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Masked Hamas Militants Seen Executing Men In Gaza City; NATO Members Pledge To Increase Their Defense Spending; Donald Trump Authorizes Covert CIA Actions Inside Venezuela; Israel to Hold Ceremonies for Victims of October 7, Gaza War; Gaza Crossing Closed Amid Dispute Over Deceased Hostages; 48-hour Ceasefire in Effect After Days of Clashes Between Pakistan and Afghanistan; Kash Patel Says Trump Administration to Pay FBI Agents During Shutdown; Judge Halts Trump's Layoffs of Federal Workers; Temporarily Funding Bills Fails Vote, Standoff Continues; NTSB Final Report Concludes Submersible Wasn't Designed Strong Enough or Properly Tested; 100-year-old Barista Still Serves Daily Espresso in Italy. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired October 16, 2025 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[02:00:34]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, and to everyone streaming us on CNN Max, I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, Israel is set to hold a memorial for October 7th victims, as Hamas says it has handed over all the bodies it could recover.

President Trump says Ukraine wants to go on the offensive against Russia, but will he approve sending Tomahawk missiles as he meets President Zelenskyy later this week.

The U.S. strikes yet another boat in the Caribbean as President Trump authorizes a covert operation inside Venezuela. How is that country responding.

And later, we'll meet Italy's longest serving barista and find out what she has to say about her life behind the counter.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

Appreciate you joining us. In the hours ahead, the Israeli government is set to hold state memorial ceremonies for the victims of Hamas' October 7th attack and the Gaza war.

This comes amid increasing anger that more bodies of hostages have not been returned. The remains of two more hostages have been handed over by Hamas and now identified as Inbar Hayman and Sergeant Major Muhammad Al-Atresh.

But so far, only nine of the 28 deceased hostages have returned to Israel since the cease fire deal took effect, Hamas says it has handed over all the bodies it can access and will need, "Significant efforts and special equipment to recover more remains."

The U.S. says it does not believe Hamas is violating its commitments to the agreement, but President Donald Trump says if they don't uphold the cease fire deal, Israeli forces could resume fighting, "As soon as I say the word."

Well, meantime, we are learning that half of the 20 living hostages released by Hamas are receiving care at a medical center in Tel Aviv. An Israeli doctor says they are in stable condition.

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt remains closed to the delivery of humanitarian aid as the dispute over deceased hostages is ongoing. An Israeli official says, with Rafah closed, only 300 aid trucks have entered the enclave, and not the 600 trucks agreed to in the ceasefire deal.

That same official says aid trucks have entered Gaza through other crossings. Though satellite images on Wednesday show aid trucks lined up waiting near the Egypt Gaza border.

Inside Gaza, Palestinians are slowly trying to adjust after more than two years of war, but many are describing the ongoing struggles they face despite the cease fire.

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(through translator): We went back to our homes in the al-Tuffah neighborhoods and found there were no homes at all. There is no shelter, nothing. We wake up in the morning and look for a sip of water to drink. If we want to eat, there's no money, no work to do. This isn't a life.

And today, again, they talk about withdrawals, but they haven't withdrawn. It's all lies. When we go out, they shoot at us. We just want to get some supplies for the winter. The cold is coming.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Hamas militants in Gaza have been looking to reassert their dominance since the cease fire took effect nearly a week ago.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports on the graphic scenes of violence that have emerged. And a warning, some of the images you're about to see are disturbing.

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JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In the middle of a public square in Gaza City, eight bound and blindfolded men are dragged out and forced to kneel. One by one, armed Hamas militants take up their positions behind them, aiming rifles at their heads before opening fire all eight men fall to the ground executed. This is part of the grim reality of post-ceasefire Gaza, as Hamas forces say they are carrying out a comprehensive security operation to root out those they accuse of collaborating with Israel.

With these bodies, Hamas also reestablishing the element of fear it has used to rule Gaza for years as it looks to reassert its dominance over a decimated Gaza Strip.

[02:05:10]

Amid its ceasefire with Israel. Hamas is now putting on a show of force in Gaza streets, attacking other armed groups from gangs backed by Israel to powerful clans that have a history of clashing with Hamas.

The Doghmush clan, which denies collaborating with Israel, has accused Hamas of killing nearly 30 members of its family in the last week. U.S. Central Command, which is monitoring the ceasefire, urging Hamas to immediately suspend violence and shooting at innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's going to hold up.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Up the violence, is a reminder of unresolved issues at the heart of President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, Hamas' handover of power, the establishment of an International Security Force and Hamas' disarmament, all still being negotiated.

TRUMP: Well, they're going to disarm because they said they were going to disarm. And if they don't disarm, we will disarm them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How will you do that?

TRUMP: I don't have to explain that to you, but if they don't disarm, we will disarm them.

DIAMOND (voice-over): The ceasefire deal already proving fragile. Hamas has only returned the remains of nine of 28 deceased hostages so far. Some are pending DNA testing and Israel says one body Hamas handed over was not that of a hostage. Hamas says Gaza's destruction is complicating matters.

Israel has continued killing Palestinians, at least 15 since the ceasefire went into effect according to the U.N.'s human rights office. The Israeli military says it has fired on Palestinians who approached Israeli lines in Gaza. In the ruins of Gaza, an uncertain future and a long road ahead.

Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Tel Aviv.

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CHURCH: Joining me now from Tel Aviv is Shlomi Eldar, an Israeli journalist and filmmaker who has written several books on Gaza and Hamas. Appreciate you being with us.

SHLOMI ELDAR, ISRAELI JOURNALIST AND FILMMAKER: Thank you.

CHURCH: So, as we just saw in Jeremy Diamond's report, Hamas militants are executing Palestinian men to reassert their dominance in Gaza after the ceasefire took effect nearly a week ago. Hamas claiming these rival factions have been collaborating with Israel.

Given this violence, how likely is it that Hamas will ever disarm and hand over power as required in the next phase of Donald Trump's peace plan?

ELDAR: Yes, this is another show that Hamas is a cruel organization and a movement. Don't let us forget that Hamas took control in Gaza Strip in 2007 after a military coup, and executed the P.A. soldier who've been -- who've been in Gaza Strip by the P.A.

This is Hamas and we see -- we are seeing it again. This is Hamas that's executing Palestinian and just want to show them that there are still control in Gaza Strip.

But don't be confused, I suggest to all of us, because Hamas during this -- the war, the two years war, is fitted -- defeated at 224 battalions of Hamas movement has executed.

So, I think that what they want to show now that still on the ground, but it's for a short time. They just want to show the Palestinian in Gaza Strip that they were not defeated by the Israelis.

But until the until the agreement, due to the agreement, they have to fulfill the agreement to demilitarize Gaza and not control Gaza anymore.

CHURCH: So, President Trump is threatening to disarm Hamas if they don't do it themselves and do that soon. How do you think he plans to do that, and would it also mean Israel resuming its war in Gaza?

ELDAR: Yes, I think President Trump is -- hints, so he will give the Israeli IDF a green light to start again the war until demilitarized Gaza from Hamas movement.

But I think still, Hamas understand the position of the organization today in Gaza Strip. They understand what the future plans for us if they are not fulfill the agreement.

So, what I see now that Hamas is not threatening anymore Israel for several years, but we have to take a look and open our eyes not to give them to rebuild this organization, because Hamas, they have one word that take them for granted. It means, in Arabic, word sabr, we have patient.

[02:10:05]

This is the Hamas ideological to stay in power, but they can take this for granted and stay for time in patient.

So, I think our mission, the Israeli mission today, the IDF and the Israel political echelon to keep the eyes on -- our eyes in Gaza Strip, and to be prepared to enter Gaza, to invade Gaza, if Hamas still rebuild it this power -- his power -- it power.

CHURCH: Right. And of course, the other sticking point in this fragile cease fire is the failure on the part of Hamas to return the remains of all the deceased hostages. Only nine of the 28 bodies have been returned so far, and in response, Israel is now delaying humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.

But Hamas says the destruction of Gaza is complicating efforts to return all the deceased hostages. So, how will this likely be resolved?

ELDAR: I think even in the Israeli side, in the Israeli army, we understand that there are difficulties to find all the bodies in Gaza, between the rules in the West -- in the -- in the north and in the south of Gaza. But still, I have to see if Hamas still wanted to return back the bodies.

I think also that time, I've heard many sources in Gaza Strip and even in Israel, that Hamas prefer to ever last the process, to take the time to show the Palestinians again that they are ruling in the ground and they not took all the efforts to find the bodies.

But still, I think that the Hamas leaders in Doha and in Gaza Strip understand the consequences if they were not returns the Israelis body who were kidnapped in October 7th.

CHURCH: Shlomi Eldar, thank you so much joining us from Tel Aviv. Appreciate it.

ELDAR: Thank you.

CHURCH: Donald Trump says the Ukrainian president will make a case to, "Go offensive against Russia" when the leaders meet at the White House on Friday. The U.S. president is likely referring to Ukraine's request for American made Tomahawk missiles capable of striking Moscow, but he has yet to commit to supplying such powerful weapons.

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TRUMP: President Zelenskyy is coming in. I'm not a fan of the war. I'm not a fan of the way it started. It should have never happened. If I can save a lot of lives, that's why I'm in it. I want to save lives.

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CHURCH: President Trump acknowledged over the weekend that providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would be a new step of aggression in the conflict.

Well, meanwhile, NATO defense ministers have been discussing strategies for countering Russia. CNN's Fred Pleitgen has details.

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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Both NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have praised NATO member states for increasing their defense spending and pledging to do that. They say that this is important in two major ways. On the one hand, it obviously increases NATO member states capabilities and then allows them to contribute more to common defense.

But Pete Hegseth says it's also important in terms of helping Ukraine and trying to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. One of the things that he's talking about is an initiative called PURL, which essentially has European and other NATO member states buying U.S. weapons and then giving those weapons to Ukraine.

Now, Pete Hegseth said that that spending also counts against defense spending of NATO member states, and he's calling for more of it. Here's what he had to say.

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF WAR: All countries need to translate goals into guns, commitments into capabilities and pledges into power. That's all that matters, hard power. It's the only thing belligerents actually respect. Your continued investment in leadership are vital to helping Ukraine defend itself, and to bring an end to this conflict. Peace through strength.

PLEITGEN: Now, the NATO secretary general also said that while initially NATO member states had signed on to the PURL program, as of the summit on Wednesday, it was half of NATO member states who had made commitments.

Now, another topic that was not officially on the agenda but still loomed large, was Ukraine possibly receiving U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles from the Trump administration. There is, of course, set to be a meeting between President Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House on Friday, where that could be a topic, and asked about this, the NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, said that he couldn't really comment directly because this was a bilateral issue between the United States and Ukraine.

[02:15:15]

Also, the NATO member states, of course, right now dealing with flaring tensions between NATO and Russia after several incursions by Russian aircraft and drones on to NATO territory.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Berlin.

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CHURCH: Sweden's defense minister says his country will defend its territory from potential drone incursions. He also pledged support for NATO's so called PURL program, which uses NATO funds to buy new U.S. made weapons for Ukraine.

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PAL JONSON, SWEDISH DEFENSE MINISTER: I feel much more alignment between the U.S. position on a number of ways. One, of course, I think we do a similar reading that Putin doesn't really seem interested in negotiating, and he certainly will not negotiate unless it's put under more pressure.

And the road to peace in Ukraine that goes by having more sanctions on the Russian economy, and it goes by delivering more weapons with Ukrainians. Therefore, we welcome now the PURL initiative, where we can buy this American hardware that we don't really produce in Europe, and we can put it in the hands of the Ukrainians.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: President Trump is stepping up the pressure on Venezuela. His latest plans to fight drug cartels, the flow of migrants and the Maduro government, that's just ahead.

Plus, details on an agreement that could end weeks of antigovernment protests in Ecuador. Back with that and more in just a moment.

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[02:21:02]

CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Nicolas Maduro says he wants peace with the U.S., not war. The Venezuelan President is pushing back on claims that his government has ties to criminal groups, but that's not stopping U.S. President Donald Trump from announcing new measures to fight the flow of drugs and migrants from Venezuela.

CNN's Senior White House Correspondent Kristen Holmes, reports.

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KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump on Wednesday, acknowledging that he had authorized the CIA to operate on the ground in Venezuela for what he said was clamping down on illegal flows of drugs and migrants.

This is an escalation when it comes to Venezuela and this fight against alleged drug dealers. One of the things President Trump also said was that, in addition to these strikes, which we have seen a number of off the coast of Venezuela, President Trump had authorized that some time ago, that they might take these strikes from sea to land.

TRUMP: A lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the Venezuelan drugs come in through the sea, so you get to see that, but we're going to stop them by land also.

HOLMES: Now, Trump had updated and expanded the CIA's authorities at the same time that he had signed a secret directive that allowed for these lethal strikes on these boats against these alleged narco terrorists.

One of the things that we have heard repeatedly from the Trump administration when talking about these strikes is they know that these are domestic terrorist organizations, or organizations they have deemed as terrorist organizations.

But we're still unclear of who is actually involved in these strikes, other than these allegations that they were drug dealers on these various votes. We still have almost no details about the strikes themselves, other than the fact that they happened.

And of course, this has for many members of Congress, made them slightly uneasy. We know that President Trump had transmitted a notice to Congress saying that the U.S. was in an armed conflict with drug cartels that they designated as these domestic terrorist organizations, which gave him more leeway.

But of course, there are still members of Congress, mainly Democrats, but also some Republicans who have expressed hesitancy about this plan.

Now, one of the things to note here is President Trump has continued to avoid this idea of regime change, not really talk about it, but today, he almost got there, saying that he believes that the leaders of Venezuela Maduro feel the heat that they can feel the ramped-up pressure.

So, where this goes from here, that is the big question. But of course, it's going to be a huge escalation if the U.S. begins targeting these alleged drug dealers on Venezuelan's soil.

Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.

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CHURCH: Some indigenous organizations in Ecuador have agreed to end the blockades and protests against the government's plan to remove diesel price subsidies. The protests started about three weeks ago. The agreement came on Wednesday, after a meeting between the indigenous groups and the government.

Officials agreed to seek alternative proposals to avoid eliminating the diesel subsidies. Both sides will also discuss the release of detained protesters and an investigation into the deaths of two residents during the demonstrations.

Protesters in Peru are demanding changes to their government. Scores of demonstrators faced off with police in the capital city Lima on Wednesday. Gen Z protesters say they're tired of rampant crime, theft and a government that doesn't represent them.

Demonstrators set off fireworks as police chased them down city streets. Peru's president was ousted last week with an approval rating between two and four percent. Protesters say they don't expect her replacement to make any difference.

Still to come, a temporary cease fire is in place after cross border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Details of the sudden escalation next.

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CHURCH: Well, now back to our top story this hour, Israel will hold a National Day of Remembrance and memorial services for the victims killed in the October 7th Hamas attacks in the coming hours.

The IDF says Israel has identified the remains of two more hostages returned by Hamas. The militant group says it has handed over all hostage bodies it can access and it needs special equipment to access the remaining bodies. But Israel has told the U.N. that the number of aid trucks allowed in Gaza will be reduced due to Hamas' slow release of hostage remains. And humanitarian groups say aid trucks are waiting at the Rafah crossing.

Meantime, the U.N. Human Rights Office says the Israeli military continues to kill civilians around the areas it has redeployed in Gaza since the ceasefire, with at least 15 Palestinians shot and killed since October 10th.

A 48-hour ceasefire is in effect between Pakistan and Afghanistan following days of clashes along their border. Pakistan says both sides will try to solve the issues through constructive dialog during this time. The clashes began last week when the Taliban said Pakistan conducted strikes in Kabul and a border province. Pakistan has not acknowledged that claim, but it's accusing the Taliban of hosting Islamic militants blamed for a spike in violence in Pakistan. Experts warn these latest attacks could signal a new era of instability for the neighbors.

Well back here in the United States, the Trump administration will continue to pay FBI agents as the shutdown continues. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the news on Wednesday. It comes after the president directed the Pentagon to find funds to pay active-duty military and reserve members currently performing active service, as well as fund other government programs. The White House has said it will have to make more cuts to government jobs in order to keep some programs operating and pay federal workers.

But a federal judge has halted efforts to lay off thousands more employees saying it is unlawful. CNN's Julia Benbrook breaks down what's keeping lawmakers from making a deal to end the escalating shutdown.

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JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are now weeks into this government shutdown and not much has changed. It does not seem that any substantial negotiations are taking place and during each failed vote, the arguments remain the same. Republicans continue to push for essentially an extension of current funding levels on a short-term basis, claiming there is nothing to negotiate.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON (R-LA), HOUSE SPEAKER: We're barreling toward one of the longest shutdowns in American history unless Democrats drop their partisan demands and passed a clean no-strings-attached budget to reopen the government and pay our federal workers. BENBROOK (voice-over): Democrats are focusing in on healthcare, calling for Pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year to be extended.

REP. HAKEEM JEFFRIES (D-NY), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Our view has always been that we have to address the Republican healthcare crisis and the need to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits with the fierce urgency of now because, at this moment in time, notices are going out to people all across the country.

BENBROOK (voice-over): Now, the date October 15th has long been an area of focus for negotiations. That's when active-duty military could have missed a paycheck. But over the weekend, President Donald Trump announced that his administration had identified funds to make sure troops are paid.

BENBROOK: The impact of this government shutdown continues though, with more than a million federal workers furloughed or working without pay.

And in a break from precedent, the Trump administration has moved forward with thousands of layoffs during this lapse in funding, which could be seen as a tactic to get Democrats to agree to the Republican plan without concessions.

At the White House, I'm Julia Benbrook.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Just ahead, U.S. investigators released their final report on what caused the deadly Titan submersible disaster in the North Atlantic. We'll have that in just a moment.

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[02:38:49]

CHURCH: U.S. transportation investigators are blaming faulty engineering for the deadly Titan submersible implosion back in 2023. It was crushed by underwater pressure on a voyage to the Titanic wreckage site, killing all five people on board. The final report says the vessel was not designed strong enough for such a deep dive, and that the Titan's owner OceanGate did not test it properly. The company later suspended its operations and went out of business. The investigators have recommended setting up a panel to study submersibles.

Would you ever feel that morning cup of coffee extends your life or at least your energy? You may be onto something. Meet 100-year-old Anna Possi. She's believed to be Italy's longest serving barista. Every morning, you can find her behind the counter at Bar Centrale in Italy's Piedmont region, about an hour from Turin. She began her career working for her restaurant owner uncles shortly after World War II ended. As Possi gets ready to celebrate birthday 101 next month, she reflects on her life.

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ANNA POSSI, ITALY'S LONGEST-SERVING BARISTA (through translator): I have customers who are now grandparents and come in with their grandchildren saying, "Anna, do you remember when there was a dance floor outside, when there was a jukebox and pinball machines?" Those were different times. Now, there are only memories.

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CHURCH: Anna says her clientele has dwindled from regulars to passersby who are attracted by the publicity she has received. Well done, 101 nearly. Wow.

Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. "World Sport" is coming up next. Then, I'll be back at the top of the hour with more "CNN Newsroom." Do stay with us.

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