Since leaving office last week. We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. Im wolf blitzer in jerusalem. Youre in the situation room. Were following this hours breaking news. New civilian casualties in gaza including a family of nine killed in what palestinian Officials Say was an israeli strike on their house inside a refugee camp. That came on the heels of this strike on a marketplace. At least 17 people died in this incident. According to palestinian officials, the death toll is now at least 1,432 people. The majority the palestinian Officials Say civilians. Despite growing criticism from the u. S. And the United Nations, israel is vowing to continue its mission to wipe out hamas tunnels with or without a ceasefire. Were covering all angles of the breaking news this hour with our guests, our correspondents here in the middle east and around the world. Lets begin in gaza. Cnns john vauss is there for us. Whats the latest . What are you seeing . Reporter
Mourning. They havent had one since 1962 in respect of the passing of a queen, so it just goes to show how much this means to people. The country has its arms wide open. Behind us, these are all rows of flowers. This country, of course, is known for its tulips and flowers and these are gestures of love and support, notes to the victims, notes to the people who love the victims. These are travelers. They are on their way different places. They have stopped here to observe it, and a lot of these people actually arent in transit. They have just come from their homes and in an expression of love and to give respect to those who lost their lives. A very different picture here than what weve been experiencing in Eastern Ukraine. Good morning to you, kate, john. Good morning, chris. Thanks so much. Well get back to you in just a second. Were also following the latest from the middle east. Wolf blitzer is in jerusalem as you see right there with updates on the ceasefire talks and the latest on
Tel aviv after a rocket from hamas comes dangerously close to the airport. No end in sight. Were live with the very latest. Good morning, welcome to early start. Im christine romans. Im john berman. Its wednesday, july 23rd, 4 00 a. M. In the east. Wed like to welcome all our viewers here in the United States and around the world. Up first for us, u. S. Officials coming this close, directly blaming russia for the downing of flight 17. Heres the very latest on this tragedy malaysias Prime Minister charging russian investigators interfering at the crime site. The planes cockpit found sliced open by a dieselpowered saw. Here in the United States, the white house is ratcheting up the rhetoric, insisting it was the russians who created the conditions that led to this disaster. We know for months now, heavy weapons have been moving across the border from russia into ukraine. We know that the russians have been training russianbacked separatists in the use of those weapons, including antiairc
Between israel and gaza just announced. According to the details of the agreement which we are just getting in to cnn, the quote is forces on the ground will remain in place. This is only a humanitarian ceasefire. A brief pause in the fighting, all meant to get aid to civilians in gaza. We are going to hear from a top israeli official, israels ambassador to the United Nations in a moment. First we have sarah sidner in jerusalem, john vaz in gaza city. Whats happening there, john . Reporter well, erin, we have seen a number of rockets fired by hamas since news came through that there is a ceasefire deal in place. Obviously the rockets outgoing to israel. Sarah can tell you more about where they landed. We have been seeing a lot of israeli activity here. Heavy machine gun fire to the east. Also the sound of artillery as well. We were expecting an uptick in the activity here. They agreed to the ceasefires and launched a last barrage of activity, trying to get as much done before the cease
Lead right now, drafting the text in consultations with the egyptians. Qatar is serving as a main contact with hamas a long with turkey. Hamas has not yet signed on to the plan. The Israeli Cabinet has been meeting in emergency session in tel aviv to discuss the ceasefire proposals. I want to bring in someone who has been attending those emergency meetings. He is the israeli minister of intelligence. Hes here now with me in jerusalem. Thank you for being on. How close are israel and hamas through the work of the United States and others to a ceasefire . It doesnt seem close at all. Actually, will legitimize under certain conditions. One thing is clear, wolf, terrorism shouldnt be a peace and there should be no price for terrorism, for launching rockets on israeli civilians. It sounds to in, minister, correct me if im wrong, the negotiation, Prime Minister netanyahu, you and other cabinet ministers have been have it doesnt sound likely the latest proposal for a oneweek ceasefire somethi