Hello again, everyone. Im Fredericka Witfield In Atlanta alongside wolf blitzer in washington. Were continuing with our special coverage of the events unfolding today on the ground in israel and gaza. The rafah Border Crossing between gaza and egypt was opened briefly this morning. 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were permitted to cross into gauze. Water, fuel and food are all running desperately low there. The United Nations is warning gazas th gazas hospitals are on the brink of collapse. The death toll there now standing at more than 4300 people according to the Palestinian Ministry of health. Meantime, Tens Of Thousands of israeli troops continue to amass along the gaza border. Today the Israeli Defense forces updating the number of hostages held by hamas in gaza to 210 people. Two american hostages, a mother and her teenage daughter are free now following their surprise release yesterday. They were visiting family at a kibbutz close to gaza when they were taken hostage by hamas. The u. N. Says the aid that just arrived in gaza was so desperately needed. The hope is that more will follow quickly. Reporter so its been two weeks of no aid, relentless bombardment, mass displacement. 20 trucks is a drop in the ocean, but officials are hopeful this is the start of something more sustained, more continuous. The u. N. Believes that more of their trucks could go through. Today those 20 trucks were egyptian red crescent trucks. They drove through the rafah Border Crossing, unloaded that aid. Palestinian trucks then 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. President sisi, the egyptian president spoke in the last hour or so and said this is a welcome sign, but its not enough. We need to build on this and establish a sustained humanitarian corridor. We need a humanitarian cease fire as well. And beyond that, we need to work on establishing some kind of Peace Process, a twostate solution. So quite a long list of things that need to happen. Right now there seems to be consensus at least on this 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. Person i was speaking to, will be out or depleted in two or three days. So 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 would be the beginning of a continuous corridor and hopefully the establishment as the israelis have previously mentioned and also President Biden and secretary of state Antony Blinken of some kind of a humanitarian zone, where some of the 900,000 displaced people inside gaza could find some refuge and respite. We are still a long way from that. The Biden Administration meanwhile is asking the u. S. Congress for 105 billion in Security Funding for israel and ukraine. Some of that money would also be provided for the u. S. Southern border and for taiwan. The president faces an uphill battle on capitol hill. House republicans have been unable to agree on a speaker of the house for more than two weeks. Congress cannot pass any legislation unless theres a new speaker. A Growing Number of republicans are also opposed to continued funding for ukraines war. Priscilla alvarez joins us from delaware, where the president is spending the weekend. What is the plan to get this funding through congress . Reporter im told over the course of this weekend the White House Legislative Affairs team is going to be making calls to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about the need for this supplemental request and also trying to get those lawmakers in line with the administrations priorities. Thats what they see as their role here, is shoring up support while the house decides on their speaker. This is a 105 billionsupplemen. Broken down, that includes 61 billion for ukraine, 14 billion for israel, just over 9 billion for humanitarian aid as well as funding for the u. S. Mexico Border and the indopacific region. The white house has indicated they feel confident there is enough bipartisan support for a fund package like this. The reality is there is just no speaker of the house yet. Without that, all of this remains in limbo. Just this week, House Republicans wrapped the week pushing jim jordan out of the race. New speaker hopefuls are expected to emerge, but that does not indicate a conclusion to this fight. The white house has called it, quote, chaotic infighting. The president making a direct appeal to americans this week in that prime time address to underscore the need while his team talks to lawmakers to get them to understand the need and how critical it is as these conflicts are ongoing abroad. Priscilla, thank you. We are also hearing the voices of the American Mother and daughter released by hamas. President biden spoke with them by phone. Listen. Hey, judith. Hello, president. Im so glad youre home. Not home. Im glad youre out. Thank you so very, very much. Nat, how are you . God love you. Im just delighted to get you out. Weve been working on it a long time. Were going to get you all out, god willing. That call from the oval office came shortly after the two americans were released. Both were held hostage for nearly two weeks after being abducted in israel by hamas. Whitney, do we know if theyve been reunited with their family yet . Reporter according to natalies father and judiths exhusband, they did reunite with relatives in israel. The wait here, though, continues, because judith and natalie will not likely be back to the United States until early next week. The hope is that natalie is back here by her 18th birthday on tuesday. The day he sees his daughter again will be the best day of his life. We spoke with him about how excruciating the last two weeks have been. Ive been waiting for this moment for two weeks. I havent been sleeping for two weeks. Tonight im going to sleep good. I spoke with my daughter earlier today. She sounds very good. She looks very good. She was very happy and shes waiting to come home. Im going to hug her and kiss her. Its going to be the best day of my life. Reporter we spoke with several people who know judith and natalie really well. We spoke with their rabbi, their family members. They said what has made this entire experience so unfair is that natalie and judith are so endlessly kind and would never hurt anyone. That has made this so painful. What continues is the fact that people here know how it feels for these hundreds of other families waiting for their relatives to come home. He has a simple message for those whose relatives are missing and may remain in hamas hands. He says simply, keep praying and do not lose hope. Thank you very much. Still ahead, israel is urging its citizens in egypt and jordan to leave immediately. Well explain why coming up next. Plus, as israel strikes on targets in gaza, so do protests in countries across the middle east. Were live in jordan after the break. Were seeing propalestinian demonstrations around the world, including this protest in london earlier today. In jordan, there have been demonstrations throughout the week. How intense are some of these protests where you are in jordan . Looks like were trying to get her ready. Reporter for more than a week now since the outset of this war, we have seen protesters taking to the streets in a show of solidarity with the palestinian people. We have seen thousands demonstrating friday marching through downtown chanting their solidarity with the people of gaza, but also expressing their anger and outrage at the Israeli Government, at the government of the United States, which is of course a key ally of the Israeli Government. In fact, some people were calling for the embassies of both the u. S. And israel in jordan to be closed down by the ju jordanian government. This is also translated into the diplomacy of the country. King Abdullah Of Jordan and the government have been vocal in their condemnation. L King Abdullah said, i am outraged and grieved by the acts of violence waged against citizens of gaza. The relentless Bombing Campaign under way is cruel and unconscionable on every level. It is a flagrant violation of international law. It is a war crime. This is a statement from a key ally of the United States. Jordan will continue to play a key role as World Leaders look to mediate some sort of resolution, some sort of peace between israel and the palestinians, some sort of end to the bombardment of the gaza strip. We are seeing protests intensify here in jordan, across the middle east. Still to come, israel continues to prepare for the next stage of war. More on a possible Israeli Ground incursion. What it could look like. Well have details after the break. The Israeli Defense force has now claimed that the majority of the more than 200 hostages abducted by hamas are still alive in gaza some two weeks after that deadly attack in israel. Tensions are running very high right now with israeli troops staging along the gaza border for a possible Ground Operation. Idf Officials Say troops will soon see gaza, quote, from the inside. What would that actually look like, and how long can that operation last . Nic robertson has more on what israels plans could look like. Reporter in israels war with hamas, more than 60 of the terror groups operatives arrested early thursday in the west bank. The clock now ticking on a far more dangerous phase of the war for the idf, going into hamas heartland, gaza. The Israeli Government made a decision, gave a green light to the army to wipe out reporter israeli politicians are preparing expectations for a long war, for the first time hinting at what an end of war may look like. It will be a fire zone. No matter who are you, youll never be able to come close to the israeli border. Reporter the former head of Israeli Security says what israel wants is the level of Security Control they currently have in the west bank, complete access on their terms. Today whenever we have a Military Problem in every single place in the west bank, we are there. So thats what you have in gaza going forward. In the gaza strip, there is no administration. It has to be built. Reporter but as these plans take shape and troops prepare to go into gaza, air strikes are triggering International Calls for a humanitarian pause to ease civilian suffering. We dont activate against civilians. But there are civilian collateral damage. In a war we do understand and unfortunately we have suffered. Reporter with or without a pause in strikes, 20 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid are expected to enter gaza from egypt soon. Against the scale of need, its a token. Ahead of a possible ground incursion, it plamay be all tha gets through for a while. Meanwhile a massachusetts family is among hundreds of americans trapped in gaza now for some two weeks. They planned to go home yesterday from an overseas Family Reunion and are now stuck in an extremely dangerous situation in gaza. Im joined by a Palestinian American currently stranded in gaza with his wife and 1yearold son. Thank you very much for joining us. I know your family has made several attempts to Cross At Rafah into egypt. What is your situation right now . Thanks, wolf, for having us. Today we just came back a few hours ago from The Rafah Crossing after being instructed by the State Department to head there today, Given Instructions that the Border Crossing would be open from 10 00 a. M. And after the aid is allowed into gaza, that american citizens and other foreign nationals would be allowed to exit through egypt. So we were pretty hopeful this morning. We stayed there until about 4 or 5 00 p. M. And nothing. What did you hear last from the State Department . What did they tell you about when you and your family might be able to get out . No information is what we hear from the State Department. The last that we heard was this morning, actually, about 6 00 or 7 00 in the morning. We were told that basically The Rafah Crossing would be open at 10 00 a. M. It might be open for a short period of time. So try to make our way there. Were staying close to the border for exactly that reason. But unfortunately, today we thought would be the third times a charm, but today was the third failed attempt. It completely fell through. It seems like theres a complete lack of communication of whats actually being arranged by the State Department as neither the information from the egyptian authorities or on the palestinian side seem to indicate theres any type of arrangement for american citizens, hundreds of families that were at the crossing today to exit to egypt. So were not quite sure whats happening at this point. I was talking to a friend earlier. I told them after three times based on instructions from the State Department, it feels and seems like its just that the State Department hears that The Rafah Crossing would be open, just like we do through the press, and they tell us to head there without actual coordination with egyptian authorities. Can you explain to our viewers what youve experienced just to get to that Southern Border with egypt near that rafah Border Crossing. Certainly, wolf. Since the beginning of the war, we were sheltering actually with my wife [indiscernible] compared to other places in gaza. It clearly was not as we heard air strikes all around us. It was a few days into the war when the idf actually asked all the residents of Northern Gaza Strip to head south for a safe zone. So we did that. [ no audio ] because there was no even knowing where to go. As i mentioned previously to friends and others, its almost like asking someone to go from where they live in new york or massachusetts and asking them to move to a different state within 24 hours. We started heading south. Were fortunate enough that were staying at a friend of a friends house. We say were fortunate because other people, the 1. 1 million that had to leave the Northern Gaza Strip down south dont all have friends that they could stay with. Many ended up in schools run by the United Nations and actually even more ended up just on the streets in open air. How is your little boy handling all of this . Mixed feelings. He does not know whats happening. Hes under 2, so we try to kind of keep him shields as much as we can. As air strikes and bombings happen near where were staying, whether we were in the Northern Gaza or southern gaza, there is no way to hide it from him. I mean, some to of the bombs ar [ no audio ] the sheer force of an earthquake happens, glass shatters and grown ups would jump out of fear because youre startled when tons of explosives fall tens of meters away from yet we try to pretend its fireworks when its in the distance for other American Children that are sheltered with us. My sister has three kids. The youngest is 2 months old. Shes staying with us as well waiting for the State Department arrangement to exit gaza. We try to pretend its fireworks or thunder. Sometimes we get called out by the kids and they say, well, its a clear night, how could this be thunder . My son had a fever a few days ago. He had an Ear Infection as well. His main source of nutrition remains to be milk. [ no audio ] it looks like weve lost our connection, sadly. If you can hear me, good luck to you and your family. We hope you get out of there very soon safe and sound. Appreciate you very much for joining us. Coming up, well have much more on the war between israel and hamas. First, on capitol hill republicans are back to the Drawing Board to find a new speaker of the house and get to work on an aid package. Well have details when we come back. Welcome back. Im wolf blitzer in washington. This is cnns special coverage of the israel hamas war. Joining us the retired israeli colonel, the former deputy head of Israels National Security council. Hes now a Senior Research fellow at the International Institute for counter terrorism. Colonel, thank you so much for joining us. Israeli officials have said their goal is to eliminate hamas and its infrastructure in gaza. Is that