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Isa Soares Tonight

President Trump Rules Out Sending U.S. Troops To Ukraine; Mediators Await Israeli Response To Gaza Ceasefire Proposal; Trump Pushes For A Meeting Between Putin And Zelenskyy; Hamas Agrees To New Ceasefire Proposal; Renewed Push To Reach Gaza Ceasefire-Hostage Deal; Eliya Cohen Describes Conditions In Hamas Captivity; Controversial China Embassy Plans. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired August 19, 2025 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

LYNDA KINKADE, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: A very warm welcome to the show, everyone, I'm Lynda Kinkade in for Isa Soares. Tonight, less than 24 hours

after he appeared open to the idea, U.S. President Trump rules out sending troops to Ukraine to help enforce a potential peace deal. We'll have much

more in his first major remarks since Monday's high stakes summit.

Then mediators are waiting for a response from Israel over Gaza ceasefire deal that Hamas has already accepted. We're on the ground in Cairo. Plus,

CNN speaks to one of the former Israeli hostages who was held captive for more than 500 days. Much more on his terrifying ordeal ahead.

U.S. President Donald Trump is making his first major comments since Monday's extraordinary White House meeting with European leaders, and his

remarks seem to represent another major shift in tone on Russia's war in Ukraine. Mr. Trump, as he has done in the past, appeared to -- starting the

war. Here's what he told "Fox News".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (via telephone): Ukraine is going to get their life back. They're going to stop having people killed

all over the place, and they're going to get a lot of land. But this was a war, and Russia is a powerful military nation, you know, whether people

like it or not, it's a powerful nation, it's a much bigger nation. It's not a war that should have been started. You don't do that. You don't take --

you don't take on a nation that's ten times your size.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Mr. Trump says he sort of set up a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,

something Moscow has yet to commit to. The White House last hour said preparations for those talks are underway. The U.S. President also told

"Fox News" that American troops will not be sent to Ukraine, after saying less than 24 hours ago that he wouldn't rule it out.

European leaders talked about ramping up the pressure on Moscow with more economic sanctions in a meeting today held by video conference. Top NATO

military officials plan to meet again on Wednesday. There are no signs of peace on the ground, though, Ukrainian officials say at least eight people

were killed in Russian attacks in the past 24 hours.

Well, let's head straight out to CNN's Alayna Treene at the White House. Plenty to cover today, Alayna. Let's first start with what President Trump

said in an interview earlier today about speaking to President Putin and those security guarantees that he said that President Putin had agreed to.

What else? What other details is the administration providing on that?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, when it comes to security guarantees, I mean, that was from my conversations with people here at the

White House. The main focus of a lot of the conversations that he had with Zelenskyy, of course, but also the seven other European leaders who came to

the White House to really try to find how they can end this war.

And when it comes to security guarantees, it did seem almost at first, yesterday, during a moment when he was speaking, the President to

reporters, Zelenskyy was next to him in the Oval Office. He was asked directly if security guarantees from the United States meant U.S. troops on

the ground.

And at first, at least, on Monday, he did not rule that out. But then he did this morning in an interview, a phone interview with "Fox News", and

then his White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt just reiterated that again moments ago, that he is not going to have boots on the ground. But

however, when it comes to other potential military, you know, support or aid to Ukraine, particularly if there is a peace deal in place for these

kind of security guarantees, she did not.

The Press Secretary rule out this idea that there couldn't be other military help. So, for example, air, military -- air help and aid and

things like that. And so, it's still very much unclear what exactly the type of security guarantees that the United States is willing to commit to.

I have heard in my conversations with people here at the White House that those are part of the main topics of discussion that President Donald Trump

is continuing to have with his European allies abroad.

KINKADE: And, of course, Alayna, there's been much spoken with regards to a potential trilateral or bilateral between Zelenskyy and Putin. What is the

White House doing to facilitate that and move that forward?

[14:05:00]

TREENE: Yes, there have been a lot of questions because we have seen -- we saw the President yesterday, I mean, obviously, he did speak with Putin for

about 40 minutes. The White House said he actually left his discussions with the seven European leaders and Zelenskyy went into the Oval Office to

take that call and then invited them back in to kind of read them out on it.

But there was a lot of questions about, OK, is this, you know, bilateral meeting that he says he's helping arrange, is that actually going to

happen? And that's exactly what reporters today, including our own CNN's Kristen Holmes pressed the White House Press Secretary on. Now, at first,

actually on this question of did he commit -- did Vladimir Putin commit to doing a bilateral meeting with Zelenskyy?

At first, the Press Secretary kind of was vague, tried to say that they're working on it, but then she was pushed again by a second reporter, and she

did say that Putin has promised. And so, we have to, you know, kind of wade through some of the details because of course, we are seeing Moscow at

least publicly argue that they have not made an agreement or have not committed yet to doing that.

But again, I think, you know, another key thing, of course, is, it's not like they all met here, the European leaders and Zelenskyy on Monday, and

then they're not talking. I mean, a big goal of theirs as they look ahead to these next couple of days and weeks is trying to ensure how they can set

up the parameters for a bilateral meeting that would really ensure that both leaders, Putin and Zelenskyy do ultimately sit down together.

Because I know a lot of people here at the White House believe that is really the only way to really find an off-ramp to what is happening in the

region, and to really get them to hash out the details of a peace agreement. And so, that's one of the big priorities, of course, that this

White House is working on.

KINKADE: All right, Alayna Treene for us outside the White House, great to have you with us, thank you. Well, there's strong consensus among members

of the Coalition of the Willing to have their voices heard in the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. A virtual meeting among the leaders of

more than 30 countries was held earlier today.

Estonia is one of those countries, with the Prime Minister saying it will do its share to ensure the safety of Ukraine. Well, joining us now is the

Foreign Minister of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, good to have you with us, Foreign Minister, we appreciate your time.

MARGUS TSAHKNA, FOREIGN MINISTER, ESTONIA: Hello, thank you for having me.

KINKADE: So, you've spoken before about the need for strategic clarity. Is the current peace process and the talks we're seeing providing that, or is

it potentially providing more ambiguity with regards to Ukraine's position?

TSAHKNA: Let's be clear that Putin is not doing anything. Putin is asking more, but he's not putting anything on the table about this process. But

just asking territories, asking the questions about the European security architecture. Also he's continuously talking about the root causes,

elimination of the root causes.

And for him, the root causes was collapse of the Soviet Union. So, the last night as well, we saw more than 270 rockets and drones who just attacked

the civilians in Ukraine. So, the question is whether Putin wants to have any kind of peace or not. But what is good is that Europe is very much

united and supporting Ukraine, and has been as well, very clear to President Trump, that without Ukraine, without Europe, there cannot be any

kind of deals.

And today, as well, the European leaders, they gathered about this Coalition of the Willing and the security guarantee is something we need to

discuss. So, of course, Estonia is very clear that the NATO full membership for Ukraine will be the best and most efficient security guarantee for

Ukraine. But if it's not possible right now, we need to put together the same understanding in principle as NATO has about Article 5 security

guarantees.

And Estonia has decided already a couple of months ago that we will commit, we will participate with a pretty big scale military power as well, in this

Coalition of the Willing, and even we are at the bordering state for Russia. And I think that everybody must understand in Europe that Europe

must put the skin in the game.

KINKADE: Yes --

TSAHKNA: This is exactly the security guarantees means.

KINKADE: I want to ask you more about the security guarantees. But first, I just want to go back to the point you made about Russia launching the drone

attack last night, hours after the peace talks ended between Trump, Zelenskyy and the European leaders. What signal is Moscow sending here?

[14:10:00]

TSAHKNA: Moscow tries to convince President Trump that they are winning the war. So, they're praying very -- like the heart and strong game, but it's

exactly how Putin is waging this kind of processes. So, they would like to see -- show that they're actually winning the war. But this is not the

truth --

KINKADE: Since --

TSAHKNA: I think that Putin was ready, Putin was ready to actually talk to President Trump, and maybe as well, to meet with Zelenskyy to win the time.

Actually, I think that he was very much concerned about European Union last sanction package about oil price cap, and also that President Trump has

said many times that he is ready, pretty soon to hit Putin with the secondary sanctions and direct as well.

So, I think that Putin is just trying to play with President Trump, with Europe, with everybody else to win the time and push heavily on the

battlefield.

KINKADE: Of course, your country, Estonia shares a direct border with Russia. What concerns do you have that U.S.-led peace talks and a U.S.-

brokered peace deal, if it favors Russia, if it leads to major concessions in terms of territory from Ukraine, could it actually embolden the Kremlin?

TSAHKNA: Yes, the main thing we are concerned is that there cannot be -- cannot be any kind of results that one country as Russia or whoever gains

territories using military force in Europe, because it means and we see it from the past as well that Putin will continue. If Putin is successful, he

has lost lots of people since he has killed lots of Ukrainians.

But if he is successful to gain territories that just -- the peace will be just like some kind of break before the next aggression. And the next

aggression may also become again, already against the NATO country, maybe Estonia, maybe whoever, I don't know. But we are stronger, of course, there

will be high level -- high price for Putin, but very important is this territorial integrity principle. We need to follow that. And Estonia will

never recognize any kind of de facto or the Euro occupation in Ukraine.

KINKADE: What can you tell us about the meeting that was held today between countries that are part of the Coalition of the Willing and the position of

this western-style security guarantees. What they could mean for Ukraine given that Putin is suggesting that Ukraine should not become a member of

NATO.

TSAHKNA: Mostly most of European countries support, of course, the membership of NATO for Ukraine. But we are practical as well. And exactly,

we were talking today about the security guarantees which need to -- based on the principle as in NATO, about Article 5, one for all, all for one. The

second thing is that there must be a very clear understanding what U.S. is taking as a part.

So, President Trump has said that they will be part of the security guarantees as a coordinator, or they're going to support. But in real life,

we need to agree finally, exactly the conditions, what we do, what is the level of this Article 5, understanding the military presence. Who is taking

what responsibilities? And the leaders, they agreed that now we are putting this concept together.

The second thing was, of course, to increase the pressure to Putin with the sanctions, and as well increase the military support to Ukraine using this

NATO frame that European countries can buy heavy stuff from us and sent to Ukraine. So, there is no change of the understanding, but the good thing is

that, the U.S. has said that they will be a part of this process of the security guarantees, and this is a good thing.

KINKADE: Margus Tsahkna; the Foreign Minister for Estonia, we appreciate your time. Thanks very much.

TSAHKNA: Thank you.

KINKADE: Well, in contrast to President Trump's enthusiasm, the Kremlin has refused to commit to a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting, though Russian Foreign

Minister Sergey Lavrov has not yet ruled out further talks. Our Frederik Pleitgen joins us now from Moscow. Good to have you with us, Fred. So,

hours after we saw that meeting between Trump-Zelenskyy and other EU leaders, Russia launched yet another drone attack. What is the objective

here? What message is Moscow trying to send?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the Russians have been -- I'm not necessarily sure it's only a message, but

the -- certainly, the Russians are saying they are going to keep up the military pressure, and it's something that they have been doing and really

increasing over the past couple of weeks.

It's not only the drone strikes that have increased, and that partially also, by the way, probably has to do with the fact that the Russians simply

are producing a lot more of those drones.

[14:15:00]

We've seen that really strategically become more and more, and one of the things, of course, Lynda, that the Russians have also done recently is for

the first time allowed camera crews, Russian ones into the plant that makes these drones to show just how many they are producing. So, certainly, that

also is one of the tools that they are saying that they have at their disposal to keep up the pressure on Ukraine.

They certainly have been using that increasingly over the past couple of weeks. But one of the other things, of course, that they are also doing is

keeping up the pressure on the ground as well. They had a fairly large push near the city of Pokrovsk in the east of Ukraine this past week, right

before that summit between President Trump and Vladimir Putin.

And one of the things that we picked up on, which we thought was quite interesting, is that one of the experts who was on Russian state TV,

clearly came out and said that, you know, gains like that allow Vladimir Putin to go to Alaska, speak to President Trump, and look like a winner,

look like someone who has momentum on his side.

And clearly, that is something that worked with President Trump. President Trump seemingly believing that Russia has the initiative, that Russia is

moving forward on the battlefield, that the Ukrainians are on the back foot. And obviously saying that, that's also one of the reasons why he

wants the fighting to end as fast as possible.

But the Russians certainly have been trying to project that they are the overwhelming power on the battlefield, despite the fact, of course, that

the gains that they've been making have been increasing. But at the same time, have not been as significant, the Ukrainians say, as some might

believe, Lynda.

KINKADE: And of course, Fred, there's been a lot of discussion about security guarantees in any sort of a peace deal. How serious is Putin and

his advisors taking the prospect of a western-backed security guarantee for Ukraine? And also, like what are the chances of a future meeting right now

between Zelenskyy and Putin?

PLEITGEN: Well, first of all, I think they're taking all of it very seriously. They're taking the entire talks that are happening in Washington

very seriously. I think also that they are maybe not in agreement with the Trump administration, but certainly yesterday, as the talks were going on

in D.C., the Kremlin was fairly silent.

The Russian state media wasn't saying very much either. So, clearly, the Russians had been trying to give President Trump time to speak to the

European allies, and also to speak to Zelenskyy and to see what would come out of that meeting before the Russians started commenting. So, I think

they do take all of that very seriously.

The security guarantees, they also take very seriously as well, especially when it comes to boots on the ground. We've heard the spokeswoman for the

Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, come out yesterday and say that any sort of NATO troops on the ground would be an escalation and certainly

a no-go for the Russians.

It's unclear whether or not that would stand. One of the things that's being mentioned positively here in Russia is the fact that President Trump

has said there won't be any U.S. boots on the ground as far as any security guarantees are concerned, but nevertheless, it is definitely something

where if there are any negotiations or direct talks between President Trump -- between President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin.

That would be one of the issues. As far as a meeting happening, the Russians are saying it's not something they're excluding, but they're

certainly not saying that Vladimir Putin has definitely agreed to a meeting, and that possible venues for such a meeting are already under

discussion. That's not what we're hearing here in Russia, Lynda.

KINKADE: All right, Frederik Pleitgen, great to get the perspective from Moscow, good to have you with us. Thank you. Well, still to come tonight, a

key mediator in the Gaza ceasefire efforts is accusing Israel of a lack of political will in getting a deal done. Egypt's Foreign Minister speaks

exclusively to CNN. Plus, hear from released Israeli hostage Eliya Cohen, who endured 500 days in Hamas captivity. That story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:20:00]

KINKADE: Welcome back, I'm Lynda Kinkade. Qatar calls it the best possible option for ending the bloodshed in Gaza. Israel is now considering a new

ceasefire proposal brokered by Qatar in Egypt. It's already been accepted by Hamas. The deal calls for a 60-day truce and a partial release of

hostages in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners.

Qatar says it lays out a path towards a comprehensive agreement that would end the war. A Foreign Ministry spokesman spoke about the Hamas response

today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJED AL-ANSARI, SPOKESPERSON, FOREIGN MINISTRY, QATAR: We considered a positive response, and it is almost identical to what was agreed on

previously by the Israeli side. However, we are still waiting for Israel's response to this proposal that we received from Hamas. What can be

confirmed, colleagues, is that we are now not only, as we always say, at a pivotal moment, a decisive moment, and so on.

We are now at a truly humanitarian moment. If we do not reach an agreement now, we are facing a humanitarian catastrophe that will make the

catastrophes that preceded it seem tiny.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Although, he mentioned Israel previously agreed to a very similar proposal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has more recently -- said that

Israel will no longer accept partial deals. But he hasn't explicitly ruled this one out. Mr. Netanyahu's hostage coordinator told families of the

hostages that negotiation efforts are happening around the clock.

Yet, even amid those discussions, Israel is planning to escalate the war and seize Gaza city. Mr. Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with top security

officials Thursday to approve the military's plans. My colleague Becky Anderson is in Cairo, she joins us now with an exclusive interview with the

Egyptian Foreign Minister.

Great to see you, Becky. So, you interviewed the Egyptian Foreign Minister. Just take us through the details of this latest ceasefire proposal, and

what's Egypt's message to both Israel and Hamas?

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR & CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, this was a deal brokered in the past, sort of 48-50 hours. And accepted by Hamas under, I'm

told, considerable pressure by the lead negotiators or mediators. Egypt and Qatar here in Cairo. The Qatari Prime Minister flying in on Monday to see

the President here.

And that, a sign of the ratcheting up of efforts to try and get a deal cut. Why? Well, to the point you have just made. These mediators are very

concerned about the threat of the expansion of Israeli operations in Gaza. They see that as further exacerbating the humanitarian situation there,

potentially, and further endangering the lives of those hostages who are still alive and being held in Gaza.

They see this as absolutely critical that a deal is cut now, and that Israel is prevented from expanding this war at this point. We do know,

though -- we know, Lynda, that Israel has hardened its position. It has said that it wants to see the end of Hamas, and it sees Hamas as on the

ropes. We haven't had a response to this plan.

[14:25:00]

This plan of phased temporary truce, a phased release of half of these hostages being held. But the -- certainly, the narrative coming out of

Israel ahead of them, receiving this proposal was one of either a one and done deal, all hostages out, Hamas effectively surrendering or no deal.

And that is the concern of these mediators at present. It also does appear that the U.S. has hardened its stance, we are yet to hear from Steve

Witkoff, he has been -- he's been extended an invitation to come here by the mediators. It is as yet unclear as to whether he will come. That will

be a big sigh if he were to accept that invitation.

But we've heard from Donald Trump ahead of this proposal being accepted yesterday by Hamas. Let me just read you what Donald Trump posted on Truth

Social yesterday: "We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed. The sooner this takes place, the

better chances of success will be."

That certainly suggests that the U.S. is more aligned with a hardened, more Maximalist approach by the Israelis than this deal would allow. I spoke to

the Egyptian Foreign Minister in an exclusive interview as you rightly pointed out on a trip to the Rafah border crossing yesterday, that is the

crossing on the Egyptian side where so much aid is piling up.

Humanitarian organizations trying to get that aid into Gaza for the catastrophe that, of course, is unfolding for the people of Gaza. And we

discussed the importance of a ceasefire proposal. And this is what he told me in our conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Help me out here, what or who is holding up a ceasefire today?

BADR ABDELATTY, FOREIGN MINISTER, EGYPT: It's -- to be frank with you, the lack of political will, especially from the Israeli side. We are pushing

the Hamas side in order to show more flexibility and --

ANDERSON: What does that mean, show more flexibility? I mean, Israel says it wants to defeat Hamas, and clearly feels it is close to doing that. Will

Hamas surrender at this point?

ABDELATTY: I mean, again, we have to be practical. We have to be reasonable. What we have to do now is to implement the proposal of Steve

Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy --

ANDERSON: Which is a phased --

ABDELATTY: Yes --

ANDERSON: Partial agreement --

ABDELATTY: That's right --

ANDERSON: A temporary --

ABDELATTY: That's right --

ANDERSON: Truce.

ABDELATTY: At least, to have a cooling off period to allow more trucks to enter into Gaza. And during this 60 days of the ceasefire, to engage in a

serious negotiations, to make the ceasefire sustainable.

ANDERSON: Can I be clear, Foreign Minister, is that the only proposal then on the table at present, the Witkoff proposal, to all intents and purpose?

ABDELATTY: This is a practical one. Of course, the Israelis are talking about ending the war --

ANDERSON: A one and done --

ABDELATTY: Having a comprehensive deal. But they are putting impossible, you know, conditions to be realized on the ground --

ANDERSON: Can you explain what those impossible conditions are?

ABDELATTY: I mean -- I mean, by talking about, of course, disarming Hamas. Now, that they will not allow neither Hamas or Fatah or the Palestinian

Authority to be there in Gaza. This is something, you know, not logic and not practical.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The Israelis then sitting on this proposal as we speak, no official confirmation of whether or not they are prepared to accept it,

should they accept it? One would expect an Israeli delegation here in Cairo along with Steve Witkoff at some point to hash out the details of this plan

that let's be quite clear, the mediators say is the framework for a comprehensive solution to end this war entirely.

But it is very unclear at this point whether it is going to fly with the Israelis, whether Benjamin Netanyahu is listening to the 500,000 people on

the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities around the country just this weekend, calling for him, imploring him to do a deal and get the hostages

home. More as we get it, Lynda.

KINKADE: I mean, just expand for us, Becky, on what's at stake here? If this all falls apart yet again and there is no deal, what does it mean?

Because you've been speaking to people trying desperately to get aid into Gaza right now. What's the --

ANDERSON: Yes --

KINKADE: Fallout?

ANDERSON: Well, the Israelis are controlling the Gaza side of the Rafah Border Crossing. That is, of course, only one of six crossings into Israel.

They control the others -- sorry, into Gaza. The others are on the Israeli border, which are also, of course, controlled by Israel. The Rafah Border

Crossing is open according to Egyptian authorities.

We saw hundreds of trucks there yesterday, I'm told that there are 5,000 trucks waiting to get across. We also saw medical supplies, ICU beds,

oxygen tanks, generators, all of which had been originally at times approved for movement from the rougher side of this border crossing into

Gaza, only to be held up in the vetting process when these trucks had got to the Israeli side.

[14:30:23]

The U.N. Human Rights Organization does say today that some aid is getting through, but not nearly enough, perhaps enough to avoid starvation. And

after all those images that were circulated around the world really, really heightening the concerns about what is this catastrophe in Gaza.

But not enough food, anything like enough food, all medical supplies getting through at this point. And one has to assume if the Israelis carry

out their threat to expand their operation first on Gaza City and then some, what is happening in Gaza will be more than a catastrophe going

forward. And that really is the concern of these mediators who are making every effort at this point, putting an enormous amount of pressure on Hamas

and now waiting for a reply from the Israelis.

It really -- it doesn't bear thinking about, I think is the response to that question that you've asked me when I put it to anybody, any

stakeholder involved on the ground here, it doesn't bear thinking about what will happen in Gaza should a deal for a ceasefire not happen.

KINKADE: Hopefully we get a deal and we get it soon. Becky Anderson for in Cairo, Egypt. Great to have you with us, and thanks so much for that

exclusive interview.

Well, still to come tonight, we're going to hear from a hostage. He was taken on October 7th and held in captivity for 18 months. He's going to

speak with Clarissa Ward in his first international interview next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:35:00]

KINKADE: Hello, I'm Lynda Kinkade. Well, amid the renewed push for a Gaza ceasefire hostage deal, tens of thousands of Israelis held some of the

largest protests since the war began on Sunday, urging for the remaining hostages to be freed immediately. Israeli officials say there are currently

50 hostages, and they believe 20 of them are alive.

Eliya Cohen endured Hamas captivity for more than 500 days after he was taken hostage from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023. In his first

interview with foreign media since his release in February, Cohen details the harrowing experience to CNN's Clarissa Ward. And a warning there are

graphic images and descriptions in this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIYA COHEN, FORMER ISRAELI HOSTAGE: I feel guilty. I feel guilty by myself. When I eat, I feel guilty. When I get showered, I feel guilty. When

I go to the hospital to check something, I feel guilty because I know what they go through right now.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eliya Cohen has been free for six months, but he's still imprisoned by the

knowledge that his fellow hostages are not.

Eliya and his girlfriend, Ziv Abud were at the Nova Music Festival on October 7, 2023. When rockets started raining down, they ran to a shelter

only to come under attack by Hamas militants.

COHEN: In this road, the first grenade inside. And the grenade explode and killed the most people in -- at the entrance. At that moment, I jump on Ziv

and I told her, Ziv, I love you. I took dead bodies and I cover me and Ziv to survive. They came inside and they start to shoot. And then I got shoot

in my leg.

WARD: What's going through your mind in this moment?

COHEN: I really start to pray to God, to tell him, God, I love you, please keep me alive. And they came inside. And when I opened my eyes, I saw them

film us with big smile. And when I came out of the shelter, so I saw so many people with RPG, with grenade, with Kalashnikov, with a lot of tools

to kill people. They were so high for me. I saw them. They laugh, they sing like crazy people.

WARD (voice-over): Eliya was bundled onto the back of a truck and taken to Gaza. Also, on that truck, Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. His hand

blown off trying to throw a grenade out of the shelter. The pair would later be held together for a short time.

COHEN: We took a lot for three days. After three days, they told him that, Hersh, wake up. You go to your mother, it's happy day. You go to your

mother, be happy. And he gave me his book. He got some book in English. I didn't know to speak English before.

WARD: You didn't know how to speak English before?

COHEN: Yes. He didn't know, not speak English before. He told me, take it from me because I go home. Keep it for you. So, it really gave me power to

continue because I saw to myself that Hersh came back home, maybe he will come to my mother and to my father to tell him that I'm alive and I will be

OK.

WARD (voice-over): But Hersh never came back home. He was executed by Hamas along with five other hostages.

COHEN: So, for me, it was difficult because I really love him. We were for three days, but it felt like we were friends for 10 years.

WARD: I'd love to get a sense from you of the bond between hostages.

COHEN: The experience there and the connection of us, you know, the situation made us really connected. We really love each other.

WARD (voice-over): Most of Eliya's captivity was spent deep in tunnels alongside fellow hostages Or Levy, Alon Ohel and Eli Sharabi. He says he

went an entire year without brushing his teeth. At one point, surviving on a single can of beans shared between them each day.

COHEN: I can tell you about a lot of situation that they came and really tried to do any torture to laugh on us. Like --

WARD: Mind games?

[14:40:00]

COHEN: Yes, like mind games. You can call it mind games. After something like eight months without mattress, without nothing, we slept on the floor.

They came with big smile. And little us, we have big good news for you. We gave you mattress, but we have bad news, we gave you just three. So, check

who slept on the floor and -- who will sleep on the floor and who will sleep on the mattress. And we look to each other, you know, nobody want to

continue to sleep on the floor after so many days, we tired.

One of the hostages, his name is Alon Ohel, and that's still there. He came and told to the terrorist, give them mattress for them, I will sleep on the

floor.

WARD (voice-over): After 505 days, Eliya was finally released, reunited with his parents and his girlfriend, Ziv, who he had assumed was killed in

the shelter.

COHEN: And then I met Ziv, and it was like dream. For a week, it felt like dream. I look at her and I told her, Ziv, I can't believe you are here.

Because she survived.

WARD: And now, you guys are getting married, is that right?

COHEN: I can tell you. That's in the news.

WARD (voice-over): Since his release, Ziv is always by his side.

COHEN: She want to join us.

WARD: She wants to join us? OK.

COHEN: Yes.

WARD: Let's put a microphone on you. I mean, Ziv, did you ever let yourself imagine that moment while you were waiting for Eliya?

ZIV ABUD, ELIYA'S GIRLFRIEND: No, not really because I was scared. I never let myself to imagine this moment because I don't want -- I didn't want to

fall, you know? I told to myself, I believe just when I see that Eliya across the border to Israel with -- you know, with soldier, and this is the

moment that I look and told myself, OK, now you can breathe.

WARD: In an interview with Israeli media during the ceasefire, Eliya said that he worried that if the fighting continued, it would be, quote, "a

death sentence for the hostages." In our conversation, he was very careful not to criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu or his plan to occupy the whole

of Gaza. But other hostage families have been more outspoken about their fears.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Our thanks to Clarissa Ward. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:45:00]

KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. A tropical storm warning is now in effect for parts of the U.S. Eastern Coast. Hurricane Erin is now

threatening the region with potentially deadly rip currents and destructive waves. The category 2 storm is not expected to make landfall, but it is

hitting North Carolina's outer banks with destructive waves and a storm surge. And there is another major storm forming in Erin's wake.

I want to welcome Meteorologist Derek Van Dam tracking all the developments. Great to see you, Derek. So, how is Hurricane Eric now

looking and what can you tell us about the storms that are following in its path?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right. So, Lynda, yesterday alone there were already 75 water rescues off the coast of the Carolina beaches, North

Carolina. So, this is the area we're targeting for some of the larger impacts from this hurricane that is going to run parallel with the eastern

seaboard, churning up the ocean, sending the swells towards the coastline.

You're looking at the outer banks of North Carolina. This is a barrier island. There are homes that are already threatened. And keep in mind, this

is low tide. So, often this water laps up just during low tide. Let's add in 20-foot breakers on the ocean. Let's add in storm surge. And the

potential here exists for coastal erosion and some damage to those homes and some of the local roadways that people traverse throughout this popular

summer tourist destination.

So, here it is, Hurricane Erin. It's north of the Turks and Caicos, just east of The Bahamas. Currently at a category 2 Atlantic hurricane

equivalent. This thing is a shell of itself compared to what it was a day ago. 24 hours ago, we were staring down a category 4 monster. Now, a

category 2. But the devil's in the detail, right?

So, this storm, as it moves north, will expand in size. So, what this does is it runs parallel with the East Coast between the outer banks and Bahamas

-- or excuse me, rather, Bermuda, which is located here in the Central Atlantic. That wind field expands and it churns up the Western Atlantic

oceans. And it allows for these large waves, these breakers, these swells to make their way towards the shoreline, those outer banks, the outer

islands of North Carolina.

Not to mention we have the potential for tropical storm force winds within this area. This is North Carolina. Here's South Carolina, Virginia to the

north, but this region here, from Wednesday night into Tuesday -- Thursday morning, that's when we have the potential for winds in excess of 39 miles

per hour.

So, when we churn up the ocean, we have the potential of 15 to 20 feet of ocean breakers right along the coastline, and then two to four feet of

storm surge. So, put it all together, it's just going to be downright dangerous to be at the beaches. And then, just like Lynda mentioned, we've

got this parade of storms entering the main development region of the Central Atlantic. This is what we're monitoring for the next one behind

Erin. Lynda.

KINKADE: All right. we'll have -- ensure that you are staying across the door for us. Good to see you, Derek. Thanks so much.

VAN DAM: You too.

KINKADE: Well, CNN analysis of European data shows the continent is on track for its worst wildfire season on record. As global warming triggers

hotter and drier weather, record setting wildfires have devastated huge parts of Western Spain for more than a week. And seeing the devastation

firsthand, the Spanish prime minister had this to say about the climate crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEDRO SANCHEZ, SPANISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Every year the climate emergency worsens. Every year it is more recurrent. And every year

the effects of this climate emergency accelerate. And so, I ask myself, if this is the case, why don't we turn the climate emergency and its policies

into state policies?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Well still to come tonight, the Chinese government wants to build a big new embassy in London. We'll tell you why critics believe this could

be a security threat.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:50:00]

KINKADE: Welcome back. The Chinese government wants to build a new embassy in the heart of London, but not everyone is in favor. If approved, it would

be the largest embassy in all of Europe. As CNN's Salma Abdelaziz explains, many are concerned by the potential threats to security and privacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hong Kong activist Carmen Lau looks nervously at the building behind us.

CARMEN LAU, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG DEMOCRACY COUNCIL: My heartbeat right now is actually quite fast.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): We are standing at the gates of what could become China's new embassy in the heart of London. Critics have dubbed it a super-

embassy. If the proposal goes ahead, China will invest millions in what would become the largest embassy in Europe on the sprawling 5.4-acre Royal

Mint Court. Beijing bought the historic parcel of land in 2018 for around $312 million.

Lau fears the site will be used to spy on, harass and potentially detain and torture opponents of the Chinese government, including herself. Fears

the embassy has dismissed.

Lau fled Hong Kong for London about four years ago. She says after she faced persecution for speaking out against the Beijing government. Hong

Kong police later issued an arrest warrant for Lau, accusing her of incitement to secession and collusion with foreign element, charges she

denies.

Now, she says her sense of safety has been shattered yet again. This is why in February her neighbors received the sheet of paper, a wanted poster

promising or award for information or --

LAU: Or take her to the Chinese embassy.

ABDELAZIZ: Take her to the Chinese embassy?

LAU: Yes.

ABDELAZIZ: And what's the reward?

LAU: It's 1 million Hong Kong dollar.

ABDELAZIZ: And when you think about that embassy being right there and getting posters like this?

LAU: Yes, it's not hard for everyone to imagine if I got taken into this site, what would happen to me. They could do whatever they want.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): This 2022 video speaks to her concerns, it shows a pro-democracy protestor being dragged into a Chinese consulate in the

English City of Manchester and beaten up.

Lau's fears of a block site grew after a blueprint of the mega embassy showed several rooms, including the basement area, marked redacted for

security reasons. The current Chinese embassy says it needs more space and called opposition to its plan despicable slandering by anti-China elements

and unfair.

ABDELAZIZ: Chinese officials also noted that the U.K. is seeking to rebuild its own embassy in Beijing. The United States says it is deeply concerned

that China will exploit the critical infrastructure of one of its closest allies, that's according to a senior administration official.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): British officials have asked Beijing to provide more information on the redacted areas and clarify how it will address the

concerns of local residents.

ABDELAZIZ: This whole --

MARK NYGATE, ROYAL MINT COURT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION: All the way along here. All the way along to the end.

ABDELAZIZ: All the way over there.

NYGATE: Yes.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): Like Mark Nygate.

ABDELAZIZ: And your flat is just right there?

NYGATE: Yes, yes, yes. And I said, I'm closer to Beijing now.

[14:55:00]

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): His flat is just a few feet away from what could become a housing block for dozens of Chinese embassy staffers and their

families.

ABDELAZIZ: Do you feel like you'll have your privacy?

NYGATE: No, not at all. Not all. Yes. You -- we were told we've had to put our blinds down, people with their privacy.

ABDELAZIZ (voice-over): China says it aims to foster friendship and cooperation between Britain and China. The U.K. is expected to make a

decision the proposed embassy in the coming weeks.

Salma Abdelaziz, CNN London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, finally tonight, a church on wheels. Quite an unusual sight in Sweden as a historic church is relocated. Take a look at the Karuna

Church. It weighs around 600 tons and it's hefted onto a specially built trailer, the 113-year-old landmark is slowly inching its way down an Arctic

road in an effort to save it from sinking into the earth's surface. The relocation project will allow for the expansion of the world's largest

underground iron or mine. And thankfully, it didn't have to move too far, just three miles. That's about five kilometers.

That does for this edition. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Thanks so much for watching. Stay with CNN. "What We Know" with Max Foster is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

END