judge, a lot of people feel really let down and they were let down. And I'm sorry about that. He also said that he knew
that he and his colleagues had built something beautiful. And he said I threw it all away. It haunts me every day. He acknowledged I made a series
of bad decisions saying he was responsible. But he did not say that he was remorseful for the crimes he had committed.
And that was something that prosecutors raised when they stood up to speak. They pointed to this saying that this was not mismanagement or poor
oversight. But Bankman-Fried was stole billions of dollars from investors, customers and lenders. And they say it was not a bloodless financial loss
on paper. They also had a victim speak before the judge as well talking about the harm that he suffered as a result of this fraud.
You know, Bankman-Fried was the face of the crypto industry. He had all these celebrity endorsements and added the Super Bowl, really was, you
know, epitomizing this industry. And then when FTX went into bankruptcy in November of 2022, there were so many reverberations through the crypto
industry. So he was - he was such a big figurehead. And now we're seeing the consequences of his crime.
Prosecutors were pushing for a steep sentence because they wanted to send a message across the industry, a largely unregulated industry, saying that,
you know, these crimes cannot be tolerated. So definitely a significant moment for Bankman-Fried. He has been held in federal custody since August,
when the judge revoked his bail after finding that he was engaging in witness tampering after his arrest.
And so he has not been a free man since August. And as he mentioned, he went to trial in the fall was convicted in November, and he won't be a free
man again until he's 57, about 25 years from now. Zain?
ASHER: And Kara, what are the factors that specifically influenced the judge here? I mean, you know, obviously, the defense attorneys would have
pointed out, listen, he's a first time offender, this is a non-violent crime. He's young, for example, they said that he's of good character, but
the judge would have also had to look at the fact that he committed witness tampering.
That's one fact the judge would certainly have considered as well as perjury during the testimony as well. So what were the key factors that
really influence the sentencing here? I think the judge was really focused on you know, Bankman-Fried, his intelligence here. You know, Bankman-Fried,
he said was - is an exceptionally extremely smart person, and that he is the marketing genius and they - even throughout the trial, the prosecutors
had shown that even after FTX was filing for bankruptcy, that Bankman-Fried was looking to spin a new narrative, to try to create a new storyline to
salvage the company.
[12:05:00]
And so that was an issue that the judge considered here that Bankman-Fried could be looking to just do this again in another way. He also noted that
he was, you know, not - he was motivated because he wanted to be hugely influential politically, because the crypto industry is, you know, a newer
industry. There's not a lot of laws or regulations around it. Bankman-Fried had poured over $100 million in illegal political contributions to try to
influence the outcome of that. So judge saying that, you know, he was motivated here to do this. This wasn't a mistake, and also pointing to the
fact that he wasn't remorseful.
Bankman-Fried's lawyers had also argued to the judge that because of the enormous efforts in the bankruptcy case, that they have recovered a lot of
assets and saying that people will recover money, maybe even 100 cents on the dollar. But the judge rejected that outright saying that that was
purely speculative, and even the people that might get their money back, they're certainly missed out on a year and a half of you know, acceleration
in cryptocurrencies that they didn't get the benefit of.
So judge really those seeming to focus here that this was not, you know, a mistake, this was thought out crime. Bankman-Fried took people's money,
used it to his own benefit politically, used it to buy real estate in the Bahamas, used it to make more risky investments. Judge saying he knew it
was wrong, but he did it anyway, while he was telling people that this money was safe with him.
ASHER: All right, Kara Scannell live for us there. Thank you so much. Let's bring in David Weinstein. He's our legal analyst and a former state and
federal prosecutor. He joins us live now from Miami. So David, your take on this 25 years sentence that Sam Bankman-Fried has been handed, I was
actually looking at your notes earlier, your thoughts earlier, and you'd mentioned that you were going to guess that he would be handed a 30-year
sentence.
So it was - you got it almost exactly right. But how does 25 years compare to others who have been convicted of similar financial crimes?
DAVID WEINSTEIN, FORMER STATE & FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: He's a very lucky man and you know, (inaudible) rules. I lost, I went over, but it's close to
what I thought. He's very lucky to have only received 25 years. If you look at the sentences that people like Bernie Madoff received who took $13
billion from people and he was 71. He got 150 years.
Stanford, we're all familiar with him, he took $5.9 billion, he got 110 years. And there are others who took less than what Bankman-Fried took, and
they got 30 and 50 year sentences. So Bankman-Fried was excessively lucky. Look, no one wants to spend a minute in jail. But 25 years when he was
looking at probably a lot closer to 50, than he was to the six or eight he asked for, very fortunate here.
And I think a lot of that goes to his attorneys, and to the way that they got him to speak up, and to make a statement where he expressed some
remorse, but didn't go so far as to admit his guilt, because remember, he's taken an appeal here. And that still has to generate its way through the
system. So very fortunate, and I think, a significantly lower sentence than others who were somewhat more similarly situated. So he was a lucky man
today.
ASHER: So why was the judge more lenient? So obviously, 25 years in prison is a long time. Right? Let's be honest. But why was the judge more lenient
than you would have anticipated? I mean, he didn't - he wasn't directly remorseful, specifically for the crimes here that he committed. Just in -
just in terms of the fact that, you know, the victims are likely not necessarily but likely going to be made whole again, just in terms of
recuperating a lot of their money, is that a factor in this in terms of the judge count - the judge's calculation?
WEINSTEIN: I think that it factored into his ultimate calculation, it didn't factor into the advisory sentencing guidelines' calculation, but
because he used the full amount, which put his exposure under the guidelines, well over 100 years, but I think that it was a combination of
things because judges are asked to look at everything, not just focus on one or two things.
And so he looked at the loss that was suffered originally. And then how were these victims going to be compensated? Did they lose an opportunity?
How did it affect them? He then looked at Bankman-Fried and, and his health is physical condition. He mentioned more than once that he knew that he
suffered from autism, but that he was a bright young man, and that he wanted to send him a message.
And this certainly sends a message to someone who's in his early 30s, about how much more time he's going to spend in jail. He also took into account I
have to believe, and I thought that was going to create a much higher sentence, his obstruction and his perjury. So I'm a little surprised that
he actually took him down to 25 years but the judge has to find a balance of everything involved and not just look at one or two factors and it's a
difficult job.
[12:10:00]
And certainly a 25 year sentence, if you calculate the (inaudible) number, sure, if you add 31 and 25, he doesn't get out until he's in his late 50s.
But that's not how it works. He gets credit for the time he was in. He's only going to serve 85% of his sentence. So I think realistically, he's
actually going to be released a lot closer to his early to mid 50s than he is going to be to his late 50s.
And so the judge did want to send a message, one that says white collar crime shouldn't pay, and that don't even think about doing something like
this, again. You're a bright young man. I've given you an opportunity, don't throw it away. He'll also be on supervised release when he gets out.
So there'll be a bit of leash on him.
ASHER: 25 years as you point out, despite witness tampering, and despite perjury during his testimony, that is quite remarkable. David Weinstein,
live for us there. Thank you so much. Right now, it is up to a Fulton County judge to decide whether one of Donald Trump's four criminal cases
will be thrown out. A key hearing in Atlanta wrapped up just a short time ago.
Lawyers for Trump argued that the sweeping indictment charging him with trying to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia, that it should be
dismissed. They claim the former U.S. president is protected on First Amendment grounds and cannot be prosecuted for making false statements.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE SADOW, TRUMP ATTORNEY: What President Trump said speech wise or expressed either through his speech or conduct, which is still freedom of
expression, because that's false in the eyes of the state, it's lost all protections of the First Amendment. Just the opposite, if anything, under
the circumstances, it needs more protection.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: And prosecutors were quick to point out that the same argument was made in Trump's federal election subversion case and the judge rejected it
and it's not clear when a decision will come. It's the first hearing since the judge in the case declined to disqualify Fulton County District
Attorney Fani Willis.
CNN's Zachary Cohen joins us live now from Washington. So Zachary, how successful were Trump's lawyers in terms of arguing that this case should
be thrown out because of First Amendment rights, especially when you think about the fact that other co-defendants who have tried to make similar
arguments here have been unsuccessful.
ZACHARY COHEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yeah Zain, Judge McAfee definitely gave Trump's attorney Steve Sadow ample opportunity to present
his case for why this indictment should be thrown out because he claims that Trump's false claims about the 2020 election and widespread voter
fraud are protected under the First Amendment as political speech.
Now that he went through each - each count against the former president, making a case for each one as to why that - maybe they should individually
be dismissed as well. McAfee ultimately does, though have that precedent in mind as you mentioned. He has rejected similar arguments from some of
Trump's co-defendants in the Georgia case, as well, as you know, the precedent set by the Federal - in the federal case against Donald Trump
overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith, the judge in that case also denied a motion to dismiss the indictment based on First Amendment arguments.
You know, prosecutors in Georgia though today really making clear that Trump was not indicted for lying. He was indicted, as they said for lying
repeatedly over and over again, and lying - and the lies were employed as part of criminal activity and with criminal intentions. And the word
intentions is interesting, though, because it does offer a window into what could be a key issue if and when this case does ultimately go to trial.
Obviously, Trump's argument today was to try to avoid that scenario. But, you know, the issue of intent as prosecutors argued today is something a
jury needs to decide. And it's something a trial is something that they've been working very hard to try to get on the books but before the 2024
election. So we're going to have to wait and see what the judge ultimately decides as to Trump's motion today to dismiss the indictment.
But big picture, we are still moving forward and this case is still moving forward despite the fact that an appeals court is still weighing whether or
not to review McAfee's decision about keeping Fani Willis on the case.
ASHER: All right, Zachary Cohen live for us there. Thank you so much. All right, it's going to be an evening that really symbolizes just how much is
at stake in terms of the upcoming November elections. U.S. President Joe Biden is on his way to New York, where he will take the stage with two
former Democratic presidents for a star studded fundraiser. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are expected to give the Biden campaign a bit of a boost
here.
Here's President Biden taking aim at the Trump campaign with Mr. Obama by his side.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'll protect social security, Medicare. Trump also brags about getting rid of Roe v. Wade, getting it
overturned. He even went on TV to make that point. Let's be clear, Trump's responsible for the chaos that followed. Well, we can turn that around.
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: We've gone too far to come back. And that's what Joe and Kamala believe. That's what they've done while they've
been in office, and that's why this election is so important. Young people cannot sit on the sidelines.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: The event at New York's iconic Radio City Music Hall is already raising some serious cash. Biden's campaigns as the fundraiser has so far
generated $25 million.
[12:15:00]
And an interesting note Mr. Biden actually ran for president in 1988 even before Obama or Clinton. All right, now to the latest on the investigation
into the bridge collapse in Baltimore. New video shows the moments just before the ship collided with the Key Bridge. This is actually from the
traffic camera on the bridge. Vehicle traffic had been stopped because of the ship issued a mayday call and that call, as we've talked about lately,
saved a lot of lives.
We've also learned that there are 56 containers, more than 760 tons of hazardous materials on board the ship and that some of those containers
have been breached. The NTSB says that unsteady and dangerous debris on top of and around the ship has showed evidence collection in its investigation.
Those conditions have forced divers to spend efforts to find the bodies of additional victims. Two bodies were recovered on Wednesday in a vehicle
that was underwater.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COL. ROLAND L. BUTLER. JR., MARYLAND STATE POLICE SECRETARY: Shortly before 10:00 AM divers located a red pickup truck, submerged in approximately 25
feet of water in the area of the middle span of the bridge. Divers recovered two - two victims of this tragedy trapped within the vehicle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Well, though the search for additional victims has been temporarily called off is of course agony for the family members who desperately need
closure at this point in time. We know that all the victims were construction workers who were repairing potholes on the bridge at the time
of the disaster. The entire eight men crew was made up of migrants who had come to the U.S. from Central and South American countries.
Family members say the authorities right now are asking them to be patient.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLOS SUAZO SANDOVAL, BROTHER OF MAYNOR SUAZO SANDOVAL (through translator): We cannot speculate, we do not know the FBI has not given us a
report directly about what happened, why it happened. We do not know who is responsible. The FBI has not yet given us any information. They are in a
process. And I believe they asked us for patience until they gave us the report.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Well, for the latest on the investigation, let's go to CNN's Gabe Cohen who's live for us on the scene now. So just to recap for our
audience, divers actually did manage to recover the remains of two individuals who were inside a vehicle that was submerged that was
underwater. Just in terms of the recovery efforts for the remaining four victims, that has been slowed down or stopped even because the conditions
are simply too dangerous right now.
They need to focus on clearing the debris that is in the Patapsco River right now. What more can you tell us?
GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Zain, that's right, it's moved to this salvage operation even though those four workers are still missing.
Officials are concerned that it's just not safe to send divers into the water given how much steel and concrete and debris is down there. And so
now the process begins to try to clear all that out. And we have just learned in the last few minutes that a heavy lift crane vessel is heading
to the scene of where this bridge collapsed.
And it shouldn't be there later today. That according to an interview given by Tom Perez (ph), a senior adviser to President Joe Biden, and they're
expected officials in some of these first responders and agencies. They're going to be bringing in a lot of equipment. Several of these cranes,
barges, anything to help clear out all of this debris and material and officials have said when they have cleared all of it, they are going to
send divers back down to find those four remaining men because they want to offer closure to the families.
But look that could Zain take days. The timeline is really fluid on that. In terms of the investigation, it's also a busy day for federal
investigators from the NTSB who are back on the vessel. They're interviewing the two pilots and trying to get a better sense of what caused
that power outage, that total blackout on the ship that ultimately led to the collision into the column of the bridge and its collapse.
They have gathered the black box from the ship and it has given them a better sense of the timeline but it doesn't tell them what caused the power
outage. It doesn't tell them what engineering issue the ship might have had. The NTSB has taken questions about perhaps it was contaminated fuel in
the ship, perhaps it was an electrical issue but the NTSB has pushed back on that saying look, at this point they don't want to speculate and this
investigation is underway.
In terms of the - the effort to clear out the debris and the ship and eventually open the Port of Baltimore backup, there is another roadblock in
this and that is some hazardous material that's been discovered.
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More than 50 containers, more than 700 tons of flammables, corrosives, lithium batteries, some of those containers are breached. There has been
some spillage into the river and we heard the head of the NTSB say yesterday, it's really just not a safe area on the bow of the ship where
the bridge came down for crew members for some of these first responders to actually go in and assess what's going on. So that's going to take time,
but again, we expect that first crane to arrive later today.
It is a sign of progress here, Zain as this recovery moves forward.
ASHER: All right, Gabe Cohen joining us live now from Baltimore. Thank you so much. All right, still to come here how Russia is using a terrible
terrorist attack to boost support for its war in Ukraine. I'll be talking to the Ukrainian ambassador in the United States in just a moment. Also,
Israel's Prime Minister will be sending an Israeli delegation to visit Washington after all to talk about Rafah as he vows to push ahead with the
operation. We'll have a live report for you from Jerusalem ahead as well.
And later on this hour, we will take you to California where a vivid, gorgeous, stunning display of wildflowers is blooming all at once. It is
certainly quite a sight to see.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right, Russian social media is filled with stories of people desperately trying to find loved ones thought to be victims of last week's
terror attack on a Moscow concert hall. A telegram channel dedicated to the attack had to be taken down though when scammers tried to use it to collect
personal data from friends and families. Russian authorities say they've identified 143 of the bodies from the shooting and fire at the Crocus
concert hall.
But they say there are still many, many people who are missing. Russian President Vladimir Putin is calling for national unity in the wake of this
attack specifically asking Russian citizens to respect all religious faiths, faiths. There has been a sharp uptick in anti-immigrant posts on
far right social media channels immediately after the attack, which was believed to be carried out by migrants from Tajikistan.
Time now for the exchange. One reason Vladimir Putin is calling for unity is a desire to perhaps use this attack to rally more support for his war in
Ukraine. Russian investigators claimed to have evidence that Ukraine financed the attack that they have not shared any of that so-called
evidence.
[12:25:00]
Joining us live now is Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova. Ambassador, thank you so much for being with us. I do want to start by
talking about that devastating terrorist attack that took place in the concert hall in Moscow with 143 victims, 143 innocent people losing their
lives in that attack.
ISIS, of course, taking responsibility, but Vladimir Putin adamant, adamant that Ukraine was behind it, that it - that it was a joint effort between
Ukraine, the United States and the UK as well. I just want to start by getting your reaction to that.
OKSANA MARKAROVA, UKRAINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Thank you, thanks for having me. Well, you know, it is a horrible tragedy. But then the - any
statements from Putin, that Ukrainians had something to do with it is deliberately false. It is not true. And coming from a person who's leading
a terrorist, aggressive war against the neighboring peaceful country, that comes as one of many lies, of course, we hear from Mr. Putin.
But, you know, instead of actually stopping his terrorist acts, instead of using the information which was given to Russian authorities, by
international partners, and preventing this for this people, he is now trying to even falsify, and speculate on this tragedy instead of doing
something to stop it. So absolutely not. But on the other hand, again, we have seen horrible footage from what Russians do with Ukrainian prisoners,
with our civilians that they torture, and capture, with our kids that they have been abducted for two years.
And then we have also seen, unfortunately, the video, which they put out after this terrorist attack where also torturing the suspects of that they
have detained of this. And it's horrifying. And you know, the only message that we have, instead of lying about Ukraine over and over, they should
start doing something and getting out from Ukraine and stopping their terrorist acts, which they are conducting, not only against Ukraine, but
again, so many of us.
The Republic of Georgia, MH17, people on the streets of London, and we can go on and on.
ASHER: I do want to talk about the front lines, just in terms of the war, obviously, between Russia and Ukraine. In a recent interviews, Zelenskyy
essentially said that it's been very difficult, of course, to keep the Russians at bay just in terms of this war. It has been become much harder,
especially given the lack of U.S. military aid, but that he anticipates that a Russian offensive is coming, is around the corner in just a couple
of months from now. And that will be a Russian offensive, with much greater firepower and firepower by the way with much greater reach as well. Just
give us your take on how prepared Ukraine is to guard itself against that, at this point in time, especially when you consider the lack of sustainable
military aid from the United States.
MARKAROVA: Well, Zain, you know, weapons were always a challenge. And President Zelenskyy has always been very, very clear about it and
transparent with all of our friends and allies. Ukraine is much smaller than Russia, Russia does not only have more people and weapons, but also is
more aggressive and has no red lines. So we always needed more weapons in order to be able to defend ourselves, but also to liberate our land.
And now the situation now is critical, because, you know, we need more to not only hold the line, but also to continue protecting us everywhere. And
you have seen Russia specifically picked up the attacks. Now it's daily attacks on so many places from Kyiv to Dnipro, to Kharkiv, devastating
attacks on a daily basis. They also trying to be more active on the front line. And the ratio of weapons between Russia and Ukraine, of course, is
decreasing, not to the benefit of Ukraine.
So we do need additional support. And that's why right now, all the eyes are on our friends on the Hill. And we really need the supplementary budget
that has been discussed. Whatever instrument or form it's going to be, to be adopted so that our friends here in the U.S. can continue supplying us
with so much needed weapons and budget support for us to stay the course and for us to win because this is still, even though it's very difficult
situation on the front line. It's a very winnable war.
We are motivated, we know what we're fighting for, and we can win it for us, for Europe and for everyone who believes in the same values.
ASHER: What would you tell House Republicans here in the U.S. about what is at stake? What does that stake for not just Ukraine, not just Europe, but
really the entire global order if Ukraine loses this war?
[12:30:00]
MARKAROVA: Well, I think it's for all Americans. It's not just for House Republicans or House Democrats or people in the Senate. I think it's very
important for all of us to understand and listen to what Putin says that this war for him is a war against everyone who believes in freedom and
democracy. He violated not only Ukrainians' border and - and sovereignty, he violated the international rules on which we all base how we live.
That peaceful democratic countries should be able to live in our own countries the way we want to be without being brutally violated by an
aggressive, autocratic neighbor. And this is what is at stake today, not just the existence of Ukraine, it's existential for Ukraine. For us, it's a
question whether we will die or live. And we will not die without a fight.
But we'd rather win and go ahead and do what Ukrainians like to do the most, what Americans like to do, you know, grow food, raise children, you
know, focus on creating something rather than spending days and nights fighting for our existence. But it's so much bigger than Ukraine.
It's - it's very important for American people, for democracy to win. So that this war ends while it's still in Ukraine, so that we win, while it's
still in Ukraine, and we stop Putin while it's still in Ukraine, and that Americans will not have to defend the rest of the Europe if God forbid,
Ukraine falls, and Putin will go further because he says it.
And he has done it before and he attacked all of us before and he intends to do that. So it's our common fight for democracy and freedom.
ASHER: Well said, Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S., thank you so much for being with us today. All right, still to come here on ONE
WORLD.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need to be on top of the vehicle as soon as we or as fast as we possibly can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Right after the break a close up look at why South Africa is struggling with a crime wave that it cannot seem to control. That story
next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:35:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Welcome back to ONE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel has no choice but to move into Rafah saying the
country's quote, very existence is on the line. Disagreements over the impending invasion have driven relations between Netanyahu and President
Joe Biden to a low point.
Speaking to U.S. congressional delegation, Mr. Netanyahu said Palestinians could just move out of Rafah with their tents. More than a million
Palestinians are sheltering in the southern Gaza City. Netanyahu was also clear he believes victory in Gaza could come soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: We've killed the many senior leaders including number four in Hamas, number three in Hamas. We'll get
number two and number one. That's victory. Victory is within reach. It's a few weeks away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: As the White House says that Netanyahu has agreed to reschedule a planned U.S. visit by an Israeli delegation to discuss Rafah, Palestinian
officials say fresh Israeli strikes on a residential building in Rafah killed at least 11 people on Wednesday. This as Israel presses on with its
operation in around Al Shifa Hospital for an 11th day. The IDF says that about 200, quote, terrorists have been killed in what it calls precise
activities.
One family says six children were also killed in an airstrike near the hospital. Lot to get through here. Let's bring in CNN's Melissa Bell, who
has the latest from Jerusalem. So Melissa, let's talk about this on again, off again, and now on again, visit with the Israeli delegation, coming to
Washington for talks. Netanyahu has actually come under so much fire there in his home country for perhaps potentially jeopardizing Israel's
relationship with its most important and most loyal ally, the United States.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there was a definite sense last night when we heard from Benjamin Netanyahu as he
received that congressional group of leaders at speaking as we heard a moment ago there, you heard there in that clip of the need to see this
through, urging bipartisan continued support in the United States that he was really looking at to build back some bridges or paper over some cracks
over the last couple of weeks.
And we heard almost at the same time, shortly afterwards, that this high level Israeli delegation, this visit had been cancelled, you'll remember,
at the start of the week. We now expect and it's been confirmed by the White House that it will take place at the start of the next week. The
point about this meeting is that it came at the request of the United States.
And this is very much about American officials wanting to press home to their Israeli counterparts, as indeed, Pentagon officials, including the
American Defense Secretary did with Yoav Gallant, who turned up alone on Monday and Tuesday about the need to think about alternatives for the
planned ground operation in Rafah with American officials who will continue to press without Israeli delegation when it finally gets to DC next week,
the need to consider things like targeted operations against Hamas, the beefing up of the border between Gaza and Egypt to prevent any terrorists
from escaping rather than the full scale ground operation that everyone fears and that Israel appears to continue to prepare, Zain.
ASHER: Just in terms of the consequences for the Palestinians living in that southern Gaza City, what will be the consequences from a humanitarian
level, Melissa, of this ground incursion into Rafah?
BELL: Well, there is the fear, of course for the more than million Gazans that are now down there living in appalling conditions. But I think you
only need to look north at what's been happening that you mentioned a moment ago around Al-Shifa, around Al-Amal as well. The 11th Day of the Al-
Shifa siege, the fifth day of the Al-Amal siege to get an idea of what these sorts of operations mean for civilians.
So let's take Al-Shifa for a moment, first of all. As you mentioned, we've been hearing from the IDF that they're carrying out their precise
operational activities with hundreds of terrorists as they describe them killed, hundreds of others arrested.
[12:40:00]
We have no way of verifying the IDF's claims, of course, because we're not on the ground, nor do we have the ability to see for ourselves the toll on
civilians. But what our Palestinian producers and cameraman on the ground and those working with us here are able to do is speak to many of the
residents around Al-Shifa, and the picture they paint is horrific, Zain. It isn't just the families torn apart, the doctors fearing for the children
they were caring for and fear to be without food or care for more than a week now.
It is tales from one family we heard from stay near Al-Shifa that had heard artillery strikes, which they took as a warning could not escape, the
airstrike followed six of their children, they say were buried, some of them are still alive, no one can get to them. These are the sorts of
stories that emerge when they can with terrible regularity.
And I think what's interesting about Al-Shifa, Zain is that this was a part of Gaza that was ruled or deemed by Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defense
Minister in January to have seen the worst of the fighting. The intense phase of the campaign was said to be over because they believe they have
achieved their objectives. Now, the IDF says that Hamas has regrouped in some of these hospitals.
And that is why they've had to return and I think that brings the question of how and when this ends, Zain.
ASHER: Melissa Bell, live for us there. Thank you so much.
In late May, South Africans will elect a new national assembly which then picks the next president. An important issues for a lot of voters this time
around is crime. South Africa is struggling with a crime wave, it cannot seem to control. Violent, brazen attacks and heists which should be handled
by police are instead turned over to private security patrols because corruption within the police force is very rampant as well.
CNN's David McKenzie has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTON KOEN, CEO, NOJACK: This was a vehicle that was triggered by the license plate recognition system. We need to be on top of the vehicle as
soon as we or as fast as we possibly can.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So Anton is chasing a hijacked vehicle. This happens all the time in South Africa. They're in
touch with private security groups throughout the eastern part of Johannesburg. And one thing you don't hear anything about is the police.
direction North needs clear direction the police.
Police can't cope, underfunded and struggling with corruption.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're shooting, they're shooting. I see them.
MCKENZIE: Dashcam footage shows the criminal gangs private security often up against. In South Africa, more than 20,000 vehicles were hijacked last
year. Murders are at a 20-year high. Cash in transit heists are now commonplace. Armored vehicles targeted in broad daylight by heavily armed
gangs.
This heist on a major Joburg highway in October.
Was it difficult to get a gun?
GLEN, FORMER CASH-IN-TRANSIT CRIMINAL: No, it's not difficult.
MCKENZIE: We met a cash and transit criminal who claims he's gotten out of the game. We agreed to hide his identity so he would talk freely.
GLEN: People who are angry with the level of crime, they will never sleep with their stomach empty. Those are the people who are crying with crime.
MCKENZIE: He says around a dozen gang members target the vehicles, often with insider intelligence. They have spotters, drivers and shooters
splitting the cash evenly.
Did you ever kill anyone?
GLEN: Yes. I know it's bad. I feel bad about it. Some of them, you go and you want to rob and they do not surrender. They want to become heroes.
MCKENZIE: But father of four, TT Ngwenya says he never wanted to be a hero. He just wanted to put food on the table.
TT NGWENYA, FORMER CASH-IN-TRANSIT GUARD: If they needed the money, you must take out that you're going to be killed because you will never work
for your children.
MCKENZIE: He always knew they would be hit. And in May 2021, they were. The dashcam video shows the gang working quickly, efficiently even. They made
Ngwenya and the other guards lie in the grass. When they blew up the roof, it crushed his legs.
NGWENYA: The big thing to me, I'm no longer able to stand. I'm no longer walking as the way I was before I joined that job. And I'll always feel
pain, I'm sure with some pills you see and I'm a father.
KOEN: Seems like the value of life has actually means nothing to a lot of people anymore. I think at the moment our crime is out of control. Our
crime is really not in control. We're having a hard time fighting, fighting crime.
[12:45:00]
MCKENZIE: South Africa is losing the war against crime. The promise of its democracy hijacked by corruption, desperation and greed. Of course security
analysts say there are good cops in South Africa, both in the junior and the senior ranks but they're underwhelmed by a lack of support and also
have to face colleagues who are engaging in corruption.
Crime affects all walks of life. In South Africa it will be an important issue in upcoming elections. Zain?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Thank you David McKenzie. All right, still to come here, live pictures from California where wildflowers are taking over what's called a
Superbloom. We'll have a live and very colorful report for you just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Throughout this week our series, Call to Earth is turning the spotlight on the Bahamas and an organization working to advance ocean
conservation. Today we go diving with Dr. Austin Gallagher. His unique perspective with tiger sharks lead to the discovery of the planet's largest
seagrass meadows. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. AUSTIN GALLAGHER, FOUNDER & CEO, BEANTH THE WAVES: Just so nice to take a minute to realize how beautiful they are. And this is really why we need
to protect the species in this ocean and we have so much to learn. So it's a really good first day.
ASHER: For the second day, they've decided to set up at a seemingly inconspicuous patch of green on the ocean floor. But to Austin, it
signifies so much more.
GALLAGHER: I've learned that the behavior of tiger sharks is completely different in seagrass meadows.
ASHER: From 2016 to 2020, the Beneath the Waves team conducted a study where they equipped tiger sharks with cameras. The aim was to gain a better
understanding of what a day in the life of the animal looked like. What came back was hours of groundbreaking footage that would change the
trajectory of their research.
GALLAGHER: We knew that there is generally expansive seagrass ecosystem in the Bahamas, but it wasn't until we got the data back from those camera
equipped tiger sharks that we really saw how important and expansive the seagrass really might be here in the Bahamas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: And to see more on how Beneath The Waves is helping advance Ocean Research, tune into the full documentary. It's called Call to Earth:
Expedition Bahamas. It airs this weekend on CNN. We'll be right back with more.
[12:50:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Mother Nature is putting on quite a show for us in California. A wetter than normal winter has led to a phenomenon known as Superbloom, this
spring. There are so many wildflowers blanketing the landscape, the colors can actually be seen from space. It is gorgeous. CNN's Stephanie Elam joins
us live now from Palmdale, California. So plenty of wintertime rain. And this is the result. It is stunning. What a sight to behold behind you,
Stephanie.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It truly is Zain. And we didn't know if we were going to get one this year because there wasn't a lot of
precipitation until we got past January, then we started to see that rain in February. And now we have enough water here that they're allowing for
the Superbloom to pop up. And when you just look out, and you just see this vast sea of California poppies, this is the state flower here.
And you just see that brilliant orange all throughout here. It's stunning to witness in person. And this doesn't happen every year. I know it seems
like lately, maybe we've been talking about it a lot. But really, we don't know when we're going to get them. You know, we battle with climate change
here in California and droughts. And in those drought years, we don't see these spectacular carpets of color.
So it really does depend on the right conditions, cool temperatures, a lot of rain, and then that summer heat coming in, or that spring heat coming in
and allowing the flowers to pop up here. I just want to show you, when you get down closer, you can see that it's not just the poppies, you also have
some of the yellow popping in here. There's a little bit of purple in here as well. So as you get closer, you can see a lot of the different colors
and some of that that when it gets really dense, probably a couple more weeks or so.
Then you'll see those really big carpets of color that you can see from space in some places because there's such densely packed clusters of
flowers all together. It's amazing Zain.
ASHER: But there are rules, right? You're supposed to stay on the trail. You're not supposed to pick the flowers. You can't be selfish, right? You
can't be selfish. You have to sort of leave the flowers alone. Just give us - tell us about the rules specifically, when it comes to the state poppies.
ELAM: There - there definitely are rules of engagement. It's not just the poppies, it's just all around, like if you see right now I want to show
you. I'm even walking on the path that's here.
[12:55:00]
You stay on the trail you don't leave the trail because these blooms are delicate and we want them to come back when they can. And so if you stay
off, if you go off on the trails to take your, you know, your selfies and your (inaudible) and all those things, you can really damage the ecosystem
out here. Remember, this is just nature doing its thing, no one's coming out here to plant these seeds.
So you stay on the trail and you don't pick the flowers. You really want to avoid stepping on them and picking them so that we can enjoy them,
everybody can enjoy them. Those are some of the things and also there are, you know, wild animals out here so you want to be safe. Wear your boots,
stay on the trails.
ASHER: We will adhere to those rules but it is gorgeous behind you. I was looking forward to this live shot literally all morning. You are so lucky
to be there. Stephanie Elam live for us there. Thank you so much. We appreciate it.
All right. That does it for this hour of ONE WORLD. I'm Zain Asher. Appreciate you watching. Amanpour is up next. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
