Christiane: hello, everyone, and welcome to "Amanpour and Company ."

The leader of Russia's mercenary company claims in American has died in the Bloody fight, leaving -- and what comes next.

And then Ben has a special report on the Palestinian man who died working in Israel after being hit by an attack launched by Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

>> the federal immigration process is broken and needs to be fixed.

Christiane: as officials remain on high alert, the mayor of El Paso, Texas, gives Walter Issacson the details from America's southern border.

Also ahead -- >> you are going to see the doctor and the clock starts.

Christiane: a documentary maker turns her camera on her own father and his decision to die on his own terms.

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Christiane: -- >> welcome to the program, everybody.

CN and sources say Ukrainian forces are now using long-range storm shadow missiles from the U.K. to strike Russian targets.

Their use comes one week after the U.K. announced it had delivered them to Ukraine at a time of increased pressure in the war-torn country.

Russia launching a barrage of rockets on Kyiv just overnight.

An attack Ukrainian officials have described as the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest time possible.

They also say the strikes did not hit their marks thanks to the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system.

One U.S. system was likely damaged but not destroyed as a result of the Russian attacks on and around Kyiv, U.S. official tells CNN.

The Russian mercenary company known as Volga group is claiming -- Wagner group claimed an American was killed in box move.

Sam, good to see you.

Let me get you to weigh in.

Anymore insight into this claim that an American citizen has been killed?

>> well, we are not naming the American citizen and the State Department is trying to make contact with his next of kin but we do know that a person identified as an American -- the head of the mercenary organization released a video purporting to be there, purporting to show his identification documents.

Those have been shared separately with me with other foreign volunteers fighting in box moved -- Bakmut.

He was probably fighting alongside Ukrainian special forces as part of a special forces contingent there.

And the statement is quite extraordinary by his standards.

He actually shows considerable respect for the dead fighter who is shown in this video saying that he fought to the end and that he deserved to be covered in his national flag and his remains treated with respect and returned to his home nation.

Now, as we say, we are waiting to officially confirm his nationality and his name, but it does appear that an American has been killed fighting in Bakhmut.

By no means the first foreigner, by no means the only American who has been killed there.

Credit being given by his enemies in this remarkable video posted by the mercenary group.

>> any more that you can offer us on what we saw overnight in Kyiv, this barrage of attacks successfully repelled and defended using the Patriot missile's defense system.

What more are we hearing from Ukrainians?

>> it is not just patriot at all.

There are large numbers of other aerial defense systems that are working there, but clearly, the patriot has been successful.

It was credited with the first downing of the so-called hypersonic missile used a few days ago by Russians, or rather, it was shot down a few days ago and now the Ukrainians are saying six were shot down.

The assumption is those six were shot down with Patriot missile's but there were also crews missiles and more traditional surface to surface missiles and surface-to-air missiles all flooding in in a concentrated effort, in a very tight period of time, clearly intended as a tactic to try to overwhelm the defense, the aerial defense capabilities around Kyiv.

Kyiv is the center of government.

It is the center of the command and control structures particularly of the political structures of Ukraine so clearly, a very high-value target indeed, particularly as the Ukrainians are building up to what they say is likely to be there some offensive against Russia so a new tactic using a large number of sophisticated missiles in a concentrated period of time.

We have seen other mass missile attacks, particularly trying to use overwhelming members across the country for many months, particularly using the low-tech drone type missiles.

>> Thank you in the past few days.

I want to bring in Rob Lee, a veteran of the U.S. Marines, a senior fellow in the foreign policy research Institute's erasure program and a leading expert on Russian military affairs.

He recently co-authored a new insightful piece for Foreign Affairs magazine in the war in Ukraine that is getting a lot of buzz.

Welcome to the program.

Good to see you.

Let's start picking up on the conversation about the Walkman group -- Wagoner group -- Wagner group.

The majority of casualties are from them.

Are you surprised by this latest leak of information from the U.S. intelligence, that is courtly suggesting he offered Kyiv information on withdrawing their own soldiers from the area?

Rob: it's not fully clear if that was a genuine proposal or not.

This command issuance for Russia, they have their own incentives with what they are trying to pursue and it is the broader war effort and the two things don't necessarily always intercept so at times, the interest of Wagner may not be aligned with what the Russian military wants.

A lot of times, we hear these bigger in between's and that is kind of emblematic of that.

Christiane: -- he seems to be >> he seems to be attacking publicly everyone in high authority in Russia aside from Vladimir Putin especially the defense minister and accusing them of denying his men the resources that they need.

Let's play one example of a public video he has made.

>> the occupation is nothing to the Russian Federation because the flanks are crumbling.

The front is collapsing.

Attempts to make things look better are and will bring an overall tragedy for Russia.

They need to stop lying right away.

Christiane: that leads many to ask, why does Putin keep tolerating this?

You may clear inner peace that they do play a significant role.

The Wagner group plays a significant role in helping the Kremlin, specifically in that their soldiers are viewed as more expendable.

Can you go into further detail on that?

Rob: sure.

Russia has had a significant manpower problem.

That has been a contributing factor to what led to their problems.

Since then, they have a large mobilized military but a lot of it is trains.

They have more political considerations about mobilized soldiers being killed.

They started using convicts early on in a large-scale kind of way.

Yes, the Russian military -- developed a new system of doing this.

When the Russian military lacked capability and stepped in and had its own we have kind of making up for that weakness.

Christiane: -- >> let's turn to the war itself.

You write that policymakers placed undue emphasis on the upcoming offensive without providing sufficient consideration of what will come afterward, whether Ukraine is well-positioned for the next phase.

It is critical that Western partners develop a long-term theory of victory Ukraine since even in the best case scenario, this upcoming offensive is unlikely to end the conflict.

Are you surprised that this long into a war, over one year in, that more Western policymakers have not done just that and have not come up with a long-term theory of what success looks like for Ukraine?

>> the countries have kept together quite strongly and we have seen that it has been fairly impressive and we have seen recent announcements from the U.K., France, and Germany going forward.

Maybe the situation is getting better.

The big emphasis we are trying to make is we are all focused on this upcoming Ukraine offensive and the Ukraine will likely have success although it probably will not go to war.

The big question is what happens in the fall or winter because the ammunition situation may become more difficult.

We know the U.S. has tapped stockpiles for the last year and that is not a sustainable way of going forward so there will be a question of is there enough ammunition for Ukraine, will that affect how they operate in the fall in the winter?

How can the West support improperly enough so they can end this war on their terms?

>> could it be that a potential theory for how to win this war and what success means may not be acceptable for Ukraine at this point?

I mean, America's addition has been, since the war began, that there will be no decision without Ukraine at the table.

Rob: there has always been this kind of question about whether or not there is an escalation risk if Ukraine does make substantial gains and threatens to take back Crimea or other parts of the creek February 24 borders.

Is there an escalation for Russia?

I think there has been a balance between the aid that Ukraine has received where, yes, there is a hope that Ukraine will take back territory but also concern about where the potential -- what are the potential escalation risks?

Is there a gap between the military equipment and other kind of support being provided?

It seems there is a bit of disconnect.

Going forward, maybe we will figure it out.

Just from European countries, it signals that direction but again, it is something we have to think through, especially how can we support Ukraine properly so that they can still win?

>> U.N. might make up point in your piece that longer term, this could actually benefit Russia, not having a specific plan in place even if this proves to be successful you -- for Ukraine.

For Ukraine to sustain momentum and pressure, Western States must make plans for what follows this operation rather than maintain a wait and see approach otherwise the rest -- the West risks creating a situation whereby Russian forces are able to recover, stabilize their lines, and try and retake the initiative.

That is a point we got here nearly enough.

Talk about why that is so important to reinforce.

>> Share.

People have inspected Russia at some point to maybe collapse or that personnel issues with me to some kind of significant issue but ultimately, thus far, it seems his rule is still quite strong.

I don't know if it is a good idea to expect something will come up.

Maybe something well.

I don't know if we can plan on that.

If you cannot make that assumption, then it has to be that Ukraine is probably not positioned well for war with Russia.

Russia can produce things -- it does not have the same issues with the defense industry.

Ukraine is being targeted.

The West has looked through to say if Ukraine is not well-positioned for an attritional fight, and they have weapons in arms and equipment that can give them the right advantage to overcome the natural advantages Russia has in the long-term and that might make sense to provide more systems sooner rather than later so Ukraine can have that success as soon as possible.

Christiane: we spent a lot of -- >> we spent a lot of time covering the blows the Russian military has taken and the number of casualties it has seen infighting but it's important to note that Ukraine has seen a lot of casualties as well, some of the best trained army men have been killed over the past few months.

That having been said, are you surprised at the speed with which these Ukrainian troops are a ball to train to use western equipment, more sophisticated equipment?

this war began with them using Soviet weapons, similar to the Russians.

They have been trained in just a matter of a few weeks and from what we have seen at least overnight, they seem to be operating this material quite well.

Does that surprise you and are you encouraged that perhaps that could inspire more deliveries more quickly of additional Western States?

Rob: -- Western aid?

Rob: they are very fast learners.

There's a lot of ingenuity.

A lot of initiative and they are quick at using systems -- different types of systems very effectively.

I am not surprised.

We had heard that they had mastered other systems very effectively and that really prevented Russia from a successful missile campaign so that is not surprising but when you look at going forward at the counteroffensive, a lot of equipment Ukraine has trained on, tanks, new fighting vehicles, it is a lot to learn in a short amount of time so I have no doubt that the Ukrainians are more than able to match the equipment but having time to learn the equipment is something that is really important before you do a large-scale operation, especially when you have to try and prepare defensive positions.

Everything for Ukraine is on a short timeline because every day that they are not counterattacking, people are dying who are defending.

It is an important consideration.

Ukrainians have demonstrated thus far that any kind of weapons system they are given, they won't master and learn how to play correctly.

>> you and Mike pointed out weakness of the just-in-time delivery the U.S. has provided Ukraine with with some of its defense systems and larger weaponry.

Let's leave it there.

But are you saying -- are you seeing a change in that strategy?

just this week, we see President Zelenskyy touring through Europe.

Germany signing off on $3 billion in military aid area more tanks area it appears that something is changing and the momentum is shifting to get them more as soon as possible.

Are you seeing that as well?

Rob: it looks that way.

The recent delivery, we are already seeing the effects of that.

Potentially the delivery of modern fighters.

The U.K. mentioned long range drones will be provided.

All of those systems will provide Ukraine with a qualitative advantage over Russia.

Russia is tapping into older and older weapons and having difficulty producing new systems so all those kinds of things will help Ukraine long-term, particularly long-range weapons.

That is something Russia had a significant advantage on and they have been able to do how this missile campaign.

If Ukraine is getting long-range weapons, it means that, you know, Russia has less sanctuaries for logistics hubs and Ukraine can target those.

over time, they will give Ukraine a greater qualitative advantage and give him a chance for winning the war and retaking territory.

>> you mentioned Russia is being forced can offer a litany of reasons, going through artillery quickly, but also because of Western sanctions that they are now being forced to rely on 1950's and 1960's Soviet gear.

There is talk perhaps of another Russian conscription coming sooner rather than later.

We know Vladimir Putin was trying to hold off as long as he could on 300,000 Russian men being conscripted.

How long do you think it will be before he is forced to do another round?

Rob: not clear.

We know that they are bringing convicts -- not just Wagner but also it Russian military, setting up special convict units.

The prospects of those are probably not great as you can imagine.

During the counteroffensive, we will see what the manpower situation is.

We learned how bad the manpower situation was and made significant gains.

If Ukraine is able to make some fast gains here, it might be clear that Russia lacks the manpower.

The problem is that it is not just having enough manpower.

It's having fewer trains, the right weapons, things of that nature.

It won't necessarily fix all the problems.

A lot of these problems are growing from the Russian military.

At what point does that become a critical issue?

One thing we can point out is that they did not have the conditions to do offensive operations successfully but it is easier to defend so defending, especially if you build sophisticated Defense network and you have enough people to man it, you can still defend quite effectively even with all of these issues.

It will still be important for Ukraine to find weak points can execute that plan very effectively and to use all these qualitative advantages as effectively as possible.

>> Putin is aware the more men he pulls out of the Russian workforce, the more of a negative impact it will have on the Russian economy at a much sooner pace as well.

Rob Lee, thank you so much for joining us.

I encourage everyone to follow you on your very insightful reporting covering this war.

Thank you so much.

Rob: -- >> next to Israel where a fragile cease-fire is holding with Islamic jihad after days of violence left dozens of people dead.

The vast majority of those killed being Palestinian.

Many are now sifting through the wreckage all around them.

Ben met with the family of one man lost in the bloodshed, it Palestinian killed in Israel by a missile launched by Islamic Jihad.

Here is his report.

Ben: another father in Gaza has lost his son.

As always happens here when calm returns, mourners come to pay respect for those who were killed.

The 34-year-old Abdulla was not killed in an Israeli airstrike, rather shrapnel from a missile from his native Gaza into Israel ripped through his chest and abdomen.

Abdulla was one of around 18,000 Gazans to receive a permit to work in Israel.

His father also working in Israel rushed to the hospital.

It was too late.

Human kindness triumphed over the passions of four.

I found it made no difference to the doctors if we were Arabs or Jews, he recalled.

I asked them to help me with the procedures to take my son home and bury him and they did.

Abilities behind a wife, four daughters, and two sons.

-- Abdulla leaves behind a wife, four daughters, and two sons.

His family is now destitute, a relative tells me.

These Bedouin are pious people.

They prefer not to place blame.

Abdulla's death, they say, was God's will.

A spokesman denied any responsibility.

A short drive away, residents surveyed the ruins of a large house bombed by Israeli aircraft.

Inspectors from the Ministry of Public Works gathered information on the destruction.

The neighbors say it wasn't a secret.

This building belonged to somebody who was in Islamic Jihad's missile unit.

The building was destroyed on Friday evening.

In the process, however, all the homes in this area were severely damaged.

The blast shattered windows and toppled walls.

The neighbors had nothing to do with missiles and do not know when or if help will arrive.

His home is in shambles.

He shows me all the help he has received so far, a bag of food worth a few dollars.

My house is destroyed, he shouts.

A kilo of sugar and a kilo of flour.

I'm going crazy.

Can I fix my house?

It's all madness and they never get used to it.

>> our thanks to him for that report.

Days after the expiration of Title 42, migrant crossings at the southern U.S. border are surprisingly low but officials say the situation is still very fluid and they are preparing for a potential surge to come.

Mayors from New York, Los Angeles, Houston, and Denver requested a meeting with President Biden for more support as they brace for more migrants.

El Paso's mayor, Oscar, declared a state of emergency before the pandemic year policy ended.

He joins Walter Isaacson to discuss the situation at the border.

>> Thank you.

Welcome to the show.

Title 42, which was a way of restricting immigration during the Covid emergency, and did last Thursday.

You are mayor of El Paso.

He said over the weekend that you did not see an expected big influx of new immigrants.

what is the situation now and what is happening?

Mayor Leeser: we had a big influx prior to midnight but after that, their numbers have really gone down.

On Saturday, we had a total of 405 and on Sunday, we had 381, which is way down from the numbers we used to be seeing back in December.

We saw well over 2500 a day.

Walter: why is that?

Mayor Leeser: a lot of them are coming in prior to the expiration of Title 42 and a lot of them came in which is very unfortunate.

They came in with the understanding that if they were in here prior to the expiration of Title 42, that they would be able to get political asylum.

The borders were closed in.

The second part is the difference between Title 42 and title eight.

On Title 42, you could come back in as many times as you want with no consequences.

On title eight, if you do come in and you are not following the immigration laws through the legal path and you are returned, you have to wait five years minimum to return back into the U.S.

The second time, you will not have the opportunity to return again.

Walter: explained to me title eight.

It is -- explain to me the other title.

We are talking a whole lot about titles but this is part of the immigration acts and it is saying this rule is one we will enforce so explain that to us.

Mayor Leeser: the city of El Paso does not enforce any immigration laws.

Border patrol and customs so that is a law that has been in effect since 1940 and like I said, we are here to help and make sure asylum-seekers continue to be treated in a very respectful way and continue to work to make sure they are safe but also the citizens of the city of El Paso.

Walter: this has been around for 80 years.

Why did it not help in the past to restrict some of this immigration?

Mayor Leeser: because we all know that the federal immigration process is broken and it needs to be fixed.

If you asked me what do you hope for now that the numbers are down and the numbers are there, that someday comes up with a long-term solution to work on, fixing the immigration system in the United States.

Walter: let's drill down on that.

What would you do to fix the immigration system?

Mayor Leeser: one of the things that is really important that we need to fix is the -- to make sure we get additional judges to expedite -- we need to really expedite the time it takes when someone comes in through the immigration process, the legal process, and then they get a court date.

Once they get a court date, it could be four or five years.

I believe it needs to be a lot quicker.

While they are waiting for the court process, I would like to see people have the opportunity continue to work.

There's a lot of people that need jobs and we have a lot of people who would love to hire a lot of these people so it's really important that we continue to expedite the process and work forward.

What would we do in Washington?

I really believe that we need to learn to diggers -- disagree as far as Congress and Senate is concerned and learn to compromise to come up with a process that's really going to help not only the United States but the countries around us.

Walter: you have been working with a lot of your mayors along the border.

You know politicians of both parties are there.

Do you think that if people like yourself came up with a plan, you could come up with a plan that could be passed in Washington?

Mayor Leeser: we all need to work together and I don't think one person coming up with a plan -- we live it every day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

I see how we work with people.

The biggest thing I would love to see is to continue to work how we can make sure people are treated totally with respect and continue to be treated that way.

We all need to work together.

The board of mayors has been talking and we continue to talk but we are talking about how we continue to work together for the current crisis.

Not, you know, how we are going to fix the immigration process because that Callista Washington and we are not here to do immigration law.

We are here to help them and assist them but also continue to work in our local laws to make sure our citizens also continue to be safe.

Walter: you are talking about fixing in the long term the immigration issue, a comprehensive immigration reform bill at some point.

Is that something that should he to border security or should we get border security right first before we try comprehensive immigration reform?

Mayor Leeser: that should be of them best way to do it and how do we make sure we can do that in a timely manner?

I'm not here to tell them what to do.

I can tell them what we see every day and we would love to see the long-term solution comes through.

You know, it now rather than later.

Walter: you say you would love to tell them what you are seeing every day.

Tell us.

What are you living through each day?

Mayor Leeser: we see every day that people are coming to the United States.

They are bringing their family.

Or they come by themselves.

They are here for a better life themselves and their families and how we can help them.

We talk to them.

We see them.

We were there the day before Title 42 expired to see people who were waiting and ready in the shelters in Mexico and there was 20 people at the second-largest shelter.

They are at the border, ready to come in.

That night before it expired, there was 1800 people so we see that everyday but when we talk to them, they all want to go to work.

The mayor came down and talked to them.

Every one of them raised their hand because they are ready to go to work and they want to make a better life for their families and themselves.

Walter: these are supposed to be asylum-seekers.

How many of them are really asylum-seekers and how many just want to come here for better jobs.

Mayor Leeser: that is something, you know, that the federal government has to determine.

That is not something we determined.

We treat people with compassion and the way we want to be treated and we talk to them about what they are looking for and why they are here and what they want to do.

The federal government has its process and that is something we do not implement.

That is something that they look at.

I want to see more immigration judges to be able to determine work and do it anymore -- in a lot quicker manner and also allow people to go to work.

Walter: tell us what it's like in El Paso on a day-to-day basis.

You have a lot of people coming in before the end of Title 42.

Have them in churches and in schools.

What do you do to make sure that they feel comfortable?

Mayor Leeser: our job is to assist.

We have had a lot of law enforcement that has worked together to come together and not one person, not the mayor, not the county, not one person has done it.

We have all done it together, whether it is the school security, we all work together.

You have stated his we work together that it was a very orderly system once Title 42 expired and it will continue to be that way.

Our priority as elected officials is our community and we will continue to do that but also make sure that our asylum-seekers are treated in a respectful way but also make sure our community is safe.

Walter: one of the things that has happened is many of these asylum-seekers have families somewhere else.

Jobs perhaps that they want to go to and you are helping send transportation so they can go up north, up to New York.

Others are being transported without any real place to go and they are being sent on buses.

How do you make those decisions and how do people and techies make decisions of who gets best --who gets transported out of Texas?

Mayor Leeser: I cannot tell you how the people in Texas do it back -- but I can tell you how people in El Paso do it.

People are treated with respect.

We want to help them unite with their family and with their friends and where they have a job.

They asked us to help and we help them in that manner and we never send anyone where they would not want to go.

Walter: you said Mayor Eric Adams came down to visit you in El Paso.

Tell me what you all talked about.

Mayor Leeser: we talked about the process and what is going on and we were able to talk to asylum-seekers.

Went to the NGO's.

He sat there and talked to asylum-seekers and asked them why do you want to go to New York?

why are you in the United States?

I was thankful for him to come here and be how we do everyday processes, what we do every day.

I consider Mayor Adams a friend.

Walter: what is happening in El Paso for accommodating the people who have come through?

Do you have enough hospital beds, for example?

do you have enough centers for people to be sheltered?

Do you have enough schools if they want to stay there?

Mayor Leeser: right now, we had the resources we need.

The Biden administration really provided the resources we have needed to provide this service.

At the beginning, they are not coming to El Paso.

They are coming to the United States and they have provided the funding that we needed to make sure we do that.

Right now, the numbers are way down as we talked at the beginning of the show.

We talked about 381 people that came into El Paso that's moving through the United dates yesterday alone compared to 2500 that used to be on a daily basis.

Walter: what else do you need from the federal government?

Mayor Leeser: we are preparing for the unknown.

We don't know what it's going to come in.

We don't know what is going on tomorrow so we continue to prepare.

We have an open line of communication and we will continue to have that open line of communication.

We need to continue to have that line of communication.

We don't know what the unknown is.

I am very thankful.

They worked very well with our community.

They continue to work with them also.

Walter: Vice President Kamala Harris was at one point designated to look at this overall problem.

To what extent has she been involved?

Mayor Leeser: I have not had that conversation and I have not spoken to Vice President Harris but I have spoken to the White House on basically a daily basis that continues to provide the service and they have -- I have always been able to work with them.

Walter: you say you talked to the White House on an almost daily basis.

Who are you talking to there?

What type of services are they providing?

How quickly are they responding?

Mayor Leeser: we talk to people from the Department of homeland security for the most part.

They help with decompression.

That's being able to help us move our asylum-seekers to the next destination or processing, things to help with processing.

They have never not helped us to do that and to make sure our border continues -- the border is not open.

They were not open then, not open today, and they continue to help us with our border control to make sure we have enough men and women to help us do the job we need to do.

Walter: the borders are not open.

The secretary has said that.

There has been a lot of pushback from Republicans.

On the other hand, you know, there is a sense that there is a border security that's pretty strong.

Do you think the borders are secure?

Is it somewhere in between?

Mayor Leeser: no, the borders are closed and they have given us the resources to make sure we help the asylum-seekers when they come into the United States but the borders were closed yesterday and they remain closed today.

Walter: the federal government sent in 1000 500 troops.

What are the troops doing down there?

Mayor Leeser: they continue to assist and help the border patrol and customs.

They are not here to implement federal law were immigration law.

They want to help them whether it is in the office, whether it is preparing for the day.

Whatever it may be, they are not here to implement federal immigration laws.

Walter: there is title eight which we discussed which has an expedited removal process.

That seems to have turned the tide a bit on what people are thinking.

Do you think there has been some shift in the Biden administration to be a little bit tougher about border security?

Mayor Leeser: they are using the laws in our country.

They know that things need to change and that things continue to change.

You are asking me what they think.

I can't tell you what they think but I can tell you it has made a difference as the numbers I have been able to share with you.

Walter: you were born in Mexico and you moved to the U.S. as a child.

You are the first elected mayor of El Paso to be born out of the country.

How does your personal journey help inform what you are doing now?

Mayor Leeser: I am very thankful for all of the opportunities I have had.

I came in as a young boy and did not speak a word of English.

Going through the school system and having the opportunity to work in the area and raise a family has been very important and that is why I believe that everybody needs to be treated with respect and I have always been raised to treat people the way you want to be treated and you will never be disappointed.

Our community in El Paso is a community with a huge heart and they have opened their heart to asylum-seekers and provide food, clothing, and will continue to do that.

And of the things I did want to discuss that was important that we did open up two schools that had been closed down.

We were able to work where we could take over the schools that were not being used and provide shelter for our asylum-seekers to go to their next destination.

Four hours to 72 hours.

Walter: Mayor, thank you for joining us.

Mayor Leeser: thank you.

You have a great day, sir.

Bye-bye.

>> now, we turn to a story of love, loss, and dignity.

A great film maker has twice taken the top documentary prize at the Sundance phone Festival but for her latest project, she turned the camera inward, documenting her father and his choice to end his life through California's medical aid in dying process called last flight home.

It follows her family through this difficult rabble as well as the road that led her father to his decision.

>> well, I'm going to take my life on March 3.

I don't want to fight anymore.

I just want peace.

>> we don't call it assisted suicide.

We call it supporting the right to terminate your life.

>> we should have a choice on how we go out.

>> are you definitely, definitely sure you are ready to go?

>> I am ready to go.

The next adventure.

>> she joins me now live.

What an emotional film this is.

I was in tears.

I felt as if I was there with you at times as a family going through this experience.

Before we get to the insight that you offer to the legal system and the process of end-of-life in the state of California, I believe it is offered only in 11th eighth currently.

Why don't you tell us a bit more about your incredible father and the incredible accomplishments he made professionally, and most importantly, personally?

>> thank you.

It is great to be here.

My father was the most extraordinary man that any of us ever knew.

He founded an airline, the fastest growing airline in the history of the world when I was born in by the time I was 10, his neck was cracked in a massage and he suffered a massive stroke which caused him to be ousted from the airline that he created but he never complained.

He stayed positive.

He stayed with smart, intelligent -- whip smart, intelligent and kind, generous.

That is one of the greatest things I learned from him, was just to really focus on the people and loving and respecting the people around you, which is something he taught all of us.

When he made this plea after 40 years of living as a hemiplegi c, paralyzed, having lost his fortune, still positive, I will be there, tenacious, when he finally said I have got to go, it is my time, and he was terminally ill -- he has COPD.

He could have -- he would die eventually soon, probably within the next six months, but he really felt he needed to go right then.

It was shocking, frankly.

It was scary for all of us, for our family.

But we had to support him.

We had to stand behind him.

He had done nothing but stand behind us all our lives so we united as a family.

My brother, David, found that there was a law in California -- we did not even know that because we don't talk about death and dying in our society.

This law allowed him the right to choose a day upon which he would die thanks to medical aid in dying and he chose March 13 at 2021, and we had a 15 day waiting period where we had to prove he was making this decision in right mind for all the right reasons and they gave us a chance, honestly, as a family, to come around him, to tell him and show him what he gave us and what he provided.

We got closer.

Even the grandkids, as you saw in the film and see in the film had a chance to hear wisdom, a love they will carry from their grandfather forever.

>> medical aid in dying is a controversial and emotionally charged issue.

We go through 15 days of their families life and your father's life and those last 15 days.

In the nearly two hours that I got to know him, he seemed as if he had loved life so much.

I am just curious, what was the initial reaction amongst family members when he said this is what he chose to do?

How long was it before everyone got on board in support of him?

>> Well, my sister is a rabbi, a prominent rabbi and social activist here in New York City.

At that point, it was -- Reform Judaism has reversed their opinion after millennia to support medical aid in dying, specifically in Canada where they have equal access to health care.

At that point, it was not something that Judaism or any religion, I believe, supports because life is a blessing.

When the rabbis changed their opinion, they wrote in a very detailed opinion that back when the rabbis made the law, the average time of suffering with may be five days.

It could be years.

He had suffered.

My father had suffered massively.

He had fallen many times during COVID, especially my mother was suffering as well.

There was very little we could do for him and he really felt, I think, that he could do more for us, being outside of his body and wanting to watch over us and provide for us from above.

Rachel, even though that was a hard decision for her to make personally, of course supported her father.

My mother, she wanted him to go to somewhere, if facility where he could be and she could visit him.

He did not want that.

He did not want that.

If he could not be near his family, he did not want to be here at all.

It was actually pretty quick that we got behind him with this.

It did feel, and I tried in the edit to have you feel the plank we were walking as a family towards this inevitable ending of the life of the center of our family, but my father said to me -- would you rather know the day or would you rather get a call in the middle of the night?

I have received this because when he had fallen and hit his head and split it open.

I thought about it.

I thought I would rather know the day.

I was able to set up Zoom calls for him to say goodbye to everyone from his first flight attendant and pilot to our au pair from when he had the stroke.

It was a chance for him to have reflected back to him everything he had given us.

>> those were really touching and special conversations he was able to have come and you are right, precious, because most people do not know when their last day will be and he at least had time to say his goodbyes and final words and thoughts to his loved ones.

You did walk the plank masterfully you mentioned your sister, Rabbi Rachel.

She talks about the role of a daughter and her father, seeing her as his rabbi and how difficult that was of a task for her to perform that duty as a rabbi and a daughter.

A point in the film, she talks about how hard it was for her to pay her the end-of-life medication with her own credit card, knowing the outcome and asking time and time again, are you sure that this is what you want?

The many times I was in tears, I was moved when you all saying the Jewish hiymn together -- hymn together.

You also mentioned the grandchildren.

I want to play that clip of Rachel's son getting words of wisdom.

>> I want to ask for advice on how to live your life.

>> how to live your life?

Start off with respect for people you don't know and love the people you do know.

You know what that means?

>> I know what that means.

>> what did you learn about your father throughout these 15 days you filmed?

>> you know, just made me smile seeing that clip right there.

Every time we share the film with audiences, how much people are healed and helped by the presence of my father, getting to know my father.

Young men have said they now have a role model for us.

It was growing up with a person who always said yes.

Yes, you can do it.

He said that until the end.

He was the captain of that room and he set the tone in those 15 days and because of that, because of his courage and his kindness, his tenderness and wisdom and humor, he was so funny.

It was the most sacred and beautiful space I have ever inhabited in my life.

Those were some of the best weeks of my life, getting to celebrate his life with him and to be with him.

He was my favorite person in the world.

I am so grateful that I ended up sharing this film.

I did not intend to make it a film at first.

I was trying to bottle him up somehow.

What happened over those weeks felt too important not to share and I'm so glad I did for all of us in our family.

>> I am so glad you shared him with me.

It was just incredible getting to know him in those two hours that you documented.

We talk about a medical aid in dying being legal in only 11 states.

You mentioned how fortunate was that he was living in a state where it is legal but it is an arduous process.

It requires many doctors to sign off and there are certain rules in place where your father would have to take the medicine himself, the medication himself and sign on the documentation himself as well for how weak he was.

I want to play a clip from one of the nurses because you pay homage to the people who were there taking care of him up until the very end.

The nursery claims why this is the job she took on.

>> I think it's really courageous work you are doing, hospice nurse, doing end-of-life.

>> I was telling her mom, not all doctors will do it.

Not all pharmacies will participate in medication and all nurses will do it so I find a very genuine what I get to do.

And very honoring what I get today.

Is it hard?

Yes.

Does it get any easier?

No.

The moment it does get easier is the moment I need to change careers.

I don't ever want to lose that humidity in me.

>> why was that humanity in me.

>> white -- I don't ever want to lose that humanity in me.

>> she is such a brilliant, generous person.

And spirit.

There is a scene in the film and it was a terrifying moment when he was in his second doctor visit and he could not remember if he had had lunch or what day it was.

And of course when we are lying in a bed and everything is sort of -- you are coming to the end of your life, it's understandable.

We were worried because that doctor is not supportive of medical aid and dying.

As she explains, not every hospice will do it.

Even getting the medicine, there is a band, since 1997, it turns out, that bans Medicare and Medicaid from supporting the medicine.

Federal funding for any medical aid in dying even in a way that has it, the family has to have enough money to be able to have that access.

There's these barriers and she just backed dad.

When he could not remember or know what day it was, she said he is clear in his decision and he knows what he wants.

She has been an advocate and become a family friend.

It's important to understand who these people are.

Hospice workers are some of the most courageous and beautiful human beings.

We are grateful as a family to them.

>> that moment you described, your father was zooming.

This all took place during COVID but your father was zooming with one of the doctors who was really skeptical about this law and you were nervous about whether or not would give his official sign off on it as well.

It's interesting because on the one hand, one has to be of sound mind to qualify for this process but I am wondering if that was a double-edged sword for you, seeing your dad crippled in so many areas that his mind was so brilliant and offering words of wisdom until the very end.

I was struck by his question.

A death doula.

Who will I know when I am gone?

She did not have an answer for him.

>> as he got near the end, and I think this happens -- the veil sort of lifts between life and death and he could see his family on the others and he went from, you know, feeling like there was nothing after death to feeling very confident that he would put a protective shield around our lives and watch over us.

That is what he wanted to do.

He was not scared of anything except them closing the box before he was actually gone.

Otherwise -- sorry.

Go ahead.

>> you were taking this story in this fight to offer this opportunity for others in other states now to Washington.

Are you prepared for the hurdles you are facing and what are you hoping to accomplish when you speak to lawmakers?

>> we are advocating for the law here in New York as well.

My sister is traveling to Albany last week.

We had an impact screening just last night.

We just had one in L.A. because their admin land -- advancing the law in L.A.

The waiting period is shortened.

There is progress to be made in many different states and we are partnering with compassionate choices which is an excellent organization that since its inception has managed to make the law happen in one state each year since they have existed.

We are going together to Washington.

My mother, who is 85, will be with me and my friend and we are going to travel and meet with lawmakers, screen the film in Washington and early June.

I know we are facing great hurdles and we also have allies inside Congress.

We know that there are people who really understand what this law provides which is really just an opportunity for peace for people who are suffering and terminally ill. >> thank you for sharing your father with us.

It is such a powerful film.

Please give your mom and family your best as well.

>> think you so much.

Thank you for having me.

>> a life lesson from Eli.

His daughter, who you just heard of, Rabbi Rachel, delivered a Yom Kippur service, reflecting on her father's final night.

She shared this onion moment.

>> Just in time, he started to understand that the true worth of his life was measured in love.

And by that measure, he had wildly succeeded.

We do not have to wait until the last night of our lives to know that we are already loved and worthy of it.

We do not have to wait until the last day to measure our lives by love.

>> such a powerful message to and on and on that note -- to end on.

On that note, thank you for watching the show.