On Wednesday afternoon's The Lead, CNN host Jake Tapper did his part to undermine Israel's war effort by showing a pre-recorded piece highlighting the story of an American citizen living in Gaza who has a "resounding message" for President Joe Biden about why he was allowing her to suffer even though she chooses to live there.
Tapper teased the story before a commercial break: "An American teacher trapped for hours under rubble after her home in Gaza was hit. Her message for President Biden as she watches neighbor after neighbor being buried. That's next."
A few minutes later, Tapper set up the report by noting that there had been what he called a "strike" on a United Nation's facility as he recalled that Secretary of State Antony Blinken was pushing for Israel to allow more aid into the war zone. He then added: "But all of this serves as a stark reminder of how hard, if not impossible, it is for aid workers to do their jobs in Gaza. CNN's Nada Bashir shares for us now, the story of an American woman in Gaza who, after barely surviving a strike on her home, has a resounding message for President Biden."
London-based CNN correspondent Nada Bashir recalled the airdrops of humanitarian aid amidst the war zone and then brought up the case of an American school teacher who lives in Gaza:
Deborah, an American woman living in central Gaza, says she has lost count of the number of wars she has lived through in the besieged strip. But this time, she almost did not survive. An Israeli strike, she says, left her crushed in the ruins of her home for hours. Rescued and treated without anesthesia, she now wants answers.
Then came a soundbite of Deborah Droll, the Gazan they were talking about, pushing the i incorrect suggestion that, because she was a civilian, the area where she lives could not be a legitimate military target even though the location of Hamas weapons or personnel was what made a target legitimate: "I'm not throwing bombs -- I'm not shooting anyone -- why did they come and target me? I need an answer for that. Joe Biden, I need an answer. Why are you letting them target Americans in Gaza?"
The report then concluded:
BASHIR: The English teacher says there is nowhere safe left in Gaza. Some of her neighbors being buried as she speaks.
DROLL: Yes, I could run. I could go back to America, but I would feel like it was not right to do that. I should stand beside them. I should try to help them.
BASHIR: A voice of solidarity with those in Gaza trying to survive the unthinkable. Nada Bashir, CNN, London.
What about the Israeli and American hostages?
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
CNN's The Lead
March 13, 2024
5:23 p.m. EasternJAKE TAPPER (before commercial break): An American teacher trapped for hours under rubble after her home in Gaza was hit. Her message for President Biden as she watches neighbor after neighbor being buried. That's next.
(commercial break)
5:27 p.m.
TAPPER: Back with our "World Lead" now, this afternoon U.S. secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Israel government and military must do more to get aid into Gaza. Blinken also addressed today's strike on a United Nation's facility in Rafah in Gaza. That strike killed five people according to a doctor there. Secretary of State Blinken said an investigation is ongoing, but all of this serves as a stark reminder of how hard, if not impossible, it is for aid workers to do their jobs in Gaza. CNN's Nada Bashir shares for us now, the story of an American woman in Gaza who, after barely surviving a strike on her home, has a resounding message for President Biden.
NADA BASHIR: Small but vital -- pockets of peace above war-torn Gaza. Yet another round of humanitarian airdrops from international donors. Civilians, on the brink of famine, desperately scramble to see what has arrived today. Yet, amid each delivery, the war continues, more homes destroyed, more people killed. Deborah, an American woman living in central Gaza, says she has lost count of the number of wars she has lived through in the besieged strip. But this time, she almost did not survive. An Israeli strike, she says, left her crushed in the ruins of her home for hours. Rescued and treated without anesthesia, she now wants answers.
DEBORAH DROLL, AMERICAN LIVING IN GAZA: I'm not throwing bombs -- I'm not shooting anyone -- why did they come and target me? I need an answer for that. Joe Biden, I need an answer. Why are you letting them target Americans in Gaza?
BASHIR: The English teacher says there is nowhere safe left in Gaza. Some of her neighbors being buried as she speaks.
DROLL: Yes, I could run. I could go back to America, but I would feel like it was not right to do that. I should stand beside them. I should try to help them.
BASHIR: A voice of solidarity with those in Gaza trying to survive the unthinkable. Nada Bashir, CNN, London.
TAPPER: And our thanks to Nada Bashir for that report.
