Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me. Im Fredericka Witfield In Atlanta alongside wolf blitzer in washington. We begin with our Special Coverage of israel and gaza. After dayswaiting, the rafah Border Crossing has opened very briefly, allowing 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to cross into gaza. Water, fuel and food are all running desperately low in gaza. The United Nations is warning gazas hospitals are on the brink of collapse. One american trapped in gaza described his situation to cnn this morning. We thought that we could stay close to the border because the State Department would work on extracting us or getting us out of gaza through some type of arrangement. Weve been here a week. Were staying in a normal singlefamily home with about two floors with 40 people sharing everything we can from food and water. The Death Toll Stands at 4,300 people according to the Palestinian Ministry of health. Tens of thousands of israeli troops continue to mass along the gaza border. Today the Israeli Defense forces updated the number of hostages held by hamas in gaza to 210 people. Two american hostages, a mother and her teenage daughter are now free following their surprising release yesterday. They were visiting family at a kibbutz close to gaza when they were taken hostage by hamas. Wolf. Lets get some more right now on the badly needed aid that just arrived in gaza from egypt. Clarissa ward is following all the latebreaking developments from gaza. Reporter its been two weeks of no aid, relentless bombardment, mass displacement. 20 trucks is a drop in the ocean, but Officials Say they are hopeful this is the start of something more sustained, more counto co continuous. The u. N. Hopes more of their trucks can go through. The 20 trucks today were egyptian red crescent trucks. They drove through the rafah crossing. Palestinian troops loaded the aid and drove it through to the gaza side. Theres a meeting today of arab leaders here in cairo. Its called a conference of peace. The egyptian president spoke in the last hour or so and said this is a welcome side but its not enough. We need a humanitarian cease ceasefire and beyond that we need to work on establishing some kind of peace process, a twostate solution. Quite a long list of things that need to happen. Right now there seems to be consensus, at least on that first step of trying to establish a more continuous or sustained humanitarian corridor. The hospitals are barely functioning. Fuel supplies, according to one u. N. Spokesperson i was speaking to, will be depleted in two or three days. That is a vital resource that is desperately needed. Negotiations are ongoing to try to get at least 100 trucks in every single day in what will be the beginning of a continuous corridor and hopefully eventually also the establishment as the israelis had previously mentioned and also President Biden and secretary of state Antony Blinken of some kind of humanitarian zone, where some of the 900,000 displaced people inside gaza could find some refuge and respite. We are still, though, a long way from that. Clarissa woard, thank you. What impact could this aid have inside gaza . Selma abdul aziz is covering this angle. As you heard from clarissa ward, this doesnt begin to scratch the surface of the need on the ground. That convoy is going to face some serious challenges. Theres no fuel on it. Air strikes continue to rain down on gaza. There are major infrastructure issues. I want to give you a sense of the humanitarian crisis inside gaza. I do want to warn our viewers these images are graphic. Hospitals in gaza are crumbling. Everything is running out from food to medicine. The tiniest lives are left hanging in the balance. We need power, we need access to clean water, this doctor says. Without basic services, this will be a humanitarian catastrophe. Already seven hospitals in 21 primary Health Care Facilities here are out of service according to palestinian officials because of shortages. After intense diplomatic efforts, prayers of relief at the rafah Border Crossing as a trickle of aid was allowed in from egypt. But the 20truck convoy is only a drop in the ocean of need here, equivalent to just 3 of what entered this enclave daily prior to the conflict. More than 200 additional trucks of assistance remain stalled on the egyptian side, according to the u. N. Every hour costs lives. So far no civilians can leave the enclave. 10yearold americanpalestinian aidan is among those trapped. We have no place to go. All the streets are bombed. Theyre literally gone. How are we supposed to go out . How . Its all closed. Even if people are allowed out, it will be a limited number, most likely only those with foreign passports, sealing some 2 million others, half of them children, into this hellscape. But some refuse to go even if they could, fearing Israel Intends to bomb and besiege them out of their homes, never to return. Even ast he buries his children he says he will keep fighting to exist here. Translator as long as we are alive on this earth we will be patient, he says. We ever never leave this land. After the october 7th Terrorist Attacks, israel vowed to wipe out hamas. But with hundreds of air strikes pounding the densely populated enclave, innocent blood is being spilled. Innocent children were struck down while they were sleeping, this woman shouts. What did they do . Did they carry weapons . These are innocent children who know nothing. Tell us, when will this end . There are calls for a cease fire to get civilians out of the war zone and allow more aid into gaza, but the pleas fall on deaf ears so far. Israel is preparing for the next phase of its operations, a Potential Ground Incursion that can only bring more suffering. The death toll is over 4,000 killed so far in gaza, many more thousands wounded. That humanitarian crisis is only intensifying by the hour as that siege cuts off basic supplies as many wounded continue to stream into this health care system. The United Nations is begging for a sustained corridor of some kind to allow assistance to flow through freely. Wolf. Thank you very much. The Biden Administration amidst all of this is asking congress for 105 billion in Security Funding for israel and ukraine. Some additional money would also be provided for the u. S. Southern border and taiwan. But the president faces an Uphill Battle on capitol hill right now. House republicans have been unable to agree on a new speaker for more than two weeks, so congress cannot pass any legislation until there is a new speaker. A Growing Number of House Republicans are also opposed to additional funding of ukraines ongoing war. Cnn White House ReporterPriscilla Alvarez is joining us from delaware where the president is spending the weekend. What is the administrations plan to get this funding through congress . Reporter wolf, i just got off the phone with a white house official who told me that the white house legislative team is working over the course of the weekend to talk to members of both parties to shore up support for this supplemental request and underscore how necessary it is. You mentioned this is 105 billion funding package. It breaks down the following way. Theres 61 billion for ukraine, 14 billion for israel, over 9 billion for humanitarian aid as well as funding for the u. S. Mexico Border as well as the indopacific region. Now, the white house has said they see bipartisan support in congress for a package like this. But as you mentioned, this still faces an Uphill Battle with a House Of Representatives that has no speaker. In fact, the House Republicans wrapped the week still scrambling to find someone after pushing republican representative Jim Jordan Out of the race. Now, over the coming days, new Speaker Hopefuls will emerge, but there is still no conclusion in sight, which leaves all of this in limbo. Its not just the lawmakers that the white house is trying to shore up support with, but also americans. This week the president delivered a prime time address where he made a direct appeal to americans over the need to continue to provide aid in these ongoing conflicts, making the point that these arent just conflicts playing out far away, but that they also impactist nati u. S. National security. Thank you very much, Priscilla Alvarez. Im joined by ryan crocker, the fo fo former ambassador. How important is this Aid P Package for israel . Its very important that this be the first of a long stream of Relief Convoys moving into gaza. I think we have helped the israelis understand how very important it is that they not be seen as the villain in this piece by bringing new suffering to the Palestinian People in gaza. So, again, there is no balance here between hamas and israel. The attack on october 7 was horrific. The focus needs to be kept on that strategically. Obviously trying to take care of innocent palestinians in gaza very important for israel as well as the palestinians themselves. How do you think a delay in getting that u. S. Funding would impact the war against hamas . My guess and its just that, wolf they are okay for the time being in terms of armaments, but indefinitely its going to be a huge problem. It already is a problem with ukraine if we dont get that package moving at some point, the israelis are going to be short of the munitions they so desperately need. As you know, President Biden in his Oval Office Address cautioned israel not to make the same mistakes the u. S. Made after the n9 11 attacks by al qaeda and urge what is the mess the president is sending israel with these comments . I think its pretty clear, wolf. The president said all of that, that this critical of a situation cannot be ruled by emot emotions, however warranted those emotions might be after the massacres and the hostage taking israel suffered. But they need to keep a level head. We need to help them do that. I think the president s statement was an important step in that direction, as is the presence in jerusalem including attending Emergency Cabinet Meetings of our National Security advisor and others. So were locked up there with the israelis. That gives us a chance to make sure they keep the focus where it needs to be and avoid reactions that are going to come back and make them the villain rather than the victim. As you know, israel has talked publicly about destroying hamas with its likely Ground Invasion into gaza. Are you confident that israel has a plan for what would happen if that goal were achieved . I think the israelis are considering a number of different options, just as we would if we were in a similar position. I think one of the options on the table is a partial reoccupation of gaza. I think the logic behind that is that with the ease with which hamas crossed the border, youve got to push forward and make it a greater distance with a number of troops in place, kind of like what they did in lebanon for 18 years. Didnt work out in the end. I think it is thinkable as they look at a range of options. Israel says it doesnt want to occupy gaza again if it were to remove hamas. Who do you think potentially could fill that power vacuum and actually govern gaza . Im afraid Good Governance in gaza is a very long way off, unfortunately. Should they succeed in era eradicating hamas leadership, theres the prospect youre going to see new leadership emerge as we have seen in iraq and syria with al qaeda morphing into islamic state, which is still there underground. So i would not expect free and Fair Elections to replace hamas as the Government Authority in gaza. I would not expect those any time soon. The Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank Unde could take charge . Well, theres a way they could move down from the west bank and take charge. There would have to be an election, one assumes. And its possible with a lot of good preparation, hard work and a plan for governance that the Palestinian Authority could through elections extend its reach into gaza. But that is not going to happen. Thats not coming to a Movie Theater near us any time soon, i got to tell you. Ambassador ryan crocker, thanks for joining us. Coming up Law Enforcement agencies across the u. S. Are on high alert amid the ongoing war between israel and hamas. How they are monitoring potential threats. Well have details when we come back. Law enforcement across the country are on high alertereoff. It notes the fbi is seeing increased threats against faith communities. Here to discuss is shawn turner, a former director of communication for the u. S. National intelligence. Sources are telling cnn that the fbi is working around the clock fielding tips from the public. What are the distinctions between some tips as to why some are taken a lot more seriously than others . I think at a time like this when youre thinking about what makes particular threats and particular rhetoric stand out really sort of comes down to whats happening in the broader environment. What the fbi is looking for is sort of understanding what the status quo is and then understanding when were seeing increases in specific threats, particular threats against groups and organizations. Were always monitoring sort of hatefilled threats and rhetoric. When you see a situation like weve had in israel and gaza, you begin to see sort of pockets of Dialogue Creep Up in very chat rooms and chat areas. You have to watch those closely looking for instances in which that rhetoric goes from talking about how people feel about the situation to talking about how they might actually react, what they may actually do. When you see those indications, thats when Law Enforcement has to step in and find out if what people are talking about is actually what they intend to do. So going to certain chat rooms or monitoring social media, thats one way to Pay Attention to conversations. But what are some of the other tools that Law Enforcement and National Security might be using to get ahead of threats . One of the best ways to get ahead of those threats is weve got Intelligence Fusion Centers. New york has one of the best Intelligence Fusion Centers in the country. Weve got to make sure when we look at the Resources Available in the fbi and through the Intelligence Community that we bring those together to make sure were seeing as much as we can. Thats what Law Enforcement can do. But this is not just a Law Enforcement issue. In communities all across the country, people are talking about whats happening in israel and gaza and hear their neighbors and friends and Family Members talk about what happens there. As those strong emotions sort of rise to the top, the onus is on all of us to bring those things to the attention of Law Enforcement. A lot of times we think about whats happening behind the scenes, why arent we catching these things . This is everyones responsibility to raise these issues up and also just making sure we are trying to educate people about whats actually happening here. This week the nypd ordered all officers to report in uniform and be prepared for deployment. How important is it in some jurisdictions even if theres no specific threat, to have the visibility of Law Enforcement act almost as a deterrent as well . Yeah, absolutely, fred. This is a time for Law Enforcement agencies all across the country to not only demonstrate they have a heightened sense of alertness, but to show that in the communities. We need Law Enforcement out in the streets outside of faith and religious based organizations making sure theyre showing a presence. On a much smaller scale, its very much the same as why we have Carrier Strike groups in the region of israel and gaza. We are there to send a message to help people understand were going to protect innocent people and we need to do that all across the country and our cities and states and communities to make sure people feel safe. Thanks for being with us. Its been nearly two weeks since hamas launched its unprecedented assault in israel. Still ahead, cnn spoke exclusively with the palestinian Prime Minister. That interview coming up. Its been two weeks since hamas launched its unprecedented Terror Assault on israel, Killing Hundreds of israelis. Many World Leaders have come out in support of israel since then, especially the United States. In retaliation, israel continues to strike targets in gaza. Cnns Becky Anderson spoke exclusively with the palestinian Prime MinisterMohammad Shtayyeh and started by asking him if he condemned that attack against israel On October 7th. Killing every human being that does not deserve to die, we should condemn that. More than 1600 children have been slaughtered in gaza, more than 700 women. The general mood in israel today is a mood of revenge. I think this appetite for killing should be stopped. Not one singular human being would like to see innocent people killed. You are unwilling to say you condemn the attacks, though, On October 7th. Why . Because you see, palestinian story does not start On October 7th. Palestinian catastrophe has been there for 75 years. We have been shouting loud and clear we need a solution. What happened yesterday is yesterday. The preparation for a Ground Operation which is going to cost 10,000 palestinian lives, this is where the focus should be and that is what we should stop. Were you surprised by the ferocity of the attack On October 7th . Everybody was shocked. This is something that has been unprecedented by all means. The Israeli Government policy has to be held responsible for all what has happened. The israeli strategy was to keep us isolated. People in gaza are very angry, depressed. People in gaza were unemployed. We have to make to provide Meaningful Life to the people that was not there. What we have seen today in gaza is something that is a criminal act. Israels Defense Minister has said troops will soon see the inside of gaza, and i quote him on that. As israels military readies itself for the next stage, how concerned are you . Very concerned. If the israeli army goes into gaza with a Ground Operation, additional thousands will be killed. So we are more than concerned. Why did president Abbas Walk Out on what was scheduled to be a summit in jordan with the u. S. President . What happened at the hospital was a horrific scene. We asked one single question. Is the United States ready to stay to the israelis stop the incursion, stop the attacks . We were not assured on that. Therefore, the meeting became meaningless. We, the jordanians and the egyptians and the american fully understand that president abbas had to walk away. And they also made condolences to the losses of lives in the hospital. The u. S. Has been absolutely clear that israel has a right to defend itself and that it will support israel in its efforts to destroy hamas, whatever it takes. Your thoughts on that . The support of israel blindly is a license for killing. And i hope that the United States does not go into that direction. Israel is not under existential threat. The white house, the president should call for the parties to sit down and Work Together a peaceful solution. Encouraging israel to destroy the people of gaza, that is not going to bring a solution. Look at the pictures. Who has been killed in gaza . Children, women, old men, churches, mosques. This is not a war on hamas. This is a war on the Palestinian People, wherever they are, in gaza and the west bank and jerusalem. Our thanks to Becky Anderson for that exclusive interview. Our Special Coverage will continue right after a quick break. Major developments this week in georgia where Fulton County prosecutors scored another victory in their case against former president trumps plot to overturn the 2020 election. The attorney who allegedly helped craft that scheme Kenneth Chesebro pleaded guilty. He will testify in any future trials against the remaining 16 codefendants. But chesebros attorney told me last hour that this is what the guilty plea means. If mr. Chesebro was the architect of the fake electors scheme, some sort of scheme to bring down democracy, which is what ive heard over and over for the last few months, would the District Attorney of if you can Fulton County have offered Him First Offender Probation . I really dont think so, fredericka. I think this plea deal was offered because the evidence was not there that he was the architect of some fake elector scheme. Mr. Chesebro is willing to live with it and hell fulfill the obligations he committed to when he signed his plea deal. In terms of whether hes flipping against anyone, hes simply going to tell the truth. If the jury decides that helps one side or the other, so be it. Chesebro joins former trump attorney Sidney Powell, who also pleaded guilty this week. If youre keeping track, that now makes three of the 19 indicted in georgia to admit guilt for their roles in the plot to overturn the election results. Joining us is former federal prosecutor michael veldon. So during fridays Hearing Chesebro admitted he conspired with trump to put forward fake electors in georgia, but his Attorney Says he didnt implicate anyone but himself. Do you believe thats the case . Well, i thought he pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to falsely set electors fourth in georgia, and a conspiracy implies more than one person. The people at play in this conspiracy are trump and eastman and giuliani. So maybe hes technically pleading to one count of filing false statements, but the implication of this is that he was working in a concerted way with others and that if he it was to what they did, that should be versed to those others. Your plea deal would not be accepted if not for the fact that if you were called to testify or your admission will help lead to information about your coconspirators, there would be no real plea deal if not for those things, right . Exactly. What he has to admit is guilty. His lawyer seems to be saying, well, hes not really admitting to guilt so much as hes taking the lesser of evill s presentedo him. So hes admitting guilt to one count when he was charged with seven unless they believe he has valuable noinformation to provi them in the pursuit of other convictions. I think he took a plea deal knowing that he violated the law. Chesebro admitted the purpose of the fake electors was to disrupt and delay the joint Session Of Congress On January 6th of 2021. How damaging is that admission for trumps legal team . Well, its damaging if chesebro is a good witness. Remember, he says ill testify truthfully. He might have a gloss on it that is sort of more favorable to himself and also to the trump, eastman, giuliani defendants. But if he comes forth with substantial evidence that they engaged in this conspiracy to delay the election and they knew it was criminal, which is important, then i think hes a very powerful witness. If he just tries to poopoo this, i think it will be less damaging than it could be. How significant is this for trumps case as he sees now two of his former attorneys, chesebro and Sidney Powell now cooperating with prosecutors . Well, if youre a codefendant and ot others of your team testifying against you, thats not a good day for you. Each of them has something important to add in terms of trumps liability. Sidney powell, Though She Pleadplead Ed guilty to Election Interference in Coffee County was present in the white house during the conversations about the big lie strategy. Chesebro is one of the socalled architects of this. So they both will have information to say what Donald TrumpsState Of Mind was, what his intentions were. So three now have pled. Do you see its likely that the remaining, if that includes the former president himself or not, but a good number of the remaining will also try to seek plea deals . Sure. I think that all of the secondtier players will ultimately enter plea deals, especially if the prosecutors are offering probation and no jail time. The serious defendants, eastman, giuliani, meadows, trump, i think they have a harder time pleading guilty. But well see how much evidence they feel the codefendants who have pled guilty have on them and that will inform their decisions going forward. Thank you so much. Thanks, fred. As the paralyzed u. S. House scrambles to find a new speaker, today House Majority whip tom emer entered a crowded field for the gavel. The minnesota republicans announcement comes with a clear message to his republican colleagues. Emer says gop members must, quote, look for a new path forward. He joins a handful of other republicans vying for house speaker. More cantcandidates are likely add their names in the coming days. Monday House Republicans will try again with a Candidate Forum. Reporter the republicans are back at square one. For the second time in two weeks, their gop nominee for speaker has failed to win enough support within the party. Jim jordan tried to take another vote to the floor on friday. He failed to win enough support to win the speakership gavel. In fact, he bled even more support. After that vote, republicans took a Secret Ballot Vote where they essentially voted to dump him as their speaker nominee. There are serious questions about who, if anyone, can get the 217 votes required to win the speakership. A lot of members are upset about the situation they find themselves in. One of those members includes dusty johnson, a more moderate leaning member. Our manu raju caught up with him after that conference meeting. Americas got real problems. This is a time where we need people interested in problem solving, not selfagrandizement. Now lawmakers will go home for the weekend. Theyll have another Candidate Forum on monday with an internal speakership election on tuesday. Thats the earliest we could potentially see a new candidate emerge. Already there are half a dozen republicans who have jumped into the race including tom emer, the Majority Whip and the third ranking highest republican, byron donalds, a Florida Republican whos also a member of the farright freedom congress, andthese candidates h not head a head start so its going to be a while before they are able to unify around the candidate in the party. As of now, no speaker, no consensus and no ability to govern. Youre looking at pictures from moments ago in the nations capitol where the american muslims for palestine and u. S. Council of muslim organizations have been holding a March For Gaza Rally there. Propalestine rallies are expected in at least 19 cities throughout the u. S. Today with events scheduled in chicago, brooklyn, houston, los angeles and philadelphia. Our coverage of the war in israel continues after a quick break. The power goes out and we still have wifi to do our homework. And thats a good thing . Great in my book who are you . No power . No problem. Introducing stormready wifi. Now you can stay reliably connected through Power Outages with unlimited cellular data and up to 4 hours of battery backup to keep you online. Only from xfinity. Home of the xfinity 10g network. Here s and all of our stuff where we want to go. But, our cars cant take us e with unpaid tolls. Vehicles with overdue, unpaid tolls may not be able to renew their registration until outstanding balances are paid. Payment assistance is available. Visit bayareafastrak. Org ase so go pay your unpaid tolls y and keep your wheels on the its been an unnerving two weeks since the deadly hamas Terrorist Attack for people in israel, including those who live in the city of ashkelon. The city has been repeatedly on the Receiving End of Rocket Attacks coming in from gaza. Jeremy diamond files this report from ashkelon. Reporter this is life in ashkelon. The most fired upon city in israel since hamas launched its first rockets 12 days ago. Here, fear still grips some. Others carry on, ignoring the sirens. Translator when were outside, were very careful. When were inside, god is protecting us. Every missile has an address. We dont need to be afraid. Reporter in a city where 90 of businesses have closed, this supermarket is a lifeline. Theres a lot of businesses that are closed. Theyre closed. But the supermarket is working because people have to eat, they have to drink. You come once a week or . Im very afraid. If they send now rocket, i must lie on the road and put my hands on my head. Reporter getting to a bomb shelter isnt an option for everyone here, prompting the city to help evacuate thousands. We still have around 35,000 people that actually live without shelters. Each and every rocket means a direct risk for them. So we are trying to find a solution for them. Reporter more than 1200 rockets have target ed ashkelon. While most are intercepted by the iron dome, about 200 have made direct hits, displacing families from their homes, causing casualties and shuttering businesses like this bakery. Translator when we got here, everything was in pieces. The door was out of place. There was the smell of gun powder. A lot of nails and shrapnel was spread out. Everything was destroyed. We are starting to put things right. Reporter in the basement of an unassuming building, ashkelons ceo takes us into the Emergency Center where officials try to shorten response teams, tracking incoming rockets headed for the city. Rescue teams, police, ambulances, everything. Reporter so before the rocket lands, you can see where it would land . Yes. We have some estimation where it will land. Reporter until then, the First Responders wait and pray. Jeremy diamond, cnn, ashkeashke. Coming up next, well speak with an american citizen trapped in gaza with his family. Well have more on his efforts to try and get out