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CNN Sunday Morning
Continuing Coverage of the Israel Incursion into Gaza
Aired January 04, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta this is a special "Crisis in the Middle East" edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
It is the 4th day of January. Thanks for joining us. I'm Betty Nguyen.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rob Marciano, in today for T.J. Holmes.
It's 6:00 a.m. here in the east and 1:00 p.m. in Gaza where we're following breaking news this morning.
NGUYEN: And that breaking news being the crisis in the Middle East.
After eight days of blistering air attacks, Israel sends thousands of its troops pouring into Gaza. The ground assault now almost 15 hours old.
At the United Nations, Arab countries say the U.S. has blocked their demands for an immediate cease-fire. The U.S. says a cease-fire must be require Hamas to stop those rocket attacks on Israel.
Now let's get you some casualty numbers. They are sketchy. But here's what we know. Palestinian medical sources in northern Gaza say at least eight Palestinians have been killed there.
The Israeli military says 30 of its soldiers have been wounded along with dozens of militants.
So let's take a satellite view of the region. Let's get that for you right now. Israel's ground offensive has cut into Gaza and divided it. Now those Israeli forces are surrounding Gaza City.
Our team of experienced correspondents is bringing you comprehensive coverage this morning. Take a look. Ben Wedeman, Paula Hancocks, Nic Robertson -- they are on the Israeli-Gaza border.
Octavia Nasser is CNN's senior editor for Arab affairs. She's going to join us here on the set in Atlanta.
We also have reports from chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, Carl Penhaul and Brian Todd. And in Washington, our deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, as well as Kate Bolduan.
And we want to take you as close to the action as possible. Israel is keeping news correspondents out of Gaza. Our Ben Wedeman, though, is on the Israeli-Gaza border and he joins us now.
Ben, do we know how long this ground offensive will last or what the Israeli military hopes to accomplish with it?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've heard the -- Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak saying that it is going to be a long operation and that's basically been echoed by a spokesman for the military.
And certainly what we've seen this morning or throughout the day, Betty, is that fairly constant pounding by helicopters from the sea, from aircraft and also from artillery and tanks into Gaza and also there ongoing operations.
We understand that Israeli forces have managed to push almost to the sea, essentially, cutting the Gaza Strip in half. That's a tactic they have used in the past.
Hamas putting up some resistance. It's not really clear precisely what's going on inside because, as you mentioned, the Israeli authorities are not letting international journalists into Gaza.
But we do know, both from Hamas and from the Israeli army, that this is an operation. This is something both have been preparing for for a very long time.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN (voice over): Israel's armed forces have been training for years for a major incursion.
Not far from Gaza the Israeli army, with help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has constructed what looks like a Palestinian town complete with minarets. It's the army's urban warfare training facility.
I went there two years ago and saw how they simulated conditions that sound a lot like Gaza.
BRIG. GEN. UZI MOSKOVICH, ISRAELI ARMY: Refugee camps, suburban areas. More, I would say, a highly dense urban areas.
WEDEMAN: This facility, no doubt, busy in recent months.
Israeli army believes Hamas hasn't wasted time either.
AVITAL LEIBOVICH, ISRAELI ARMY SPOKESWOMAN: We estimate that Hamas invested a lot in their infrastructure. And this include, of course, booby-traps, explosive everywhere.
WEDEMAN: From a once highly secretive collection of small cells, the movement's military wing has taken on many of the characteristics of a regular army with intensive drilling and plenty of on-the-job training provided by countless Israeli incursions.
Hamas has studied the lessons learned by Hezbollah in the 2006 was with Israel, during which Hezbollah made Israel pay a high price in lives and equipment for, at best, modest gains.
Hamas' exiled leader, Khalid Meshaal, insists his men are ready to put up a fight. If the enemy go into Gaza, he says, our people will fight from one street to the next, from one house to another, and on every inch of the land.
In the past, militants set up obstacles on main roads. Israeli and Palestinian forces say Hamas has also dug an extensive tunnel and bunker system inside Gaza which may protect the movement's fighters' leaders while the rest of the densely packed population remains above ground and exposed.
The militants have land mines, IEDs, rocket propelled grenades and automatic rifles. Light weaponry compared to Israel's modern, largely American-made arsenal.
They have the advantage of fighting on their home turf which, as one Hamas spokesman recently vowed, will turn into fire and volcanoes under defeat of the invaders. And the only certainty then is that there will be many more civilian casualties.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN: OK, Betty, just as you were running that report, we had a mortar shell landing on the opposite hill from where we're standing. This is just, of course, the latest. There was actually, about an hour and a half ago, another mortar came in behind us.
Now, according to the Israeli police spokesman that I just spoke with, he said that today there have been about 30 rockets been fired from Gaza into Israel. He mentioned that, because this is a mortar, not a rocket, that in a sense they've stopped counting the mortars because there have been so many. So anyway, that gives you an idea of what's going on here -- Betty?
NGUYEN: And it continues.
Ben, let me ask you this. As people watch, the world watch what's going -- watches what's going on over there, a lot of us need to be reminded of how this started. And -- it can be, you know, as the chicken before egg syndrome here, but take us back to, what, late December when the truce ended and how did this get fired up.
WEDEMAN: Well, basically there was a truce worked out by Egypt that went into effect in the middle of June of last year, 2008. And for the first four months it actually held fairly well.
Now the Hamas and others did complain that their understanding of this truce, of this cease-fire, was that there would be an easing of the closure of Gaza, that there would be more goods coming in and going out and that never happened.
So they were unhappy with the truce. And at the beginning of November Israeli forces conducted an operation against what they said was a group of Hamas militants trying to build a tunnel into Israel with the intention of kidnapping Israelis. They attacked that group, killed six of them. That set into motion this attack, counterattack, rockets, incursions, air strikes, that slowly picked up to levels that made the truce almost meaningless.
Sorry, just want to make sure I'm not missing something behind me.
And on the 19th of December that truce expired and there were no arrangements made to renew it and that is how we got to where we are today.
There's a longer story that goes back about a hundred years but I'll spare you that one right now.
NGUYEN: All right, Ben. But in the meantime, though, kind of give us an idea of the night that people have experienced in Gaza as we've been watching this play out for the past, what, 15, 16 hours, since the ground forces went in.
WEDEMAN: Well, really, it's been many sleepless nights since the operation gain Saturday before last. I've been in close contact with many people in Gaza who say that the -- bombardments have been intense throughout the night, that it's been a very difficult time, and particularly difficult for children, obviously, who have a hard time comprehending the bangs and the booms that go on outside their window.
Now since the ground operation began, obviously the situation has become much worse in Gaza. There are shortages of -- electricity supplies and vary good. You have the problems of cooking gas that doesn't exist anymore.
It's very hard to get food. There are long lines outside the bakery. So it's been very difficult now since Saturday before last but since this ground operation began all those difficulties have been extremely exacerbated -- Betty?
NGUYEN: How is this ground operation being seen on both sides? Because I will tell you I spoke just a little bit earlier with a Palestinian legislative council member who calls it an occupation, although we have heard time and time again from the Israelis that this is not an occupation.
WEDEMAN: Well, Betty, here, there's always two sides to every story. Israelis say that in the early fall of 2005 they pulled their troops and that their settlements out of Gaza which is correct but they continued to maintain a closure of the Gaza Strip, control, not only of the borders between Gaza and Israel which is understandable, but also they had ultimate say over who could pass over the border between Gaza and Egypt.
Israel also has control over the air space over Gaza and the sea as well. So essentially, they don't have forces on the ground but they -- they control all comings and goings. So there's still a lot of debate.
Is it occupation? Is it not occupation? Maybe it's something else. But certainly Gaza once the Israeli army and settlements were pulled out did not become free in any sense of the word -- Betty?
NGUYEN: All right, CNN's Ben Wedeman joining us live.
Ben, I'm going to let you go for now. I know, obviously, it's a tense scenario over there. But we'll be checking back with you. Thank you.
MARCIANO: Looking over your shoulder there...
NGUYEN: Yes.
MARCIANO: ... it's quite a task.
As you can imagine, the deepening crisis in Gaza is raising tensions at the United Nations. The Security Council deadlocked over how to respond to Israel's ground attacks.
Our senior United Nations correspondent, Richard Roth, has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Many diplomats expected this ground assault by Israel but that didn't make it easier to reach agreement on how to react.
After four hours of closed door debate, no consensus among the 15 countries, not even to call for an immediate cease-fire.
A tight lipped president of the Security Council could only state...
JEAN-MAURICE RIPERT, PRESIDENT, U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL: We had extensive talks, consultation about the current situation on the grounds in Gaza and in the south of Israel. I must tell you that there was no formal agreement.
ROTH: Last weekend the Security Council did issue a statement to the press calling on both Hamas and Israel to stop fighting. At this emergency session the United States objected to any kind of U.N. response, blaming Hamas and supporting the Israeli ground war.
ALEJANDRO WOLFF, DEPUTY U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Issuing another statement that there -- that it will be violated or simply consolidates their ability to maintain rockets and continue smuggling is not an answer and is not going to bring peace.
ROTH: The U.S. refusal to sign on to a statement just increased Arab frustrations as the Israeli ground offensive continues.
RIYAD MANSOUR, PALESTINIAN ENVOY TO U.N.: It is the business of the Security Council to deal with the situation threatening international peace and security. We have war. We have aggression against the Palestinian people. And it is a -- it is a sad and tragic moment when the Security Council cannot address this issue.
ROTH: The Security Council president said there were converging views on concerns of the escalation and the need for a cease-fire but the good thoughts were not enough to overcome United States opposition to put these concerns on the official U.N. record.
(On camera): There will be more discussions and debate with visiting Arab ministers in the days ahead but the fastest solution to this latest Middle East cycle of violence is not likely to be produced here.
Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: And as the battle rages inside Gaza, the war of words is also heating up between Israel and Hamas.
Here's CNN senior international correspondent Christiane Amanpour with more on what the leaders are saying.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Israel is calling up thousands of its reserve officers as it continues with what's now become a ground offensive into Gaza.
The Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, in a public statement, said that their goal is to neutralize the Hamas rockets that have been coming out of Gaza and beating into Israeli cities across the border.
EHUD BARAK, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER: We are peace seekers. We have restrained ourselves for a long time but now is the time to do what needs to be done.
We are determined to afford our citizens what any citizens anywhere in the world are entitled to, peace, tranquility and freedom from threats.
AMANPOUR: And as the war continues, so does the war of words. As Ehud Barak was making his statement, so, too, were Hamas from inside Gaza. They said they would defiant and continue the fight.
ISMAIL RADWAN, HAMAS SPOKESMAN (Through translator): To the Israeli army, your incursion in Gaza will not be a picnic and we promise you that Gaza will be your cemetery, God willing.
You have no choice but to end this aggression and this siege without any condition. You will not live in peace until our Palestinian people live in peace. We will not abandon the battlefield and we will stay on the thorny course and we will fight until the last breath.
AMANPOUR: The ground incursion comes after eight days of round-the- clock air strikes by Israel on targets inside Gaza and this, too, has contributed to the drama of this ongoing war because the pictures coming out of Gaza have inflamed the Muslim and the Arab world, also pockets in Europe and in United States, as many of those who've been hit are children and women and other civilians.
More than 460 Palestinians in Gaza have been hit according to sources there and more than 2,000 have been wounded. A U.N. official inside Gaza says of all of those, at least a quarter have been civilians.
An Israeli government spokesman says that this ground offensive is not aimed at wiping out Hamas but merely aimed, he says, at trying to stop them launching rockets into Israel.
Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Well, as you can imagine now, Betty, there's plenty of reaction to this latest crisis for sure.
NGUYEN: Absolutely. Our Josh Levs is keeping an eye on the headlines from around the globe. He joins us now with the latest on that reaction.
Hey, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there. Good morning to you guys.
So I'm here at the international desk. We're going to be here throughout the morning and throughout the day, obviously monitoring feeds from all over the world, checking in with reporters and producers, and when news breaks on this story no matter where it is on either side of the Gaza borders, we will bring it to you first right here.
I'm going to show you some of the headlines we've got up on the screen right now. Some of the things we're checking out. Obviously, I'm going to start with our CNN.com right here.
Of course it's the top story. I'll step out of the way. "Israeli troops and Hamas in fierce battles," and we continuously update this throughout the day.
Let me just zoom through to a couple of the other features we have going right here. One of the main stories we're focusing on is civilians are caught on both sides of the crossfire. You can read about what happened overnight as we continue to report this morning. We also are continuously getting more and more pictures from that region.
Let's check out a few other papers we're following as well. This is "El Pais" right here, out of Spain which is leading with Israeli troops entering Gaza as well.
We have "Le Monde," which is in Paris as well, which is looking at this, continuously talking about how the Israeli tanks work their way in.
Let's toss one more here. That's "The London Daily Telegraph" that we're following as well.
We have a whole a bunch of papers we're following here, making sure to get you the latest details every step of the way. Now we know that a lot of you want to weigh in on this. You have a lot to say. We're hearing from you here at CNN. So what we're doing this morning, we have an e-mail question for you. Let's show you that.
We are asking you to let us know how would you solve the Mideast crisis. Now while we look at this -- you can see the e-mail address there, weekends@CNN.com. We're pushing for constructive dialogue here. As you know, when I come on, we don't want to, you know, fill the e-mails with hate.
Passion is good. We know a lot of people have a lot of anger, a lot of strong feelings about this. We want to try to get a constructive dialogue going.
What are your thoughts about what really needs to be done in order to bring peace to that region, whether it's what the U.S. can do or what needs to be done over there. Write us right now.
And Betty and Rob, I'm actually going to be back in just about 25 minutes with some of the first responses we get and we'll keep that process going all morning.
NGUYEN: Yes, looking forward to it. As you say, people have plenty to say about this on both sides.
MARCIANO: We're hearing from them.
NGUYEN: Thank you.
MARCIANO: All right.
NGUYEN: So we're going to have more of this special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING focusing on the crisis in the Middle East. Stay right here for the latest news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIADALLA ETTALHI, LIBYAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It is a sad day for the Security Council failing, once again, to voice out his position concerning the grave escalation which took place today in Gaza.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: The Middle East, the violence escalates, the crisis deepens.
After eight days of pounding air attacks, Israel has sent thousands of its troops into Gaza. The ground assault began about 15 hours ago.
At the United Nations, Arab countries are blasting the U.S. for blocking their calls for an immediate cease-fire. The U.S. says that any truce must require that Hamas and its rocket attacks on Israel. Casualty numbers are kind of sketchy. But Palestinian medical sources in northern Gaza say at least eight Palestinians have been killed there. The Israeli military says 30 of its soldiers have been wounded along with dozens of militants.
Here's a satellite view of what's going on in the region. Israel's ground offensive has cut off -- cut into Gaza and divided it. Now the Israeli forces are surrounding Gaza City.
Dov Hartuv, a resident of southern Israel, says he has seen just about everything and heard everything overnight. He lives close to the -- southern border there and it's been a hard time of uncertainty.
We don't know what's going to happen. We are hoping for the war to be over soon for us to be able to go to our old way of living.
I believe we're going to have him on the phone. Do we have him on the phone at the moment?
Mr. Hartuv, I hope I'm saying your name correctly. I know it's probably been quite an experience these last few nights. Describe what you've gone through.
DOV HARTUV, ISRAELI RESIDENT, KIBBUTZ NAHAL OZ: Well, it's a very serious situation, because, as I'm talking to you the sun is shining and I'm sitting on my back porch but in the background I can hear the firing and I can hear the planes overhead.
And in my mind's eye I can see the fighting going on and also just in great danger and both sides are suffering deeply for something that has to be brought to an end as quickly as possible.
MARCIANO: Just how close are you by kilometers or miles to the border itself?
HARTUV: We're not talking about kilometers and miles. I am about 800 meters from the Gaza Strip.
MARCIANO: And -- my goodness. And how long have you lived there?
HARTUV: Nearly 50 years.
MARCIANO: 50 years. And in - your...
HARTUV: Years, yes.
MARCIANO: In your experience of living there that long, is this the worst you've ever seen it?
HARTUV: Yes. But one's mind makes one forget the difficult periods. I've been through the Six-Day War, the war -- the Yom Kippur War, and so this really seems to be the worst but, you know, time plays tricks with one's mind.
MARCIANO: Well, your government is making inroads into Gaza for the sole purpose of -- peace but in order to get that they say they have to shut down these -- rocket attacks which are, well, bombarding your community.
Do you support your government in doing that and what do you feel is the solution to this?
HARTUV: Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any other solution because, although I'm a man of peace, in this, in this case force seems to be the only solution because nothing else has worked up to now.
Remember that this is not something that started one or two years ago. We have been shelled here on Nahal Oz since 2001. It's already eight years. And so it's an impossible situation and it seems that no, no way has been found other than force.
I'm hoping that in the very, very near future, and I mean in a couple of days, we will be able to sit down somehow with our enemies and find a solution.
MARCIANO: Describe for us what daily life is for you both today and the days of -- the past eight days.
HARTUV: Well, our daily life is the same as anyone else's. We disregard the danger. Not that we play Russian roulette but we have to live our lives and we do so, and therefore our lives are very similar to those that you and your friends and families live in the United States.
We go (INAUDIBLE) our daily work. We visit friends. We go to the theater. We see films, watch TV, play games...
MARCIANO: But all the while under the fear of -- of an air attack.
I mean how do you -- how do you deal with that psychologically and is there any warning, I mean, do you have bunkers and how do you take shelter? You know?
HARTUV: Well, if you're talking about the last couple of days, here in Nahal Oz, we -- all our homes here have a sheltered room and therefore when there is an alert, we can go into the room and we are relatively safe.
That is not the same for the rest of the country but because they started here in Nahal Oz, we were the first settlement to get these -- these rooms and they are attached to our houses.
MARCIANO: Well, it's safe to say you'd rather not live that way and you're looking for this to come to a peaceful solution at some point.
Mr. Hartuv, we appreciate you getting on the phone with us. Please stay safe and good luck to you as this crisis hopefully comes to a close.
That's Dov Hartuv, living, as he calls it, 800 or less than a kilometer away from the southern border of Israel and Gaza -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Well, across the U.S., people are protesting the violence in Gaza. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What's wrong with you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm an American.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm an American.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: American supports Israel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm for peace.
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A heated exchange in Albuquerque, New Mexico between supporters on both sides of the fighting.
Here's what it looked like in San Francisco. Protesters in the Bay Area hit the streets calling for an end to the violence and to show their support for the victims in Gaza.
And more protests. This one on the steps of the state capitol in downtown Oklahoma City. About 75 people rallied for peace yesterday.
Well, protests stretch across the globe. In London as many as 10,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square complaining about what they call the British government's quiet support of the Israeli offensive.
CNN reporter Lonzo Cook has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LONZO COOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The route channeled the protesters under the winter sun through the center of the British government. They threw shoes on this very cold day. A sign of disrespect. As they displayed their scorn for what many of them call the British prime minister's tacit support for Israeli actions.
Police barricades kept the demonstration well away from Downing Street. Emotional reactions to Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every single day, as we turned on the TV, we see children there dying in hospital, adults dying there, children dying on the floor. Why? Why? Why do children have to die? Why do innocent children have to die on the floor? Why?
COOK: Moved on by police, the protesters continued reaching the destination for the rally, Trafalgar Square.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I haven't been to a protest for years, actually. I'm just so outraged by what's going on. I had to get out of bed actually this morning and come along and, you know, try -- and try -- hope that it stop. (INAUDIBLE). UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel very strongly about what's going on in the Middle East. I think it's terrible that so many people are dying in Gaza. I understand but I don't condone what Hamas in Israel but I think that Israel is reacting in a terrible way, a disproportionate way.
COOK: The crowd poured into the square and numbered over 10,000 according to British police, decrying Israeli actions and calling for western governments to reign in Israel, with pro-Palestinian activists, politicians and celebrities like musician Annie Lennox.
ANNIE LENNOX, SINGER: And I as a mother, as a human being, as a humanitarian, I dread to think what kind of images we are going to see from now on.
(CROWD CHANTING)
COOK: The crowd enthusiastic throughout. The event was peaceful.
(on camera): As the protest rally wound up, organizers claimed that it had been the largest ever demonstration in London in support of the Palestinian people. And they call for an even larger demonstration next weekend.
Lonzo Cook, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: Much more of this special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING focusing on the crisis in the Middle East coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
MARCIANO: Some dramatic images there for you. Now, it's your chance to weigh in on the breaking news coming out of Gaza. Our email question this morning: Who would you solve the Mideast crisis? Email us at weekends@CNN.com. We'll be back in a few minutes with some of your answers.
The crisis in the Middle East: Israel shifts to a new phase in its military offensive. After eight days of air strikes, Israel pours thousands of troops into Gaza. That ground assault is 15 hours old. At the United Nations, Arab countries criticize the U.S. for blocking calls for a ceasefire. Washington says the ceasefire must require Hamas to stop its rocket attacks on Israel.
Casualty numbers are sketchy. But Palestinian medical sources in northern Gaza now say at least 21 Palestinians have been killed there. The Israeli military says 30 of its soldiers have been wounded.
Let's take a satellite view to give you an idea of what it looks like around that region of conflict and how it's playing out. Israel's ground offensive has cut into Gaza and has divided it. Now, those Israeli forces are surrounding Gaza City itself. Our team of experienced correspondents is bringing you comprehensive coverage of this crisis. Ben Wedeman, Paula Hancocks and Nic Robertson are on the Israeli-Gaza border. Octavia Nasr is CNN's senior editor for Arab affair. She'll join us live here on set. And we've also got result from chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Karl Penhaul, and Brian Todd. And in Washington, our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser and Kate Bolduan.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's start by taking you as close to the action as possible. Israel is keeping the news media out of Gaza. But our Ben Wedeman is on the Israeli-Gaza border. He joins us now live.
Ben, describe to us what you have been seeing and hearing over the past few hours.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Betty. From the time we got here early this morning, it's pretty constant air bombardment, sea bombardment, helicopters artillery. Now, it has quieted down somewhat at least in some of the top two-thirds of the Gaza Strip. But if we go further south - in fact, there's something new right behind me. Let's see if we can show you that. It appears to be some sort of white plume of smoke. Obviously, because we're not allowed to be in Gaza that we can't really give you the details.
There has been rocket fire out of Gaza into Israel. According to a police spokesman, since midnight, local time, more than 30 rockets have fallen inside Israel fired from Gaza. That in addition to countless, according to the police, mortars being fired. In fact, two mortar rounds have landed in this area in the last hour and a half or so.
So, the operation in Gaza is continuing. The humanitarian situation, by all accounts, Betty, is very difficult -- shortages of food, power outages, shortages of medicine. Apparently, the hospitals are close to collapse. People aren't going out because of the ground invasion. Of course, they haven't really been going out very much since this operation began Saturday before last -- Betty?
NGUYEN: So, how long can they sustain this, with the humanitarian situation the way it is right now, only what -- 15, 16 hours into the ground assault?
WEDEMAN: Oh, it's going to be difficult. At some point, if Israel is going to control Gaza, it will become responsible for 1.5 million people -- responsible for providing food, for providing medicine, in theory, for providing electricity as well. It's going to be a huge problem.
So, the assumption, because of those responsibilities, is that Israel is not going to be spending too much time in Gaza. Israeli officials have made it clear that they have no desire or intention to reoccupy Gaza, keeping in mind that Israeli forces occupied Gaza from June 1967 until September 2005, and for Israel, it was a very expensive and difficult occupation. They don't want to repeat that. So, in theory, they'll be leaving eventually and it will be up to, probably, the international community to repair the damage that's been inflicted on Gaza -- Betty?
NGUYEN: Ben, right now, it appears the international community really hasn't been able to come up with some kind of a statement or any kind of resolution to find long-term sustainable peace in that region. So, as we watch this play out, Ben, we see that what -- Israeli missiles have targeted 45 Hamas locations including an intelligence headquarter?
WEDEMAN: Well, we have no way of confirming these claims because we have no way of getting inside Gaza. And, you know, during war, often times as they say, truth is the first casualty. So, we don't really know when they say they hit a car or truck carrying a missile or so- called intelligence center because we can't actually go look for ourselves. These are just claims that we'll have to investigate when we eventually get back to Gaza -- Betty?
NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Ben Wedeman is joining us live. We'll be checking in with you very shortly. Thank you, Ben.
MARCIANO: Well, as Ben mentioned, it's tough for reporters to get in Gaza. They're not being allowed at this time. So, we're doing it by phone. And we're taking calls from inside Gaza.
And we have a guest on the line, Issam Younis. He's director of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, joining us from Gaza City.
Mr. Younis, can you hear me?
ISSAM YOUNIS, AL MEZAN CTR. FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, GAZA CITY: Yes, I do.
MARCIANO: Describe for us what's happening around you right now?
YOUNIS: We hear explosions all day long, bombardment from the sea and air strikes are still going on. And we hear very heavy tank shelling in Gaza. This is accompanied by the fact that Gaza is being under unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
It's a catastrophe where food and basics are being denied for a long time. I'm not talking about the last eight or so days. (INAUDIBLE), people are in their homes. Rarely you could find people in the streets, they live in panic and fear. Taken to account that the rumors or the news, I would say that the Israeli troops are approaching the outskirts of Gaza and the south and from the east, which makes the situation very, very critical and a very dramatic crisis (ph).
MARCIANO: What is your organization or any organization doing inside Gaza to help the civilians there? You say they're huddled in their homes. They're just -- for fear of going outside, obviously. Their city is under attack. But there is -- is there any sort of organized effort to protect and aid these people?
YOUNIS: Look, we are a human rights organization. Our main work is to monitor the human rights situation which is unprecedented. We're trying to do our best. Most of our staff cannot come to the office for the last eight days. We are here three people. We just can't follow (ph) their needs.
We received phone calls from the people who are there in the heart of the military offensive -- I mean, the civilians asking for ambulances and the Palestinians cannot get in. We're hearing, for example, in the area close to Gaza called Jurahedek (ph) where five people, we know that five people are being bleeding at this moment, we cannot do anything for them. We're trying to do our best to secure it through the hospitals, contacting ambulances, and also contacting our colleagues, in fact, Israeli human rights organizations, to try to do something.
So, this kind of work at the moment we do is beyond our capacity. However, when it comes to human fear (INAUDIBLE), it's very dangerous to walk on the streets. You don't know which will be the next target. Is it the car in front of you or the building next to you or the shop that you accidentally just passed by. It's an unbelievable situation now in Gaza.
MARCIANO: Describe for me in general terms what you, the civilians, are feeling now. You're aware, of course, that the Hamas government has launched rockets across the border, and this is in retaliation of that by Israel in order to shut down those rocket attacks. Are the feeling of the citizens there, one of being victimized or one of -- it's us versus them, and we should fight the Israel forces as much as we can?
YOUNIS: Let's put it this way, from where to begin and again, not to blame the victims. Nobody can justify targeting civilians, whether Israelis or Palestinians. This is matter of principle. Now, when it comes to bombardment of Gaza, the heart of the most populated neighborhood (ph) in Gaza, where civilians have been killed and injured, and houses have been targeted and destroyed; mosque, in addition to security buildings.
This -- I mean, now, there is a sort of collective consensus among the people that we have the enemy who is Israel. I think Israel united the Palestinians at this moment, and Israel who launched this offensive is to be blamed. Just to remind you that since June 2007 until November, Hamas and Israel engaged into a truce, a ceasefire. Almost single rocket was fired from Gaza while Gaza was subjected to unprecedented closure -- unprecedented closure.
And now again, with the situation in Gaza, people are feeling very (INAUDIBLE) out of this. This is collective punishment. No way to distinguish between Hamas and the people. It's not smart for them, it's stupid for them that whenever Hamas and the people are the victims, then I think the whole process is meaningless. And I think that Israelis -- first of all, we're given a chance by the international community, by failure (ph) of the Security Council...
MARCIANO: Mr. Younis, your voice is being heard here across America and, indeed, across the world and we understand your feelings towards what's been going. It's safe to say that the ceasefire was broken on the Gaza side as well but your voice is heard. We do hope for your safety as this crisis unfolds, and at some point, we do look for a peaceful solution.
Issam Younis, director of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, reporting or calling us live from Gaza City. Thank you, sir.
More of this special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING: When we come back, we're going to touch on your emails and what you're saying about the solution to the crisis in the Middle East.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Then it says stop, that it is not afraid of Israel because it looks like it is Israel that commands Europe. If Europe really wants to show it is strong, it is now or never. It is time to do something, otherwise it's useless.
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NGUYEN: All right. We have been asking you this morning: How would you solve the Mideast crisis? Well, our Josh Levs is looking at your email responses, and he joins us now.
Josh, what are you hearing?
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JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're following feeds from all over the world. And we're going to be bringing you the latest from this area all day long. This right there is where we have some of your emails. We're asking you, as you just said: How would you solve the Mideast crisis? Let's zoom in.
We'll start out with this one. "I would put a permanent U.N. force there to keep the peace." That one comes to us from Amy.
Let's scroll down a little bit. "A moratorium on any further military aid to Israel, including ammunition and spare parts": from Michael.
"Remove the corrupt government and have Israel and the world assist in establishing a proper, democratic rule in Gaza as the U.S. has done in Afghanistan." That's from Amir.
"The world leaders must insist that Israel rebuild Gaza and provide humanitarian aid": from Aimen.
We've got time for a couple more here. This is interesting. "I've been in Israel five times and every time I've been near the cities that border Gaza, rockets have been fired and I had to run to shelter. I believe the solution is to overthrow Hamas because Hamas is the one that won't negotiate and doesn't even care about its own people in Gaza. Or another solution is to have U.N. or allied Arab nation forces be patrolled along the border between Gaza and Israel." How about this? "There is no other solution but to do what the Israeli government has done, a military operation": Cesar in New Jersey. Now, we encourage you to send us your thoughts on this -- any constructive ideas. Your viewpoint about what might help to bring peace to all sides in this conflict -- weekends@CNN.com. And Betty and Rob, we're going to keep bringing them to you from right here all morning long.
NGUYEN: Obviously, a difficult question that a lot of people have pondered for many, many years.
MARCIANO: Yes.
NGUYEN: How would you solve the Mideast crisis? Send us your e-mail.
LEVS: Thanks, guys.
MARCIANO: And, you know, we'll take your suggestions. Maybe leaders are listening.
So much more to come on this special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING. And, of course, we're focusing on the crisis in the Middle East.
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UNIDENTIFIED KID: As we turn on the TV, we see children there die in hospitals, and adults dying there, children dying on the floor. Why? Why? Why do children have to die? Why do innocent children have to die on the floor? Why?
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NGUYEN: Such passion on both sides of this. Well, the crisis in the Middle East is something that we are following all morning long. After eight days of blistering air attacks, Israel sends thousands of its troops pouring into Gaza. The ground assault still is less than 24 hours old.
Well, at the United Nations, Arab countries say the U.S. has blocked their demands for an immediate ceasefire. The U.S. says a ceasefire must require Hamas to stop those rocket attacks on Israel.
Casualty numbers -- well, they are still sketchy. But here's what we know. Palestinian medical sources in northern Gaza now say at least 21 Palestinians have been killed there. The Israeli military says 30 of its soldiers have been wounded.
Let's take a satellite view of the region. Israel's ground offensive has cut into Gaza and divided it. Now, those Israeli forces are surrounding Gaza City.
MARCIANO: People on both sides of the Middle East crisis are protesting around the world. Here's a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Israel wants peace! Israel wants peace in the Middle East!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The population of Gaza is caught between the irresponsibility of Hamas continuing to firing these rockets but also the excessive nature of the Israeli ongoing operation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jewish, Arab, Christian communities, (INAUDIBLE) communities of all people that we need to end the Israeli apartheid, and we need to end the U.S. foreign policy that pit people against each other.
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: End the occupation now!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: End the occupation now.
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Hamas wants war! Israel wants peace!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From this podium, as you see all these people, and silence of this world, I think, it's a great lesson to President-elect Obama that he has to step up and say something about what's going on. It's no longer we have to wait until January 20th.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Long live Palestine!
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Long live Palestine!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Free, free, Palestine!
UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Free, free, Palestine!
(GUNS FIRING)
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NGUYEN: Well, there is more still to come on this special edition of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, and we are focusing this morning on the crisis in the Middle East.
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