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Isa Soares Tonight
Ukraine's President Zelenskyy Calls Out Russia For A "Safari Attack" On Civilians; Many EU Countries Change Their Tune As They Show Their Support To Spain After The Recent Migrant Rush Into Ceuta; Big Day For Voters In The U.S. As Five States Hold Their Primary Elections With All Eyes On Michigan; Pro-Israel Money Pours Into In Michigan Democratic Senate Race; Senate Committee Advances Blanche Nomination As U.S. Atty. General; Mass Funerals For Palestinians Killed In 2023 Strike in Gaza; Wildfires Across Washington. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired August 04, 2026 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Isa Soares. Tonight, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy is calling
out Russia for a, quote, "safari attack" on civilians as a Russian drone hunts down a local street vendor. We'll have a report for you just ahead.
Then a change in tune from many EU countries as they show their support to Spain after the recent migrant rush into Ceuta. I'll be speaking to Malta's
Foreign Minister. Plus, a big day for voters in the U.S. as five states hold their primary elections with all eyes on Michigan.
Which way will democratic voters lean? That and much more ahead for you this hour. But first, tonight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says
the world must see this, calling it evidence that quote, "Russia has gone mad and its soldiers take pleasure in killing and abusing civilians."
We begin tonight with a disturbing video from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Ukraine says it shows Russia committing a war crime. Our Clare
Sebastian has more, and we do want to warn you again, the footage is disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At first, it looks like a game. The man, a vegetable seller tries to duck behind his van. The drone
whining ever closer. But this Ukraine says, is how Russia likes to spread fear in the frontline city of Kherson.
Unbelievably, the 52-year-old victim survived with injuries and hours later was able to recount his experience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): My wife started running away and it started circling over the car. I gestured to it. Look, these are
vegetables. But it started charging at me, so I started running around the car. Then we were side-by-side. It hit me and I just fell. My back is all
torn.
SEBASTIAN: CNN has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment. Moscow regularly claims it doesn't target civilians.
(UKRAINIANS PROTESTING)
SEBASTIAN: Three-and-a-half years on from these euphoric scenes as Kherson was liberated from Russian occupation, daily life in Ukraine's largest
frontline city is increasingly dangerous. Of the 32 civilians killed here in July, 29 died in drone attacks, authorities say.
This, from late July, shows a near miss. Anti-drone nets covering streets, now the new normal here. And so-called human safaris, Russian drones
seeming to hunt down civilians in the open, a tactic first used at scale in mid-2024 are happening now on a daily basis here, President Zelenskyy said
Tuesday. This a lucky escape in a war where civilians are paying an ever- higher price.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And our Clare Sebastian joins me now. And Clare, just, you know, looking at that report, absolutely terrifying. And like you said, right at
the end of your piece there, we are seeing civilians increasingly paying the price.
In fact, we saw today at a Black Sea resort, a drone fell onto a crowded beach, several people were killed. What do we know about this, that
particular incident?
SEBASTIAN: Yes, this was near Gelendzhik, which is on the Black Sea, a popular Russian sort of holiday destination. Now, we don't exactly know
what caused this. The original reports from the governor of the region in Russia said that fragments of drones fell.
Then they came out and accused Ukraine of deliberately targeting this beach of a terrorist attack. Bear in mind, of course, that, that is a well-worn
phrase in Russia among officials and in the propaganda, accusing Ukraine of terrorism to justify their war.
From the Ukrainian side we did get a comment on Monday from the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation. That's a part of the Ukrainian
government who said this was the work of Russian air defense forces.
And you can hear at the beginning of the video of this drone falling on the beach. You can hear gunfire, it's not conclusive. And as I say, we still
don't really know what happened here. But what we do know is that we're in an escalatory period in this war, Ukraine has been stepping up these deep
strikes into Russia.
[14:05:00]
We've seen deadly incidents going up. There was a day in July, July 18th when eight people were killed. They've been hitting now not just oil
refineries, but e-commerce, warehouses. And it could have been that this was an interception gone wrong at this beach.
But even so, as these drone attacks mount up, you do see civilians paying the price. And of course, on the flip side, Russia is heavily exploiting a
lack of interceptor missiles in Ukraine to ramp up its own ballistic missile attacks.
And not only that, of course, as you saw in Kherson, potentially also these attacks on civilians as well as, of course, parts of daily life, things
like gas stations now increasingly under attack. So, civilians are increasingly under fire and vulnerable as we sort of continue through these
Summer months in this war.
SOARES: And it is terrifying seeing that drone footage going after that gentleman in Kherson and how close it was, and the fact that it isn't the
first time he's seen this. But to the point that you're making, Clare, that, you know, we have seen and we've repeatedly been showing this.
In fact, we aired your piece yesterday on the warehouses, the e-commerce warehouses being hit as well. We're seeing Ukraine stepping up its attacks
inside Russia as this escalation, this tit-for-tat continues. Do we have a sense what is happening -- how this is playing out inside of Russia?
SEBASTIAN: Look, I think it's fair to say that this is the point in the war where Russia finds itself under the highest level of pressure, right? This
has been a year where we've seen --
SOARES: Yes --
SEBASTIAN: Internet outages, followed closely by fuel shortages. Then, of course, livelihoods getting incinerated in these warehouses. The Russian
people are starting to show fatigue, even as, of course, we see the propaganda machine ramp up, blaming Ukraine for all of this, and that in
some cases will work.
But increasingly, I think as you see this Russian escalation behind that may be a feeling of contracting timelines here of the fact that this is
impacting the economy, this is impacting public opinion, and they need to escalate to get this done, essentially before those sort of scarce
resources, financial and societal run-out.
Ukraine is very concerned going into the Winter that they could face more of these aerial attacks, of course, and they are getting the sort of the
point out there, Zelenskyy has warned that Russia may launch a new mobilization in the Fall after State Duma elections.
That is a big concern to Ukraine. But on the Russian side, that is also another sign of the pressure they are under. The catastrophic losses that
they have faced in recent months. Isa.
SOARES: Clare Sebastian there, really appreciate your reporting, Clare, thank you very much indeed. Well, we will turn our attention to the EU,
because the European Union standing united. The EU says an emergency meeting on the recent rush of migrants into the Spanish territory of Ceuta
was constructive and showed full solidarity with Spain.
Madrid says around 72,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco at the end of last week. Spain says 70,000 of those have returned, though as you can see,
groups of migrants have remained in the Spanish exclave. Speaking after the EU meeting with his counterparts, the Spanish Interior Minister said
Brussels is giving Madrid its total support. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FERNANDO GRANDE-MARLASKA, INTERIOR MINISTER, SPAIN (through translator): All of the interventions by all the member states, as well as by the states
associated with Schengen and by the agencies of the European Union, were made in an absolutely constructive tone.
It was a tone in which the extraordinary work and the effective and immediate response of the Spanish authorities were also recognized.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, CNN is in Ceuta, the tiny territory now at the center of a political firestorm. CNN's Portugal's Helena Lins has more on the migrants
who are still there, many of whom are now sleeping as you will see on Ceuta's beaches.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HELENA LINS, CNN PORTUGAL JOURNALIST (on camera): Thousands of migrants are still here in Ceuta, many on this beach, the beach El Trampoline is the
nearest to the temporary shelter for migrants that is completely full.
So, these people end up staying here on the beach. They spend the day and night here. Some have told us they prefer to sleep during the day because
they feel safer, and they end up staying awake during the night.
As you can see, most of them are from sub-Saharan Africa. A lot of people here from Sudan. And this morning as we arrived, many were in the sea. They
still are washing themselves, washing their clothes.
Many of them are still with the clothes that they swam from Morocco to Ceuta. And they've been complaining that for the past few days, there's
been no place where they can take a shower, where they can eat, they can have some water and where they can sleep.
So, this is the beach where many of them are staying right now after five days since this mass migration started here in Ceuta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[14:10:00]
SOARES: And our thanks to Helena for that report. For more on the EU wide response to the situation in Ceuta, and the wider migrant crisis, I want to
bring in Maltese Foreign Minister Chris Fearne joins us now from Valletta.
Foreign Minister, wonderful to have you on the show. As I was mentioning to our viewers just before we came to you, we have seen a show of unity, a
show of solidarity with Spain at today's meeting. But that wasn't the case.
Last week when 22 member-states signed a letter, the Madrid viewed as critical of its handling of the situation. What, is this a genuine shift in
thinking or simply a recognition that the EU needed to present a united front here?
CHRIS FEARNE, FOREIGN MINISTER, MALTA: Well, thank you, thank you for having me on the show, and good afternoon. The migration issue in the
Mediterranean is not -- it's not something new. I mean, the Ceuta incident that happened last week is only part of the -- of the greater problem.
And the European Union has now formalized solidarity between member states over the last ten years, there's been in the making a new Europe -- well,
the first European Union migration pact, which only came into force in June of this year, so less than two months ago.
And this now formalizes solidarity between member states. Now, what happened in Ceuta last week, first and foremost, I want to -- I want to
extend my condolences to the families and relatives and friends of all those who lost their lives trying to cross over into Ceuta.
I mean, anything that costs lives is a disaster, is -- and needs to be addressed. But what happened in Ceuta was basically and the initial
reaction of the European Union member states and the people in general was almost of shock, because basically what happened is within 24 hours, the
population of Ceuta practically doubled. And this caused alarm, we all saw the videos --
SOARES: Yes --
FEARNE: The photos of tens of thousands of migrants crossing on, going to Ceuta, and the salon, people in the European Union and the governments
themselves. So, the initial reaction was a bit --
SOARES: Right --
FEARNE: Of shock. But then we very quickly --
SOARES: Shocked --
FEARNE: Realized that this was -- wasn't something that keep happening day after day. And that in fact, the Moroccan and the Spanish authorities
quickly reversed the flow of migrants. And in fact, none of these actually ended up within the free movement Schengen area. So, the -- today's meeting
--
SOARES: Right --
FEARNE: Of the Interior Ministers Council meeting --
SOARES: Yes --
FEARNE: Anything. Yes, so that's why there was this shift in attitude, if you like.
SOARES: Right, OK, so shift in attitude. You say it was a shock because the EU's Migration Commissioner, Foreign Minister, said today that the influx
had been instrumentalized by smugglers and human traffickers. He also spoke of disinformation as the key drivers of the surge that we've seen.
Who was behind this disinformation campaign? I wonder how was it amplified? And those ministers that spoke out, EU ministers that spoke out against
Spain. Did they realize if this was a disinformation campaign that they were being played?
FEARNE: Well, this question of smuggling, human smuggling is a reality. I mean, if you look at what's happening, not just in Morocco, but in our
North African partners, they are actually transit countries themselves.
And so, many of the migrants crossing into Europe across the Mediterranean actually come from countries beyond North Africa. They either come from
sub-Saharan Africa, as you point out in your -- in your presentation in just a few minutes ago.
And actually, about 20 percent, 30 percent come from Asia, mostly from Bangladesh, which is not the -- a logical route for people from Bangladesh
coming to Europe across the Mediterranean. So, a lot of North African countries --
SOARES: Well, what about the disinformation, Minister?
FEARNE: Have on migration problems themselves. Well, disinformation, I --
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES: Well, what about the disinformation because this is what the Minister was talking about --
FEARNE: Italy is investigating, and what we've been -- yes, what we've been hearing from the Moroccans themselves, from the migrants themselves, is
that this was a campaign that they followed on social media, that there was this mistaken view that borders, the border into Ceuta was open, and that
this was amplified on social media.
Whether this is the only reason for this surge in migrants into Ceuta these last few days remains to be seen. And we are interested, of course, to find
out exactly what happened, and we continue to be in contact with our Spanish partners and colleagues to find out really what the -- whether this
campaign on social media --
SOARES: Yes --
FEARNE: Was self-initiated or whether there was -- behind it.
[14:15:00]
SOARES: Yes, and the -- look, the reason I ask, look, 72,000 people really don't organize themselves spontaneously --
FEARNE: Yes --
SOARES: As you know, Foreign Minister. And the reason I ask because Spain's Defense Minister, who was quoted in the "Guardian" newspaper here in the
U.K., said -- I'm going to quote him here -- "neither Spain nor Morocco can look the other way when it comes to the tragedy.
I asked the Moroccan government to investigate what happened? Do you believe, Foreign Minister, that do believe any foreign actors played a part
in this to try and divide the European bloc?
FEARNE: It's too early to say. It is not beyond the possibilities that this has happened. It's happened. In the past, when for instance, with issue
what happened in Poland in 2021 when migration was weaponized, and it's happened in the past.
So, I wait or I await further information on this. What is certain is that Morocco collaborated very closely with Spain to have -- to return many of
the migrants, most of the migrants, in fact, back through to Morocco through -- from Ceuta. So, there is this collaboration that our Spanish
colleagues have reported back to us. Yes.
SOARES: Yes, and it would be good, I'm guessing EU is also looking at how migration -- who is weaponizing this in the same lines with the
misinformation and disinformation campaign you're mentioning there.
Let me get your thoughts, Foreign Minister, on what we heard in the period that we saw that surge. I'm going to just give a sense sort of, you -- as
you would have seen it. I know many European officials have seen it.
President Trump and indeed some in his administration have used the events in Ceuta to criticize not only Spain, by the way, but also Europe's
migration policy. I'm sure you saw J.D. Vance, President J.D. -- Vice President J.D. Vance's tweet.
I want to show our viewers, because I think it is important just to see -- for them to see. This is what he said, "thank God POTUS was elected and our
country's border no longer looks like this. These images out of Spain are unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration and the radical
left-wing globalist policies that have enabled the invasion of the west."
I mean, is this criticism justified, Foreign Minister? I mean, the reason I ask is that the central Mediterranean route remains the EU's main route,
right? And so, if you go with the U.S. criticism, Malta clearly is not doing enough either in the U.S. eyes if we go by what --
FEARNE: Yes --
SOARES: The Vice President is saying.
FEARNE: Well, the migration into Malta has decreased drastically over the last 4 or 5 years --
SOARES: It has --
FEARNE: So, it's come down by about -- it's come down by about 95 percent over the last five years from 2020 -- the biggest surge we had was in 2019.
And last year, we only had 150(ph) migrants who have come, of course, irregularly into the island.
So, yes, it's come down. It's come down significantly. And which is not to say that we turn a blind eye to asylum seekers because that remains an
important solidarity issue that we have to make sure that people who try to come into Europe are afforded protection if they need it.
On the other hand, yes, I agree that Ceuta has opened our eyes, that things can happen very quickly in a very short period of time, and that we need to
continue to strengthen our border controls for sure.
There's a European agency, Frontex, which does exactly this. And today's meeting in Brussels has continued to press the point that needs to be
strengthened to make sure that we avoid as much as possible repeats of Ceuta. We also, we need to make --
SOARES: Right --
FEARNE: Sure, that we have better Intelligence --
SOARES: Do you think --
FEARNE: In other words, to know beforehand rather than --
SOARES: Yes --
FEARNE: To just react when something like this happens.
SOARES: Right, very briefly, do you think that criticism from J.D. Vance is justified onto Europe?
FEARNE: Well, we really like to look after our own issues ourselves, but we appreciate that people looking from the outside, when they see the images
that happened in Ceuta over the last -- on Thursday, basically, can be -- can be alarmed. We have to say that none of these immigrants actually --
SOARES: Yes --
FEARNE: Ended up within the Schengen free movement area. And about 90 percent-95 percent have now returned back to Morocco.
SOARES: Yes, and of course, important to point out that, you know, as we're talking about political arguments and borders about migration, that as you
-- as you mentioned, Foreign Minister, about more than 70 people lost their lives in this tragedy, and we cannot forget that.
[14:20:00]
Foreign Minister, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us, thank you very much indeed, live for us there --
FEARNE: My pleasure --
SOARES: From Valetta in Malta. Thank you. Well, in another example of the migrant crisis that we have seen in Europe, a boat caught fire in the
English Channel as it attempted to travel from France to the U.K. More than 150 people were rescued.
You are looking at people disembarking from the French rescue ship Minck. Britain's new Prime Minister is promising to be relentless in tackling
small boat crossings which have become a political flashpoint as you know, here in the U.K.
I want to turn to the U.S. war with Iran now, and depending on who you ask, the two sides are either on the verge of a historic breakthrough or aren't
speaking directly to each other at all. Qatar's Foreign Minister says drafts of the potential agreement are being circulated, and efforts to
resolve the conflict are in very progressive stages.
Qatar says there are no direct negotiations going on right now between Washington and Tehran. Meantime, Iran says it's looking to control a route
through the Strait of Hormuz by setting up temporary arrangements with Oman.
According to shipping analysts, very few vessels are transiting the Strait daily. U.S. President Donald Trump says the critical waterway could be
fully open today, despite the lack of any evidence supporting that claim. Earlier, his Treasury Secretary also struck an optimistic tone. Have a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT BESSENT, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, UNITED STATES: We are in talks with the Iranians, and I think there is a chance we may have a deal today
or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And important to note, as we go to our Kristen Holmes, the oil prices dropped following Bessent's remarks. Kristen, really great to have
you with us again, because you and I were talking about this yesterday, some 24 hours ago or so.
And I wonder where we are then on the negotiations or potential settlement on the Strait of Hormuz, because the President yesterday was talking about
the opening of the Strait coming today. What are you hearing?
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I mean, the Strait is still not, as far as we understand, completely open. And I will note that
Iran was actually making threats against the United States, saying that if the U.S. naval blockade stayed in place, they would strike the U.S. Navy.
Now, one of the things we have to keep in mind here is that a lot of this, and this is from both sides, President Trump and Iran ends up being bluster
as they try to have these negotiations behind the scenes.
We know that the mediators, Qatar included, are trying to get Iran and the United States back to the table. Right now, there are no direct
conversations. And I will tell you that we just learned that the Emir of Qatar had a conversation with President Trump today, we have not gotten
that readout yet as to what exactly was said.
And President Trump himself continues to grow more and more frustrated. And when you look at those comments from the Secretary of Treasury, Scott
Bessent, that's in line with what we had heard from President Trump, that they believe the Strait could be open today.
Now, one of the complicating factors in all of this is that anything that is being done or even discussed right now is a short-term solution. And so,
it does feel as though the United States and Iran are back to square one.
The idea being that there is no, you know, actual striking right now. But there are a lot of threats. And on top of the numerous amounts of threats,
you still have a closed-down Strait of Hormuz and no real showing for when these actual negotiations would happen.
It's unclear to us what exactly, other than the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would be included in this short-term solution. It certainly feels as
though that is the most emergent thing that both sides want at this time. But then, to go to the next part of this, which is the denuclearization of
Iran, it just doesn't feel as though something that Iran has wanted to actually do to get to that phase two.
They didn't want to do it under the Memorandum of Understanding. It's unclear why they would want to do it now. I do want to point out, from my
conversations with U.S. officials, this Naval blockade is one of the things they believe -- the United States believes is their most powerful asset.
They believe that it chokes Iran economically, and that putting the pressure on economically is actually the best way to try and get them to
the negotiating table, even better than any of those strikes. Whereas if you look at any of the Intelligence that we have seen from the United
States, that doesn't really seem to move the needle, no matter how much they continue those strikes, those bombings.
And so, they do believe this is their biggest asset. But again, it's unclear what is actually going to happen. They open the Strait of Hormuz,
and then, do they go into negotiations, or is that then just a whole other round of these back-and-forth between mediators?
SOARES: Kristen, I know you'll stay across it for us, thank you very much indeed. And still to come right here on the show, a big test for the
Democratic Party. Will it pick an establishment candidate or progressive upstart for a key Senate race? We will tell you how Israel is playing a big
role in this contest.
[14:25:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, it's a big day for voters in the U.S. today as five states are holding primaries to determine which Democrats and Republicans will be
on the ballot in November. And it could also signal which direction the parties are headed before, of course, the crucial Midterms.
The most closely watched race is in Michigan where two factions of the Democratic Party are Presenting starkly different visions. Moderate
establishment Congresswoman Haley Stevens is battling progressive Abdul El- Sayed to be the party's Senate nominee.
Support for Israel has been a big issue in the race, with pro-Israel groups spending tens of millions of dollars to boost Stevens. El-Sayed meanwhile,
wants to end unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel and describes Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide.
Let's get more, then, on how voters are reacting to this. Jeff Zeleny is in Detroit, Michigan. So, Jeff, just give us a sense of what you are hearing
from voters as they weigh up this decision. Is it a case of who they think has the best chance to beat former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, or
is that not part of the calculation that far?
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: There is no doubt that electability is part of the calculation, but this race has also
been nationalized in every respect, because Michigan is so important to the whole makeup of the Senate.
But you were talking about the spending in this race, and we've been speaking with a voter here, Arial Greene, who just cast her ballot just a
short time ago. And we were talking about the spending. And is that something that drove your decision in this race?
ARIAL GREENE, DETROIT VOTER: Beyond, yes. Seeing corporate dollars going and backing candidates, it's just -- it's telling of where they're at and
who they're going to support when they're elected.
ZELENY: And who did you vote for today?
GREENE: Abdul El-Sayed, 100 percent.
ZELENY: And tell me why?
GREENE: Because of his stance. He takes no corporate PAC money. I know that he is for the voters of Michigan, and I know that he's going to represent
me and my interests when he's in the Senate.
ZELENY: And you also said that you've been following this race very carefully, as many Michigan voters have been. And obviously, Israel, a
U.S. funding for Israel has been a central part of this as well. How did that factor into your race or in your decision?
GREENE: Well, you know, seeing the genocide unfold every day for the past couple of years and seeing my tax dollars go and fund that every day, it's
heartbreaking and it makes me sick. And I know that Abdul will stand for Palestine and stand for the people of the U.S. who are sick of this war and
this genocide being done with our tax dollars that we work very hard for.
[14:30:03]
ZELENY: Arial, thank you very much for stopping and visiting with us. So, that is a snapshot of the voters we've been speaking to here in Michigan.
Now, Congressman Stevens also has her supporters. She won her first House seat back in 2018 in President Trump's first midterm election. She's been
campaigning as a member of the establishment. But it is that outside spending, some $62 million, much of which has been funded by pro-Israel
groups that have propelled her.
But the question is, will that backfire? So, many voters we've been talking to have echoed the comments of Ariel about the spending in this race. So,
we will see what the outcome is tonight. There are about six hours left of voting here. And again, this Michigan race is not happening in a vacuum.
Democrats must hold this seat and flip for Republican seats if they hope to win control of the Senate.
So, this Michigan race also is signaling a lot about the direction of the Democratic Party in that establishment fight versus the progressive
insurgency.
SOARES: Jeff, really appreciate it. And really good to hear from a voter to see what -- how they're making up their decisions on the issues. Really
appreciate it. Thank you very much indeed.
Now, Donald Trump's controversial choice to be the next U.S. attorney general just cleared a major hurdle. Four hours ago, the Senate Judiciary
Committee approved Todd Blanche's nomination. A final confirmation vote by the full Senate could happen later this week. Blanche previously served as
Mr. Trump's personal defense attorney.
And he won the approval, if you remember, we were talking about this yesterday, of two Republican holdouts after he said he would rescind a $1.8
billion fund that would have potentially compensated the president's allies, including January 6th rioters. But Democrats say it's a non-binding
guarantee, full of loopholes, and it could still be revived. They also argued the order keeps intact an extensive grant of immunity from tax
audits for the president and his adult sons.
And still to come on the show tonight, Gaza's dire humanitarian crisis. We'll speak with the Palestine director of World Food Programme, WFP, just
ahead on the show.
And then later, some wildfires in Greece are getting under control as more than a dozen fires rage across parts of Washington state. We'll take you
there after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:35:00]
SOARES: Well, Gaza's civil defense calls it a human tragedy that was buried under the rubble for years. Large crowds turns out for mass funerals in
Gaza City today. Mourners buried 112 Palestinians from just two families. Palestinians say they were among some 300 people killed. Men, women and
children in blistering Israeli airstrikes back in 2023. Their remains were just recently recovered. Israel is still carrying out near daily strikes,
airstrikes, months after the October ceasefire and amid a new deal to disarm Hamas.
The U.N. says more than 150 Palestinians were killed in July, including dozens of civilians. That is the highest reported monthly death toll since
the beginning of the year. The U.N. also warning of a dire humanitarian situation, including soaring food prices and a severe shortage of medical
supplies. While the Palestine director of the World Food Programme calls the situation in Gaza critical and extremely fragile.
Shaun Hughes joins us now from Jerusalem this evening. Shaun, really appreciate you joining us. I know that you were in Gaza just last month.
Just give us a sense of what you have seen. I know that you told my team the conditions were catastrophic. The heat has been incredibly intense.
Describe the scenes that you have seen in Gaza, first of all.
SHAUN HUGHES, PALESTINE COUNTRY DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: Well, Isa, first of all, thank you very much for having me on the show. I have visited
Gaza about five times in the last six months, and I can tell you that when you're in Gaza, it doesn't feel like a ceasefire. Those airstrikes are
continuing on a daily basis. Gazans do not feel safe. Civilians continue to be killed and injured in airstrikes.
And the other thing that's very striking when you're in Gaza is obviously the physical destruction. You can drive for miles without seeing an intact
building. But also, the overcrowding, because now you've got almost the entire population of 2 million people in Gaza that are living on 30 percent
of the Gaza Strip next to the coastline, so a lot of them in tents on the beach. And that overcrowding, because of the advance of the line of Israeli
military control, is causing a lot of overcrowding, water and sanitation, and health problems.
There is some form of restarting of markets, but in general, people are 100 percent dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive, so they're not
able to afford, for example, much of the fresh food that's in the markets.
SOARES: And, Shaun, I saw from the WFP's latest analysis, it was saying that humanitarian aid is working, which of course is incredibly
encouraging, but you also say this isn't a recovery story. What do you mean by that?
HUGHES: Yes. So, the latest food security assessments indicate that there has been a marginal improvement in the levels of food insecurity over the
last few months. But that marginal improvement needs to be seen against a very low baseline. We're talking about how we've managed to push back a
famine from last year.
Since October, November last year, the World Food Programme has been reaching about 75 percent of the population, about 1.5 million people, with
humanitarian assistance every month. And you can see the results of that, but the situation is so fragile. So, there is still 1.4 million people,
that's two-thirds of the population, that are acutely food insecure. Of them, there's about 200,000 people that are just one step below starvation
in IPC Phase 4 emergency food security. And we're expecting that we're going to have to treat 100,000 women and children for acute malnutrition
over the next year.
SOARES: Wow. That is -- those figures are just staggering, really staggering to hear this, Shaun, given that, you know, we have seen, despite
this ceasefire, if I can call it a ceasefire, that happened in October, and now, we've had this announcement, was it last Thursday, that Hamas would
disarm. Yet, as you heard us describe there before we came to you, the strike still continues.
So, you know, how, from the conversations you've had, on a human level, how are people in Gaza reacting to this kind of gap between political
announcements and then the reality that they're living every single day?
[14:40:00]
HUGHES: Yes, absolutely. I mean, I think what we can say really clearly is that people in Gaza can't afford to wait for these very lengthy political
negotiations to happen before they can restart their lives. They want their kids to be back in school. Farmers want to go back to producing food.
People want to be able to access health care, basic services. They want to be able to buy commodities in markets, and that's not been possible.
So, we have been able to stave off the famine because of the provision of humanitarian assistance. But with the level of unemployment, with the level
of infrastructural destruction, there's not yet what you could call a meaningful recovery.
And that means two things. First of all, we need to be able to continue providing the humanitarian assistance at that level. And unfortunately, in
the last two months, the level of humanitarian assistance that's being provided is reducing. So, from this month, we're actually reducing the
amount of assistance that we're providing to people. And that's not because we don't have access. That's because we don't have funding.
So, the world really needs to pay attention and not lose sight of Gaza at this really critical point in its history.
SOARES: Is the greatest -- from your point of view, from WFP's point of view here, Shaun, is the greatest immediate threat now? Is that funding? Is
funding beginning to dry out? And what would that mean in practical terms, Shaun, for families on the ground?
HUGHES: Yes, exactly. So, I mean, access to Gaza has been constrained. But as that assessment showed, since October, November, we've been reaching
about 75 percent of the population. So, certainly from a food assistance point of view, there's been an improvement in access. And because we've
been able to have that access, we've been burning through all our resources that are available. All that funding that we previously had from the end of
last year is now gone.
The contributions that we're receiving this year are 70 percent less than they have been for the last two years. So, what that means is --
SOARES: Why is that, Shaun? Why do you --
HUGHES: Well --
SOARES: Why is that, Shaun? Why are you seeing such a drive?
HUGHES: I think there's a number of reasons out there, isn't there? We often talk of donor fatigue when we get to stages of crises that have gone
on for a significant amount of time. We see other events in the region, including the escalation of conflict across the Middle East. There are
other global crises. And of course, donor governments have their own domestic fiscal pressures to deal with as well.
But it's really important that we see this through in Gaza to a successful conclusion of peace processes, so that people can live in safety and
security and restart their livelihoods. And that's going to take the tenacity and the continued attention and investment of the International
Community to maintain the level of humanitarian assistance, but also to make these investments in early recovery, to try and rebuild some
infrastructure or basic services to restart markets.
SOARES: Shaun, really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us. I know you've been incredibly busy, but really, really appreciate it. It's so
important that we keep talking about this and the crises unfolding. The humanitarian crisis we continue to see unfolding in Gaza. Shaun Hughes
there, thank you very much indeed from the World Food Programme.
And still to come tonight, the fight to contain the wildfires in Washington state continues. This is police arrest, an arson suspect. We'll have more -
- that story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:00]
SOARES: Welcome back, everyone. A man has been arrested and charged with first degree arson in connection to one of the wildfires blazing in Spokane
in Washington. This as firefighters continue battling three fires that started on Saturday. A state official says 17 major wildfires have burned
over 260,000 acres in Spokane County. Nearly 65,000 people have fled their homes. A Washington national guardsman says the areas hit by fires look
like a war zone.
I want to bring in Julia Vargas Jones, who's covering the wildfires in Spokane. She joins me now. So, Julia, just give us a sense of what you are
hearing this hour about this arson suspect. What more are you learning?
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are learning that this actually started on Saturday as that fire was set. Isa, investigators say
that it came from a witness who was at that spot and saw a man kneeling on the ground on the grass. And then shortly after, seeing some smoke coming
out from that location.
And initially investigators questioned -- detained and questioned this man on Saturday and eventually released him. Then they had to look back at that
camera -- body-worn camera video to go back and find what he had on him. Waterproof matches and a butane lighter. And then they brought it all
together, connecting those dots for an arrest that only came on Monday. This after thousands of people had already been evacuated and had more than
5,000 people on the ground battling these different fires. This is, of course, only one of the fires out of three that are burning just in Spokane
County itself.
Here we still have terrible air quality. The sky is still just a blanket of smoke, really, right above us. We had a chance to go and speak to some of
the families that were directly affected by that very fire that could have been set by this man, Aaron Farinacci, and dealing with the direct
consequences of that. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KERRY ZIMMER, LOST HOME IN FIRE: When you close your eyes and think about the house, you think about the garden, you think about all the family and
friends that have been here and the great times. But luckily Jim took photos of every single room before we left so we can see that and really
remember everything. I know, I know. Sorry, I'm sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: You can imagine, Isa, how this news of an arrest and potentially that that fire was caused by an act of arson is landing with those
families. At this time, still 65,000 people under those evacuation orders. The National Guard saying that it could still take weeks for people to go
back into their homes.
And part of that we saw as we went into those hard-hit areas, it has to do with just the amount of debris that's on the ground and how toxic all of
that is. We learned that from the L.A. fires. It's simply not safe for people to go back and even try to find their belongings. But it's difficult
to control all of that. Of course, people want to take at least a look at what's left of their homes in these situations.
SOARES: Yes, and look, as you were talking to Kerry Zimmer, that resident there, clearly emotional and quite rightly so. The scene behind it was
almost like, you know, we were saying earlier, like a war zone, utter devastation. Building, rebuilding something like this. How long would this
take? I'm guessing a lot of these properties are insured. What are you hearing from other residents?
JONES: Well, that's what the Zimmer said. They said they're so lucky that they have insurance and that they feel that the next few weeks they were
going to get the paperwork together and start looking into what that might look like. Of course, it's still a moment of shock for so many of these
families.
[14:50:00]
But, Isa, just knowing what we know from covering the Los Angeles fires, I mean, more than 18 months after those fires. And people are still not back
to their homes, even homes that didn't fully burn down. They still have issues. They have toxins in them. There's people that haven't gotten the
payout that they really needed to fully rebuild and go back into the neighborhoods that they so dearly loved. And what they end up doing is just
giving up on that dream and setting up their lives somewhere else.
SOARES: Yes, very well said. Julia Vargas Jones for us there in Spokane. Thank you very much to you. Really appreciate it. Good to see you.
And still to come tonight, a migrant family weighs the risk of trying to stay in the U.S. or voluntarily leaving. We'll share their struggle after
this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Well, the Trump administration's ramping up of immigration enforcement is forcing many families to make difficult decisions. To take
their chances in the U.S. or self-deport. CNN's Carolina Peguero talks to one family who chose to leave for Mexico.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With songs and prayers. This young Mexican couple of pastors held their final church service in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Months later, from their kitchen table of their new home in Morelos, Mexico. Abdiel and Adeline Dominguez share why they
decided to leave the United States.
ABDIEL DOMINGUEZ, SELF-DEPORTED TO MEXICO: It's one thing to say we're going to move to another city, and another thing to say we're going to move
to another state, but then to move to another country, it's a big, big move. So, we prayed a lot. We ask God for guidance.
PEGUERO (voice-over): In the last year, the Dominguez family says that along with their community, they have been targeted by the Trump
administration and its anti-immigration policies.
ADELINE DOMINGUEZ, SELF-DEPORTED TO MEXICO: That wasn't just us; it was thousands of other families that were going through the same things.
ABDIEL DOMINGUEZ: Just the fear that paralyzed the whole state, the whole country. I think they felt the fear that we were fearing.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Both dreamer recipients say their resources and livelihood became limited because they couldn't work or go out. Together
with their four children, they felt trapped in their own home.
ADELINE DOMINGUEZ: They saw a lot of parents being taken away. And so, that's why they agreed with also coming. And so, there's a song that I sing
to my son every night, and it's you're my sunshine, little sunshine, you know, please don't take my sunshine away.
[14:55:00]
And so, singing that song, it's like has a deeper meaning now, because that's singing that song there, it was just like I don't want them to take
them away.
PEGUERO (voice-over): They drove several hours to the Chicago airport, accompanied by loved ones, so they could give them their final goodbyes.
Now in Mexico, they still haven't been able to adjust to their new life.
ABDIEL DOMINGUEZ: Like in the Wizard of Oz, you know, like when she said you're no longer -- I think she says you're no longer in Kansas, you know,
or something like that. We feel like we're somewhere down south the U.S. You know, living in a small-town border, but we just got to keep busy, keep
our kids busy, and just trust in God. You know, and know that God has good things for us, better things for us.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Carolina Peguero, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And finally, tonight, I want to take you to Florida, where a plane made a daring landing on a highway just 30 minutes into the flight. The
pilots noticed the engine was losing power, and it became clear they couldn't make it to the nearest airport. Let's see the moment the pilot
pulled off that emergency landing. Have a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are not making the airport. We're going down on I- 10. Just to let you know, we are lined up with I-10 trying to avoid the cars.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, thankfully, no one was injured. And that does it for this hour. Thanks very much for your company. Do stay right here. "What We Know"
is up next with Lynda Kinkade. I shall see you tomorrow. Bye-bye.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
END
