Officials say the immediate goal is to destroy tunnels used by militants to infill rate the jewish state, but also to stop hamas rocket fire targeting israel. the night sky lit up over northern gaza as this invasion was launched on thursday night. israel had warned residents to clear out ahead of time, difficult for many of them who didn t have anywhere to go. the israeli military says it is hitting hamas hard by land, sea, and air, and that this they say is only the beginning. the onslaught drawing quick condemnation from hamas. a spokesman telling cnn this, quote, the beginning of the israeli ground invasion of gaza is a dangerous step with unknown consequences. and goes on to warn israel will pay a heavy price for it. now, for the latest on this expansion of israel s operation protective edge as they re calling it, joining us live from
Back. i know secretary kerry called benjamin netanyahu about the crisis. what are you hearing about that call? secretary kerry is in vienna right now where he s work on a separate diplomatic problem, the iran nuclear talkses. and he took some time out today to call prime minister netanyahu and the state department s readout of that call is very interesting. it starts by saying that kerry condemned the hamas rocket fire into israel which is very important for the united states to say to israel. and that the united states recognizes israel s right to self-defense, also very important. but the rest of it was really aimed at trying to get the israelis to take a step back here and accept the american offer of trying to help negotiate a truce here. we re in the sixth day of the israeli bombardment.
Cease-fire by not easing the siege and reducing the nautical miles for fishermen in gaza for fishermen to fish for their livelihoods. nevertheless, there s been no rocket fire for 15 months. consider also between 2004 and 2008, 26 israelis have been killed by hamas rocket fire, and seven of those or 1 out of 4 have been killed during israel s operations that are quote/unquote for defense. because of these operations i have to wrap you there. a quick last word. we have a president who cares more about the middle class, rightly in my jumptdgment, thane middle east. this is a middle class issue. this is why we don t see an end to it on the ground either. these are incredibly tough issues. you make some valid points, but on the other hand, this cycle of vile olence was also instigated
Brianna, are under tremendous pressure from hard-liners within their own governments. there are ministers within the israeli government who are talking about a more aggressive response, more robust response to the hamas rocket fire from gaza. israeli troops have been building up along that border throughout the past 48 hours. in mahmoud abbas s own government there are ministers who are calling for an end to security cooperation between the palestinian security forces and the israel defense forces. so however you look at it, while there are many people out protesting and demonstrating in favor of greater acceptance, against discrimination, against violence, there are also forces that are mitigating that movement and activating for even a more violent response. and ambassador, there is some closed circuit television of what appears to be the abduction or what is the abduction we believe of the palestinian teen, who was murdered. it s not great video, but there
Streets expressing their rights and have hope for the region. what about your particular small neighborhood in the region? are we going backwards. well, we have hope for the region too and hope we ll be surrounded by democracies and they ll be peace-loving democracies, there s also the continuity in the region. hezbollah apointing rockets at us. hamas shooting rockets at us and no shortage of terrorist groups many backed by iran and syria and don t want to negotiate with us so we have to be vigilant. we have to do whatever it takes to defend ourselves and will do to defend ourselves but also can t give up on peace. you make that point defending yourself. you know as i said this is a sadly familiar story line about buses and bombs and in the city. another part of that story line over the years has been critics of israel say the response is often disproportionate. what will happen here. we are going to take whatever measures are necessary to defend ourselves against the hamas rocke