when that system is first engaged, it first cuts fuel off to the respective engine causing that engine to begin to shut down. those big red tea handles you see at the top of the screen. alaska airlines said the captain and first officer acted really quickly to reset that system. and that kept the engines from failing completely. phil? >> wow. pete muntean, thank you for the reporting. pretty scary. "cnn this morning" continues now. ♪ >> two women release affidavit being held hostage by hamas for more than two weeks. >> i can't express how happy i am and relieved to see her. >> this is a small ray of light in a big story. >> the story is not over until everybody comes back. >> huge amount of hope for the other families. >> the support is there. the empathy is there. we want action. >> we believe the best way to do that is to keep the pressure up on hamas. >> it is important to keep rafah

crossing operation critical and urgent need. >> without electricity this hospital will be a mass grave. >> we desperately need a humanitarian cease fire. >> the troops are ready. they're ready to go. ♪ well, good morning, everyone. i'm phil mattingly with poppy harlow in new york. erin burnett is live in tell aveef. we heard from one of the hostages released by hamas yesterday. the grandmother described her abduction in captivity. her daughter was by her side translating. >> hordes of hamas fighters storm herd kibbutz and kidnapped her and beat her with sticks once in gaza. she was held under ground with five other hostages. she said they were treated well by guards, a doctor and paramedic who made sure they had the medicine they needed. she says hamas had a stockpile of shampoo and other toiletries

ready for them. >> there are a huge, huge network of tunnels underneath. it looks like a spider web. when she first arrived, they told them that they are muslims and they're not going to hurt them. and that they shared -- they ate the same food that their -- that hamas was eating. >> hamas has now released four hostages as israeli troops gear up to launch an assault on gaza by ground, sea and air, according to top officials. the israeli military says it struck more than 400 targets across gaza in the past day, killing hamas commanders and fighters. more than 200 hostages are still believed to be inside gaza, including 30 children. let's go straight to erin burnett live in tel aviv. one of the most striking things, erin, in listening to the entire thing was striking given the lack of visibility we have had into how hostages are being

treated, but was the care that they had or the availability of the care. take a listen. >> yeah. >> we had close doctor who came to see us every two to three days. the paramedic took it upon himself and took care of medicines. if there were not medicines, they would bring substitute medicine, equivalent medicines. >> erin, when you heard that, were you surprised? >> you know, phil, on one hand, of course, right, because, you know, last night somebody who spent a career speaking to hamas leaders and, in fact, was texts with one of them on the day of the attack told me about a video he had seen from a hamas go pro camera they had on. of course we know they were wearing there, describing the absolutely brutal rape of a

young woman who was dismembered and bloodied and the actual rape son camera as he described it that he saw. even saying that, i have to pause, right. then you talk about what you're hearing here. that the care of the hostages that hamas wanted it to be this way. they prepared for it to be this way because they eventually wanted the sound bites that you're getting now, that they were humane and took care of their hostages. of course, still hostages. you must celebrate we have four home and that hopefully there will be more. but this is very much a part of what hamas wants to portray to the world, right, their the david against the goliath and they take care of their hostages but it's humane. but you have to remember what it is that they were also doing that day on october 7th. and it is that juxtaposition, yes, on the one hand is so surprising and shocking and impossible to hold those two things as true in your head even though they are true, but on the other hand, phil, yes, this is in a sense what could be

expected because this is the public relations perspective they would want to impose upon a broader world to gain sympathies. >> that is such a crucial point. one cannot really be said, erin, without the other truth of the massacre on october 7th. also the fact that we heard from her daughter after the news conference about the fact that her mother's husband, so her father, is still missing. listen to this. >> my mom and my dad were separated at the very beginning. and so, we do not know, from my mom's story, what happened to my dad. we do know that he was injured. >> so erin, that's also the brutal reality. they were separated. and they have no idea where he is. >> right. and this is actually a crucial point, right. she referred to a spider web of tunnels. we know that's the truth, that there is a complex network of tunnels, some of which are very

deep under the ground and perhaps even in that sense immune to israeli munitions unless they move to some sort of bunker buster bomb type of situation. but also consistent with what the idf said since the beginning which is that they believe that the hostages were not only being held under ground, but in locations under ground, tunnels, that in the past had not been -- hamas had not been known to use which is a little different than saying israel doesn't know where they are. their wording was very careful on that. but it does show, right, they're going to release the wife but not the husband. this context really matters when you talk about what this is really about, right? and you want to say humanity and well treated. they shouldn't have been there in the first place. they shouldn't be separated. and these realities all exist at the same time, poppy. >> they do, absolutely. erin. thank you. we'll get back to you very soon. joining us now, cnn law enforcement analyst andrew mccabe. thank you for being with us. to start with, you heard the level of preparation one guard for every hostage.

let's take a listen to it. >> we were five and for each of us there was a guard. they took care of every details. >> and again, i keep saying so many elements of this were striking. but the preparation, the lead-up to the attack i think was stunning to everybody. the preparation clearly to take the hostages and be prepared for them was also done. what does that tell you? >> it tells you, it's incredibly well organized, well planned. they took their time putting this entire thing together. the hostage piece is a big part of that strategy. we have to remember, phil, that the hostages are an asset for hamas now. they stand between -- they are the kind of final barrier between a full-on entry into hamas, a tactical resolution by the israelis. and they will continue to use the hostages to buy time. they have many to work with. the reports have been upwards of 200 hostages.

and we will likely see a continued, very small drip day in, day out of the few releases now and then to kind of maintain this anticipation that a diplomatic resolution to getting them all returned is right on the brink. and therefore, you know, maybe the israelis should hold off a major military operation. >> you know what was also striking is that in this press conference, let's remember, she just got out of the ambulance, just released from one's worst nightmare, she also took a moment to speak about her criticism of the idf and lack of preparedness despite some warning signs for this. let's listen to what she said. >> translator: the lack of awareness by idf. they warned us three weeks

beforehand. they sent fire balloons. and the idf did not treat it seriously. >> we also know from some cnn investigative reporting that dug up social media posts that showed literally models of the kibbutzing they had made and practiced attacks on that was online before this attack happened. >> it's extraordinary. and i think the levels of -- well, let's say the questions about the israeli defenses and particularly their intelligence collection in the lead up to this massive attack, those questions are important. and the further we go, i think the more people are going to be looking very critically at their preparation or the lack thereof. >> the strategic intent of releasing two hostages on friday, two hostages again yesterday as the u.s. clearly has been trying to ask israeli forces until you know exactly what you're doing, we want to try to get more people out. >> right. >> how does that end? it just feels like that would be

stretched as long as possible. and i don't think the israelis have the patience for that at this point. >> it's almost impossible to imagine they'll play it that long, right? you have to remember that every hostage recovery operation begins with intelligence. you need exquisite intelligence on the location, the conditions, the numbers, the numbers of guards, the infrastructure around containing them. from all publicly available reporting, we're far from that level of intelligence. so there really is no legitimate, tactical option right now, which is why there's so much emphasis on the diplomatic resolution of getting these folks out. if we're getting some out, that continues to hold the carrot on the end of the stick to say let's hold off until we can save as many lives as possible. >> the criticism of that, every day you give hamas -- >> that's right. they gain more strength. >> you deny the israelis the response that their society so desperately craves right now. >> that's right. that's right. thank you, andy. >> sure.

new this morning after two more hostages were released from hamas captivity, one man was abducted alongside the two u.s. citizens who were also released on friday. we'll speak to his family next. and moments ago, benjamin netanyahu says the war against hamas can, quote, be a long war. what we're learning about the timing and potential ground invasion. that's next.

♪ i hope we can share in this happiness is when we can all join together. this is not over. my mom -- my father is going berserk. everybody is happy for us, but i want to also be happy for them. >> that was the daughter of released hostage yocheved lifshitz. lifshitz is one of two israeli women released by hamas yesterday. we heard about her experience in captivity just a short time ago. >> her release comes just days after hamas released american hostages judith and natali raanan. they are still holding more than

200 people captive israeli husband and father, you see him right there, is believed to be among them. his wife says she watched him being taken away from their kibbutz in handcuffs. joining us now is his brother-in-law. thank you for joining us. >> thank you. good morning. >> the pain is something no one can imagine. who has not gone through this. but, what can you tell us about any hope you may have now that we have seen four hostages freed? does it bring you some hope? >> it does bring some hope. it's a conflicted feeling. i think we're realizing that dual nationals first of all will be prioritized by all parties involved. and second, probably women and children. my sense is that my brother-in-law hopefully will be released eventually but my sense

is that it will take a long time. >> do you have -- there's been such a dirth of information for anyone, and such an incredibly difficult time. what have you been told about the status of any of what's happening right now? >> it took the government and all relevant bodies a long time to understand who was taken. there's still a lot of people who are missing actually. they're finding, discovering sadly bodies everyday and discovering new people apparently in the gaza strip. we know that he's there. we -- he is confirmed hostage there, but there's no signal from his phone which was taken. there's no information about his whereabouts or his physical situation. so we don't know much. we just know that he was taken by hamas, and we hope that he is

given the circumstances well or if he's unwell hopefully receive some treatment. and that's all we know right now. >> we did hear from yocheved lifshitz that the medical treatment they got was pretty remarkable for being held as hostages. i hope that can give you some comfort. we were just looking at these pictures. beautiful family. what do you want people to know about him? >> he is a gentle, soft speaking guy. he was a wonderful father. he invested a lot of time raising his and my sister's two daughters. 6 months old and 2 years old. he really wanted to let my sister continue developing her career and supported her. he was a therapist and he started also healthcare

management. was really connected to nature. and would go with his doctors all the time to the fields outside and avid basketball supporter. we supported the same team in israel. he was a wonderful -- is a wonderful man. and i can't wait to see him again. and all of us in the family hoping that we will see him again. his daughters really need him. the 2-year-old already expresses her emotions. she knows exactly what went -- she understood the violence she experienced in front of her eyes and on her with guns pointed at her face. with a body next to her of a teenage girl. and she cries every night for her father. and we cry with her. so, it's hard for us to see --

because we're so connected and involved in raising your family, this is hard to see how this was taken from his daughters. >> the pain is incomprehensible. i think if you're not going through it, we're grateful for your time. we're thinking about you and your family and extremely hopeful for what comes next. thank you very much. >> thank you very much. >> thank you. to washington, it has now been three weeks since the house had a speaker. we're going to take you live to capitol hill with the latest on the chaos in congress. and dense fog is being blamed for more than 150 crashes and 7 deaths on interstate 55 west of new orleans. we'll bring you the details next.

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top house republicans are hoping they can finally elect a speaker maybe even by tonight. they're set to hold a secret ballot election to pick a nominee from eight candidates. unclear if any can get to 217 votes they ultimately need to get the gavel. cnn's lauren fox is live for us on capitol hill. they believe they could have a speaker by tonight. have they been living in a cave?

can any of it eight? they're desperate, knowing that there constituents are fed up. that there's frustration within the conference. and they want this all to be behind them. we are now at the three-week mark since house speaker kevin mccarthy was ousted from the job. that is why there is desperation and optimism that they could pull something together and get a speaker by this evening. it may be wishful thinking but it is the thinking that so many of them are holding on to right now. at 9:00 a.m., they are going to gather behind closed doors for a series of votes until one candidate gets the majority. once that happens, there is some discussion about trying to make sure that that person can get 217 votes before they head out to the floor to avoid the embarrassment that jim jordan had to face going to the floor

three times and never clinching the speaker's gavel. so that is under discussion right now. there is some sense that they could move to a floor vote tonight if they feel like that person can get 217 votes. but here is the huge if, phil, that is assuming that anyone, any of these eight candidates, are going to be able to garner the support they need. one interesting tidbit from our colleague manu raju last night, he asked a series of house freedom caucuses if they with would support tom emmer, the whip, largely seen as the front-runner, they were noncommittal. they wouldn't say if they would vote for emmer on the floor. there's a sense within the republican conference there needs to be new leadership, new blood and just pulling from the ranks of leaders that have already existed in the house republican conference that may not be good enough for some conservatives. again, important to remind everyone, this is a very narrow republican majority, which means whoever goes to the floor today

dependent on attendance issues can only lose four votes. phil? >> yep. those guys who think it might happen by tonight, whatever they're having, if you could grab me some of it, i would appreciate it. lauren fox, appreciate you as always. want to update you on what happened in louisiana. very dense fog there is being blamed for more than 150 crashes. this happened on interstate 55. just west of new orleans. seven people were killed. look at that. state police say more than two dozen people were injured. wild fire smoke and very damp conditions created what meteorologists call super fog. it made visibility less than ten feet. some vehicles, including trucks caught on fire. first responders were forced to go on foot because the area was just completely gridlocked. there's new reporting out this morning that says israel may be willing to delay its planned ground invasion of gaza to negotiate the release of a large number of hostages. reporter with that news joins us next.

♪ hamas is responsible for civilian casualties, but we will do every effort to avoid them

and to fight this war as speedily and as rapidly as we can, but it could be a long war. >> that is israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu saying this could be a long war. the idf says it has struck more than 400 targets in just the past 24 hours. as you heard the prime minister say what they are bracing for. here with us now, cnn military analyst, former nato supreme allied commander general wesley clark. so appreciate your expertise. >> good to be with you. >> especially on a morning like this. we now know that a commander of marine forces special operations command marine corps lieutenant general james glen is in israel advising israel on next steps. can you speak to what he would be doing in a moment like this? >> i think he'll just be consulting. you know the israelis have their own plans. they have a lot of experience. but we do, too. we had some major urban operations like in mosul in 2014. we worked it really hard.

and there are some similarities. there will be some differences. i think the exchange of professional opinions in places like this at a very high level is really important. >> you bring up mosul, which is really interesting because that is something that the defense secretary also -- lloyd austin, also brought up over the weekend talking about the reminder from mosul about the difficulty and that's an understatement of urban warfare like this. so would he counsel in that respect as well? >> right. well, you can count on urban warfare being difficult in every circumstance. and especially here because the population is going to be against the israelis. so that's one of the major factors. and of course, urban terrain with all the buildings and so forth and rubble and vehicles. it's very complicated. so you really have to know what you're doing. you have to think it through very carefully before you go in there because it just soaks up forces. you will have 100,000 people in there and they're distributed block by block, building by building. and then they can't react if something happens. it's much different than

fighting in more open terrain. so, all those things are going to be discussed, i'm sure. >> to that point, drill in further in talking to some folks at the pentagon a week ago, i said is fallujah a good analog, way worse. mosul, closer however isis had a year. they've had 15 years. is this possible, the idea of going in and uprooting hamas given the scale of the preparations, the tunnels, how they operate, the civilians? >> well, you don't want to say it's not possible. but what you do want to do is look at the objectives. so, when you go in there on a professional level, i'm sure general is going to say, now, what are the objectives? what are you going for? you're going for the enemy. but how are you going to get to the enemy? are you going to take key terrain. what's the key terrain, the power plant, what is it and how do you go from one piece of key terrain to the other? when you go into an urban area, you have to secure not only --

you have to advance but you have to secure your lines of communication and your rear. and you somehow have to get into this tunnel network. so, it could be enormously difficult. >> about that key question that general petraeus raised as -- at the launch of the iraq war, what's the end game? have you heard any -- >> well, you know when we went into koe sew va, we actually thought after the bombing campaign, the u.n. would come in. and we already had a plan for how the nato forces would sit on the ground and occupy. so, we knew where we were going. in this case, it's a little hard to define the end state because of course it's going to be the palestinian authority. but you're not going to get the palestinian authority to commit right now when you look on

what's going on the west bank, the rising militancy there. the fact the israelis are coming in there and striking targets. for any authority to then say, okay, we're going to work with the israelis and make this all right. it's not going to happen right now. so, i think you know you can keep that in mind as an end state. but it's what president biden said. you can't occupy. you've got to plan on going in, doing what you have to do, and it's got to be turned over to someone. that someone is going to probably be the palestinian authority in a re-enforced, restructured way with saudi money, with european union, training and leadership, with the enhanced capabilities. that's the only good that's going to come out of this. and hopefully we can work that way. but the israelis i don't think are going to wait for that to be defined and coalesce before they go in. i just don't think it's possible. >> how is that a feasible option, though, for the palestinian authority? a boss has significant issues with his own population already

because they feel like not only has he not delivered and it's the bloat in that -- inside that organization has been very apparent for a decade plus. but, to put in new leadership or try to have new leadership, financed by other gulf states and europeans and the americans, how is that going to get the people, the palestinian people to follow them? >> it will be really tough problem. and i think it starts with u.s. leadership honestly. and i think the president has cashed it the right way with his concern not only for the hostages but for aid for the palestinians in gaza. so, in order to work this, the united states has to be the adult in the room. we have to be the power that's looking over the whole region, trying to get the right balance between justice, fairness, and getting after hamas, destroying it because you can't tolerate an organization like that in the region whose sole purpose has been to destroy another state.

so, if you get the right context in there, over time i think it is possible to work and strengthen the palestinian authority. but, as everyone has said, this is a long, long process. >> general wesley clark, thank you. >> thank you, sir. >> good to have you. erin? >> all right. well, poppy, new video this morning of israeli air strikes into gaza continue as the aerial assault continues. hundreds more strikes overnight. idf says they have carried out across gaza and that is crucial in terms of the hostage situation. we have learned new information about israel's potential plans for a ground offensive. and also the situation with the hostages because according to a new report, israeli officials say that they are willing to delay going into gaza for talks about hostage. barack, clearly they have been delaying this, delaying and delaying and delaying. i mean, it's definitional at

this point. there are now four hostages out. but when you talk about a large hostage release, what is this, the 50 we have been hearing about or more? or what is your understanding from your reporting? >> good morning. i think that what the israelis want to try and achieve and for that they're willing to wait with the ground invasion for another few days, is to get mostly the women, the children, and the elderly out. that's dozens of people held by hamas for two weeks now. and hamas, by releasing last week two hostages and yesterday another two, is trying to, you know, do this slow drip of hostages out of gaza to try and delay. to try and play full time. the israelis told hamas through qatar and through egypt that if you want to cut a deal we're talking about a big deal, not

this slow drip of hostages. at the moment, there's no such deal unfortunately. but i think they're ready to discuss it. >> right. and obviously until then you get the drip, which israel says it isn't enough. but in sense factually it is enough because they're getting the drip as they're waiting for the bigger deal. understand these are often circular conversations in this moment. but barack, reading your reporting, there was something you said that i wanted to highlight. you spoke a senior israeli official who said if israel -- if hamas proposes a big pack anl, of course, we will be ready to do things in return. what are those things, barack, as you understand it? >> i think there are several things that hamas wants. first and foremost, hamas wants some sort of a cease fire. it is under immense pressure. they have been under bombing for two weeks. they're in the tunnels. believe me, it's not fun over there.

okay. and they want some oxygen. so they'll be able to get their leadership to other hiding places, have some time to reorganize, take a breath. and they're willing to do a lot for it. and israel telling hamas f you want to get even one minute of cease fire, first you need to get all the women and the children out. so i think that this could be how this deal looks like. hamas wants fuel. i don't see israel getting fuel into gaza at the moment. >> barack, obviously israel has been clear with one strategic goal, right. i know the u.s. has been critical they haven't been clear on many of them. the one main they've been clear is that they're going to decapitate and eliminate the leadership of hamas, right? so, if you're hamas and you can get a cease fire for six hours or so to regroup to give over hostages but eventually the more you give over the closer you are to your elimination and your

death, how do you square that circle? >> i think that at the moment hamas needs any oxygen it can get from the current situation that it's in. okay? and those hostages, at least some of them, the women, the children, the elderly, i think that hamas realized that they're more of a burden than an asset. the international criticism hamas got in those two weeks due to the hostage situation is bigger than it got in all the years that it was holding israeli soldiers hostage. so, i think that the terror organization understands that if it gives up some of the hostages, the situation could improve. >> all right. barack, thank you very much. barack ravid with new reporting that israel is willing to delay this, poppy, for more days in the hopes of a major hostage exchange. obviously, poppy, they already delayed it here for weeks.

so this is the constant wait and wait and wait ready to go position that we remain in as israel hopes for a much larger hostage release. >> the point you just made that the reality is they are delaying as more hostages get released. but will those talks happen that barack is reporting for a delay for a big group of hostages would be really significant. erin, thank you very much. we'll get back to you here soon. here in the united states the homeland security department warning we'll likely see more hate crimes in the united states as the war the middle east continues. and we're already seeing it happening. ♪ >> our humble ask is that people give a damn when we die.

♪ well, this morning the department of homeland security says the war the middle east may lead to more hate crimes across the united states from anti-semitic flyers to vandalism. there's already been an escalation. dhs issued this warning to law

enforcement, quote, escalations in the on going war between israel and hamas almost certainly will increase the threat of terrorism and targeted violence. our nick watt has that reporting from los angeles. good morning, nick. >> reporter: good morning. well, poppy, you mentioned the threat, the threat, the tension rising transferred here to this country from the middle east during what's going on. now, many jewish americans i've spoken to say they're really not feeling the support and sympathy they hope they would get in the wake of october 7th. the largest loss of jewish life in a single day since the holocaust. instead of sympathy and support, many feel vilified and scared. >> palestine will be free. >> reporter: americans from many walks of life showing support for the people of gaza. meanwhile, it's largely just jews at the very few demonstrations in support of the israeli civilians who were

tortured and slaughtered october 7th and for the more than 200 taken hostage and still held by hamas terrorists inside gaza. some jews who marched, for example, for black lives matter or the women of iran, feel let down. >> it's really, really, really upsetting to see that people -- to see our people, to see people who we stand with, not stand with us. >> our humble ask is that people give a damn when we die. >> reporter: that's rabbi sharon in a now viral sermon. >> it feels like a great sense of abandonment. people who we've been in the trenches working with for many years not only don't grieve when jews are massacred but actually celebrate. it's devastating. >> she is regular critic of the israeli government and a peace advocate. >> people feel like they're forced to have to choose between this or this when, in fact, we have to do is find the moral

imagination to dream of a different kind of future in which all people can live in justice. >> reporter: in brook haven, georgia, ain't semetic flyers were passed out overnight saturday. in san diego, an israeli cultural center closed indefinitely after being vandalized twice in three days. >> it seems like a lot of feelings of anti-semitic hat dhs red have been dormt until now. >> reporter: in los angeles, a jewish school after a game our football team experienced a variety of anti-semitic language and gestures including the nazi salute mostly from the stands although a couple of the opposing players were involved as well. >> having that history still so alive in our spirit and in recent memory, it does alert us to the hints of those kinds of major social currents in our own time. >> reporter: in illinois sunday, a pro-palestinian counterprotest

sprung up near an israeli solidarity rally. someone pulled a gun, fired in the air. the governor is calling for calm in a state that has seen a rise in hate and real hurt for its jewish and arab citizens. now, remember, a 6-year-old palestinian-american boy was stabbed to death in illinois apparently because he's muslim, apparently an act of hate. governor pritzker of illinois made a plea. he said, stop holding jewish muslims and -- sorry, american jews and muslims responsible for the action of governments thousands of miles away. back to you. >> that's such important reporting, nick. thank you very much for bringing it to us this morning. in new york city last week a swats ka was found skraled on the outside of a second avenue deli, one of the iconic jewish eateries.

joining us now is governor kathy hochul. her state is one of the largest populations of jews outside israel. we appreciate your time. start with the warnings from the department of homeland security about uptick in potential hate crimes. do you have any credible threats, are you aware of any credible threats against jewish or muslim institutions at that point? >> no. thank you. we're constantly monitoring threats on social media and other sources. i, after the buffalo massacre, which was done by a white supremacist, literally doubled the size of our state police force that's responsible for hate crimes. i just launched a hot line for people to be able to call if they see such signs as you described, ascribing nazi symbols or attacks on mosque. i want to make sure people of new york feel there's an outlet, they can reach out to their law enforcement allies and we can put an end to this. it's abhorrent to me as the leader of the state with, yes, the largest population of jews

however, i have to protect every institution, mosques as well as synagogues. and it's really abhorrent to me that what has happened, the unprovoked attack by hamas on innocent civilians in israel has turned into people allowing this hate to fester and rise to the surface in a place like new york known for diversity and tolerance and accepts of other. no known credible threats but we have vim lent, having experienced terrorist threats. had hate speech is very hurtful and we want to put an end to it. >> i.d.s told the u.s. there are more american hostages alive, ten americans are unaccounted for. one of those is in long island. i believe you brought a picture of that individual and handed to the israeli president. what did he say?

>> he understood that i was there on behalf of americans overall in terms of wanting all of them freed. i just been hugging the aunt and uncle and cousin of omer. i met his parents at a rally after the horrific attack on civilians occurred and he was taken hostage. i said this is my responsibility as governor, representative of these individuals. i put the picture in his hands, i said let's work together to bring the hostages home. israel wants the hostages home as well. i want to make sure we never forget the atrocities that were committed on ncinnocent civilia. let's not be desensitized to the horrors i saw when i walked in a kibbutz into homes obliterated, blood on the walls and mattresses and a safe room where two young women were butchered and set on fire.

we must not be tee sense tiesed to this, what happened there, a and there should be a global condemnation of what hamas did and understanding that israel has a trite protect itself and we must stof terrorism here before it spreads to places like new york again, hezbollah, hamas, these are threats to our way of life. >> you visited the western wall. can i ask what was in the note that you placed inside the limestone? >> i prayed for peace, also justice. prayed for the innocent israelis who were slaughtered on that day and taken captive. also, all innocent civilians in harm's way as a result of this attack. i also took the opportunity to pray for my father who i learned flying over from israel had passed very unexpectedly. so it had a dual purpose for me. >> my condolences for the loss of your father.

i read somewhere about the last thing, the last message that he sent to you, what was it? >> i was in the jfk waiting area planning to board. i wasn't sure i should tell him his daughter was going to israel into a war zone. i told him and he left a voicemail that says, i'm proud of you. my advice, keep your god damn head down. that's huoy my gruff irish father spoke. as a dad, he was concerned about my safety. when i found out the news, i knew i needed to continue in that journey. i needed to give more comfort to others and i received that from the very warm jgenerous people met on my journey to israel. it was life changing for me and i need to come back and be able to talk about what i saw, what i experienced, the people in such deep pain. we cannot forget the people who are so innocent living in

peaceful kibbutz making friends with gazans, they are the ones whose blood is on the floor and walls and let's anonever forget that. what can you could now that you have come back? spreading the message. talking about what you saw from a tangible perspective, what can you do? >> well, you heard in the earlier segment people are feeling they have been forgotten, people of i.d.s have been ignored because the conversation is shifted across the board. i don't want any innocent civilians killed but we have to reaffirm israel's right to protect itself, obliterate hamas and free the palestinian people being oppressed under that regime. >> governor kathy hoke am, appreciate your time and your dad's advice which is as good as it could possibly be. thank you. >> thank you.

>> one american who has been wrongfully detained in russia for five years is pressing the secretary of state not to allow the u.s. to leave him behind again. what paul whalen told secretary blinken in a story up only see right here on cnn.

in a cnn exclusive, paul whelan imprisoned in russia for nearly five years, revealed what he told secretary of state antony blinken after a phone

call after he was left out of two prisoner swaps last year where other wrongfully detained americans were released. jennifer joins us from washington with this exclusive. they were very strong words from paul whelan to the secretary of state. what did he say? >> that's right, phil. paul whelan said he wanted to share his true feelings with the secretary of state and hear what is being done to bring him home after nearly five years in russian detention. he expressed his frustration to the secretary of state in that call. it was the second time they had been able to speak by phone. the first time in december of last year. in this august call he really did not mince words. take a listen how he described his situation to tony blinken. >> i told him point blank that leaving me here the third time painted a target on my back and

made me -- the second time, signed a death warrant. now, he said part of it is because of his age the physical work he is doing in that prison camp. conditions have gotten worse over the three years he spent in that camp. he said they get watered down food, the heat hasn't been turned on this year. so he really pressed the secretary of state to ensure that he is not left behind in that camp again. i should note that u.s. officials have said that the russians would not include him in the prisoner swaps. >> where do, if we know, by the way, your reporting on this, you constantly have been the one able to talk to him and bring his message the only way people can hear from him, by the way. where could thnegotiations stan? >> there is no apparent movement on those negotiations. we know that the u.s. has put forward to at russians a serious proposal as they call it. the russians have not engaged

substantively on that proposal and that proposal was put forward initially before the arrest of gershevan gershkovich. "the wall street journal" reporter. they have tried to come up with other solutions to bring back both men. i had say, you know, despite the tough words he gave to antony blinken, he said there is work being done on his behalf. take a listen to what he told me. >> i think they are trying to do the right thing. i know this will come to an end at some point. how long it will take, i don't know. but i am promised i won't be left behind here. >> whelan also said he believes blinken truly cares about the situation. poppy, phil. >> it's a remarkable conversation you had. you should read the story on cnn.com. "cnn this morning" continues right now.