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Israel Receives Alleged Remains Of 3 Hostages; Week 5 Of U.S. Government Shutdown; Latest On Recovery Efforts In Jamaica; Trump Returns to Washington Ahead of Big Week; Som Latino Trump Voters Say They're Not Happy With Him. Aired 1-1:45a ET

Aired November 03, 2025 - 01:00   ET

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

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Polo Sandoval, live in New York. And here's what's ahead here on CNN Newsroom. The Israeli government receiving what Hamas says are the bodies of three deceased hostages from Gaza. And this is Prime Minister Netanyahu threatens to keep up attacks on the militant group. And live pictures over Washington, D.C., as we enter week five of the U.S. government shutdown, with food benefits already lapsing for millions, and air travel set to worsen if Congress doesn't manage to reach a deal. And more devastation revealed with each passing hour after Jamaica took a direct hit from a Category 5 hurricane.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta, this is CNN Newsroom with Polo Sandoval.

SANDOVAL: We want to begin in Israel, as it confirms that the remains of three individuals that were handed over by Hamas are those of three deceased hostages. U.S. President Donald Trump says that one of the bodies is that of an Israeli American dual national, Omer Neutra. Mr. Trump says that he's already spoken with his parents. The latest exchange coming amid tense clashes across the enclave that are currently threatening the U S Brokered truce. At least 226 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 600 injured since the first phase of the ceasefire started last month.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER (voiceover): There are still Hamas pockets in areas under our control in Gaza, and we are systematically eliminating them. There are actually two, one in Rafah and one in Khan Younis, and they will be eliminated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Let's get the Latest now from CNN's Jeremy Diamond, who's in Tel Aviv.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: This would mean that the number of deceased hostages still in Gaza would be down to eight. That is down from 28, of course, at the beginning of this ceasefire agreement. Earlier this weekend, we did see Hamas return the remains of three other individuals who turned out not to be hostages. Hamas had previously told Israel that it was unsure if these remains actually belonged to any hostages, and indeed, DNA analysis confirms that they were not.

We also heard from the Israeli prime minister on Sunday who said that Israel is committed to ensuring the return of all of the deceased hostages. Speaking at his weekly cabinet meeting, the Israeli prime minister accused Hamas of, quote, "pathetic attempts to deceive us, the United States, and the world. But he vowed that those attempts would fail."

But the fact that Hamas is continuing to return additional remains of deceased hostages is a good sign for this ceasefire, which has been shaky at times over the course of the last three weeks, including as Israel grew increasingly frustrated over the slow pace of the return of those bodies, in addition to several soldiers being killed. And then Israel chose to carry out airstrikes in Gaza on two major separate occasions. But we have seen sporadic attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza since then, as Israel has accused Palestinians, sometimes individuals who they claim are terrorists, of crossing that yellow demarcation line inside of Gaza.

We saw one such incident over the weekend, for example. Since the beginning of this truce, Israel has killed 226 Palestinians inside of Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Tel Aviv.

SANDOVAL: Among the major obstacles to President Trump's 20-point peace plan, it's a concrete timeline for Israel to withdraw from Gaza. As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israeli forces pulled back to Gaza's yellow line, which is a physical demarcation border that's separating both territories.

The IDF has since vowed to fire at anyone attempting to cross that line. And now Palestinians say that they aren't able to retrieve basic necessities from their nearby homes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOUSA AL-MADHOUN, JABALAYA CAMP RESORT (voiceover): The yellow line, or the so called yellow line is being put and saying that people are prohibited to approach. Why are they being prohibited? There are homes over there. Homes are beyond the yellow line, which they cannot reach to get their winter clothes at homes, and they cannot pick them up. Why? Because of the yellow line.

[01:05:05]

Today, we are making a camp consisting of a yellow line and a green line. The green line is lively. The yellow line is being made so that no one can access. Definitely not. The yellow line and the green line are the same. All is yellow. Gunfire reaches here. Tanks are advancing. There is no life.

(END VIDEOTAPE) SANDOVAL: Large crowds, they gathered in southern Lebanon to attend

the funeral of five people killed in recent Israeli airstrikes. Israeli military officials say that the attacks killed four members of Hezbollah. On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that the militant group was seeking to rearm despite clear restrictions outlined in the 2024 ceasefire accord. He added that Israel would, quote, "act as necessary, exercising its right to self-defense should Lebanon fail to fully disarm Hezbollah."

Well, despite a new trade truce between the U.S. and China, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant is now calling Beijing an unreliable trade partner. Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, you'll recall they met just last Thursday. And President Trump agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods by 10 percent. But Bessant says although the U.S. doesn't want to decouple from China, it does want to de-risk. So what does all that mean?

Let's go now live to Beijing and CNN's Stephen Jiang with more. Stephen, just offer a little bit more context on these latest statement and what this means to what at least I thought was an economic relationship on the mend.

STEPHEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Polo, I think at the very least we may have to brace for another round of war of words before the ink is even dry on this latest trade agreement.

Now, what Mr. Bessent said is perhaps not surprising to anyone who has been paying attention because the almost universal agreement or assessment on this latest trade agreement is that it is a temporary truce. It does not address any of the fundamental structural issues between the two economies that kind of trigger this trade war to begin with. Now from Washington's perspective, that means China's industrial overcapacity, its excessive state subsidies and other unfair practices. But China, on the other hand, of course, has long accused the U.S. of using national security as a pretext to set up its own unfair trade barriers.

So this truce, what it does, according to most experts, is buying each side some time a year if everything goes according to plan to address their own vulnerabilities. For the U.S. as Mr. Bessent alluded to, it is about reducing the U.S. heavy reliance, just like the rest of the world on Chinese supply of rare earths. But that is going to be a years-long effort despite the US actively signing new agreements with like-minded partners like Australia and Japan because of the Chinese new monopoly on not just processing capability of these critical minerals and magnets, but also its stranglehold on personnel and technology in this sector.

For the Chinese, of course, they're trying to reduce their reliance on U.S. AI chips and other key technologies as the Communist Party leadership very clearly spelled out in their latest five-year plan as they race to achieve their so-called techno industrial self-reliance.

So all of this is really interesting because just days before the high stakes meeting between Xi and Trump, the U.S. trade Representative office actually launched a formal investor investigation into China's compliance with its prior, its previous trade agreement with the U.S. due in Trump's first term in office. Now, with China seeing itself a lot more powerful economically and holding that rare earth Trump card and very much willing to use it's little wonder that American officials like Mr. Besson are having a lot of doubts when it comes to how Beijing will really honor its commitments and obligations this time.

So Polo, de-escalation is good, but still a lot of volatility and uncertainty on the horizon again. Polo.

SANDOVAL: A live report from CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief, Stephen Jiang. Thank you, Stephen.

Donald Trump, he is doubling down on his threat of possible military action in Nigeria. In a true social post, he said, "Christianity is facing an existential threat in the West African nation." And he suggested that deploying U.S. Troops could be a possibility to stop what he calls a mass slaughter of Christians.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: They're killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria, and they have other countries very bad also. You know that part of the world very bad. They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. Not going to allow that to happen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: That's a president aboard Air Force One. Now the Nigerian government and President Donald Trump's own adviser on Africa are saying that, saying what's happening there. It really is much more complex. Nigerian officials, they are hoping to meet with President Trump to sort things out as CNN's Larry Madowo reports.

[01:10:12]

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The deaths of Christians in Nigeria, especially in the country's north, has been an issue for some Christians in Nigeria for a while. It's made its way back to the American right-wing circles, to the MAGA faithful, and now to President Trump. And there are some in the country in Nigeria who still believes this is a problem.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIET SUR, NIGERIAN BUSINESSWOMAN: So for me, it's very important they come in because this has been happening for a couple of years now. Nothing has been done. So I feel if Donald Trump said they don't want to come in, they should come in, and there's nothing wrong with that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MADOWO: Nigeria maintains there is no religious persecution happening in the country. What it has a problem with is terrorism from Boko Haram, from Islamic State in West African province, and from religious extremists. Islamist militants who target people, Christians and Muslims alike. And that's something that President Bola Tinubu's government has struggled to contain, even though he ran on the subject of trying to deal with that issue of terrorism.

There's also angle of the struggle for resources between farmers who tend to be largely Christian, and Harder's, who tend to be largely Muslim. It's an issue that President Trump's own adviser on Africa, a Lebanese American businessman who made his fortune in Nigeria, addressed recently.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MASSAD BOULOS, U.S. SENIOR ADVISER FOR ARAB AND AFRICAN AFFAIRS: People of all religions and all tribes are dying as a result of terrorist acts. But it's very unfortunate. We even know that Boko Haram and ISIS are killing more Muslims than Christians. So people are suffering from all sorts of backgrounds. This is not specifically targeted about one group or the other. However, any loss of life is too many. One is too many.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MADOWO: Nigerian officials tell me that President Trump is relying on incomplete data from events that happened more than 10 years ago. They also say they have not officially been communicated to from the using diplomatic channels. All they have seen are the posts from Truth Social and the response from the Secretary of Defense, PTAC said, saying he was getting the troops ready. And they hope that they can get a meeting with President Trump to try and iron out some of those issues.

They're also anticipating that it might be an antagonistic meeting in the same way President Cyril Ramaphosa faced when he came to the White House after those claims of white genocide in South Africa. But they said they're ready. Larry Madowo, CNN, London.

SANDOVAL: Let's get you an update on the story that we first brought you yesterday. A 32-year-old British man is in custody after a mass stabbing attack on a passenger train in England. As of Sunday evening, one of the 11 victims was still fighting for his life in the hospital. Police say that he is a railway worker who saved other people's lives by trying to stop the attacker.

The train was traveling to London when the stabbings took place this weekend. Initially, a second man was detained, but he was released without any charges. Police are still, though, trying to determine a motive. They do say that there is nothing to suggest that this was a terrorist incident.

Still to come here on CNN Newsroom, the death toll is rising across the Caribbean from a powerful hurricane. You remember Hurricane Melissa just few days ago. I'll speak with a representative from UNICEF which is helping with recovery efforts on the ground.

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SANDOVAL: At least 12 people are dead and many more injured after a powerful earthquake in northern Afghanistan. The 6.3 magnitude quake, it struck near Mazar-I-Sharif, which is one of the most populated cities in that part of the country.

Video showing damage to the Blue Mosque, which is a local landmark. Afghanistan, it has often been hit by powerful earthquakes. In fact, in August, more than 2,000 people died after a quake struck the eastern part of that country.

And the death toll from Hurricane Melissa has risen to at least 59 people across the Caribbean. And that's according to The Associated Press, 28 of those deaths, they are in Jamaica, where Melissa was the most powerful storm to hit that island. Well, now, new images showing the extent of the damage, with buildings caved in, whole blocks of houses virtually wiped away.

U.S. forecaster AccuWeather estimating that Melissa likely caused up to $52 billion in damage across the Caribbean. And the death toll that is expected to continue to rise.

Olga Isaza is a representative of UNICEF Jamaica. She joins us now from Kingston. Olga, thank you so much for taking the time for us.

OLGA ISAZA, UNICEF JAMAICA REPRESENTATIVE: Thank you so much for having us.

SANDOVAL: Let's begin with perhaps the most vulnerable and those impacted by the storm. The youngest people of Jamaica, the children. What is your biggest concern when it comes to them in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa?

ISAZA: Yes, please let me start by expressing once more my compassion and my solidarity with people suffering here, specifically with children. As you are saying, they are the most vulnerable in an emergency situation. So we are very much concerned. Our figures indicated that at least 280,000 children are severely affected around the country. And we are trying to do our best to support them and their families.

SANDOVAL: It's obviously an incredibly long road to recovery for so many people there in Jamaica, especially, it's my understanding along the northern coast. Can you give us a sense of just how much more aid will be -- will need to flood the zone in order to see any sort of noticeable improvement on the ground?

[01:20:00]

ISAZA: What we are seeing now is the need of stabilization of the situation. We are still in the peak of the emergency. I mean, there are so many people that are not rich yet. And we are trying to do our best to accompany the government to access those communities. Many of those are just accessible by air. So the roads are absolutely blocked in many places. And for example, the water trucking is not possible at this point. So

there are many people suffering because lack of water, lack of food, lack of shelter and protection. So the needs are there.

SANDOVAL: Once contact has been established, once sort of a connection and roads have been reestablished to some of these areas that have been devastated. Olga, what are some of those things that are absolutely just imperative to get into the hands of the people who badly need it? Is it food, is it clothing, is it perhaps more temporary shelter?

ISAZA: Absolutely. We are establishing two hubs, one in the north and one in the south that are the two more affected areas and delivering all of our supplies and the supplies that we already have. But much more is needed. We are bringing to the country water, sanitation, hygiene, nutrition, health, communication equipment, all that is needed immediately for people. Our bigger concern are water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition for children. Those are imperative needs that we need to supply now. And we are trying our best. But we really need the support of others to be able to fulfill our missions and to help the government to reach those communities and those children.

SANDOVAL: Are the priorities right now for UNICEF, does it really include mainly Jamaica, or does it also perhaps include some of the rest of the region? We know that Haiti was also hit quite hard. The communities in Cuba as well.

ISAZA: Exactly. The impact was beyond Jamaica. Without any doubt. The level of damage here is impressive, but certainly, there are many children also suffering in Cuba and in Haiti. So, the support for the complete Caribbean region is needed.

As you know, we are small island development states, and the fragility of these places is incredible. So we really need the support, solidarity, and their support from many different individuals, donors, companies that are able to support our mission. We are a trust-funding organization. We have international experience managing emergency and most importantly, we have local partners that can help us to really reach each community and each children. And we are trying to do that.

SANDOVAL: We see it time and time again when these disasters strike, you see the people around the world wanting to help. So how can people help support humanitarian causes such as UNICEF's?

ISAZA: So please enter UNICEF page and click Donate and make your contribution there. Every single dollar that you put in our hands will be directly to the children. So please help us. It's imperative. We really need, and it will take years to recover the previous situation here in the country. And we know that children are the current and future generation. So help us to rebuild Jamaica by starting by children.

SANDOVAL: Olga Isaza, I thank you so much for joining us and giving us an update on the situation on the ground and where that greatest need is. We wish you and the rest of the humanitarian workers the best. Thank you.

ISAZA: Thank you so much.

SANDOVAL: Well, could this week be the week to see an end to the government shutdown after it became the longest in history? Washington. It is bracing for a very busy week. Caught up on the headlines when we return.

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[01:29:04]

SANDOVAL: Welcome back. You're watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Polo Sandoval. And U.S. Senators, they are heading back to Capitol Hill in the coming hours. And this as the government shutdown enters day 34, and still no end in sight. President Donald Trump is back in Washington after spending his weekend in Florida. He's preparing for a big week ahead and that includes elections on Tuesday.

Here's CNN's Kevin Liptak.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: We are now butting up against the longest government shutdown in history, and it appears all but certain that that record will be broken this week.

Democrats and Republicans showing no signs that they're nearing an end to the stalemate. And in fact, President Trump and the White House on Sunday reiterating calls for Senate Republicans to do away with the filibuster.

That's that 60-vote threshold that would be needed to break the deadlock here. The president essentially calling on Republicans to do away with Senate precedent to reopen the government without Democrats support.

Now, this could prove to be a decisive week. We have one, the off-year elections on Tuesday, with which the government shutdown could prove to be an outsized factor in a place like Virginia, with a high number of military families and federal workers.

You also have open enrollment opening this week for health insurance. And Americans beginning to see spikes in their health care premiums for next year.

Remember, this is the core of Democrats' arguments. They're asking for an extension of health insurance subsidies.

And you're starting to see the effects of the shutdown really beginning to take hold, including in air travel. There have been delays at airports across the country amid staffing shortages with air traffic controllers.

The U.S. Transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, said on Sunday that as air traffic controllers continue not getting paid, it's only quote, "going to get worse".

And then there's the question of those food assistance programs like SNAP. You have the House Democratic Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, saying that Trump and Republicans were attempting to, quote, "weaponize hunger".

You also heard the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, say that those benefits could restart as soon as this week, but that the administration continues to look for direction from the courts.

Now for his part, President Trump spent the weekend in Florida at his Palm Beach estate. On Halloween, he attended a Great Gatsby-themed costume party, and on Sunday, before departing back here to Washington, he inspected his private Boeing 757 that he used to campaign around the country.

He is now back in Washington as Democrats call on the president to really begin to engage in these negotiations.

Kevin Liptak, CNN -- the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: Well voters, they will soon be heading to the polls on Tuesday in several high stakes elections across the country, as you just heard. And that includes the race for mayor here in New York City.

Democrat Zohran Mamdani, he's currently leading the polls. He's running against former governor, Andrew Cuomo, who's now an Independent candidate; and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

As for California, they will be voting on redistricting measures. One in specific that's known as Proposition 50. And that could have big implications for next year's midterm elections.

Latino voters who backed Donald Trump in 2024, some of them now telling CNN that they are not happy with him. Reasons including the president's massive immigration crackdown, as well as some economic concerns.

Here's CNN's Maria Santana.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA SANTANA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Normally at this time, Ricardo Francisco's Dominican restaurant is full, serving clients (INAUDIBLE), pernil and the traditional tres golpes, mashed plantains with fried eggs, cheese and salami.

This is my favorite dish. The platanos.

But he says business has dropped about 35 percent in the past year.

Do you think that Trump's immigration policies and the way he's cracking down on immigrants, that that has something to do with it? RICARDO FRANCISCO, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER (through translator): Of

course, that's had a lot to do with it.

There are fewer people out on the streets. Now, they prefer delivery instead.

SANTANA: When we first met Francisco last year just after the election, he said he backed Donald Trump, trusting his economic Plans while brushing off his talk of mass deportations.

FRANCISCO: No. I don't Agree with mass deportations because almost all of us here are immigrants. I think Trump should reconsider that. And I think he will.

SANTANA: It hasn't even been a year since Trump has been in office, and you don't like what he's doing with immigration?

FRANCISCO: No. Because many families have been separated. I think the government should refocus and pay more attention to the economy.

SANTANA: That frustration seems to be growing across Allentown. Large crowds recently gathered throughout the region as part of nationwide "no kings" protests.

A once-industrial hub in northeastern Pennsylvania, the city is now home to a majority Latino population that swung sharply toward Trump in 2024.

JOHNNY HERRERA, BARBER (through translator): The majority of us regret it very, very much.

SANTANA: Johnny Herrera, a barber at a local shop, says that many here feel deceived by Trump.

HERRERA: Right now, I don't support him.

He said he would go after the undocumented immigrants doing wrong and help those who are working and doing the right thing. But that's not what's happening.

SANTANA: Back at the restaurant, Francisco worries that if things don't change soon, he may have to close.

FRANCISCO: I don't have the resources to keep this place running long term.

[01:34:50]

SANTANA: But he's still not ready to completely give up on Trump.

FRANCISCO: He has time to recover, to regroup and to govern well. I think so.

SANTANA: He hopes he's right this time. And if he is, he says "next time lunch is on me".

I'm going to come back.

Maria Santana, CNN -- Allentown, Pennsylvania.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANDOVAL: And we'll be right back with more.

[01:35:18]

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SANDOVAL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM.

We do want to leave you with some music and dancing and the Day of the Dead in a cemetery in El Alto, Bolivia. Beautiful weather there.

Mourners gathered around graves on Sunday, blending Catholic and indigenous rituals. It is a day to celebrate. It's not just life, but also maintaining those bonds with the departed.

It certainly is a tradition that has been expanding beyond Latin America, celebrated certainly here in the United States. It's a unique combination of folklore and traditions.

I can tell you that we certainly celebrate that in our family.

We leave you with these pictures now, as we do want to thank you for joining us in the last 40 minutes of news.

I'm Polo Sandoval in New York.

"WORLDSPORT" is next.

And then my colleague Ben Hunte picks things up from Atlanta.

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