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Hope and Uncertainty in Wake of Gaza Ceasefire; Egyptian Foreign Minister Says Hamas Not Part of Gaza Governance; U.N. Describes "Ray of Light" as Aid Enters Gaza; World Food Programme Working on More Gaza Aid Crossings; U.S. Extends $20 Billion Bailout to Argentina; Reappointed French PM Delivers Key Address to Parliament; Nicolas Sarkozy's Five-Year Jail Term Stars Next Week; Israel Turns Page on Dark Chapter with Hostages Freed; Economist Calls for New "Marshall Plan" for Palestinians; Deadly Mexico Flooding Kills at Least 64; Deadline for Press to Pledge Muted Pentagon Reporting; Instagram Going PG-13 for Teens. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired October 14, 2025 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Hello and welcome to our second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Christina Macfarlane in London,
where the time is 3 pm. Becky is off today.
And this hour, one day after the scenes of reunion and jubilation across the Middle East, major questions now remain over what comes next. We'll
hear from the Egyptian foreign minister about Gaza's future.
Plus, just one day after his Middle East, Trump, Donald Trump hosts the Argentine president at the White House and prepares to hand over a huge
bailout package. We're live in Washington and Buenos Aires this hour.
And France's new and former prime minister is speaking to parliament right now.
Will he have to resign again?
We're watching the French parliament this hour.
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Now as the fanfare dies down in the Middle East over the ceasefire deal in Gaza, hope is taking root. But some major questions remain.
Many Israeli families were shocked and dismayed that the remains of only four of the 28 deceased hostages were returned from Gaza on Monday. Now the
Red Cross is warning, finding all the bodies in the rubble could take weeks. It will also take time to get aid distribution back on track in
Gaza.
The World Food Programme says it is trying to secure more border crossings so it can scale up deliveries. And beyond the immediate needs, the future
remains murky, with crucial points left to be hammered out.
On his way back from the region. President Trump sidestepped a question from reporters on Palestinian statehood.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm talking about something very much different (ph). I'm talking about rebuilding Gaza. I'm not talking about single-state or double-state
or two-state. We're talking about the rebuilding of Gaza.
A lot of people like the one-state solution. Some people like the two-state solution. We'll have to see. I haven't -- I haven't commented on that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, Becky Anderson spoke to Egypt's foreign minister Badr Abdelatty about what's next for Gaza. And here's part two of her
interview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Talk about today and going forward.
Who is governing Gaza today and securing it?
BADR ABDELATTY, EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Hamas agreed, all Palestinian factions agreed, Palestinian Authority agreed on -- and even we, with the
members of this administrative committee, with the Israelis.
So we have a committee, administrative committee of 15 members. All technocrats not affiliated to the -- any faction. They will govern Gaza for
a transitional period.
ANDERSON: I want to talk to you about the short-term stabilization force.
But today, as you and I speak, who is governing and securing Gaza right now?
And until the implementation of this plan, until you can get a stabilization force on the ground, that isn't available today.
ABDELATTY: Don't forget the fact that there are a lot of -- I mean, at least 30 governmental agencies working on the ground in Gaza. You know,
Palestinian Authority was there before the coup d'etat of Hamas. So they have their own governmental agencies on the ground.
ANDERSON: Hamas was elected back in the mid-2000s. You say that there are a number of entities on the ground today equipped to govern and secure
Gaza. But that still includes today, as you and I speak, Hamas.
ABDELATTY: No, absolutely no. They are part of the Palestinian Authority. It's only Ramallah and the Palestinian Authority which is paying the
salaries of the people on the ground.
You have a department in charge of sewage, of drinking water, department on education, department on health care, the governmental infrastructure on
the ground. And they are the ones who is the caring of the daily life, providing the basic services of -- for the Palestinians.
[10:05:00]
So what we need, the governing body, this administrative committee, to start to take over everything and then to govern Gaza under and with the
full support of the Board of Peace, headed by president Trump.
Now we are working with the Americans. And we are in daily contact with the Americans with regard the hosting of an international conference here in
Cairo in Egypt. We hope, within three weeks from now or maximum a month, to convene this conference.
And to ask the private sector from the United States, from the region, from Europe, to stand ready in order to participate in the implementation of the
mega developmental projects.
ANDERSON: What does an international stabilization force look like?
ABDELATTY: This is part of the Trump plan. And we welcome it. We accept it. We endorse it. And some countries are standing ready to contribute.
ANDERSON: Short-term, you have said that you have been training some 5,000 Gazan policemen.
Where are they and how quickly do you get them on the ground?
ABDELATTY: Well, we are scaling up the training process until we reach this 5,000 elements of Palestinian policemen. We are working with the
Jordanians on that.
ANDERSON: This Board of Peace, run by Donald Trump -- I wonder if you can just explain to me why there has been agreement on that, why you think
that's important -- involves the former British prime minister, Tony Blair.
To your mind, why is he the right man for the job?
ABDELATTY: You know, this Board of Peace is crucial, is important to help, to support. And also, as I mentioned, to supervise issues such as, of
course, you know, the flow of money and to liaise with the Israeli side in order to solve problems. So it's a good idea. We accept it and let's move
step by step for the implementation.
ANDERSON: What's the guarantee here and where are the risks at this point?
ABDELATTY: The first and the most important guarantee is president Trump himself, the leadership of president Trump and his involvement, his
commitment.
ANDERSON: He needs to stay committed. He needs to stay committed.
ABDELATTY: Of course and also to have commitment by the international community to support president Trump, to support his plan and also to
commit financial resources for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza.
ANDERSON: Is the Rafah border crossing open?
ABDELATTY: They said 100 times it's open from the Egyptian side. I mean, it's now for the Israelis to open the Palestinian side.
But don't forget -- and that was agreed upon in Sharm el-Sheikh. You know, there are other five crossings between Israel. Israel, the occupying power,
connecting Israel with Gaza. So they will open and they should open the crossings for the flow of all humanitarian aid.
ANDERSON: Egypt has been criticized for not doing enough to get that Rafah border crossing over. The assumption has been that you have issues of
security yourself.
Is that still the issue?
ABDELATTY: That is, as I told you before, a big lie because the crossing is open from our side. We have, as we speak, 6,000 trucks waiting on the
Egyptian side. And, of course, it's open 24/7. It's all about the other side of the crossing.
ANDERSON: I know you've spoken to Tom Fletcher, who is the U.N. aid chief.
What have you agreed?
ABDELATTY: We agreed that the U.N. and U.N. agencies will stand, will be ready, of course, for moving with us, cooperating with us and the Americans
for the securing the flow of aid.
We even use the term flooding or tsunami, Gaza with aid and the medical aid. And then for what's important, number one, flooding Gaza with aid.
Number two, preparing, as soon as possible, as soon as, you know, as of yesterday, you know, an assessment report on the damage happened in Gaza in
order to present it in the Cairo reconstruction conference.
Number three, of course, to participate in this conference, because the implementation on the ground will be with the full cooperation with the
U.N. and U.N. agencies, according to Trump peace plan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: That was my colleague, Becky Anderson, speaking to the Egyptian foreign minister in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Well, aid trucks have started crossing into Gaza at a steady rate for the first time in more than seven months.
[10:10:02]
That's according to the United Nations humanitarian office, which calls it a ray of light amid the staggering destruction there. Palestinians on the
ground are expressing hope for what comes next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEED AL-BANNA, DISPLACED PALESTINIAN (through translator): I support any effort that leads to security and stability and the revival of the economy
in order to give people comfort, because the people are tired.
Any effort, even if it is a small hope, God willing, it will grow in the future because we are tired. And we want to raise our children. Unlike what
people think of us, we are a people who support peace and we love peace. We appreciate any efforts, whatever they may be, from any country, from
president Trump, from anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Our Nada Bashir is in Jerusalem at this hour.
Nada, before we talk a little bit more about the aid distribution, I just want to turn to the return of the deceased hostages, which currently only
stands at four that have been returned within that 72-hour deadline.
The International Red Cross are saying, you know, this was always going to be a complicated task.
But is there a concern, you know, that this could be hampering, perhaps harming the ceasefire as it stands?
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, it was very clearly set out in the deal, Christina, that the Israelis expected all of the hostages, living
and deceased, to be returned within that 72-hour framework.
However, over the course of those negotiations, right up until the last minute, there was an understanding amongst officials that it could be a
lengthy process logistically. And, of course, the matter of actually recovering the bodies could prove difficult.
And so yesterday was certainly a very difficult moment for many of those families who had been anticipating that final moment of closure, being able
to lay their loved ones to rest, only to see only four of the deceased hostages being returned to Israel.
Of course, we've heard from the Israeli prime minister reaffirming his commitment to return all hostages, including those deceased.
But as you mentioned, we have had that update from the International Committee for the Red Cross. They have said that it could take days, even
weeks before all the bodies of the deceased hostages are actually recovered and able to be returned to Israel.
And, of course, it is a very difficult process. We have to remember the sheer scale of the destruction in the Gaza Strip. And just in the last few
days, since the ceasefire actually came into effect, Gaza's civil defense has said that it has already recovered hundreds of bodies from beneath the
rubble.
So it is both Israeli families and Palestinian families in Gaza who are going through this waiting period. It's a very difficult waiting period,
trying to recover their loved ones. And, of course, when it comes to the question of how this will actually be carried out and how long, there is a
real lack of clarity.
We know that officials say that an international committee is set to be established in order to support in that recovery effort, in order to locate
these remaining deceased hostages and bring them back to Israel again. Unclear how long that will take.
And as we know, four of those hostages have now been returned. They have been identified. According to forensics teams and authorities, only two of
those names made public at this stage. They are waiting for permission from family members of the remaining two. But it is a very difficult moment, of
course, for those family members.
MACFARLANE: And the need for aid in Gaza is absolutely desperate. We've been reporting that trucks have started crossing the border into Gaza at a
steady rate in more than seven months.
What are you hearing about the number of trucks getting in and where they are accessing the Strip from?
BASHIR: Well, look, we know that U.N. agencies have said they have thousands of tons of humanitarian aid at the ready to be distributed into
the Gaza Strip. It is a logistical challenge, given the destruction in the Gaza Strip, to appropriately and effectively distribute this aid.
But we certainly have seen aid getting into the Gaza Strip, perhaps not anywhere near to the amount of aid that is needed or the amount of aid that
would have been getting in before the war in Gaza. But certainly a significant uptick in the amount of aid coming in.
U.N. officials say they have seen significant progress just in the last few days, providing tents, providing hot food, meat and fruit, things that
people haven't been able to actually access and eat over the course of the war for many, many months.
And, of course, crucially, medical supplies as well. That has been so important.
We've been hearing from overseas medical workers who have been going into the Gaza Strip over the course of the war, saying that they are packing
suitcases with their own medical supplies to bring into Gaza because there is simply not enough to go around in the Strip.
And, of course, the health care system has been all but destroyed within Gaza. So that will be a significant focus for humanitarian organizations,
to try to bolster the capabilities of the medical teams inside the Gaza Strip. And this need is very, very desperate. As we know, a famine declared
in the Gaza Strip just in the last few months.
[10:15:03]
People still suffering the impact of those frequent blockades that we saw on Gaza, on the very severe shortage of aid getting in. And, of course,
many suffering through malnutrition and starvation over the last few months. So that is a primary focus now for humanitarian organizations.
We know that the controversial U.S. and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been discontinued. Those sites are being closed down.
We are seeing a focus now, a shift back to U.N. agencies and other humanitarian organizations being permitted to access Gaza and facilitate
that distribution of aid. That is something U.N. agencies have been pushing for some time now.
And the hope is that we will see a real ramping-up in the amount of aid getting in. And, of course, crucially, the logistical challenges as well
for the family members and civilians who have tried to return to their homes, only to find rubble.
Providing suitable accommodation, a safe tent, encampments that can be, of course, that can fulfill that need will be a huge challenge ahead as well.
MACFARLANE: Yes, desperately sad situation for so many Palestinian families across the Gaza Strip as they look to return home to not very
much. And Nada Bashir, I know you'll continue to follow this from Jerusalem. Thank you.
Well, meanwhile, after flying back to Washington overnight, U.S. president Donald Trump turns his focus away from the Middle East today and on to
another high-profile meeting.
In about three hours from now, Mr. Trump will host his close ally, Argentina's Javier Milei, at the White House. It comes days after America
extended a $20 billion bailout to the cash-strapped Latin American country, which is at risk of financial collapse.
We have a team covering this. CNN's Alayna Treene is at the White House. And CNN's Ivan Perez Sarmenti is covering reaction from Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
Alayna, I want to go to you first. President Trump clearly shifting his international focus here from one issue to the next very quickly, indeed.
And this really is one big bailout deal at a time, as I was saying earlier, that the U.S. government is in shutdown.
So talk us through what the expectation is for these two leaders, when they meet later.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Look, I mean, the Argentinian president is expected to arrive around 1 pm. And remember, they are very
close allies. There was actually a big part of the reason that the Trump administration, the president himself, decided to engage in giving
Argentina $20 billion.
I should note that the Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, argues that this is not a bailout; despite, of course, many people in the business world,
people on Wall Street, financial experts, et cetera, saying that's exactly what this is.
And so I think the meeting today will be about how to continue to obviously keep this relationship strong and make sure that the money is being spent
in the right ways.
And a big part of this as well -- you mentioned that, you know, the government is shut down right now. That is, of course, a major concern,
especially when spending such a large sum as $20 billion.
But there's also been the impact on farmers and specifically soybean farmers. This is something we know that the president has brought up a lot.
But the problem with Argentina right now and the money going to them is a lot of what they are doing is also in relation to, you know, buying goods
from China and China buying goods from them.
And so that's another dynamic that adds another kind of point to all of this today. So stay tuned for that. It is, of course, as you mentioned,
quite a pivot from what we have seen.
But the two are longtime friends. They have met not only in the past couple of months but even during the transition. And while the president was still
on the campaign trail, he often hosted Milei at Mar-a-Lago and different meetings.
And so it's expected to be a very friendly visit, despite the serious discussions that need to be had, given how much money the U.S. government
has now given to Argentina around all of this.
MACFARLANE: Thanks, Alayna.
Ivan, we were talking earlier about how this is coming at a crucial time for the president politically.
How is this bailout being received by people in Argentina?
What's the mood?
IVAN PEREZ SARMENTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christina, Alayna, there's a lot of anticipation here. Everyone will be watching, keeping an eye on the
meeting there at the White House, mainly because Donald Trump's backing could mean more stability for the Argentine economy.
In practical terms, this support will likely help keep the dollar exchange rate steady. And that's crucial. Every time the dollar goes up, inflation
goes up, too. For Argentines, the dollar is key. Big purchases like houses and cars are priced in dollars instead of the local currency.
Let's remember that annual inflation in 2024 was nearly 120 percent. And any movement in the dollar immediately affects prices. One of Javier
Milei's main achievements has been bringing inflation down to 33 percent over the past year.
[10:20:04]
That's why this U.S. Treasury bailout is so important for him, especially with just 12 days to go before the midterm elections. It could call the
market, is fears of a default and it helps stabilize the exchange rate.
After that, we'll have to see if more economic deals or new investments are announced. Those would matter to investors but they probably won't have a
direct impact on voters.
Finally, as usual, good relations with the United States are always important for a Latin American country. But both Milei and Trump know the
real priority right now is keeping the economy stable ahead of the elections, especially after the government's recent defeat in Buenos Aires
province, where 40 percent of Argentines live -- Christina.
MACFARLANE: All right, well, all eyes on the White House in about three hours' time to see how these two leaders and friends will greet each other.
Ivan Perez Sarmenti and Alayna Treene, we appreciate it. Thank you both.
All right. Still to come, we're keeping a close eye on France, where the newly appointed prime minister is outlining his vision right now to save
the country from slipping into deeper economic and political turmoil.
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MACFARLANE: France's newly appointed prime minister, who unexpectedly resigned last week before returning to the job days later, says he will
suspend controversial pension reforms.
Sebastien Lecornu has been outlining his vision for a new government in an effort to stabilize the country. He'll propose that the reforms, which
sparked widespread protests, should be suspended until after the next presidential election.
Well, the prime minister is under extreme pressure to produce a deficit- reducing budget that will end the worst political crisis France has seen in decades. CNN's Melissa Bell has been following the story for us.
So Melissa, how crucial has that move, that shift on pension reforms, been in light of bringing people together and sticking with this prime minister?
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we await to hear, Christina, what the head of the socialist party has to say.
He's expected to stand up and speak in the French parliament. Each of the party leaders has had their turn to give their response. And we assume that
a lot, given everything that has been done to go in the direction of the socialists, that he will say that he's happy with it.
But he hasn't yet officially formally spoken to it. And you're quite right to point out the important role that, somehow, over the last couple of
weeks, the socialists have come to play in all this, for the kingmaker role, because of the nature of the parliamentary arithmetic.
We know that Sebastien Lecornu, who's been through all this political turmoil over the course of the last few weeks, is really presenting this
budget as a last-chance saloon (ph) for France to be able to get through a 2026 budget in time. He was reappointed after having resigned last Friday.
[10:25:00]
There he was, in front of the French parliament, defended -- defending his vision for 2026. Not as many cuts as his predecessor. Francois Bayrou
suggested he was about $44 billion worth of cuts. There are fewer cuts expected in this one.
But still it will be a smaller budget than in previous years, says Lecornu. And that, of course, is necessary because of the size of the French debt.
But crucially, what's emerged is the importance that the socialists would have.
So he's made a couple of announcements. Christina, that decidedly go in their direction. The suspension, for instance, of a constitutional measure
that allows the government -- and it's used a lot over the last few years - - to force measures through parliament, when parliament cannot agree on them, that he's vowed the government will no longer use.
Also, as you mentioned, pension reform. This was in 2023 an extremely controversial reform of the French pension system. There had been street
protests. Again, the government used this controversial parliamentary tool to get its vision for pension reform through.
But now what Lecornu has suggested, he is suspending it for a few years. This, of course, entirely in the direction of the socialists. It shows the
strength they have. We await the official response of the -- for the -- Olivier Faure, who's the head of the socialist party. And the reason so
much depends on them is that, on Thursday, there will be a vote of no confidence tabled. Two of them have been tabled, one by the far right, one
by the far left.
There -- it would take just 25 votes from parliamentarians outside of those two groups for the government to fall.
So even if the socialist leader today announces or encourages his party to vote with the government and against, it's those no confidence votes, it
really wouldn't take many parliamentarians, individual lawmakers deciding to vote with the extreme left and extreme right for this Lecornu government
to go as well.
But he really has, I think, done everything he can today to get as much of the center together as he could, with not least the suggestion that, of
course, as president Macron suggested earlier in the first cabinet meeting since its new appointment, this -- any vote of no confidence in the
government would essentially be a vote of dissolution.
And therefore, for snap parliamentary elections, we'll know by the end of the week. Christina.
MACFARLANE: And just quickly, Melissa, am I right in thinking that for the socialists, a snap election would not be the best option for them?
Because they would likely lose seats anyway, so that might not be something they would push for.
BELL: Christina, you're exactly right. The ones who stand to benefit the most from snap election, suggest the polls, the far right, first and
foremost but also the far left, with that moderate center really looking likely to lose more seats than it might gain. And this is an important
consideration in all of their thinking about how to vote on Thursday.
MACFARLANE: All right. We will watch this unfold in the days to come. Melissa, thank you.
And while France tries to stabilize its government, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is preparing for a very different reality: prison. Sarkozy
starts his five-year prison sentence next week in Paris.
He was convicted in September of criminal conspiracy for seeking illegal campaign funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors. CNN's Saskya
Vandoorne reports on what awaits him behind bars.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PRODUCER (voice-over): An unlikely home for a former head of state. Nicolas Sarkozy will be the first French president ever held
behind bars. He's been handed a five-year prison term and will soon start serving it here at La Sante in Paris.
A typical cell here looks like this: a bolted metal bed, a small desk, a fridge, a television, a shower and a phone. Pierre Botton, a former
businessman sent here for embezzlement in 2022 and a longtime friend of Sarkozy, knows exactly what awaits him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERRE BOTTON, FORMER LA SANTE INMATE (through translator): That's when you hear two sounds. No inmate ever forgets the lock going clack-clack as
it bolts shut. That's the moment you know you're locked in. From then on, nothing happens until 7 am the next morning. You're alone with the TV and
the noises.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANDOORNE (voice-over): It's the same prison that once held Panama's former dictator, Manuel Noriega, and international terrorist, Carlos the
Jackal. Sarkozy was sentenced after he was convicted of criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 campaign with funds from Libya in exchange for
diplomatic favors, a verdict he calls political persecution.
"I am innocent," he said, vowing to sleep in his cell, quote, "with his head held high."
VANDOORNE: Behind these walls, Sarkozy is likely to receive the same treatment as the other inmates, as set out in France's prison code; 22 to
23 hours a day alone in his cell with two walks in the courtyard and a few visits from the family during the week.
VANDOORNE (voice-over): His arrival kit will include two blankets, a towel and basic toiletries.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOTTON (through translator): On his first night, the guards will come by every two hours. They'll wake him up.
[10:30:00]
They'll turn on the lights and make him raise his hand to show he's alive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANDOORNE (voice-over): Sarkozy's lawyers are working to shorten his time behind bars. But it's a stunning fall from grace for a president who once
prided himself on being France's crime-fighter-in-chief -- Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Next, after two years of war, the work is far from over in Gaza, as a Palestinian economist explains how reconstruction, politics and
the economy are intertwined.
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MACFARLANE (voice-over): Welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Christina Macfarlane. Here are your headlines.
The Red Cross is warning that completing the return of Israeli remains from Gaza could take weeks. A spokesperson says the level of destruction in Gaza
is a massive challenge. Just four coffins were returned to Israel under the ceasefire deal with Hamas on Monday.
U.S. president Donald Trump hosts Argentina's libertarian leader and his close ally, Javier Milei, at the White House later today. It comes days
after America extended a massive financial bailout to the Latin American country.
Newly appointed prime minister Sebastien Lecornu says he'll propose suspending controversial pension reforms. He's under extreme pressure to
produce a deficit-reducing budget that will end the worst political crisis France has seen in decades.
And while the families of the living Israeli hostages finally saw their nightmare end on Monday, the bodies of 24 deceased hostages are still being
held in Gaza. The Red Cross warned some bodies may never be found across the Occupied Territories.
There were scenes of jubilation after Israel released thousands of Palestinian prisoners. But they're returning to the ruins across much of
Gaza. CNN's Clarissa Ward reports from Tel Aviv.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Two years of anguish and agony finally giving way to joy.
For the mother of 23-year-old hostage Bar Kupershtein, taken at the Nova Music Festival on October 7th, this was the hug she had dreamed of. Bar's
paralyzed father is helped out of his wheelchair so he can finally hold his son amid wails of raw emotion.
For hostage Segev Kalfon, even the sight of his family was all too much.
[10:35:00]
Scenes of tearful reunions between the final 20 living Israeli hostages and their families punctuated this historic day.
"You're home, you're home," the mother of 24-year-old Guy Gilboa-Dalal cries in disbelief.
In Hostages Square, the beating heart of the movement to bring them home, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered from the early hours, singing
"HaBayta" or coming home.
The crowds cheered as the first images of the hostages emerged before their release.
Surreal scenes of them calling their loved ones as Hamas militants stood in the background.
After reuniting with their immediate families at Reim military base, they were flown to hospitals looking down at the crowds gathered to welcome them
home.
You can hear the crowd cheering as you see those hostages traveling via helicopter to Ichilov Hospital. This is a moment that these people have
been waiting for, for 737 days.
In Gaza, they have known the pain of waiting, too. Applause erupted as some 1700 Palestinian detainees emerged from crammed buses outside the Nasser
Hospital in Khan Younis. Held without charge by Israel throughout the war, they waved to the crowds, tearful. Some returned to the worst possible
news.
This man learned that his wife and daughters were killed in an Israeli airstrike. "My wife and my children, my family is gone," he says, clutching
a birthday gift for his 2-year-old daughter.
For many in Gaza, joy still feels like a distant dream. The scale of loss and destruction leaves little room for it. And as Israel turns the page on
a very dark chapter, Gaza is opening a new and uncertain one -- Clarissa Ward, CNN, Tel Aviv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Well, the question on everyone's mind right now is how can Gaza rebuild after two years of devastation?
Well, earlier today, my colleague, Becky Anderson spoke to a Palestinian economist, Raja Khalidi, about what needs to happen. She began by asking
him whether reviving Gaza's economy was even possible without Palestinian statehood.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAJA KHALIDI, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, PALESTINE ECONOMIC POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE: It can start without sovereignty but it must lead to
sovereignty.
So any process, so if this does not turn in, you know, if this -- if we turn into a stalemate after the first phase of this agreement, then, you
know, there is no reconstruction, there's no recovery.
If, on the other hand, the other elements of the non-reconstruction elements of this -- of the Trump plan begin to take form, then the
multinational stabilization, security force, local governance handled by the Palestinian Authority and financing the reconstruction.
If those other things can be put in place, then I think, yes, we can have not only a recovery but you can have the beginnings of, in fact,
establishing pillars of sovereignty through various economic, you know, economic functions that we need desperately to get the economy moving
again.
But this, I think, you know, would need -- is going to -- we're going -- I think we're going to a Security Council process. And in the Security
Council, these issues will be thrashed out. And there -- you know, there'll be a place for the peace board or peace council.
The question is what authority does it have?
Does it -- is it an authority or is it simply an advisory board?
The role of the PA after the six-month -- six-month transitional technocratic Palestinian government, local government.
These issues are going to be thrashed out, I think, in a Security Council resolution. Once we have that, then everybody's on board.
I mean, you can't bring in 20 major nations of the world and then say, let's set up something separate. It's going to have to be within the
context of the U.N. Security Council at least --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Yes.
KHALIDI: -- mandate. And I think that, by the way, you know, the reconstruction was always about the World Bank handling this.
ANDERSON: Yes. You've called for world leaders to create a New Marshall Plan for Palestinians. Can you can you paint more of a picture of how you
hope that could unfold?
And what kind of regional support it would take?
Look, I mean, in some ways, in a -- in a quite unseemly manner, the U.S. president kept referring to the wealth in the room, the incredible wealth
convened yesterday in Sharm El Sheikh, the support he has.
I mean, we know in just three Gulf nations alone who have thrown support behind this -- this goal, this vision, you know, there will be $9 trillion
in sovereign wealth by 2030.
[10:40:00]
So what kind of regional support is this going to take?
KHALIDI: Look, from the point of view of the Palestinians, it's major. The most recent estimate of the cost of building Gaza, again, it's something
like $70 billion. I think that's probably, you know, a conservative estimate.
But, you know, from the point of view of the -- of the people at the table yesterday, that's peanuts, you know. So I think it's a question of the
process. It's a question of where this is all leading.
And we know that. We know that the Saudis, you know and you mentioned your report the Saudis were there but not really there.
So they have a process going with the French. And if that's not linked up to the Trump-initiated plan, then we're not going to see anything.
But if it does link up and if they can merge it in some form in the Security Council, then you have legitimacy. The state of Palestine and
stuff.
I mean, Abbas was there yesterday, regardless of his role not being yet clear. You have Hamas, which is ultimately going to cede power. Instead,
it's going to cede power and ultimately will be disarmed in one form or another, defanged, for sure.
And you then have a Palestinian people, by the way. You know, we, you know -- the first year, next year is all about relief. It's about relieving
trauma. It's about getting people back on their, you know.
And you're talking about, say, $5 billion, $6 billion just to do that next year before, you know, temporary decent shelter for maybe 300,000 families.
These are things that are needed urgently. And that's going to, you know, soak up all of the resources that are currently available.
And in the meantime, if we get a process going, then the rest is not going to be an issue.
And, you know, you have Palestinian capital out there in the Gulf, too. You know, this is going to be a private partner -- private-public partnership
thing. It's not going to be governments coming in and handing out cash to somebody to rebuild.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: That was Becky Anderson, speaking to Raja Khalidi, the director general of the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute.
Turning now to Madagascar. And an army colonel says the military is now in charge of the country, following a lower house of parliament vote to
impeach president Andry Rajoelina after he fled the country.
The vote was overwhelming, 130 yes votes to one blank ballot. The president called that vote unconstitutional and declared it null and void. Hours
earlier, the 51-year-old leader had sought to dissolve the national assembly by decree, deepening the Indian Ocean island's political crisis.
Mr. Rajoelina says he has been forced to flee to a safe location because he fears for his life. Pressure has been mounting on him after he lost the
support of an elite army unit and faced a series of youth-led demonstrations. Gen Z protesters are demanding his resignation but, in his
address today, he refused to step down.
Still ahead, the ultimatum for reporters who cover the U.S. Defense Department. What they have until today to sign a pledge or turn in their
press passes. We'll be discussing that next.
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MACFARLANE: Rescue efforts are underway across several states in Mexico after a tropical depression triggered landslides and flooding in parts of
the Gulf Coast and central state.
[10:45:08]
At least 64 people were killed and 65 more remain missing. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum says food, water and medical supplies have been
airlifted to people in isolated areas.
The storm came toward the end of the rainy season, bursting riverbanks that had already been soaked by months of rain. CNN's Valeria Leon has more from
the hardest-hit regions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALERIA LEON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Days of heavy rain have caused widespread destruction across central and Southeastern Mexico, where
landslides and mudslides, flooding have put houses like this one under the ground.
As you can see here, these two crosses are because two babies were -- died here. And it was during the flooding two days ago when this tragedy
happened.
And there are no authorities in this town in Hidalgo, Mexico. But there were the neighbors, the one, the ones who come and help this family.
This is Enrique Hernandez. He was the one that helped these babies.
Enrique, (Speaking Spanish).
ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ, HIDALGO RESIDENT: (Speaking Spanish).
LEON: He said that most of the neighbors came here to try to rescue these two children but they couldn't save them.
So this family had moved to a remote community a few kilometers away from here. But we can see part of the belongings. And this is the fridge that
used to be inside of this house. And here, we have still this food left.
And all the roads in this community have -- show like this destruction in part of this trail. Most of the -- of the neighbors now are looking for
help, asking the government to distribute aid to part of this community and others that have been cut off for more than three days.
The federal government has announced a census starting this week to help and distribute aid to most of the people. There are hundreds of people that
need this help and that they have been incommunicated for the last days.
This is the situation on the ground. I'm Valeria Leon in Hidalgo, Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Now today marks a controversial deadline for media organizations covering the U.S. Defense Department. The Pentagon is
requiring reporters to sign a pledge saying they won't solicit or report on anything the department hasn't approved or be forced to surrender their
press passes.
Most news organizations, including CNN and even the pro-Trump network, Newsmax, have refused. CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter is joining
us with his reporting.
So Brian, just begin by telling us, what should news outlets expect to be hearing after today?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Right. Today is the deadline for journalists to accept this new paperwork, this new pledge from the
Pentagon. And if they don't accept it, they have to turn in their press credentials by tomorrow, by Wednesday.
Virtually every major news outlet in the U.S. is refusing to sign because the language in this document essentially criminalizes the work of
journalists by making them vulnerable to prosecution if they ask sources to provide information that's not been authorized by the Pentagon for release.
So what you have is a situation where, right now, about 100 journalists have press credentials. They can walk into the Pentagon complex, they can
speak with spokespeople in person. They have the benefits of having that access to the building.
That access is going to go away. And most of these military beat reporters who rely on Pentagon sources, they're going to have to work from outside
the building. In some ways, this is an impediment. It makes their job more difficult.
But frankly, it's also motivating. And I'm finding, for some reporters, they're saying access is overrated. They'll go ahead and give up their
press passes. They're not going to agree to these new rules. But they will still be able to cover the U.S. military and the Trump administration
thoroughly.
So this is one of those rare shows of solidarity. Lots of news outlets, you know, from the AP and Reuters, as you mentioned, Newsmax, a pro-Trump
outlet, all saying they're not going to go along with these new restrictions and essentially telling Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that
what he's trying to do violates the First Amendment.
MACFARLANE: Do you think there might be legal action that comes from these organizations, Brian, in response?
STELTER: That's one of the questions going forward. Newsroom leaders and media lawyers have been discussing this for weeks behind the scenes. There
are some possible legal maneuvers.
But first, the process has to play out. And those press passes have to actually be revoked. The Pentagon Press Association said it really well in
a statement yesterday.
[10:50:00]
They said, all year long, Hegseth and his aides have been systematically limiting access to information. And ultimately, these reporters say this
hurts the public and it hurts the military because, after all, members of the military rely on the news media for information about what's going on.
So ultimately, it is part of a clampdown on information by Hegseth and his aides. And it's really being rejected by virtually all the nation's main
news outlets.
MACFARLANE: And as expected, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hasn't gotten a lot a lot of buyin from the media on this pledge.
What has he been saying about this?
STELTER: Right. Even FOX News, his former employer, where he hosted a show for a decade, I'm told later today, FOX News will be coming out and saying
it's not going to go along with this pledge, either.
And now Hegseth is treating this as a battle that he wants to be a part of. He is posting waving emojis, saying goodbye to these news outlets that are
declining to sign.
But you know, this all stems from his desire to stop leaks from military officials. He has been bedeviled by leaks during his short tenure as
Defense Secretary. And he's trying to stop it by any means necessary.
But you know, as you mentioned, there could be legal action as a result because many of these news outlets are saying that this is an infringement
of First Amendment rights.
MACFARLANE: All right. We'll watch to see where this goes, a rare moment of coming together in solidarity among our media networks. Brian, thank
you.
All right. Still to come, Instagram goes PG-13, blocking swearing, stunts and even certain AI chats for teens.
But will it actually make the app safer?
Details on that ahead.
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MACFARLANE: An interesting development, Instagram has announced it is going PG-13 for its teenage users. That means it is aligning safety
settings for teen accounts with the guidelines for PG-13 movies.
The platform says parents and teens will notice the changes with Meta's latest update. The restrictions will roll out gradually to teens in the
United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada, starting on Tuesday, and to the rest of the world in the coming months.
My colleague Sara Sidner spoke to CNN tech reporter Clare Duffy about the changes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLARE DUFFY, CNN BUSINESS WRITER: Now it's making those content restrictions even stricter by aligning its content guidelines for teens
with PG-13 movie ratings.
So what does that mean?
That means that teens will have a harder time seeing things that have strong language or posts that could encourage risky behavior because they
include risky stunts or drug paraphernalia. They're going to make it harder to search for things like alcohol and gore.
Teens won't be able to follow or interact with accounts that regularly post that kind of age inappropriate material. And teens conversations with
Meta's AI chatbot will also remain PG- 13, according to the company.
Now this comes as Meta has continued to face criticism that its teen account safety settings were continuing to fall short of keeping young
people safe on the platform.
One study published by a group of online safety organizations found that 58 percent of 13- to 15-year-olds said that they had seen either unsafe
content or unwanted messages in the last six months. Now Meta disputed those study results but the company does say that it wanted to make its
guidelines clearer for parents and to give them more control.
And one really key piece of this announcement today is, last year, when these teen accounts settings rolled out, 16- and 17-year-olds could just go
ahead and opt themselves out into the normal experience. Now all teens under the age of 18 will be default placed into these PG-13 content
restrictions.
[10:55:00]
And they'll have to get parents' approval if they want to get back to that regular experience.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: As a parent, I definitely welcome that. Clare Duffy reporting there.
Now despite a fiery splashdown in the Indian Ocean, SpaceX is calling its latest Starship test flight a success. The spacecraft appeared to smoothly
navigate a series of landing maneuvers before it was engulfed in flames after hitting the water.
Gosh, look at these pictures.
Monday's launch marks just the second time a version two prototype has reached this milestone. Since version two's debut in January, Starship has
suffered three mid-flight failures and an explosion during routine ground tests. SpaceX is preparing to unveil a new, scaled-up version of Starship
next year.
And as we soar to the skies, that's a good point to end it here for CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Christina Macfarlane. Thanks for being with us. Stay with
us. "ONE WORLD" is up after this quick break.
END
