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Early Start with Rahel Solomon

Fragile Ceasefire Holds After Israeli Airstrikes Hit Gaza; Trump and Colombian President Trade Insults After Pentagon Blasted Another Boat Suspected of Carrying Drugs; French Authorities Investigate a Theft After Thieves Pull Off a Brazen Louvre Jewelry Heist. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired October 20, 2025 - 05:00   ET

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

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BRIAN ABEL, ANCHOR, EARLY START: Good morning, welcome to our neighbors joining us from the United States and all around the world, thank you for being with us this morning. I'm Brian Abel, Rahel Solomon is off, it is Monday, October 20th, 5:00 a.m. here in Washington. And straight ahead on EARLY START. The fragile Gaza ceasefire seems to be withstanding its first major test.

We'll have the latest in a live report as a high level U.S. delegation is set to head to Israel this week. President Trump and his Colombian counterpart trading insults as the U.S. military targets another boat carrying suspected drug traffickers. And Paris authorities are investigating after thieves pulled off a brazen jewelry heist at the Louvre Museum.

We'll go live to the French capital for an update. U.S. President Donald Trump says the ceasefire in Gaza is holding despite a new round of deadly attacks. Israel and Hamas are now renewing their pledge to the agreement after accusing each other of violating it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We want to make sure that it's going to be very peaceful with Hamas. And as you know, they've been quite rambunctious. They've been doing some shooting and we think maybe their leadership isn't involved in that. You know, some rebels within. But either way, it's going to be -- it's going to be handled properly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is this --

TRUMP: It's going to be handled toughly but properly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the ceasefire still in place?

TRUMP: Yes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Israel says Hamas carried out an attack Sunday, killing two Israeli soldiers. That marks the first time Israeli troops have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect. Israel then launching a wave of airstrikes that Gaza hospitals say killed at least 44 people. Aid deliveries were also blocked, but an Israeli official says they will resume today.

CNN's Nada Bashir is joining me now from London with all of these developments. Nada?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, this is a ceasefire agreement that had already been expected to be quite fragile despite those firm words from the U.S. President. He has asserted that the ceasefire remains in place and the U.S. will continue to -- mediators are moving on to phase 2 of this agreement.

So, we certainly heard words of commitment or recommitment from both Israeli authorities and the Israeli military as well as Hamas officials. But over the weekend, this has certainly sparked concern over the next steps with regards to keeping the ceasefire in place. As you mentioned, Brian, we saw attacks on Israeli forces, according to Israeli officials in parts of southern Gaza, and these two Israeli soldiers killed in that attack, and that has prompted a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip.

At least 44 people killed according to hospital officials in Gaza, and we've seen video of the panic that ensued following those strikes. Of course, for many families as you can imagine, this is a really traumatizing moment. The hopes that had come with the ceasefire for peaceful, some sort of stability quickly dashed just days after that ceasefire came into effect with yet more airstrikes.

So, you can imagine the fear for many civilians in the Gaza Strip, particular, of course, when it comes to aid as well. And as you mentioned, we heard those words of recommitment, Hamas officials have denied responsibility for those attacks on Israeli forces. They both have accused each other, both Hamas officials and the Israeli military of violating the ceasefire.

But at this stage, both seemed to have reaffirmed their commitment to that agreement, and we are hearing from authorities that aid flows into Gaza will resume today, that we will continue to see aid coming into the Gaza Strip. And that is of course, a very crucial aspects of that ceasefire agreement. We've seen humanitarian workers from U.N. agencies already on the ground in Gaza including the U.N.'s Humanitarian Affairs Chief Tom Fletcher visiting those distribution points, trying to assess the situation on the ground when it comes to logistical challenges of distributing that aid.

That is a crucial focus as part of a ceasefire agreement in addition to maintaining a cessation of hostilities. And then, of course, we are also expecting to see two key architects of the ceasefire deal from the United States special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner returning to the region as talks continue over phase two.

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It's anticipated according to those familiar with those ongoing discussions and negotiations, that talks will focus on the sorts of cultivation of a commitment, further commitment rather from regional nations including the gulf states when it comes to plans for future governance in Gaza, and of course, also the large scale rebuild effort that is ahead.

ABEL: So much still ahead for us. Nada Bashir live in London, Nada, thank you. I want to bring in now Mairav Zonszein; senior analyst on Israeli-Palestinian issues at the International Crisis Group. She's joining me live from Tel Aviv. Thank you very much for the time. I first, want to ask you this. We have this new picture of Gaza that Nada just laid out there.

What's your view on the viability now of a prolonged ceasefire, given the events that we witnessed over the weekend with the airstrikes and the Israeli soldiers killed. Should we expect more moments like this?

MAIRAV ZONSZEIN, SENIOR ANALYST ON ISRAEL, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: It's good to be with you, Brian. Unfortunately, yes, I think the ceasefire is fragile, and as we've seen Israeli approaches the ceasefires, tend to be that it still allows itself a lot of freedom of operation. Israel has essentially withdrawn to what it calls a yellow line, which obviously is not visible to people on the ground.

But it's a line that was agreed upon in the first phase, and anybody who crosses that line, whether knowingly or not is shot and killed. And that's been happening throughout the day's ceasefire, that's obviously not acceptable, but that's how these things are working. And of course, as your reporter mentioned yesterday, other altercations.

So, I think that's going to happen, and Israel is going to look for ways to undermine ceasefire, and also restricting aid as a condition, which shouldn't be a condition for the continued decision of hostilities. But I am happy to see that Trump is remaining engaged, and that Kushner and Witkoff are on the ground today. That, you know, says to me that they're committed to continuing the ceasefire at least for now.

ABEL: And I will go back to the aid question in just a moment, but I do want to talk a little bit more about what you just said there, about your view that Israel may be working to undermine the ceasefire agreement. Can you elaborate on that?

ZONSZEIN: Yes, I mean, the way Israel functions in ceasefires is that, it often violates them. We've seen that in -- I mean, the way that Israel understands ceasefires is that it will cease some fire, but not all fire. And you know, from Israel's perspective, as I said, any violation for example crossing the yellow line is what is being shot at or restricting aid or these types of issues.

That to me is not a good faith actor in a ceasefire. So, that's what I mean. And I think in terms of Netanyahu's politics, I mean, he's obviously interested in making sure that Trump is happy and speaking in the rhetoric that Trump is speaking in. But at the same time, he can do that while finding loopholes. For example, the deceased hostages that Hamas still holds in the Gaza Strip that are part of phase one need to be returned. Hamas has been returning them in a trickle, it was sent to the mediators ahead of time, that it would be very difficult to return them all quickly. But Israel is using this as a reason to continue firing and to undermine the ceasefire. I mean, it's clear that Israel demands that those hostages be returned, the dead hostages, and they should be returned. But that shouldn't be a reason for conditioning the ceasefire. That's what I mean.

ABEL: OK, both Israel and Hamas have reaffirmed their commitments to the deal. But if these violations continue, what are the consequences for either side. Is it only the U.S. that's tasked with holding Hamas and Israel accountable, and how do you apply the needed pressure?

ZONSZEIN: Well, I think Trump's decision to go to Sharm El-Sheikh and sign alongside Egyptian President Sisi and having Qatari and other Arab actors involved, having European leaders standing there with him, that says to me that he understands that everyone should be a part of this, and everybody should be involved in keeping this up.

So, I don't -- unfortunately, it does arrest primarily with Trump and his discretion. But I think it means that other actors who also are interested in regional stability, I would hope, would continue to put the pressure on. And I think it also needs to be said that Israel is an occupying power, it still occupies parts of Gaza and occupies the West Bank where there's no ceasefire and the dynamics are very clear between the two sides.

So, Israel has to be the side that has more pressure on it. For example, I hope that the U.S. insists that the Rafah Crossing be opened for --

ABEL: Yes, what was --

ZONSZEIN: Movement of goods and people.

ABEL: Let's talk about that a little bit. The humanitarian aid --

ZONSZEIN: Yes --

ABEL: Is still not fully flowing freely into Gaza with that Rafah Crossing still closed. But Israel also halted aid on Sunday, it's resuming it today. Israel's National Security Minister called the resumption of it a shameful back-down. Is aid being used as a bargaining chip, and if so, how is the prevention of that not hashed out as part of the ceasefire?

ZONSZEIN: I mean, you know, talk to Witkoff and Trump. I mean, it should be part of the ceasefire clearly, and it should be no question that aid should be flowing in.

[05:10:00]

And yes, Israel has used aid as a weapon. We've seen it many times. And the fact that it said yesterday that it's stopping aid as a result of the altercations, and then resuming it, means that it holds all the power. Israel holds all the power over all the entrance and exits. It holds power over aid and has used it.

And the reason why this is so problematic, it's not just on moral grounds, but also, it's not in Israel's interest to have thousands and thousands of people starving without shelter in Gaza. That is not a recipe for stability or for security. So, it really shouldn't be using aid as a weapon, that is just not in its own interest.

ABEL: All right, Mairav Zonszein joining us from Tel Aviv, thank you for your time and insight.

ZONSZEIN: Thank you.

ABEL: A clash on social media with Colombia's President has Donald Trump saying he will announce new tariffs on the Latin American country in the hours ahead. Tensions have been growing as the U.S. carries out military strikes in the Caribbean on vessels it claims are smuggling drugs. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro recently accused the U.S. of murdering an innocent Colombian national in one of those strikes.

President Trump fired back at him, accusing him of doing nothing to stop drug production in Colombia, adding that he will be canceling all U.S. payments and subsidies to the country. He rejected the idea that denying aid to Colombia could impact the ability to combat drug trafficking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: They are a drug-manufacturing machine, Colombia. And we're not going to be part of it. So, we're going to drop all money that we're giving to them. They -- it has nothing to do with them stopping drug production.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: And President Petro called Donald Trump, quote, "rude and ignorant toward Colombia". While the Presidents trade jabs, the U.S. Defense Department confirming yet another military strike on Friday on alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean. This is the seventh known similar strike. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is claiming the boat was loaded with narcotics, and that it had ties to a Colombian Guerrilla group designated as a terror organization by the Trump administration.

Hegseth called these drug cartels, quote, "the al Qaeda of the western hemisphere." The strike sparking criticism from lawmakers, even some Republicans as the White House uses a classified legal opinion to justify these lethal actions. Republican Senator Rand Paul says the U.S. is executing people without due process. Now, earlier, CNN spoke with military analyst Colonel Cedric Leighton, on why this U.S. military is deploying more than 4,500 service members off Venezuela's coast. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: When you look at 4,500 soldiers, sailors, marines that are out there, they are basically designed as a force to show a presence there. But the thing that you see here is that, it's much a greater force -- a much greater force than it's necessary against one or two boats that are -- that are actually on the surface waters around the Venezuelan coast.

In addition to this -- the 4,500 though is kind of that middle number, and that is part of a deployment that the U.S. has put out there. But what it isn't sufficient for is an invasion of Venezuela. So, that is a kind of emissary where I think you're looking at a possible presence that is designed to -- and perhaps intimidate the Venezuelan government. But it is not sufficient by itself to actually affect regime change in that country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: We have some breaking news coming into CNN. A number of online services are being hit by outages right now, that is according to downdetector.com which tracks internet disruptions. It includes Venmo, SnapChat, Fortnite, Facebook, Prime Video and Amazon's cloud-computing unit Amazon Web Services. We'll of course bring you the very latest on this outage as soon as we get it.

A historic heist at the Louvre Museum has sent shockwaves through Paris. Still ahead, an update on the priceless items stolen by jewel thieves, and the evidence trail they left behind. And disgraced U.S. former lawmaker George Santos speaking with CNN after his sentence was commuted by President Trump. We'll hear from him just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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ABEL: French police are searching for priceless jewels following a daring day time heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Evidence suggests three to four thieves broke into an upper story balcony before stealing French crown jewels from the Apollo Gallery. The heist that was carried out in just seven minutes as the museum was open to the public on Sunday.

Joining with the latest on this investigation is CNN senior international correspondent Melissa Bell live from just outside the Louvre in quite a daring theft in daylight hours, Melissa.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I mean, absolutely, the most brazen thing we've seen here at the Louvre Museum in Paris since heist of last century, which involved the Mona Lisa being stolen and recovered -- France's crown jewels. These were pieces of jewelry, Brian, that belonged to -- queens of France.

In all -- pieces were stolen in that seven-minute heist from the Apollo room, which is in that wing of the Louvre Museum. And there was some confusion here this -- the museum will be open. For -- it will be kept closed throughout the day as investigation -- drop by the -- that was the --

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ABEL: And Melissa, we are having some difficulties with your microphone cutting out. So, we'll work on that and hopefully get back to you shortly. Thank you. Melissa Bell in Paris. Disgraced former U.S. representative George Santos is dismissing his critics, and says he's focused on the future following his release from prison. U.S. President Donald Trump commuted Santos' sentence Friday night.

He had been serving a seven-year prison term for fraud charges that got him ousted from Congress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE SANTOS, FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: But I will say that it's -- this isn't about that. I don't want to rehash and go into these things. I -- life is too short. I have been granted a second chance, I have made a very concise decision to apply that for good, and use that to make amends with my community, with my friends, with my family and those who I have left a sour taste in their mouth.

And hopefully, one day, get my critics to at least appreciate that I've turned around and done better with my life. This isn't about, you know, glitter stars and glam, or going back to Congress, so it's really not. This is a very personal journey and road for me ahead, that is not going to be easy, it is -- I am still a felon, I still wear the scorn of my poor choices and my poor decisions, and I have to fight that myself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ABEL: Some Republicans from New York where Santos had served aren't happy with the President's decision. Santos says his former colleagues are entitled to their opinion. He also says he does not see himself returning to politics in the next 10 years. President Trump is attempting to freeze fighting along the frontlines in Ukraine. Coming up, the latest on where the conflicts stands as Trump says he'll soon meet the Russian President again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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ABEL: Welcome back. We are going to go back to Paris now to talk about that Louvre theft with correspondent Melissa Bell live from just outside the Louvre. I think we got the technology figured out, Melissa. So, what's the latest?

(LAUGHTER)

BELL: All they need to do is catch a thief now, Brian. This was 9:30 a.m. yesterday morning here at the Louvre, it was already packed with people, the most visited museum in the world, Brian, just after 9:30 a.m., these thieves managed to get into the Apollo room, and what they made off with were nine pieces of some of France's crown jewels.

One of those pieces, the crown of Empress Eugenie, who was the wife of Napoleon III, was found just outside the window through which they broke in, and out of which they escaped before heading off on the scooters carrying the other eight pieces. Now, these crime involved some priceless in terms of cultural and heritage value pieces of jewelry.

There are tiaras, there are brooches, there are earrings, all belonging to the 19th century queens of France. Now, French investigators we've been hearing from the Paris prosecutors about this, are working on a few theories, a few possible scenarios, even as they hunt for these four robbers they believe they're looking for, and of course, the jewels.

Either this was a theft that was organized by commission, so someone hoping to get their hands on these pieces of jewelry for say, a private collection or -- and perhaps most worryingly for French authorities would be that the idea that this theft was to break down the pieces of jewelry, extract the many thousands of diamonds in rubies and emeralds that they're involved, that are involved in them and then melt the gold.

And of course, this would mean irreparable damage to France's crown jewel collection. For now, investigators with more than 24 hours now after this heist, Brian, say that the first 48 hours are crucial.

So, they're combing through the CCTV footage from inside the Louvre museum, what few clues they've picked up outside, for instance, one of the yellow vests that the men wore -- apparently wearing when they carried out this robbery to make them look like work men since they got in through this mechanical lift on the back of a truck that looks like the kind of trucks that you can move in and out of apartments with or do carry out maintenance work with.

They used these yellow vests, one of them was left behind, a few pieces of evidence, a few clues that have been left behind by the robbers and investigators are combing through in the hope of finding them again. The first 48-hour crucial, and we're more than 24 hours into this manhunt. Brian.

ABEL: And they do have some evidence to work with, at least. We'll see what happens, how it plays out. Melissa Bell in Paris for us. Melissa, thank you. Donald Trump is again calling on both sides to freeze the war in Ukraine along current battle lines. This comes as they follow Friday's White House meeting with Ukraine's President, there he denied Volodymyr Zelenskyy's request for long-range Tomahawk missiles.

This comes as the Kremlin ramps up aerial barrages across Ukraine. Looking to lock in territorial gains before Winter sets in. "The Washington Post" is reporting President Putin laid out clear terms and the war during a phone call with President Trump. According to two senior officials, Putin demanded that Ukraine surrendered the strategically crucial Donetsk region to Moscow.

The hardline stands suggests Putin is not backing down from past demands. Joining me now with the latest on this live from London is CNN's Clare Sebastian. Clare. CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Brian. I think

it is certainly clear that Russia's Maximalist position has remained more or less the same, although Zelenskyy did note in a briefing to journalists on Sunday that there -- that he is not a 100 percent clear on what that position is. There must be some nuances there. So, he is keen, I think to push towards eventually a direct meeting with Putin.

Although, of course, the Russian side has shown no readiness towards that. I think obviously, the moving target here is the U.S. position, and we're getting a few more clues around how that meeting actually went. I want to read you a portion of a.