Violent conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates
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00:00 discussions over a possible truce with Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes are continuing
00:05 across Gaza and rocket attacks on Israel are ongoing from militants inside Gaza and also
00:12 now from Lebanon. The escalation was triggered by a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas on
00:17 Saturday, resulting in the country's deadliest day in five decades. More than 800 people
00:23 have been killed in Israel, while Palestinian authorities say nearly 700 have now died on
00:28 their side. We begin our coverage with the CBC's Chris Brown, who's on the ground in
00:33 the region. The might of Israel's arsenal thundered down
00:38 on Gaza's cities, turning vast swathes of the Palestinian enclave to rubble in retaliation
00:45 for Hamas's unprecedented attack. Israel's military told people to leave, but many either
00:51 could not or did not and perished. Not even schools were sanctuaries, said this man.
00:57 There is no safe place in Gaza. Israel confirmed its goal is to cut the Gaza Strip off from
01:05 the rest of the world. There is no electricity, there is no entry to Gaza. Gaza is under siege,
01:12 said the Israeli army general. But Hamas has Israeli hostages, dozens, perhaps more than
01:19 a hundred. A spokesman for the group's armed wing issued a chilling threat that they would
01:25 begin executing captives publicly if the bombing continued without warnings ahead of time.
01:33 Israel has mobilized more than 300,000 soldiers and an invasion of Gaza could be next.
01:40 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the threat from militants is not over, as
01:45 some remain at large in Israel. Hamas's missile barrage also continues. Several people were
01:53 injured in Ashkelon when a rocket smashed into a residential area. Our CBC News crew
01:59 had to hit the dirt after Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system detected an incoming Hamas
02:06 rocket. At least a portion of it struck very close to our location. At a hospital in Ashkelon,
02:14 roughly 12 kilometers from Gaza, we met a survivor of the horrific executions at the
02:19 nearby outdoor music festival. Raz Cohen lost two close friends and was visiting two others
02:25 who were injured. It was something like 200 people that ran away in the open area and
02:32 they shoot in all of us. I saw people get shot in the head, in the leg, in the shoulder.
02:40 Died in my eyes. I see a lot of bodies. Orthopedic surgeon Tomer Aronson has treated many of
02:46 the wounded and he struggles to express the horror he's witnessed. Never in this magnitude.
02:52 I've never seen such brutality. Entire families were butchered in their homes, family after
03:02 family after family. It's insane. That's the CBC's Chris Brown reporting. And turning now
03:09 to what more we know tonight about a Canadian believed to have been killed when Hamas attacked
03:14 that music festival. Alexander Look's family says he died a hero. The CBC's Kwambina Oduro
03:20 has their story along with the eyewitness account of another Canadian who made it out
03:24 alive. This is the phone call Alexander Look's parents got after they say their son was killed.
03:37 During the attack, they were on the phone with Alexander and heard everything. I felt
03:42 those gunshots in my... I just remember screaming, "They're killing my son right now." Look was
03:52 among thousands at an outdoor techno music festival Saturday near the Gaza border. He
03:57 was one of more than 250 people who were killed. Look's father says he's doing everything he
04:02 can to get his son's body home. It's a Jewish tradition. Until he's buried, we cannot be
04:08 in mourning. So I think it's even harder now knowing that he's over there and we're here
04:17 in waiting. Global Affairs Canada has not confirmed Look's death, but said Sunday it's working
04:22 to confirm the reports. Another Canadian who was at the music festival narrowly escaped.
04:27 I think I hear gunfire really faint in the distance, really fast, really far, but I'm
04:31 not sure. And then just as we're about to leave, we all start hearing gunfire. And then
04:36 I'm like, "We have to go now." Shai Klein Weinstein says he and the people he was with
04:41 managed to flee by car. I thought if we waited too long for anything, we would die. And there
04:47 was no fear during the whole thing. It was just get out, get out, get out, get out, be
04:51 afraid when you're back home. Weinstein says all the people he was with are okay, but...
04:57 There's a lot of people I made friends with who were there who were not as lucky. Some
05:02 who got wounded and some who went with friends who didn't make it.
05:07 Hundreds from Montreal's Jewish community gathered tonight for a vigil. Many here say
05:12 they'll be at a rally tomorrow in support of Israel as they continue to mourn. Koubina
05:17 Oduro, CBC News, Montreal.
05:20 All of this as Israel moves to strike back hard, blocking fuel, food and water to Gaza
05:27 after what many are calling Israel's 9/11. Meanwhile, there are rallies across Canada
05:32 today, some in support of Palestinians, others for Israel. Later this evening, vigils in
05:37 support of Israelis caught up in the violence are planned, decrying the attacks by Hamas
05:42 that left hundreds dead. Here in Vancouver, demonstrators also called for freedom and
05:46 independence in Palestine. Our Yvette Brand continues our coverage with more from that
05:52 rally.
05:55 In Vancouver, one of many pro-Palestine rallies attracting hundreds. Nasser Najjar says he's
06:01 protesting in support of Palestinians and fears for his sisters in Gaza.
06:05 I am upset, sad, angry, but I believe one day we will have our liberation. We will be
06:17 a liberated state. We will have our freedom. We will not live under humiliation. That must
06:24 happen someday. Someday we will be treated like humans.
06:28 Free, free Palestine.
06:29 Free, free Palestine.
06:30 Free, free Palestine.
06:32 In the lead up to the protests, Vancouver's mayor spoke to the police and issued a statement
06:37 denouncing any who advocate violence. He said, "As people gather today, I hope they will
06:42 overcome hatred and show the basic humanity required to condemn outright and obvious acts
06:48 of evil."
06:49 Tonight, the Prime Minister spoke out in support of Israel at a rally in Ottawa.
06:54 Gaza unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms condemns these terrorist attacks perpetrated
07:02 by Hamas. We stand with Israel and reaffirm our support for Israel's right to defend itself
07:10 in accordance with international law.
07:13 One of many gatherings in support of Israelis killed or captured in surprise attacks on
07:19 Saturday.
07:20 It's the most number of Jewish people that have been killed at one time since the Holocaust.
07:27 So we're here to show solidarity with our friends and family in Israel.
07:31 While there was some tension at this Vancouver rally today.
07:37 For the most part, demonstrators like Amal Joha spoke out for loved ones in danger back
07:47 in Gaza.
07:48 They have right to live in peace life. We wanted them to live happy as we live here.
07:54 And laughed, at least today, in peace.
07:57 Yvette Brent, CBC News, Vancouver.
08:01 British Columbians who have loved ones in Israel are watching in terror and shock as
08:06 the conflict unfolds. One Israeli student at UBC says the past few days have been a
08:10 nightmare.
08:11 I haven't been sleeping. I've just been on texts, on calls. It's been several days so
08:19 far that my friends and I are just living like minute by minute, like going by scraps
08:26 of what they're posting on social media.
08:29 We will continue to have in-depth coverage on this developing story throughout the week.
08:33 And tune into The National at 10 o'clock tonight. The CBC's Adrienne Arsenault will be in Tel
08:37 live with the very latest.
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