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U.S. Official Says Donald Trump Is "Focused On Making Iran Pay"; Veteran Accused Of Throwing Incendiary Device At Federal Building; Andy Burnham To Host First Cabinet Meeting As New Prime Minister; Yemen's Houthis Declare Maritime Blockade on Saudi Shipping; Police Clash With Protesters in Northern Italy Following Death of Man After Attempted Arrest; Sinaloa Leader El Mayo Gets Life in Prison in U.S.; Tate Brothers Appear in Court After U.K. Extradition Request; Hamas Names New Official Leader, First Since 2024; Trump Says Netanyahu Will Not Be Arrested During U.S. Visit; UNESCO Weighs World Heritage Bid for Ancient West Bank Ruins; Spain Players Return Home to a Heroes' Welcome From Fans. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired July 21, 2026 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:36]

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

Just ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, President Trump threatens revenge on Iran over the deaths of U.S. service members as the Pentagon finally comes clean on casualty numbers.

And a vibe shift at 10 Downing Street. Andy Burnham takes over as British Prime Minister, promising to tackle political dysfunction.

Plus, an archeological site in the West Bank where Palestinian efforts to preserve it have been interrupted, leaving its future uncertain.

And the World Cup may be over, but amateurs in China are getting in on the football fun with their own Super League.

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

CHURCH: Appreciate you joining us, and we begin in the Middle East, where an effort to de-escalate attacks between the U.S. and Iran are being one-upped by, as one U.S. official puts it, President Trump's focus on "Making Iran pay."

Earlier, U.S. Central Command announced the completion of the 10th consecutive night of strikes. Iran's state media reported explosions in the country's southern region along the Gulf of Oman and near the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, the Pentagon confirmed that nearly 100 U.S. service members have been injured in the past two weeks. The announcement comes after CNN reported that the U.S. military has been slow to disclose injuries to troops in this war.

Mediators between the U.S. and Iran have floated a 10-day ceasefire in an effort to get the two countries back to the negotiating table. The White House would not say if it would accept a pause in the fighting, but acknowledged that diplomatic efforts are ongoing.

So, let's bring in CNN's Leila Gharagoziou live from Abu Dhabi. So, Leila, what is the latest on a 10th night of U.S. strikes on Iran? And of course, this news from the Pentagon that 100 U.S. service members have been injured in the last two weeks and three killed in recent days.

LEILA GHARAGOZIOU, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. So, these strikes last night are the 10th consecutive, as you mentioned, between the U.S. and Iran. And according to U.S. CENTCOM, they struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems in an attempt to degrade Iran's military capability in that southern region, which is really key to Iran's ability to hold the Strait of Hormuz.

This is a slightly more expanded list of targets, which is causing a little bit of concern, given the fear that a lot of people have that this conflict, in its current form, could expand and escalate. So much so that people have asked even Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson what might happen if the U.S. chose to send in ground forces. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ESMAEIL BAGHAEI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSO (through translator): They will face the repercussions. There are numerous people in those very regions who are eagerly awaiting their arrival.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GHARAGOZIOU: Now, sending U.S. ground forces has generally been considered to be a unpopular idea for the U.S. to do because of the distance, but also the general topography and the way in which the Iranians fight on the ground battles and the difficulty of that terrain if it is unfamiliar, but the risk of escalation is quite high. And this question, while it may seem a little bit far-fetched at the moment, is something that really is of concern, given that the U.S. is also sending more fighter jets into the region.

So, this effort to de-escalate is more important than ever at the moment. And as you mentioned, mediators like Qatar and Pakistan have tried to get both sides to the table to begin talking, given that this MOU has essentially fallen apart.

So, we're going to have to see what happens. Both sides have generally said that they're willing to come to the table, but we're not really seeing that yet. And there is this massive hurdle of lack of trust that they both also have to get over, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Leila Gharagoziou joining us there with that live report. Appreciate it. Well, for more analysis, we're joined now by NPR reporter Arezou

Rezvani. Appreciate you joining us.

[02:05:05]

AREZOU REZVANI, NPR REPORTER: Thanks for having me.

CHURCH: Of course. So, nearly 100 U.S. troops have been injured in the last two weeks of this war. That's according to the Pentagon. And three soldiers have been killed in recent days. And it's those that are motivating President Trump to pursue retaliatory strikes on Iran. The U.S. just completing 10 consecutive nights of strikes. What more are you learning about the targets hit and where this war stands right now, particularly when it comes to the Strait of Hormuz?

REZVANI: Well, I think a lot of us who have eyes on this region are very, very nervous that this is just the beginning of a new normal, one in which there are going to be periods of clashes, and after that maybe some simmering down of the conflict, but one in which the tensions remain very combustible.

And that's notable because it's a huge departure from decades of thinking about how to treat the region for many many years, the United States had bases in the region, had pretty large and significant American footprint in the region. The thinking was that it would deter Iran and it would establish hegemonic interests in the region.

But I think from the last several months, we have learned that Iran is quite bold, it is willing to go after that American footprint, and it has inflicted quite some blows on the American bases. And as we know, there have been a number of injuries among American soldiers, and so this is the backdrop against President Trump. Has to think about what he's willing to gain and lose. I mean, there has been a tremendous loss in terms of the status quo before the war started, in terms of the Strait of Hormuz and who controls it, and he has some difficult decisions to make.

CHURCH: And we are learning that mediators have floated the idea of a 10-day ceasefire in an effort to get the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table. How ready do you think the two countries are to do that? And where is the off-ramp here in the midst of these retaliatory strikes on both sides?

REZVANI: Well, the big question really is who has the greater threshold for pain. The United States has to think about whether it can stomach greater oil prices, whether President Trump can tolerate lower approval ratings with the midterm elections just four months away, and the hit to the global economy. And so that is on one side of the equation.

On the other side of the equation is Iran, and you know Iran has become quite used to pressure and isolation. And I think that it has the ability to weather the storm a little bit better than the United States. It doesn't care for the quality of life of its people, as we know, and so I think that in the days and weeks to come, the real question will be who has the greater threshold for pain and where the concessions will be made because of that.

CHURCH: So, how much do you worry that this could end up being a forever war, as some critics fear? And if it does continue to drag on, what are you watching out for in terms of what Iran and the U.S. might do next, as well as what Gulf nations decide to do, and what Israel's next move might be?

REZVANI: Yes, there is a real great concern among former negotiators, diplomats, that this could very well end up as a forever war. Maybe not one that looks like what we did or had in Iraq or Afghanistan, but we just might be very much sucked up into that region in a way that we did not anticipate going into the war.

I think moving forward, there are a few things that I'll be watching for. To what extent Israel will be involved in a more visible way, kind of in like the peak days of the war during the March, April time period.

And I'll also be looking to see if some of these Gulf countries will start quietly negotiating with Iran a little bit more directly. If they can't count on the United States and Iran to sort this out, access safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, will they kind of start to initiate conversations and contact with the Iranian government and try to work out some sort of arrangement where they can get to the status quo as close as they can.

CHURCH: Arezou Rezvani, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

REZVANI: My pleasure.

CHURCH: Well, the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating an incident outside a federal government building in Manhattan on Monday, authorities say a U.S. Army veteran threw an incendiary device at the building, which houses the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Investigators say the man was carrying a sign that read, ICE off our streets, along with other weapons and items in a cart. CNN's Brynn Gingras has more on the suspect now in custody.

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[02:10:10]

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: One federal authority calling Andrew Arrabaca anti-American and anti-government extremist in police custody after they say he staged an attack right here outside of 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, a federal building that houses ICE as well as New York headquarters of the FBI and other government agencies.

Arrabaca, an army veteran, according to the video that authorities say they have of this incident, came to this area in the morning and essentially fired off an air pistol several times at this building, and then proceeded to take a gas can of gasoline poured over the front steps of the employee entrance of the building, and then lighted on fires, quickly apprehended by authorities, and has said some things to investigators throughout the investigation. And while he's been questioned, including bringing up some anti-ICE sentiments, authorities also say he had an anti-ICE sign on a cart that he was carrying, that was filled with a number of weapons, including a hammer and knives and machete.

So, lots to be collected for this investigation. Authorities also saying that they found his car and that they are going to have a search warrant to go through it. At this point, Arrabaca has not been charged, but of course, this investigation is still very much active as the night goes on.

Brynn Gingras, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Wildfires are still burning across Canada, but air quality has improved in southern Ontario as well as the U.S. Northeast and Mid- Atlantic. But parts of the Midwest are still dealing with poor air quality levels, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rated it as unhealthy or unhealthy for sensitive groups. Here's more from a fire chief in Canada.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FIRE CHIEF MARK SHRUIFF, NEEBING EMERGENCY SERVICES: Northwestern Ontario, we're not strangers to forest fires. We deal with them every year. However, with the scale that we're dealing with this fire season, especially with a relatively slow start, is unprecedented, and I think any of you talk to anyone in the Northwest, and they'll say they've never seen anything like it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The wildfires have increased tensions between Canada and the U.S. and President Donald Trump is suggesting that America's northern neighbor should pay damages for the wildfire smoke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Air has been poisoned. I have a good relationship with Mark Carney, but you know we got to stop the fires up there. If we can help them, we'll help them. But maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: President Trump on Monday announced 50 percent tariffs on certain Canadian goods, including electrical equipment and machinery, but administration officials say this move is unrelated to the wildfires.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is vowing to shake up British politics. He has a new cabinet to help him do it, and it includes some familiar faces. We'll take a look.

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[02:17:38]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, in the coming hours, Andy Burnham is set to hold his first cabinet meeting since becoming Britain's next prime minister. He replaces former leader Keir Starmer and is now the U.K.'s seventh prime minister in a decade. Andy Burnham's cabinet consists of some former officials returning to Downing Street, as well as others who were shuffled into other positions.

John Healey has been appointed as the new finance minister. He resigned from his post as defense secretary just last month over a military spending dispute, former Labor U.K. leader Ed Miliband is now the new foreign secretary, and staying put is Shabana Mahmood, the current Home Secretary. The new Prime Minister says his team and others will bring sweeping changes to British politics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDY BURNHAM, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years, a new political model and a new economic model. We will change politics to make it more collaborative, more about problem solving than point scoring, and we will take power out of here and carry it into every postcode in the land, so that they can do more.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: On his first day in office, Burnham also made calls to world leaders, including Donald Trump. The U.S. president confirmed the call happened and says the two will meet in the not too distant future.

Well, joining me now is Sam Francis, the author of Politico's London Playbook newsletter. Good to have you with us.

SAM FRANCIS, AUTHOR, LONDON PLAYBOOK: Good morning.

CHURCH: Good morning to you. So, Andy Burnham is now Britain's seventh prime minister in 10 years, and we're learning more about what he plans to do and who will be in his cabinet. He'll meet with his new team in the coming hours. What's your response to who's in and who's out?

FRANCIS: I mean, I think the immediate response is just how big the bloodletting was from the Starmer years. There was a lot of discussion, as you saw there, about how he's going to have a circuit breaker. And in this speech yesterday, he was talking about a new era of unity.

[02:20:00]

But a lot of the big beasts from Starmer's government have found themselves this morning out of a job. Rachel Reeves, his chancellor, who we were told was offered a big job but turned it down. She's out. We've got lots of his other big big figures. David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, he's out. But we do have lots of the John Healey who's in. That was a bit of surprise. Ed Miliband, as you say, foreign secretary. So, he's starting with bringing a lot of his own team to set the new direction of the new government.

CHURCH: And Burnham hasn't been very clear up to this point about what he plans to do as Britain's new prime minister, but in the coming hours he is expected to reveal more details on the critical issue of the cost of living. What do you expect to hear from him today?

FRANCIS: Well, we've actually seen something this morning. He's announced that he's cutting VAT on energy bills, which was something that was looked at under the last regime, but was seen as maybe not affecting the poorer households so well. So, from October, we're going to see 5p (ph) off of all energy bills being knocked off, as well as for small businesses.

CHURCH: And how much hope do you have that Burnham can turn things around for people across the UK? Because they're pretty much fed up, aren't they? And they're really struggling.

FRANCIS: It's the big question, sort of the ultimate question for any prime minister at the minute. He said he's going to have the biggest change in in 40 years, but he's also going to stick to the previous Labor government's manifesto.

So, I mean, a bigger change than Thatcherism, bigger change than Brexit. He set himself quite a high bar there. So, that's sort of the ultimate question. But we've been told there's a 10-year planning, 10- year plan coming in the -- in the autumn with the budget, and we know he's been working on this for some time. He's been a political -- as well as being the mayor of Manchester. He's been a politician for 20- five years, and he's been building up his kind of political philosophy and his plans for a long time. And we've heard there's 100-day plan of policy is going to come in the in the few weeks and months ahead.

But I mean, he's still going to be buffeted by the same issues that all the other promises that come before him have kind of global events and kind of sluggish growth in the U.K.

So, I don't know. We wait and see, but he's promising some pretty big changes.

CHURCH: Yes, he certainly is. And Burnham has also spoken about reindustrialisation. What does he mean by that?

FRANCIS: Well, I mean, from what we know so far, we know he said he's going to sort of point a lot of the arms of the state at kind of jobs back home. So, for foreign policy for defense, he's going to try and use domestic suppliers more and spread a lot of the wealth of the southeastern and London kind of more across the U.K. He's promised to spread some of the government around. He's going to -- we have 10 Downing Street in London, but he's promised a number 10 Downing Street wing in Manchester, where his sort of power base is.

So, yes, we sort of -- again, detail has been quite scant so far. He's been able to keep a lot of the -- which is rare in Westminster, to be fair for him. But he managed to keep a lot of the detail within his core team. But in he's promised to hit the ground running, and in the next hundred days or so, we'll be seeing a lot more policies announced.

CHURCH: Yes, we'll all be watching very carefully, of course. Sam Francis, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

FRANCIS: Thank you.

CHURCH: Of course. Well, as Keir Starmer leaves and Andy Burnham arrives. Larry, the resident cat or chief mouser at 10 Downing Street is coming to terms with having to live with yet another new housemate. In a CNN exclusive, our Anna Stewart sat down with Larry to hear how he's feeling about the new boss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Seventh Prime Minister in just over 10 years. What do you think?

Not a huge amount, and there may have been a little bit of bribery for this interview, but I hope you agree that this is probably the biggest opinion you'll ever get in Downing Street.

Larry, what do you think? Do you like Prime Minister Andy Burnham?

Andy Burnham allegedly has a dog called Axel. How will you be behaving with Axel? Not a big fan of the new prime minister's dog.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: When Nicaragua's president is making a bold declaration about the country's political future, no more elections. Daniel Ortega has held power continuously since 2007. He even made his wife co-president last year. The 80-year-old says the days of parties backed by the U.S. and his political rivals are over.

[02:25:15]

The Trump administration describes the Ortega government as a dictatorship and has imposed sanctions on thousands of Nicaraguan officials and their relatives. Monday's appearance in Managua was the first by Ortega in two months.

Well, emergency responders are searching for survivors after a ferry carrying more than 170 people capsized off Guiana late Saturday. 27 bodies have been recovered, but dozens of people are still missing. Officials say the exact number is unclear because the passenger manifest may have been inaccurate. Investigators say they are looking into whether drug use may have played a role in the disaster after the ferry's captain and a crew member tested positive for marijuana.

Wildfires are spreading through southern Bolivia as firefighters struggle to control the flames, but despite coordinated efforts, local media say fires have spread to other regions. Bolivia's defense minister says helicopters will be needed to combat the flames in hard- to-reach areas. Powerful winds, too little rain, and the beginning of the dry season have worsened the fires.

Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate appeared in federal court Monday. The UK charges at the center of the case. After the break.

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[02:31:12]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWSROOM": Welcome back, everyone. Yemen's Houthi rebels are posing a new threat to the world's oil supply. The Iran-backed militant group has declared its own maritime blockade on Saudi shipping effective immediately. Houthi supporters celebrated the announcement in Yemen's capital earlier.

So let's turn to CNN's Kristie Lu Stout. She joins us now from Hong Kong.

So Kristie, the Houthis have announced a Saudi naval blockade. What does this mean for the wider conflict and, of course, the world?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, this is a concerning development. We have a potential new global shipping choke point. Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have announced this maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, effectively opening up this new front of the Iran War, which is going to have aftereffects on global trade and, of course, energy supply as well.

Let's bring up the map for you, so you can take a look at the Strait in question. We'll zero in on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is a key export route for Saudi oil, especially now, after a months-long effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Now, the full closure of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait will reduce global oil supplies by seven percent. Keep in mind that the Hormuz crisis had already reduced global supplies by 10 percent.

We have a statement from the Houthi rebels, in which they said that this declaration -- let's bring it up for you -- they said this, quote, "A maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of an eye for an eye, effective immediately." And they also added that it was in response to the, quote, "unjust and oppressive siege by Saudi Arabia on Yemen." Now, we also have a response from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

They said that they are taking steps to protect ships in the Red Sea, while also adding this -- let's bring it up for you -- saying this, quote, "All Houthi threats against transiting vessels will be dealt with swiftly and firmly." All this as the fighting continues between the U.S. and Iran. According to the U.S. Central Command, more U.S. strikes against targets in Iran have taken place.

The U.S. President, Donald Trump, is now saying Iran would pay for the deaths of U.S. service members that have happened recently. We're also learning that nearly 100 U.S. service people have been injured ever since July 7 during this Iran-Middle East conflict. Now, on the shipping front, we've learned that, according to the U.K. MTO, a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by a projectile in regards to overall maritime traffic in that Strait remains muted at best. Back to you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: And Kristie, where does the price of oil stand, especially now after this Houthi announcement?

LU STOUT: Well, it was really interesting. After that Houthi announcement was made, we checked out global oil prices, looking at the price of Brent crude and also West Texas, and it did raise. It did climb initially, but then traders pulled back based on optimism, hopes for some sort of a diplomatic solution here.

You're looking at the price of Brent crude right now. Remember, yesterday, we were reporting it was topping $90 a barrel. Now, it's at $88.45 a barrel. It's a different story, though, for average gas prices in America, which is more of a lagging indicator. You look at the latest price of AAA. It is now just a touch, a smidge above $4 a gallon. But, again, this is a lagging indicator. Back to you, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Thanks to Kristie Lu Stout, bringing us that live report from Hong Kong.

Well, Italian police clashed with demonstrators in Bologna following the death of a man during an attempt to arrest him. The Moroccan-born businessman died Sunday after police responded to reports of a man behaving aggressively. Video of the incident sparked outrage online and drew hundreds of people to the protest. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident.

[02:35:00]

Sinaloa drug cartel boss Ismael Zambada, known as El Mayo, has been sentenced to life in prison in the United States. He pleaded guilty last year to trafficking millions of kilos of cocaine over decades. His sentencing ends one of the most significant drug prosecutions since the trial of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

A. TYSEN DUVA, ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: This defendant perpetrated unspeakable crimes and unquantifiable carnage on this country and other continents and many other countries for 50 years. Never held a legitimate job in his life. Never did anything worthwhile for any community. All he did was spread evil, poison, kill and corrupt.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: El Mayo was arrested in the U.S. in 2024 when a plane carrying him and one of El Chapo's sons landed at an airstrip right across from the Mexican border. El Mayo claimed he was lured onto that flight under false pretenses and the way he was captured became a point of friction between the U.S. and Mexican governments.

The online influencers, Andrew and Tristan Tate, appeared in handcuffs in federal court on Monday. The brothers were arrested by U.S. Marshals on Saturday following an extradition request from the United Kingdom where they face multiple charges, including rape and sex trafficking. Attorneys for the brothers say they are innocent and are urging the Trump administration to intervene.

CNN's Randi Kaye has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the heart of Miami, Andrew and Tristan Tate in federal court after a dramatic weekend arrest, booked on new charges including rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and possessing indecent images of a child.

The brothers are influencers with dual U.S. and U.K. citizenship. They are known for their misogynistic content online.

ANDREW TATE, SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER: I will state right now that I am absolutely sexist and I'm absolutely a misogynist.

KAYE (voice-over): U.S. Marshals took them into custody Saturday outside a bare-knuckle boxing event. The arrest coming after U.K. investigators say four new victims came forward. The U.K. Crown Prosecution Service and Bedfordshire Police say the Tate brothers now face a total of 59 charges between them.

The brothers are well known and, in some areas of the Internet, celebrated for suggesting men own women.

A. TATE: I believe the woman is given to the man. I believe she's given away by the father. I believe she belongs to the man. I believe she belongs to the man in marriage.

KAYE (voice-over): The brothers had been arrested in Romania in 2022 where they are facing charges of human trafficking and forming an organized criminal group to sexually exploit women. They have denied all charges.

So what were they doing in Miami? Last year, after Romanian authorities lifted the travel restriction on the pair, they hopped on a private jet to Florida.

A. TATE: We live in a democratic society where it's innocent until proven guilty.

KAYE (voice-over): Despite all the controversy, their support online continues to grow. Young men and boys often follow them for their content, promoting female submission and male dominance. Andrew Tate once argued women should bear responsibility for being sexually assaulted.

A. TATE: It's about the fact that she belongs to him and the intimate parts of her body belong to him.

KAYE (voice-over): The Tates are outspoken supporters of President Donald Trump and hold plenty of sway in the manosphere. Just two weeks before they were allowed to leave Romania, Andrew Tate posted this. "The Tates will be free. Trump is the president. The good old days are back."

The White House said the U.S. government played no direct role in bringing them to Florida. Romania's foreign minister also said he wasn't pressured. The Tates have repeatedly praised Trump and urged voters to support him, and some members of Trump's family have shown support for the Tates.

In 2023, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted about Andrew Tate's house arrest in Romania, calling it absolute insanity. Their defense lawyer reiterating his client's innocence saying this is a case of free speech.

JOSEPH MCBRIDE, LAWYER FOR ANDREW AND TRISTAN TATE: When you drag somebody's name through the media, when you slander them, when you defame them, when you accuse them of heinous and terrible allegations, the process becomes the punishment until you can clear your name.

KAYE: And that court hearing lasted just seven minutes. There are no cameras allowed in federal court, so we don't have any video from there. But the Tate brothers, we understand, will remain in custody at least until their lawyers meet again on Monday.

And there's no telling how long this extradition process can take. It can actually take months depending on how many challenges the Tate brothers bring. It's also worth noting that two sources familiar with all of this are telling CNN that President Donald Trump is not expected to get involved in the Tate brothers extradition case.

Randy Kaye, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Still ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZAID AZHARI, SEBASTIA MUNICIPALITY: This is everything for us. I cannot imagine Sebastia without the archeological site.

[02:40:00]

It's like your children, you cannot like leave one of them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: For one Palestinian community, these ancient ruins are more than stones. They are a connection to history and identity. Why that connection is now at the center of a growing dispute in the West Bank. We'll have that and more, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:45:00]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Hamas has named its first official leader since Yahya Sinwar was killed in 2024. Khalil al-Hayya lives in Doha and served as the militant group's Chief Negotiator leading up to the U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Israel.

He survived an Israeli strike before the ceasefire took place. Hamas says al-Hayya was elected by representatives, but did not say when that took place. The announcement comes two weeks after Hamas said it was dissolving its government in Gaza. But in practice, the group appears to be tightening its grip on the territory it still controls.

Donald Trump says Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested when he visits the U.S. in September. The U.S. president's comments come after New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani said his office was exploring whether the Israeli prime minister could be arrested during the U.N. General Assembly.

Mamdani cited allegations of war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza. On Monday, Trump posted on social media that it would not happen in, quote, "any way, shape or form." He also praised Netanyahu for his role in the war with Iran. But Mamdani says the Israeli prime minister should be held accountable.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI, (D) NEW YORK CITY: We're speaking about someone who's the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. And he is the subject of this arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity, for war crimes and he is the architect of the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza as Israel's prime minister. These are not facts of my personal assessment. They are facts of public record. What I've also made clear is that my administration will follow all applicable local laws.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The UNESCO World Heritage Committee is meeting this week to consider locations for World Heritage status and protection. Among them is one ancient hilltop in the West Bank that has become a flashpoint in the land dispute between Israelis and Palestinians.

CNN's Jeremy Diamond has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On this West Bank hilltop, a battle over the past will shape the future, and archaeology is the weapon of choice.

DIAMOND: So this is the line right here?

AZHARI: Yeah, exactly. The first line of these columns, it's in Area C, where Area C started.

DIAMOND: And so what does that mean for Palestinians in this area?

AZHARI: It means that we are losing our heart by losing this area and not having access to our agricultural fields and our archaeological sites. DIAMOND (voice-over): Sebastia is an archaeological treasure, home to thousands of years of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman history. It is now enmeshed in the fabric and economy of the Palestinian town of the same name, but risks being cut off from it.

AZHARI: If we look to the examples we had, it's already -- maybe they will build a wall. Who knows?

DIAMOND (voice-over): It is also home to ruins from the ancient kingdom of Israel.

DIAMOND: Archaeologists say these ruins date back to the 9th century B.C., part of the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Israel. And now, the current Israeli government wants to use these ruins as a justification for seizing hundreds of acres of land on an archaeological site that includes ruins from many other periods in history.

DIAMOND (voice-over): The goal, an Israeli tourist site with a focus on its Jewish heritage. The man behind that project is far-right Heritage Minister, Amihai Eliyahu, who has, among other things, said he would be open to nuking Gaza. He says Palestinians have failed to preserve the site and protect it from looters.

DIAMOND: In order to protect the site, why is it necessary to expropriate privately-held Palestinian lands?

AMIHAI ELIYAHU, ISRAELI HERITAGE MINISTER (through translator): The area is Israeli territory. It belongs to the Jewish people. It is not occupied. I am not willing to have the story of the Jewish people destroyed, sabotaged, robbed, dismantled or erased.

DIAMOND (voice-over): But Palestinians say it is Israel standing in the way of efforts to rehabilitate these ruins.

AZHARI: We tried to do rehabilitation, urgent and emergency rehabilitation. During the work, settlers, soldiers came, they stopped all the labors.

ALON ARAD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, EMEK SHAVEH: They keep on repeating this argument that the Palestinians are destroying archaeological remains, but have not shown any data to support it.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Alon Arad leads a group of Israeli archaeologists fighting against what they say are the real intentions of this government and Eliyahu.

ARAD: He doesn't care about antiques. He wants to annex. It's not about the site. It's the ability to use the site as a weapon, as an instrument to take more land, to shrink the Palestinian space.

DIAMOND (voice-over): The Palestinian Authority, supported by archaeologists like Arad, has filed an emergency petition to designate Sebastia as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[02:50:00] ELIYAHU (through translator): UNESCO can say whatever it wants. If it tries to go against the truth and invent narratives here, it will not succeed.

DIAMOND: It seems like, ultimately, you are trying to strengthen Israel's position on the ground in that territory.

ELIYAHU (through translator): The land is irrevocable, the facts are irrevocable. What are you suggesting, that we let them erase our heritage? The facts are that this is the land of our fathers and mothers.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Palestinians are also deeply rooted in this land, like the olive trees Sebastia's families have cultivated amid the ruins for generations.

AZHARI: This is everything for us. I cannot imagine Sebastia without the archaeological site. It's like your children, you cannot like leave one of them. This is the heart of the people of Sebastia, and Sebastia at the same time.

DIAMOND (voice-over): Jeremy Diamond, CNN, Sebastia, the West Bank.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Still to come, how China's amateur soccer league is giving villages across the country a chance to cheer for hometown heroes. We'll take a look.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Spain's World Cup champions are celebrating their title in Madrid with the help of nearly two million fans. Huge crowds filled the streets to welcome the players home the day after their 1-0 victory over Argentina. The party continued well into the night with music, dancing and the players showing off their trophy on stage.

And this is the second time Spain has won the Men's World Cup. They're also the reigning champions of the Women's World Cup.

China hosts its own soccer tournament, which looks very different from the World Cup, but it's no less beloved. CNN's Mike Valerio shows us China's Village Super League.

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MIKE VALERIO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the pitch, in a remote corner of northern China, the chanting, dancing and thousands of fans hanging on every shot. This isn't the World Cup. This is Cun Chao, China's amateur Village Super League.

Right back, Tong Zehao and his teammates are one win away from Cun Chao glory. But first, he has teeth to fix. Tong the dentist becomes Tong the defender. TONG ZEHAO, AMATEUR SOCCER PLAYER (through translator): You could say it's a dream come true. Standing in the spotlight like this, it's not something I normally get the chance to experience.

[02:55:00]

VALERIO (voice-over): Like Tong, nearly all the players have day jobs. Professionals are barred, giving amateurs a stage of their own. That grassroots model reverses the top-down path Chinese soccer has pursued for years.

Beginning in the 2010s, China's property giants spent billions bringing international stars into the professional league. The spending brought a brief burst of success before China's property boom unraveled, along with bribery and match-fixing scandals. All this despite Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, himself an avid fan, making soccer a national priority.

VALERIO: So there are no multi-million dollar contracts here. As soon as all these guys are done work, they pack up their things, drive for hours, put on their cleats, and come here because of their love of the game.

VALERIO (voice-over): While Tong and his team step onto the pitch for the final, the entire community gathers at the stadium near festive performances and bustling night markets. But above all, they're here to cheer on their home team. That's the side in red, taking on Tong's team.

CHEN XUAN, CUN CHAO FAN (through translator): I first got to know soccer because Cun Chao came to my hometown. Before that, I didn't really know much about soccer.

WANG YANG, CUN CHAO FAN (through translator): Cun Chao is more about getting ordinary Chinese people involved in soccer. It helps everyone learn about the sport.

VALERIO: The Cun Chao phenomenon began in southwest China only a few years ago, and ever since, it's been people from doctors to delivery drivers taking to the field and entire communities turning these matches into festivals.

VALERIO (voice-over): Cun Chao offers what money and mandates struggle to produce, local stars playing for the communities, cheering them on. And just before the eve of the World Cup final in Fuping, it all came down to this.

Heartbreak, a 1-0 loss for Tong's team.

ZEHAO: Winning and losing are both part of the game. It's normal and we can accept it. We'll come back and fight again next year.

VALERIO: So for a country that is still someday searching for World Cup glory, they didn't stop believing in the game. They just found another way here to love it.

Mike Valerio, CNN, Fuping County, China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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"Avengers: Doomsday" trailer playing.

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CHURCH: Very exciting. Marvel releasing the first trailer to the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday." It has already racked up more than 30 million views in less than 24 hours on YouTube alone. The Doomsday trailer shows a legion of superheroes from the Marvel Multi-verse like Thor and the Fantastic Four, even some Marvel X-Men set to take on Doctor Doom played by Robert Downey Jr. It hits theatres on December 18th. Look forward to that.

Thanks so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. "CNN Newsroom" is next with Polo Sandoval after a quick break.

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