richard nixon will join us. and the conversation continues on our web site facebook or google plugs pages and twitter at consider this. we will see you next time. >> hi everyone, this is al jazeera america. i'm john seigenthaler in new york. we are following two developing stories tonight. >> today i authorised two operations in iraq - targeted air strikes to protect our american personnel and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of iraqian civilians. >> president obama orders rebels be targeted. also - israel says hamas launches rockets from gaza

with hours left in the ceasefire. tonight - two very big stories unfolding rapidly. israel is accusing hamas of violating the truce. we get to that in a moment. first, a major announcement from the white house. the president addressed the american people from the state dining room saying he authorised targetted air strikes in iraq. a significant development after the group calling itself the islamic state attacked religious minority groups. to lisa in washington with more. >> the president met a number of times throughout the day. it's been a long day. met a number of times throughout the day with his security teems and authorised actions on two fronts, human tarely and

humanitarian. >> today i authorised two operations in iraq. targeted air strikes to protect our personnel, and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of iraqi civilians trapped in a mountain without food and water and facing almost certain death. >> that humanitarian drop took place today. senior administration officials tell us that it was two c 17s and a c 140 dropping food and water to the folks stuck on the mountain with no food and water, and they dropped 8,000 meals ready to eat and fresh water. they were accompanied by two f 18 fighter jets. as a precaution. it is a combat zone. it was over in about 15 minutes. it wept smoothly, it was dropped from a low altitude. the senior administration

officials telling us that there'll be more drops if necessary, more drops in necessary. >> the president made a point of saying these are targeted, the attacks. the air strikes could be limited, it's not a return to war with iraq - right? >> absolutely, and senior administration officials tell us that there have been no air strikes so far. the president authorised them, if necessary. the president, of course, said to the american public that they should be rightly concerned about action in iraq. but said there'll be no boots on the ground, it's not a resumption of the u.s. conflict in iraq. >> i know many of you are rightly concerned about action in iraq, even limited strikes like these. i understand that. i ran for this office in part to end the war in iraq and welcome

our troops home. that is what we have done. as commander in chief i will not allow the united states to be dragged into fighting another war in iraq. as we support raikies, as they -- iraqis as they take the fight to the terrorists, combat troops will not return to fight in iraq. >> the senior administration official told us that what the president has done, and the administration has done is laid down a marker. that these targeted air strikes are designed to protect u.s. personnel and facilities in iraq, and are concerned with the conflict in erbil, because the fighters are on the periphery of the city. the u.s. military has constant civilions, manned and unmanned. that's the information they'll tuesday to decide if they need to call in target air strikes, and we understand the white house was in contact with

members of congress and leaders of congress throughout the day as they made the decision. they believe they have the right under international and u.s. law to proceed with the actions, and the white house made it clear if they do have to take military action they'll file a war-powers report as required. i want to add one other thing if i can. the white house made it clear throughout this evening and in the last couple of months, that the answer in iraq is a unity government. tonight senior officials telling us that a new prime minister of iraq may be selected as early as sunday. they are not saying who they think it might be. they are hoping a new prime minister or a prime minister is in place by sunday. a lot of events going on - go ahead. >> there's a lot of big news. i want to clarify one thing, and that is that you say your

sources tell us tonight that no air strikes have begun. they are authorised to take place, but have not begun. >> correct. they have had a humanitarian airdrop which they felt was critical, it had to take place. the air strikes are authorised, there has been no air strikes according to senior administration officials, but they made it clear if they feel it is necessary they'll take the action. >> we could have a new prime minister in iraq soon. thank you very much. jane is in iraq, and has been in touch with some of the iraqis stranded on the mountain, in need of food and water. >> what we do know is the airdrops on behalf of the iraqi government have failed. iraq was dropping bottles and water and food from helicopters. as they hit the ground, the water shattered and it was lost. as we have seen, a problem on

the mountain is that children are dying of dehydration. what the u.s. is doing is a proper air drop, which is food and water, cushioned by pallets dropped by helicopters. it's a better chance. there's a picture of what is happening, which is a very rocky outcrop. huge place, towns and villages on the lower parts, pushing forward. the people are peaceful people, protected by the kurds. they made a strategic withdrawal, as they say, and walked - in some places barefoot, up the mountain. they are up there. they are not in one place, they are all along the mountains, that's why it's so difficult and heart-breaking. i talked to people on the mountain, like i did earlier in the day. they were saying they were desperate, they are pleading for help, which is why we are seeing

that response. it's hard to ignore families dying of hunger and thirst trapped on a mountain. >> the president is focussing the air strikes on the islamic state. jonathan betz is here with more on that part of story. >> the islamic state has been on the move. it controls huge areas of syria and western iraq, for months the kurdish region in yellow has been left alone. now the rebels have been pushing in, threatening erbil, the regional capital where american soldiers and diplomats are based. the president authorised strikes if fighters try to take the town. rebels have taken over the town of sin jar, not far away, happening on sunday. it forced 40,000 to one to the nearby mountain. they are acidies or religious minority groups. they are people the president says the u.s. must protect. >> for the tens of thousands of

iraqis trapped on the mountain in north-west iraq, some help arrived from the air. president obama ordered u.s. military planes to drop food and water, a move that could be followed with air strikes on the rebels. >> we intend to stay vigilant and take action if forces threaten our personnel anywhere in iraq. >> it's the first time the u.s. struck at the group known as the islamic state. capturing the largest dam and 15 towns. including carr cosh, an ancient village many thought was safe. >> translation: we were under fires and mortars. children were crying and in fear. we had to get out. we gathered our stuff and fled. >> iraq attacked the semiautonomous kurdish region. islamic state fighters man the kurdish border checkpoint. for months rebels have rampaged

through rocky towns, slaughtering people, destroying shrines, and demanding poem of other faiths convert to islam, pay a tax or be killed. to fight back volunteers are lining up to enlist with kurdish forces. some have never picked up a gun before. it's not a fair fight, as one shows off a rifle made in 1972. >> it's 42 years old. islamic state has weapons built in 2010 and above. >> reporter: many of their wepness seized were -- weapons, seized from iraqi forces. as pleas for help grow u.s. is listening. >> we see people persecuted, ethnic minorities persecuted because of their identities. it is barbaric and disgusting.

something we are concerned about. >> mike lyons, retireded army major is with us in the studio. give me your reaction to what you heard? >> two missions. the president outlines for the military. the first is a genocide mission, dropping goods to the refugees on top of the mountain. the second mission of protecting american lives in erbil draws a line in the sand. he said we'll protect it with air strikes. the question and what will i.s.i.s. do next. >> 40,000 are trapped on top of the mountain, dropping humanitarian aid. we hear that there could be targeted air trikes against the islamic state fighters. >> how does that happen how do we get the people off the mountain. >> difficult mission to protect the goods dropped there, with

the civilians out of there on the ground. i think we have to be careful. i'm not sure that we'll use military power to protect that. i think it's likely there could be a u.s. special forces operation to take the refugees off the the mountain, off the backside of that into turkey. they can't stay for long. >> they are surrounded, supposedly, by islamic state rebels. >> surrounded. how are they distributing aid? at some point they have to get off the mountain. >> i asked the former ambassador to iraq why this took so long. if it's a big concern, and we have been covering them for weeks, and they've been moving mast. is this too little too late. >> it's a start. >> why now. >> a lot is to do with the fact that the president thinks genocide is going to take place. they had the stocks ready to go, to be responding fast.

>> clearly the president did not want to do this, he did not want to take this action. he's been resisting calls for him to take action against the islamic state. now he's pushed into authorising air strikes, how much further could he be pushed. >> what does the enemy do. they have a vote. did they decide to run suicide attacks into erbil. did they go after the americans. air strikes will present a response, not keep them safe forever. they'll have to be evacuated from that point. >> we heard this poin, the conversation about -- point, the conversation about air strikes. that will be enough to stop fighters like this. is it enough? >> it's never been enough. we have created a standoff military over the horizon projecting power and doing things on the ground kinetically, but will not stop the terrorist agencies going forward. >> is that a lesson folks like

you and americans learnt in iraq. >> we really haven't. we believe that air power will solve the prob. we have get technology. you have an enemy taking over the ground. the iraqi forces is incompetent on the ground. they are not able to possibility their citizens. >> we have a war peopled was about oil, which is at risk. >> you have, basically, the future of iraq at risk. whether it will get back together again. whether the security forces can retake the land they lost to i.s.i.s. then we hear from lisa stark that a new prime minister could be announced monday. that has taken months. this has been going on for a long time. it's not going to solve the military's problem. >> as someone who spent a lot of

friend there, and spent a lot of time there. talk to me about your reaction. >> this has gone on for 20 years, starting with desert storm, back through the '90s, and 2003 in a second phase. you would have thought the iraqi government had a great situation handed to them, it didn't work out. >> another sugds from my ex -- suggestion from my expert earlier is this reflects the movement of al qaeda-type fighters. if the united states doesn't stop the islamic state, who knows how far they'll go. do you buy into that. >> it reflects future warfare, jihadists have come there, have freedom to move and train. they have stolen the iraqi equipment. i.s.i.s. soldiers run around in humvees, giving them the ability

to move forward. to the other developing story. the ceasefire between israel and gaza set to expire in two hours. there are reports that it may be over. paul beban is here with more. >> the israeli military is reporting two rockets have been fired from gaza into southern israel. no injuries are reported. it landed in an open, unpopulated area. the israeli military says hamas violated the ceasefire, the attack coming hours before the 72 hour trees was set to expire at 1am eastern, 8am pacific. whether it will we now matters in gaza is unclear. in cairo negotiators have been trying to find a way to extend the calm. secretary of state john kerry is urging both sides to take advantage of the break in the fight, to try to find a lasting end to the conflict.

>> the two sides are far apart. israel withdrew forces on tuesday and indicated with willingness to extend the ceasefire on the terms agreed to. hamas had not reciprocated, and warranted it would resume attacks. the demand including lifting the blockade of gaza and the release of prisoners. >> translation: we are ready to resume the battle where we'll give the occupation hard options. we'll go in for a long war where we paralyze life in the city and the airport. >> israel want to see gaza demilitarized. back in gaza hundreds have been returning, picking through what is left of their flattened homes. in southern israel mernal si restrictions -- emergency restrictions have been lifted. in the wake of the rocket

strike, tense hours ahead. >> thank you. i want to take a live picture of the gaza. assist after 6am this morning. the people of israel and gaza waiting to find out if the peace fire is extended. andrew simmonds is in gaza city. what are you hearing? >> there's tensioning on the report from the israeli military that two rockets landed in israel. less than an hour before the expiry of the ceasefire, and there's no conclusive situation with the talks in cairo. as you heard there, the brigade, the military wing of hamas, unless there was an agreement, for negotiators to pull out of cairo. at this stage there's no

confirmation at all that rockets have been fired. that has to be said. it's a tenuous situation. we do not know how this will pan out. but there has been, you know, just some semblance of normality returning to some areas of this trip with many families doing what they can to try to get back into their homes, but vast swathes of residential districts destroyed. so many people stuck with their temporary shelters, with he'll tifs or the united nations -- relatives or the united nations school shelters. the situation now is that everyone is watching and waiting as the clock ticks on this deadline. >> i just wanted to ask you, bus we are seeing the pictures and there's activity. obviously it's very early in gaza, but are people hunkering down, prepared for the possibility that violence will

start again? >> it's very early to tell. as you can see from the live jots there, people are -- shots there, people are going about their business, there's not necessarily a full recognition. a lot will depend whether there's an israeli response outside of the ceasefire, if there is, the situation is accelerated massively. now, there's a wariness about the situation, and there has been all along. gazans are really punch drunk is what has gone on. nevertheless they are aware that there's no definite peaceful settlement that there has not been in the 72 hour peace fire, anything stopping the violence. that has been a temporary measure. that's all i can say about it. >> we know that electrical power was knocked out, the power plant

was shut down. how did people in gaza get information now. >> they get information - a lot is done by the word of mouth. the radio - they are aware, there's tv, generators in various areas. it can go to neighbours houses. people get information. they are by no means frozen out of the 21st century. they buy a lengthy means. there was a thirst for information all the way through. in some areas it is difficult. it's a question of using the radio and not getting to them. >> andrew simmonds up early in gaza. robert o'brien, former u.n. delegate to the united nations, focussed on the middle east, is with us. he's in los angeles. welcome. >> nice to be with you. >> give us four assessment of where we stand in the middle

east regarding the ceasefire which many hoped would be extended, but israel is claiming that the caets fire has been broken. >> what it tells me again, and i don't have first happened information from the talks happening in cairo, but what it tells me is that hamas is playing from a weak hand. the new missile launchers are meant to focus the negotiators attention on the fact that hamas has cards to play. they are in a tough situation. they have egypt, which views them as the younger brother of the muslim brotherhood, and that's not a good thing with the new egyptian government. they have israel which is in a state of war. they have the palestinian authority, which is an uneasy partner in the unity government, and the u.s. in cairo. so the negotiating table is not

one that is friendly for hamas, and i think this is hamas trying to gape attention and show that it has a - has cards to play to get what they want. . >> what options does israel have if this ceasefire is not extended? >> i think israel could do what they did to resolve the previous gaza crisis, and that is not to respond. that may be the best approach with respect to hamas - to ignore the approach. at this point with the people in gaza, hamas has little to show for the war. gaza, in many places, has been reduced to rubble, as your show has demonstrate, and onsite reporting. the tunnels have been destroyed. the rockets did little damage.

the supposed attack that was going to take place, and show a major hamas victory by implementing focus was disrupted. they have little or nothing to show the people of gaza for this war. that will damage them politically. >> good to talk to you. thanks very much. >> so many young lives have been lost. the reality of the war is that it's taking a toll on the people of israel and gaza, in the past 30 days, this is what life has been like for people of all ages in war time. [ explosion ]

as we mentioned the ceasefire is set to expire in a short while. 1am eastern, al jazeera america will have live coverage of that to see what happens next. more coming up on this broadcast. growing up in a war zone, how to help a generation of kids in gaza begin to heel. plus... >> i will not allow the united states to be dragged into fighting another war in iraq. >> the president outlines his strategy to support iraq in the fight against a group called islamic state.

this is al jazeera america, i'm john seigenthaler in new york. a busy news night with two big developing joirs president obama ordering air strikes in iraq, and israel accusing hamas of violating a ceasefire. iraq - president obama authorised what he called targeted strikes against islamic state. and announced humanitarian airdrops to civilians in harm's way. here is the president's speech to the nation in its entirety. >> good evening. today i authorised two operations in iraq - targeted air strikes to project our american perm and a human -- perm, and a humanitarian effort to help save thousands of iraqi civilians trapped on a mountain without food, and water and

facing almost certain deaths. let me explain the action we are taking and why. first, in june i said as i.s.i.l. began an advance across iraq that the united states would be prepared to take tashted action in iraq if and when we determined that the situation required it. in recent days the terrorist continued to move across iraq and neared the city of erbil, where american diplomats and civilians serve at the consulate, and american military personnel advise iraqi forces. to stop the advance on erbil i directed the military to take strikes on convoys and i.s.i.l. should they move to the city. we tend to take action if the terrorist forces threaten our personnel or support in iraq, including the consulate in erbil and embassy in baghdad. we are providing assistance to

the iraqi government and kurdish forces so they can wage the fight against i.s.i.l. second, at the request of the iraqi government, we have begun operations to help save iraqi civilians stranded on the mountain. as i.s.i.l. marches across iraq it welcomed a ruthless campaign against innocent iraqis. the terrorists have been barbaric towards religious minorities, including christian and issiedies. countless iraqis have been displaced and reports describing i.s.i.l. rounding up families, conducting mass execution and enslifing yourself eedy women. in recent days, men and women have fled, and thousands, tones of thousands, are hiding up in the mountains with lit the but the clothes on their backs, without food, without water.

people are starving and children dying of thirst. meanwhile i.s.i.l. forces below called for the systematic destruction of the entire yissiedy people, constituting genocide. these in the families are faced with a horrible choice. descend the mountain and be slaughtered or stay in the mumminger and starve of hunger. i said before united states cannot and should not intervene every time there's a crisis in the world. let me be clear about why we must act and act now. >> wep we face a situation like on the mountain now, with nept people, and we have a mandate to help, in this case a request from the iraqi government, and when we have the unique capabilities to avert a massacre, i believe the united states of america cannot turn a blind eye. we can act to prevent an act of

genocide. that's what we are doing on the mountain, authorised targeted air strikes to help forces in iraq as they fight to break a siege, and protect the civilians trapped there. the american aircraft have begun humanitarian airtroops to help the men, women and children survive. one iraqi in the area cried to the world there is no one coming to help. today america is coming to help. we are consulting with other countries, and the united nations, who have called for action to address this humanitarian crisis. i know that many of you are rightly concerned about any military action in iraq, even himmed strikes like these. i understand that. i ran to end the war in iraq and welcome our troops home. that is what we have done. as commander-in-chief we will not allow the fighting in the

war in iraq. as we support iraqis, as they fight the terrorists, combat troops will not return to fight in iraq. there's no american military solution to the crisis in iraq. the only lasting solution is reconciliation, and stronger security forces. however, we can and should support moderate forces who can bring stability to iraq. as we carry out the two mickses we will help iraqis confront the crisis. they need to come together and form a new government recommending legitimate interests of iraqis and can fight back. they have named a new president, speaker of parliament and are seeking consensus on a new prime minister. this is the progress that needs to continue to reverse the

momentum of the terrorists praying on iraq's divisions. once iraq has a new government, united states will work with it and other countries to deal with the crisis and counter terror. >> challenge. none of the neighbours has an interest. we'll work with friends and allies to get the food and water, and help iraqis push back against i.s.i.l. for several hundred american advisors i ordered will continue to assess training, advising and supporting iraqi forces. as i consulted congress, we'll continue to do so going forward. my fellow americans. the world is confronted by many challenges, and while america has never been able to right every wrong, america has made the world a more secure and

prosperous place. our leadership is necessary to end write the global security and prosperity that children and grandchildren depend on. we do so by adhering to a set of principles. we do whatever is necessary to protect our people. we support our allies when they are in danger. we leave coalitions to uphold national norms. we strive to stay true to values, the desire to live with freedom and dignity that is common to human beings wherever they were. that's why people over the world look to the united states of america to lead. that's why we do. let me close by assuring you there's no decision we take more seriously than the use of military force. we have brought the vast majority of our troops home, and i have been careful to resist time and again turning to our

military, because america has other tools in or arsenal. we can lead with the pour of our diplomacy, economy and ideals. when the lives of american citizens are at risk, we'll take action. that's my responsibility as commander in chief. when thousands of innocent civilians are faced with the danger to be wiped out and we have the capacity to do something about it, we'll take action. that's our responsibility as americans. that's the hallmark of our leadership. tonight we give thanks to the men and women in uniform, for protecting fellow americans and saying the lives of many men, women and children that will never meet. as a nation we should be proud of them. and uphold our open security and the dignity of our fellow human

being. god bless our armed forces and god bless the united states of america that was earlier tonight the president telling the iraqi people help is on the way, and promising to protect american interests. we go back to lisa stark in washington. what is in the humanitarian aid packages, do we know? >> the humanitarian aid that occurred involved three planes. there were two c 17s and a c140, escorted by two f 18 fighter jets, it was over within 15 minutes, went smoothly. the planes went in at low alt tute, they dropped 8,000 meals ready to eat and 5300 gallons of fresh water, for the folks stuck on the mountain, surrounded by the fighters from the islamic

state, where temperatures can reach 123 degrees. there has been a number of deaths from dehydration, the elderly and children. the u.s. felt they had to go in and not turn a blind eye. senior disprgs officials made it clear that there'll be more airdrops, more humanitarian aid if necessary. >> what are they telling you about? you said you were told by senior officials that the strike did not occur yet. do we have a sense of when that might happen. >> senior officials told us no military strikes so far, but what the president has done is laid down a marker. that he would use the strikes if necessary to protect american personnel and facilities. the congress has been consulted about this, we are told, throughout the day, and the president met with his national

security team a number of times during the day. they are particularly concerned about the u.s. consulate in erbil, because the islamic fighters are in the periphery of that city. they are concerned about the embassy in baghdad. they are the areas where they might feel they need to take the military strikes, and the president and officials made it clear that they might use the military might as well to help the folks on the mountain to break the seem on the mountain if need be. we were told by senior officials. they had constant surveillance, manned and unmanned in that area, and they'll use that information. and then military information this they need to decide whether to call in the air strikes. i should mention that the president feels he has full authority to take the actions he has taken. the iraqi government has asked

for help, under u.s. constitutional powers, the white house indicated senior officials say that the president will file a war powers report as required by law if he decides to undertake the air strikes. and one other thing - senior officials says it's not a licence to mount a campaign against the islamic state in a broad area. they know that they are operating in syria. they said the air strikes are not organised for syria. it's a targeted situation. they are organised in iraq for specific circumstances. that's what they are saying tonight. >> lisa stark at the who's. thank you. back with us is retired army major mike lyons. we heard the president say he wants to save iraqi civilians, 40,000 iraqi civilians on top of the mountain.

do air strikes do that? >> they don't. they provide cover for a corridor for troops to come in and get them off the mountain. they are strounded, syria to the narth and east. i.s.i.s. to the south and west. they have no other place to go. >> targeted air strikes, what does that mean? >> it means if we saw a group of the enemy together we'd hit them on demand or something, using a drone, perhaps. there's a weapon system called an a-10 in the inventory. that's the system that should be used against this troop. it's not there at this point. >> i know we don't know the answer to a lot of questions, but how many planes would it take to carry out targeted air strikes like this. >> tens of hundreds of sortees. they have to be reinforced. you couldn't come in and bomb something and not come back and reinforce that with more

firepower. it's difficult to say that that will do anything for the refugees on the mountain. >> how do you identify who the fighters in the islamic state are, from the civilians in iraq. we know there's 40,000 civilians, but if you are trying to fire around the mountain, how do you distinguish that. >> you can't. no one is there to mark the position. things that are normal parts of military do not exist. the president indicated that it would be a simplistic mission. there's a tremendous amount of detail being gone through to get them off the mountain. >> we heard the possibility of military action, they announced it tonight. they have not launched air strikes. why telegraph this? does it make sense to you? >> no, not to me. the leaders should say what we are going to do, not what we are

not going to do. not putting troops on the ground doesn't make sewns -- sens. it's for the american pub liftenlt. >> is heavy bombing possible? >> that area is wide open deserts. it's difficult to target. we'd expend ammunition and not necessary hit anything. >> where is the iraqi military? >> they are not in the kament. they are cut off. the area is north and west. er this up against i.s.i.s., an organization that has radek martinek officers, trained -- republican guards, trained veterans. they are up against a formittable foe who has american-made equipped. >> what else can the u.s. do?

>> we have to think about ways to get them off the mountain and get them involved. if the u.s. gets involved. you'll see an upset in the ambulance twine iraq and turkey, we have to figure out where the line is drawn. should i.s.i.s. push into the area, you'll see more american involvement. >> that is because we heard lisa stark say this is not a mission in syria, the islamic state moved through syria into northern iraq and the concern is they'll push to baghdad. >> air power will not save it, it'll be a horrible reminder of what happened in vietnam. the worst situation for the president is for the helicopters on the roof of the baghdad

embassy. >> is the u.s. prepared for a situation like this? >> they had mres in water. they may not have dropped enough food. tlel be more -- there'll be more, you'll have to protect it. it's not necessarily food that people could eat. they could get sick eating mres, they are designed for soldiers in combat zones. they'll take it. but there may be unintended consequences because of some of the things dropped on the refuge refugees. >> mike lyons, thank you. israel says hamas violated the latest ceasefire hours before it was supposed to end. the israeli military says two rockets fired from gaza landed in southern rhys ray. no ipp -- israel. no injury. hamas denied it launched the rocks et cetera. it's unclear if -- rockets. it's unclear if israel will spond. 373,000 children are in need of

some kind of psychological help. andrew simmonds spoke with some families in gaza. >> there's never been a level of need for people in gaza. united nations says they can't cope with the demand. >> they are playing, but this is street therapy in an area where you don't have to look far to see what they are going through. a team of psychosis are using basic techniques to help the children. every child under seven has lived through three conflicts in gaza. this one has been the worst. >> with whole districts decimated a search for bodies under the rubble is going on, and the ever-present fear that a ceasefire could end and the killing start again. >> the bombardment is on a scale

never seen. with all the devastation comes the damage that want be patched up, can't be rebuilt. this sort of damage. the trauma of children. 13-year-old akmed's brother was one of four boys killed whilst playing on a beach. >> translation: every time i think of him i feel i'm choking. i feel him playing alongside me. my matter said he didn't die. >> it's unreal. >> their faces will never fade from my mind. they are nnt children. there's no doubt. the family needs help. nerm an ikologist will be on hand to give treatment. his family home will be glen up.

his mother is dead, along with three brothers and two other relatives. >> i lost six of my family. yaz now i have to take care of myself and the rest of my family. >> reporter: now receiving condolences for his lose, the doctor has symptoms who will need treatment. this a man who worked hard to destigmatize mental health care tore the people of gaza. it's hard to find anyone that hasn't been touched by tragedy. we found that man sick and understeady with a head injury, pointing to what had been the family home. >> we were sitting all of us, and they hit us. we have no rockets, missiles,

nothing. >> he has little left in life, and holtedz on tightly -- holds on tightly to his little girl. her three teenage sisters are dead. another, nine years old, is in a coma, and she is peppered with shrapnel wounds. another traumatised child with a father who also needs help. >> for unistef and nongovernment organizations to expand, it will cost money, money that is not necessarily there. there's no doubt many who need psychological help will not get it. >> andrew simmonds reporting. still ahead - the media versus the nixon white house. >> it was pressure. get the guy out of here. >> we remember watergate. 40 years later buy interview with dan.

. >> i shall resign the presidency at noon tomorrow. i regret deeply any injuries that may have been done in the course of this decision. >> 40 years ago this week richard nixon said the words that shook the nation and his presidency. we report on the scandal. i asked what stands out about the president's fall from grace t. >> first the image of president nixon saying goodbye, on the steps of helicopter with "i'm out of here", that's the image. the lasting importance and what sticks with me the most is the system worked. we were a nation built on laws, no person stands above the lou. the system works, that sticks with me the most. >> talk about your relationship with the prop during that time as a white house correspondent with the c.b.s.

>> it's hostile on his part and the part of his people of it was interesting in the beginning. i had gathered most of the lyndon johnson presidency. i had covered richard nixon before, not a lot. they later bake part of the conspiracy, sliding into the booth. we know who you are, and what you are. what is that. your text is lyndon johnson died as a world democrat. it came as a signal. you never met anyone with more report for the office of the presidency of the united states than i do. every day i walk through the white house gates i was proud to cover it. they didn't see it that way. they saw cbs news and myself as

the enemy, as the nixon tapes revealed, and he wanted to destroy us. >> let's look at a little piece of tape during the press conference. >> dan with cbs news. are you running for something? [ clapping ] >> no, mr president. are you? >> what did it feel like at that moment when the president really got pointed with you? >> well, he had done so before. it was not a great surprise. part of president nixon's technique was if he thought you'd ask a tough question, he'd try to throw you off balance. it was not unexpected, certainly in that setting. i didn't have any idea what he would say or think about the response. i wanted to get on to the next question. >> when did you realise that nixon would leave office. >> i was late to come to that

conclusion. i thought for the longest time, i thought until as late as april or may of 1974, the president resigned in august 1974, i believed that some way, somehow, he might stay in office. once it was clear that barry gold water was leading republican senators and telling the president the foundation, mr president, you have to go, in effect. at this time i decided that he was going to day. the president of the united states led a conspiracy, what we call water gate. out of the oval office. we are talking about conversations about killing a reporter, jack anderson, a columnist at the time. firebombing buildings to conceal evidence, breaking into people's homes, reporter's homes, and they were act keep the secret.

as bad as the obama administration has been, there's no evidence that they have been that secretive with that vicious campaign. >> was it part of the campaign for richard nixon, do you think that's the way he operated from the beginning. >> i don't know. i think they'll argue about this, far into the future. i didn't know him in the early staples when he was a congressman or vice president. i can only say it's clear now, not at the time, when they came to the white house, that this was the flaw. . flaw was that he was a hater, it wasn't good enough to defeat the opponent. >> you can see more of my interview with dan rather tomorrow night. now, our picture of the day from the white house. president obama ordered targeted air strikes against the islamic

state fighters in iraq, and announced humanitarian aid initiatives for those dropped on a mountain, as israel accuses hamas of violating a truce, launching rockets from gaza into israel. stay with al jazeera america for the latest. "america tonight" with julie chen is next. @j

the news, go deeper and get more perspectives on every issue. al jazeera america. >> on america tonight, where next? on "america tonight," where next? with ebola on the move across new borders, what are countries, including the u.s., doing to stop it from spreading? at points of entry, and more porous borders, how can this deadly virus be contained? also tonight, paying the piper, and it's not enough. the privatization of probation aims to get more communities money that they are owed. but the cost to the poor can be devastating. >> really it's a system that's run amuck. >> correspondent sarah how with an in-depth loo