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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Israel Begins Ground Offensive To Occupy Gaza City; Kirk Shooting Suspect To Make First Court Appearance Today; Poland Says NATO Should Impose No-Fly Zone Over Ukraine; Trump To Travel To U.K. For His Second State Visit. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired September 16, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:38]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome to our viewers joining us from the United States and all around the world. I'm Brian Abel.

We begin with breaking news out of Gaza, Israel launching its ground incursion into Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces is calling on residents to evacuate, quote, the combat zone, saying it is destroying Hamas infrastructure. The sources say the operation is going to be phased and gradual at the beginning, the ground incursion was supposed to proceed only after the Israeli military forced the complete evacuation of the densely populated urban area.

But so far, only a fraction of the population has left the city. Meanwhile, the Israeli defense minister posted this on social media today, saying in part, Gaza is burning. The U.S. secretary of state is now in Doha meeting with Qatari officials after talks with the Israeli prime minister in Israel on Monday.

Sources tell CNN Marco Rubio told Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel has the full support of the U.S. for the assault on Gaza City, but stressed the operation should move quickly.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: I think we have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen. We don't have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks. So, it's a key moment, an important moment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: All this as an independent United Nations commission concludes that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has denounced that report.

CNN's Paula Hancocks is joining us live from Abu Dhabi with all of these developments and this new incursion -- Paula.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brian, we're getting new information from an Israeli military official. And they said that last night, they transitioned into the main phase of the operation to take over Gaza City, saying that it's an air and ground operation combined, also saying that they believe there are between 2,000 and 3,000 Hamas militants in the city itself, and that they want to destroy the tunnel infrastructure in Gaza City itself.

Now, we are also hearing from the Israeli military official, at least we heard on Monday that they believed about 320,000 civilians had left Gaza City following the evacuation orders just a week ago. There had been estimates, though, of up to 1 million civilians within the city itself, so it is unclear at this point exactly how many civilians are still left inside Gaza City.

We are, though, seeing some disturbing images, which I must warn our viewers, are of a graphic nature of bodies being brought into hospitals overnight. We know that dozens of Palestinians have been killed, according to the ministry of health. We're also hearing calls from the ministry of health that those hospitals in northern Gaza are desperately short of supplies. They call them catastrophic levels of depleted stocks, calling on urgent -- on an urgent effort to try and get some of those stocks as they are seeing an increasing number of injured Palestinians.

Now, we have heard from the defense minister, Israel Katz. He has said that Gaza is burning, saying that the intention is to target Hamas. But there are concerns, great concerns around the world about the civilian impact of this operation. There have been many countries around the world that have called for this operation not to go ahead. There are humanitarian aid groups, the United Nations, speaking of just how catastrophic this could be to an already desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza.

We have one statement here from UNICEF, and they have said, quote, any further intensification of the military offensive in Gaza City would multiply children suffering exponentially, ripping away the last vestiges of protection.

[05:05:07]

They need protection. The world must act now. We have in recent days been seeing a stream of people leaving Gaza City. Many of them have been on foot. Those lucky enough to find some kind of transportation with their belongings piled high on those donkey carts, on other trucks trying to leave the area.

Now, the area that the Israeli military wants them to go to is further south in Gaza City. Khan Younis, specifically al-Mawasi, which they call a humanitarian zone, which the U.N. and other NGOs have said is anything but -- Brian.

ABEL: All right. Paula Hancocks live for us in Abu Dhabi. Paula, thank you.

Now, we did mention the U.N. Commission Report on Genocide, and we have more details for you. So, for the first time, an independent United Nations commission has concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The commission, set up by the U.N. Human Rights Council, has found that Israel has, quote, committed four genocidal acts since October 7th, 2023. The new report says those acts include the killing of Palestinians in Gaza and causing serious bodily and mental harm, and, quote, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.

Israel has denounced the new report and any charges of genocide.

We are going to turn now to the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk. He is set to make his first court appearance today in Utah. One official says a lot more information on the investigation is expected to be released once the state files charges against suspect Tyler Robinson. The U.S. deputy attorney general says the Justice Department is still deciding whether to bring any federal charges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD BLANCHE, U.S. DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: Well, it depends on if there's a federal charge. So, look, the federal charge, there's not that many murder charges that are federal. Very few and very few.

And so, look, they're stalking. There's -- there's certain -- there's certain deprivation of rights charges that we that we possibly could bring, but that goes after going through all the evidence and trying to understand what this man's motivation was in doing what he did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: President Donald Trump says he plans to speak at Kirk's funeral, which will be held Sunday in Arizona. Mr. Trump also repeated his frequent refrain that political violence comes from the left.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It looks like he became radicalized over the Internet, and it seems like his wonderful parents brought in a wonderful neighborhood, smart guy, great boards, great marks, great student. And then he -- something happened to him over a fairly short period of time. Looks like he was radicalized over the Internet, and he's radicalized on the left. He's a left.

By the way, when I say that. That's my opinion. I think he was radicalized online based on what they're saying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: CNN's Danny Freeman reports on the latest on the investigation into the shooting and what more we're learning about the suspect.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANNY FREEMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chilling new messages revealed by "The Washington Post" about the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination. Twenty-two-year-old Tyler Robinson reportedly writing, quote, "Hey guys, I have bad news for you all." Going on to say, quote, "It was me at UVU yesterday. I'm sorry for all of this."

"The Washington Post" reporting the message appeared to be a confession to friends in the social and gaming app called Discord, and sent Thursday night just hours before Robinsons arrest. The news coming as "The New York Times" reports, that Robinson joked in discord messages that a, quote, "doppelganger was trying to get him in trouble" when investigators released photos of the suspect.

Also today, FBI Director Kash Patel announced DNA evidence connects Robinson directly to the crime scene.

KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: I can report today that the DNA hits from the towel that was wrapped around the firearm and the DNA on the screwdriver are positively processed for the suspect in custody.

FREEMAN: But law enforcement officials are still working to understand what may have driven this young man to allegedly open fire on Charlie Kirk.

PATEL: My job as FBI director is not to speak to motive, is to speak to the facts. And that's what I'm going to do.

FREEMAN: Investigators are focusing in on a potential note that Robinson may have written prior to the shooting. Director Patel says it was destroyed.

PATEL: We have evidence to show what was in that note, which is. And I'm going to summarize basically saying I the suspect, wrote a note saying, I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I'm going to take it.

FREEMAN: Another area of interest and help to authorities so far has been Robinson's roommate.

GOV. SPENCER COX (R), UTAH: The roommate was a romantic partner, a male transitioning to female.

[05:10:03]

This partner has been incredibly cooperative, had no idea that this was happening, and is working with investigators right now.

FREEMAN: Officials are still investigating whether the roommate relationship may factor into a potential motive. Robinson lived and grew up here in southwest Utah in a conservative family. Acquaintances told CNN, according to the governor, Robinson moved very far left in recent years.

COX: These are the facts that are being presented to us. Family discussions, parents, this is what they're saying.

FREEMAN: In Robinson's hometown, his community mourned Charlie Kirk while processing that the suspected assassin was a neighbor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really hard. You just don't -- can't imagine someone from around here do something like that.

FREEMAN: Sherrie Staheli Tate's family has been here for five generations and told us Robinson went to school with her daughter.

SHERRIE STAHELI TATE, SOUTHERN UTAH RESIDENT: I said, well, how would you describe him? And she said, I would describe him as, you know, those kids that are -- they're kind of too smart that they're not commonsense smart.

FREEMAN: Here, Sherrie and the community praying both for Kirk and the Robinson family.

TATE: I just felt it in my heart because that's just not what happens here. It's naive of me, but it's not what happens here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FREEMAN (on camera): Now, all eyes are going to be on this part of Utah on Tuesday. That's because we're finally going to hear some more details from prosecutors. And also, we're going to see Robinson make his first court appearance. And Utah officials are promising that were going to also hear a lot more information regarding this case that's going to come when Utah officials formally announced those charges.

Danny Freeman, CNN, Orem, Utah.

ABEL: All right, Danny, thank you.

President Trump says the U.S. military has again struck in international waters, killing three people near South America. He shared video of the strike on truth social and claimed that those on board were, quote, confirmed narco terrorists transporting illegal drugs from Venezuela. Less than two weeks ago, you may remember the U.S. said it killed 11 people when it struck another boat that it claimed was tied to a Venezuelan gang.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is warning a, quote, "great war could break out if the U.S. fills the Caribbean with missiles and gunpowder."

And President Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation and libel suit against the New York times, four of its reporters and book publisher Penguin Random House. He accuses "The Times" of making false statements about him, his family and his businesses, and, he says Penguin maliciously published a book called "Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father's Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success". That book, written by two of the times reporters named in the lawsuit. CNN has reached out to "The Times" for comment.

The Israeli ground offensive is underway in Gaza City. We will get back to our breaking news right after a short break.

Also ahead, President Trump and First Lady Melania prepare to visit the U.K. A look at what's on the royal agenda.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [05:17:43]

ABEL: Poland's foreign minister is suggesting NATO institute a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it could protect alliance members from Russian drone incursions.

NATO is already flying patrols over its eastern flank after up to 21 Russian drones were detected in Polish airspace last week. And just days later, Romania scrambled jets against a Russian drone in its airspace.

CNN Salma Abdelaziz joins me now from London with these latest maneuvers and posturing from NATO -- Salma.

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and it seems President Trump has yet again wriggled out of a self-imposed deadline to impose further sanctions on Moscow. Over the weekend, he issued essentially a ultimatum to NATO allies that they had to stop buying Russian oil in order for the United States to put those Russian sanctions in place. It's essentially a precondition that everyone you could not be met.

Time and time again, since President Trump's term, he has issued that threat of imposing further sanctions on Russia, but never actually taking action, never actually making a decision, making an assessment on President Putin. And while his peace efforts have essentially sputtered and failed to start, what we've seen is Russia escalate its offensive on Ukraine.

President Zelenskyy says that some 3,500 Russian drones have been fired at the country just this month. And as you mentioned, the threat now is widening. In the last several days, we've seen Russian drones violate Polish airspace that caused NATO fighter jets, of course, to scramble and respond to those drones. Days later, we saw drones violate Romanian airspace with NATO saying, these are not isolated incidents and show that the threat from the Kremlin on NATO is only further expanding.

Still, we don't have that assessment from President Trump, something that President Zelenskyy called out in an interview yesterday on Sky News, saying he wants president Trump to make a decision, make a move on President Putin. He is yet again appealing to the White House to impose further sanctions and to issue those security guarantees that Ukraine is so desperately in need of to move further in those negotiations.

[05:20:04]

Now, President Trump is on his way to the U.K. for a state visit, and you can imagine in his conversations with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, that is going to be top of mind. How will he move forward?

The ground has changed beneath him since that Alaska summit, when the red carpet was rolled out for President Putin. Observers will tell you there has been nothing but clear escalation from Russia since that time, and no attempts to downplay the conflict. So that will be top of mind, of course, with President Trump in the

U.K. How does he respond to that? And will he listen to his European allies who are urging a tougher stance? We'll wait and see.

ABEL: All right. Salma Abdelaziz for us in London -- Salma, thank you.

And as Salma just mentioned, President Trump leaves today for a visit to the U.K. He is expected to meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer later in the week. But first, a day of pomp and circumstance on Wednesday with the British royals.

CNN's Kevin Liptak reports from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: The carriages are being prepared. The military bands are tuning up the tiaras are being polished, all in preparation for President Trump's big state visit to the United Kingdom that begins on Tuesday.

The Brits and the prime minister, Keir Starmer, really pulling all the stops out of their soft power to try and influence what they call the special relationship at quite a sensitive, diplomatic moment. Of course, no one does pomp and circumstance quite like the brits. The president, when he arrives at Windsor Castle on Wednesday morning, will be greeted by the prince and princess of Wales, Will and Kate.

From there, he'll meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla. He'll proceed in a carriage through the town of Windsor to the castle, where he'll meet with the king and queen. They'll view items from the royal collection.

It all culminates on Wednesday evening with this grand state banquet. I know this is all sort of a piece of trying to sort of bolster the U.S. Britain relationship. It's President Trump's second state visit, and in fact, his visit back in 2019 was a highlight of his first term in office.

He's long been fascinated by the British royals. His mother was born in Scotland. One of his earliest memories, he said, is his mother sitting rapt in front of the television, watching the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Of course, it's not all ceremony. President Trump will meet with Keir Starmer at his country residence checkers on Thursday. They're planning to announce a new agreement on nuclear civilian power. They're going to talk about new investments in tech. And, of course, there are some differences between these two men when it comes to Ukraine. The Europeans trying to convince President Trump to apply new sanctions on Russia. So, all of that, a point of discussion between the two men on Thursday.

Of course, for Keir Starmer, who is somewhat beleaguered politically, it will also be a delicate balance with the president and major protests are expected in Britain, while the president is there. And in fact, he's spending virtually no time in the capital of London, which is where these protests will be centered. Almost all of his time will be spent at Windsor or at the country residence, up at Checkers.

And so certainly, I think for President Trump, the lasting images from this trip will be of the pomp and the grandeur all sort of epitomizing the special relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

Kevin Liptak, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: Still to come, New York's governor announces who she's backing in the race for New York City mayor. But do the polling numbers agree?

Plus, the Trump administration and China are closer than ever to reaching a deal over TikTok and right before a key deadline.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:28:27]

ABEL: A new poll conducted by CBS News and YouGov shows Democrat Zohran Mamdani has a significant lead among New York's mayoral candidates among likely voters, 43 percent of those voters are backing Mamdani, with the next highest amount just 28 percent. That's in support of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

One of Mamdani's latest supporters is current New York Governor Kathy Hochul. The mayoral candidate hopeful address Hochul's endorsement on Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE: I'm excited to welcome Governor Hochul to our movement. This is a time for unity. It is a time for strength, and it is a time to speak in one voice.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: But many Democrats in Washington are still hesitant or even against showing support for Mamdani.

House Democrat Tom Suozzi told our Manu Raju their ideologies just don't match.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM SOUZZI (D-NY): Sometimes change is more important than unity, and I think that the Democrats we have to work on our brand, and I think that the message that Mr. Mamdani is standing for is not something that I agree with. I agree 100 percent with his diagnosis of the problem. I just disagree with his solutions he's proposing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: A U.S. appeals court has rejected Donald Trump's attempt to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve's board of governors. The president has sought to fire Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud, though she's not charged with any wrongdoing. It would mark the first time a president has ever fired a Fed governor, raising concerns about political interference at the historically independent central bank.

The ruling means Cook can attend this week's Fed meeting.