happening now, a compromised crash scene creating anger and frustration. this morning, pro-russian separatists refuse zing to step aside as investigators try to figure out who shot down malaysian airlines flight 17. people are furious over how the bodies of their loved ones are being treated. live team coverage on the latest developments straight ahead. the bloodiest day yet in gaza. violence intensifies as israel bombs more neighborhoods and brings in more troops. the united nations calling for an immediate cease-fire. john kerry is on his way to work out a peace agreement. this coming as we learn two americans have been killed by

hamas. we are live on the ground in gaza with the latest. welcome back to "early start." i'm john berman. >> i'm christine romans. it's 31 minutes past the hour. we welcome our viewers from the u.s. and around the world. the prime minister of ukraine holding a news conference this morning. let's go there. >> how to explain that and another question is, how could you ensure international rescue team their safety? >> thank you for the question. we are interested in having a comprehensive wide scale, widespread international investigation. but let's speak about facts. what's in the ground? what's on the tape?

the first one, ukrainian militaries never use surface-to-air missiles. second one, ukrainian d.o.d. will unfold all information about the locations of anity-aircraft missiles. the third one, we got the russian made anti-aircraft -- in the area that is fully and entirely controlled by russian led groups. the fourth one, we have the pictures of the missile launcher. we got an intercept telephone calls between the russians and the realists.

the sixth one, we got the preliminary evidence of the clear effect that mh17 was shot down by surface-to-air missile. the seventh one, in the inter t internet -- saying we downed ukrainian military plane and they eliminated it in 30 seconds. in addition to this, we got a number of statements off intelligence agencies and respective governments clearly saying that they do share.

that mh17 was shot down by the missiles and its crystal clear that any russian cannot manage this system. this is to be a well -- agent and what d.o.d. reported to me is that to get this started and to shoot down the plane, they need to work in cooperation with radar systems that we don't have on ukrainian territory. and we want an international investigation to get the real facts who targeted mh17, who supported and provided the

intelligence. those who committed this international crime and i urge russian government to respond to all questions that have been raise raised. thank you. >> a news conference held by the ukrainian prime minister. he has been outspoken since the day this flight was shot from the sky using some of the harshest language that really you almost ever hear from world leaders. he referred to the pro-russian rebels and called them russian led bloody gorillas and is maintaining that level of rhetoric as he talks about the situation maintaining the ukrainian government has all the evidence they need and want to prove it was the pro-russian rebel that is shot down mh17 and

he wants access to the crash site. >> because the ukrainian government did not have access to the crash site. they have said they will not turn over the material in the investigation to the ukrainian government, only international investigators. no surprise, i'm sure you could hear the prime minister. no surprise, really the anger and bitterness from him. what are you seeing on the scene there? any progress at all that the site is being secured and there's some sense of civilized norms going on on this international crime scene? >> reporter: let me say there's no surprise the ukrainian prime minister is using such strong language against the rebels here. the ukrainian government has been battling them for three months, hundreds of people killed. we can hear artillery in the

distance. they issued a public message for people not to leave their houses because of fighting going on between government forces and rebels. according to separatist officials, what is surprising is the strong language that has come from the prime minister of the netherlands and the prime minister of australia. two governments who had dozens in hollands case, more than 100 citizens aboard the plane that went down on thursday. take a listen to what the australian prime minister said a few hours ago. >> there's no doubt that, at the moment, the site is under the control of the russian backed rebels and given the almost is your honor culpability of the russian backed rebels in the downing of the aircraft heading those people in control of the site is a little like leaving criminals in control of the crime scene.

>> reporter: christine, international monitors from osce had been visiting the crash site day after day accompanied by civil aviation experts. they announced a delegation landed in the government controlled city to the north of here with dozens of experts on board, including people from australia, germany, poland, that's the largest delegation. several american officials all presumably would be trying to get to the crash site to start to investigate it in person now four days after mh17 went down. we know that more than 100 of the bodies have been taken away from that area, loaded into refrigerated cars on two separate trains by rescue workers, by volunteer coal miners, all under the control of this separatist rebels. the big question, where are the

black boxes right now? the self-declared prime minister of the people's republic, the separatist region that controls the city i'm in right now says his people retrieved several quote unquote technical objects, but can't identify if they are black boxes or flight recorders and he won't release them until he sees the appropriate people to hand them over to. perhaps this delegation that has just landed in government controlled ukraine would be given these black boxes. christine? >> ivan watson for us. it's all just defies every sense of civilization. >> we are talking 298 souls lost on this flight. this morning, grieving family members of those on board flight 17 are pleading with the russians and the rebels to give

international teams access to the crash site. the thought of loved ones piled in train cars is too much to bear. listen to drew rider trying to stay strong after losing his brother and sister-in-law on flight 17. >> it's very difficult to lose loved ones. i'm not kidding saying we are hurting a lot. we feel confident they are in a better place. we are going to go to church and it's going to be tough. we are going to have all these people -- it's very difficult when it becomes personal. >> you can hear the pain in his voice. imagine the pain they must be feeling in the netherlands this morning as they continue to search for them. erin is live in amsterdam. what are you hearing on the ground? >> reporter: hi, john. we are just getting word from the dutch foreign ministry a team of three forensic experts

just arrived in eastern ukraine. the foreign minister saying they will first go to torres to check the cooling train. at this point, they expect no problems in getting access to the site later today. the cooling train where they believe many of the bodies are, over 190 victims on board were dutch. this country is very much in mourning. recovering those bodies, identifying the victims, very much priority number one for many of the families here. i spoke to one woman yesterday, she lost her son on board mh17. his girlfriend was on board as well. she had this to say. this message, in particular for russian president vladimir putin. take a listen. >> mr. putin, take care of my son and my daughter. >> who knows where they are. >> home. >> who knows where the bodies are. where did they take them?

>> reporter: do you have any idea where your son's body and his girlfriend -- >> no. >> maybe they took it. maybe it's there. maybe it's in one piece, maybe 1,000 pieces. >> no one knows. >> reporter: people here absolutely horrified at the reports coming from the crash site of looting and body snatching. people here are outraged. they are angry. there's also the sense of tremendous sorrow and grief, sense of loss. i spoke to one mother who lost both of her sons to mh17. she looked at me and said i wish it was me on board that plane. no mother should have to feel that way. >> no one should have to go through this. r erin live in amsterdam. thanks so much. our coverage of who shot down malaysian flight 17 is live after the break.

later today, the u.n. security council expected to vote on access to the flight 17 crash site.state, john kerry

demanding they stop them from -- the weapons into crew crane for months. the russian president released a statement saying we called on all parties to stop the bloodshed and sit down at the negotiating table. no one should have the right to use this to achieve selfish objectives. >> to break down the statement, let's bring in a senior analyst. does vladimir putin have the key here? could he end this barbaric response at the crash site and fix this by telling the rebels to get out, pulling back russian

made military systems that are in there and by withdrawaling his support of the rebels? >> two things there. first of all, i doubt that russian government and the russian president has total control over the pro-russian rebels in eastern ukraine. that's a problem. perhaps this is something that the russian military would like to have. but, i doubt that they can easily order them to pull back and this could happen domestically as well. it would be difficult for a russian president to have a u-turn and say they are not supporting the pro-russian movement in eastern ukraine. in this case, he would need a face saving operation to do it. secondly, an international investigation, independent

investigation needs to be done as to who shot the plane, what weapons were used and whether the weapons came from russia or there were already in ukraine. ultimately determine who did it. >> you are starting to hear the volume from other countries and other international leaders increase. we heard tony abbott use strong language against russia this morning. let's talk about western europe. do you think this will push them to enhance, increase the sanctions they have laid on putin and russia over the last several months? >> i think what is significant with the tragedy is all of a sudden they have realized this is a conflict that cannot be contained in eastern ukraine. it's what no one expected. this is only putting pressure on some of the european

policymakers who have been reluctant to ramp up the sanctions on russia, perhaps to try to follow the path of the u.s. of course the problem is many of the members are quite dependent economically on russia. the economic sanctions would bite back some of the european countries as well, hence the reluctance. they have to decide, you know, considering that the popular tide now in europe to take tougher measures against russia. >> inside russia, how is this playing? you talked about putin's u-turn. he couldn't make a u-turn. if they are mass murderers, does that change the strategy inside russia? >> here is the problem. i think because there's such a rift in public opinion in rush that and a lot of conspiracy theories floating around, it

would be difficult to convince the supporters approaching that indeed, if it is established by international investigators they were shot down the rebels, it will be difficult to convince the supporters of putin it was indeed done by rebels. ultimately, in the course of this crisis, many in russia feel it is being mistreated and the president has to do something about it. >> thanks for being with us. appreciate your insight. >> we are following the latest developments on flight 17 all morning long. first, the deadliest day in gaza. more bombs falling as israel increases grounds attacks. this morning, hamas showing no signs of letting up. we are live after the break. ♪

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♪ xfinity presents the people's hotlist where you choose this summer's top 100 shows and movies. and all you have to do is watch with xfinity on demand. now through july 23rd. vote! two americans are among the 13 israeli soldiers killed sunday and the deadliest day yet in gaza. nearly 100 palestinians reported killed. officials say the death toll there now tops 500 after two weeks of violence. the american soldiers killed while fighting for the israelis identified as max stineford and sean of south padre island in texas. secretary of state kerry calling

for a cease-fire as soon as possible. israel is expanding in spite the death of hundreds of innocent palestinians. president netanyahu is showing no signs of backing down. >> i'm very sad. when i see that, i'm very sad. we are sad for every civilian casualty, they are not intended. this is the difference between us. the hamas deliberately targets civilians and deliberately hides behind civilians. >> i want to bring in karl, live from gaza with the latest developments. good morning, karl. >> john, there's been no let up in the fighting either overnight or this morning. we have been hearing heavy bombardments in the eastern part of gaza, air strikes going in and artillery fire. at one point, we saw what we believe was the israeli military marking targets with flairs and a tank fire in eastern gaza that

seemed to start fires, sending huge plumes of smoke into the air. now, we are hearing from the israeli military that hamas' military wing may have staged another incursion into israeli military by the tunnels they have been trying to destroy. the israeli military say they hit two hamas commando units and engaged them in a fire fight after dramatic announcements sunday night by the military wing claiming they had taken prisoner an israeli soldier sunday morning. so far, there's been no verification or confirmation of that from the israeli military. it's something we have to watch closely. if it's true, it could be a game changer. a prison is something that hamas is likely to use both as political and military leverage. we have to wait and see what israel's response on the

battlefield is going to be to that. john? >> karl is live in gaza with the situation intensifies this morning. thanks. the malaysia flight and the business angle on that company. they need a turn around and quickly. they have been losing money for three years, now two disasters in four months. they will present a turn around plan. they will offer full refunds to traveler who is want to cancel their tickets. passengers can postpone their flights for free. the carrier is retiring the mh17 flight number out of respect for those killed, but no changes to the flight schedule. the question, will they have passengers. they are not commenting on how many are cannesling flights. travelers are fleeing the airline in large numbers. they were in trouble before flight 370 disappeared four months ago. it's been losing money three

years ago. they now face costly lawsuits and a damaged brand. bankruptcy is a possibility. another possibility, they may have to go private. an up hill battle for them. we'll look for a turn around plan they try to present this week. >> "early start" continues right now. happening now, who shot down malaysia airlines flight 17? new evidence mounting against russian separatists who refuse to hand over the crash scene to investigators. overnight, the russian president breaks his silence on the controversy. families of victims plead for the bodies of their loved ones to be returned. live coverage and the angles of the big, developing story. >> death and destruction in gaza. sunday marking the deadliest day yet in the battle there as israel pounds more neighborhoods

with bombs. overnight, united nations declare it is concerned over the escalating violence. the u.s. secretary of state, john kerry headed to the region right now, attempting to broker a cease-fire. we are live on the ground in gaza with the latest. good morning, everyone. welcome to "early start." i'm john berman. >> i'm christine romans. it's monday, july 21st. 5:00 a.m. in the east. we welcome all the viewers here in the u.s. and around the world. grotesque is the world john kerry used to describe the pro-russian rebels removing the bodies from the wreckage of flight 17. they are piling the corpses into refrigerated rail cars. the russian president, vladimir putin insisting this disaster should somehow unite the international community, not divide it. secretary of state, john kerry, slamming what he calls the drunken