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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Israel And Hamas Agree To First Phase Of Gaza Plan; Arson Suspect To Attend Detention Hearing; 69th BFI London Film Festival. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired October 09, 2025 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:31:22]

BRIAN ABEL, CNN ANCHOR: Returning now to our top story. President Trump's announcement that Israel and Hamas have signed on to the first phase of his Gaza plan that will allow for the swift release of all remaining hostages. Qatari officials say that the deal will also see Israeli forces withdraw to an agreed upon line and increase delivery of aid into Gaza. Reaction inside the enclave, jubilant.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank God today, President Trump announced that the war stopped. We are very happy that the war stopped. This is something joyful for us. And we thank our brothers and anyone who contributed, even if verbally, to stop the war and to stop the bloodshed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Several thorny issues are yet to be resolved, however, including a future government for Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. An Israeli official says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene a security cabinet meeting today, followed by a government vote to ratify the first phase of this agreement.

I want to bring in Salma Altaweel, who is in northern Gaza. She is the Office Manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Excuse me. She's live now in Central Gaza.

And, Salma, you have firsthand knowledge of the plight of Gazans. You are there, you've seen it. What does this breakthrough mean for people in the enclave?

SALMA ALTAWEEL, NORWEGIAN REFUGEE COUNCIL: Good evening, everyone, and thanks for having me today. Actually, from the ground, the people's feelings are mixed. It's a combination of joy and disbelief because, and as anyone can imagine, what it means to endure two full years of indescribable suffering, like a nightmare, and we thought it will never end.

And finally, it seems that this nightmare will come to an end and we can start healing from what we have been through in the past two years. And everyone here is exhausted and drained beyond measure. We are now feeling is indeed happiness that the war is ending, but we know it's not the end. The road ahead is long and the country is completely devastated and will require massive efforts to rebuild and create level conditions for the people here in Gaza.

ABEL: Salma, for the people in Gaza, you mentioned the exhaustion, you mentioned kind of mixed emotions right now of disbelief and jubilation. What are the first steps for Gazans once it is clear that this deal is through?

ALTAWEEL: For the first steps, I think all of the people wants to go back to their areas and neighborhoods, their homes even. They are -- most of them are destroyed. And I'm talking specifically for the people that were forced to flee their homes and they are now living in very bad conditions.

They are living in streets without even a tent that cover them from the surround issues and the weather, everything. So also -- the international NGOs will do big efforts to bring the life conditions better to the people.

[04:35:06]

We at NRC have hundreds of trucks that are waiting in Egypt and we are just waiting for the second that they will allow the aid to come in and we start to support the people here.

ABEL: You make such an interesting point when you say that people will be for -- maybe the first time going back to the areas where they've come from. There is so much rubble, 95 something percent of Gaza destroyed. I know some casualties of war are still underneath that rubble, so there's going to be an emotional toll that's still -- taking its toll on people inside the enclave.

I do want to hit on the humanitarian aid effort for just a moment once that is allowed to happen. What's happening right now with your organization and in the coming days, once allowed in, what's going to be happening? What's needed most?

ALTAWEEL: Yes. For now most of our NGOs are not able to enter aid in Gaza because of the restrictions, the registration process. But I think this should be lifted in the coming period and we will be able to bring the aid in.

We are talking about shelter items, hygiene items and food because the people that are still in Gaza City, they are suffering from starvation. Until now Gaza City is under siege and they do not have enough food. The basic life condition is very hard and tough, especially in Gaza City.

ABEL: Salma, what do you believe reconstruction looks like on both the humanitarian front, but also for the lives of Gazans? Is the enclave prepared to begin rebuilding right now?

ALTAWEEL: I think it's an early stage to talk about that, but once the ceasefire starts and they start the implementation of the stages of this agreement and we hope that they will not break any of those things will start to change. We need that donor countries, they must commit additional funding to allow us to expand the system and sustain our efforts, and to start the cleaning of this rubble to allow people feel settled and stay in their areas and then start the reconstruction of Gaza.

ABEL: Salma, I know that you have been waiting exhaustively for this moment to begin helping people in a big concorded way. Thank you very much for your time. We look forward to checking back with you in the days ahead and seeing how this progresses. Thank you.

ALTAWEEL: Thanks to you. Thank you.

ABEL: There was an ecstatic response to news of the potential deal from the families of hostages still remaining in Gaza. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIYA COHEN, FORMER HOSTAGE: We are happy inside. Truly the joy is deep, but we need to be realistic until they're getting on the Red Cross vehicle and really meeting IDF soldiers. Until that moment, we must continue to pray and open the gates of heaven.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: And it was a similar scene here in the US where hostage families expressed their gratitude to President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump, you have the best crowd in the world. What do you guys have to say to President Trump?

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKERS: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You did it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You did it. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President, we believe in you. We know you've done so much for us over the past, since you became a president, even before that. And we trust you fulfilled the mission until every hostage, every 48 of the hostages are home.

Thank you so much. Let be the peacemakers. God bless you, Mr. President. God bless America.

TRUMP: Thank you very much. You just take care of yourselves. The hostages will come back. They're coming, all coming back on Monday.

(END VIDEO CLIP) ABEL: OK. We are going to turn now to a detention hearing that will continue today for the suspect in the deadly Palisades Fire near Los Angeles. Investigators say Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida, where he had his first court appearance on Wednesday. He did not enter a plea to charges of destruction of property, which could send him to prison for up to 20 years.

Officials say he started a fire while working as an Uber driver in California in January. Investigators say a lighter likely was used to set the fire in paper or vegetation. The Palisades Fire killed a dozen people, burned thousands of homes and businesses. The Los Angeles mayor says many survivors are still without homes.

[04:40:18]

Attorneys for James Comey say they hope to get the criminal charges against him dismissed before the case even goes to trial. The former FBI director has pleaded not guilty to charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding. CNN's Kaitlin Polantz has more.

KAITLIN POLANTZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Former FBI Director James Comey, he has a trial date and it's only three months away. January 5th. That is when the former FBI director is set to go to trial in a federal court in Northern Virginia.

The charges he faces he's pleaded not guilty to. They're both about congressional testimony he gave five years ago to the Senate. It was obstruction of a congressional proceeding charge and a false statements charge. Comey says he's not guilty and his lawyers at a hearing on Wednesday in federal court, this first hearing before Judge Michael Nachmanoff.

His lawyers said that they're going to do quite a bit to try and challenge the prosecutors here. A lot of this case will be a battle fought before a jury ever even gets close to the courthouse in Northern Virginia in January. That battle, it's going to include the types of requests from the judge to throw out the case because Comey's team will allege there's been vindictive or selective prosecution, so unfair prosecution of James Comey because they say the Trump administration doesn't like him and that Donald Trump himself directed this case to be brought.

There also will be a challenge of the US attorney here who oversaw this case, who herself took it through the grand jury. Her name is Lindsey Halligan and she was in court today, which was a little bit unusual. You only see usually lower level prosecutors appear before a court in a proceeding like this.

There also will be allegations that the defense team wants to bring into court saying that there was abuse of a grand jury, outrageous government conduct, all of the sorts of things that will be looking with a close microscope not just on the Justice Department's behavior in this indictment, but also the political speech from President Donald Trump, from the attorney general and from others in the Trump administration. Judge Michael Nachmanoff, he indicated he wants things to move quite fast. That three month timeline to trial is short. And when they get there, the prosecutors say they will only need two or three days to try this case. There are things that could derail it though, of course, trial dates do move. And the prosecutors, they indicated they actually may not even be that prepared to go to trial right now.

They're still wrapping their arms around the evidence in the case and they're also looking at the possibility of having classified documents that are part of it as well. Something else that could derail this. Comey did not speak as he was exiting the courthouse, but he was surrounded by many of his family members.

And there are many, many onlookers on seeing exactly what happens in this case because it is the first in the Trump administration where someone that Donald Trump expressly wanted to see charged has been and now is headed to trial. Back to you.

ABEL: Kaitlin Polantz reporting there. A US state is one step closer to getting unhealthy ultra processed foods off the school lunch menu, but it will not happen overnight. Plus, Disney is raising ticket prices for its theme parks in the US, but fans have more affordable options if they get the timing right.

[04:43:46]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ABEL: California is now the first US state to define unhealthy ultra processed foods and ban them from the 1 billion meals that are served to school children each year. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Real Food Healthy Kids Act into law on Wednesday. It requires public health officials and scientists to decide which ultra processed foods are most harmful to human health. Officials have 10 years to fully phase those foods out of the school food supply.

Here's a check of US Futures ahead of the opening bell on Wall Street. The Dow, the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ all beginning the day down.

Meanwhile, the price of gold is on track to have its biggest year since 1979. And some on Wall Street are betting that rally is just getting started. A gold boom is typically a red flag about the state of affairs in the world. And one of the biggest drivers of the gold rally is the US Dollar, which is having one of its worst years in decades.

Gold is up 54 percent so far this year at more than $4,000 an ounce. This comes as the US government shutdown derails major economic reports, leaving investors and the Fed in the dark.

Well, the happiest place on earth is now a little more expensive to enjoy. But, as Natasha Chen reports, there's a silver lining to the increase of ticket prices at Disney's theme parks in the US.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Disney has increased prices for US theme parks again, something fans have now come to expect about once a year. But this time, most ticket price increases are smaller than in recent years. For most Disney World tickets in Florida, the average increase is about $5. For most Disneyland tickets in California, the increase is about 3 percent or less, on par with US inflation for the 12 months ending in August.

[04:50:12]

Both resorts will see their cheapest tickets during slower seasons remain exactly the same price, no increase. Pair that with the fact that Disney is handing out some of the best discounts we've seen in years, and we start to see the bigger picture. The company is trying to entice more visitors to its California and Florida parks during slower seasons, especially in a year when no brand new rides are likely to open. And some American consumers may be a little wary of the economy overall.

But here's a warning for anyone trying to go during the holidays. Christmas and New Year's weeks are notoriously crowded, considered peak period, and will therefore require the most expensive tickets. Disney has raised prices more significantly during those times so that a peak one day ticket to one park will cost you more than $220 on either coast. Natasha Chen, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ABEL: The organization in charge of US college sports is a step closer to letting athletes and athletic department staff members bet on professional sports. An NCAA Division 1 committee greenlit the change, which still needs approval from Divisions 2 and 3. If all are on board, the new gambling regulations would go into effect November 1st.

The committee says it remains concerned about the risk of sports betting, but ruled in favor of fewer restrictions. Athletes are still banned from betting on college sports.

Denmark's prime minister wants to ban social media for children in her country under 15 years old. Parents would have the option of giving permission to their kids from age 13. The Prime Minister cited concerns for children's mental health in her address to Parliament about the proposed band. The proposal comes after Danish lawmakers last month banned mobile phones for children in primary schools and after school programs.

And some of the biggest movie stars are turning out for the British Film Institute's London Film Festival as the 69th edition is now underway. Twelve days of screenings and interviews celebrate the latest and greatest in the film industry. And CNN's Anna Cooban reports from the red carpet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COOBAN, CNN REPORTER: I'm here at the Royal Festival hall for the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival. Over the next two weeks, the great good of world cinema will be treading this red carpet, all hoping that the festival can provide the springboard to box office success and awards glory.

Raising the curtain tonight is "Wake Up Dead Man," which is the latest installment in Rian Johnson's Knives Out series, starring Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, a detective. I asked Craig earlier what he thinks about his third time reprising this role.

DANIEL CRAIG, ACTOR: Having a cast like this and having someone as brilliant as Rian Johnson writing and directing these films, it's like an actor's dream.

COOBAN: And you shot in the UK last year. More and more productions are coming to the UK. What do you make of this sort of resurgence in British cinema right now?

CRAIG: I can't actually over exaggerate the importance of it, really. It's like -- it's what we do brilliant. We have some of the best crews and creative people in the world in this country who are second to none.

And it's what, you know, it's my industry, so obviously I've got some skin in the game, but it's also -- I've watched it grow and grow over the past few years and I couldn't be prouder of it. And I think, long may it last.

GLENN CLOSE, ACTRESS: It was like skating on smooth ice. Everybody just -- we've had all so much experience and it's so much fun to bring all of that into this group, and just enjoy each other's company and be inspired and entertained by everyone else's work. It was one of the best experiences I've had.

And what's it like working with Daniel Craig, heaven. He's lovely. You know, everybody here, a lot of us have done theater, so there's a kind of breadth of experience and perspective, you know, that just makes watching somebody.

You always learn by being in this profession. If you're lucky to work with great people, you learn from that. And so, when you're surrounded by that, it just becomes one, you know, an amazing experience.

JOSH BROLIN, ACTOR: Usually during a movie like that, you go to your respective trailers. We all ended up in the same trailer. We all ended up hanging out the whole time on and off the set. So I don't know why you can't, you know, you go, oh, if I just get these people, it's going to be perfect. It's usually not the case, but this was an amazing experience, just personally.

[04:55:12]

COOBAN: Magical moment.

BROLIN: The what?

COOBAN: Magical moment.

BROLIN: It was.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOBAN: Over the next few days, the likes of George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Daniel Day Lewis and Emma Stone will be attending this festival. So audiences have a lot to look forward to. Anna Cooban, CNN, London.

ABEL: Thank you for joining us on Early Start, I'm Brian Abel in Washington. We'll bring you more of today's headlines right after the break.

[05:00:00]