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One World with Zain Asher
Israel Begins Ground Offensive To Occupy Gaza City; FBI Director Kash Patel Faces Tough Questions From Congress; Maduro Warns "Great War" In Caribbean Could Break Out; Bad Bunny Residency Inspires And Energizes Puerto Rico; U.N. Inquiry Chair Responds To Israel's Genocide Denial; Hollywood pays tribute to the one and only Robert Redford; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired September 16, 2025 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:01]
BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN ANCHOR: It is seven o'clock in the evening in Gaza City, and the Israeli ground incursion is underway. Second hour of "One
World" starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLKER TURK, U.N. HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: It's absolutely clear that this carnage must stop, and it has to stop at once.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Hamas, the terror group, is calling Israel's offensive unprecedented and barbaric. While Israel's Netanyahu, the prime minister,
saying their only goal is to defeat the enemy.
Also ahead, shut up and let the professionals do their job. Right now, FBI Director Kash Patel is defending his handling of the Charlie Kirk murder
investigation.
Plus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT REDFORD, AMERICAN ACTOR: When you're being raised, you want to make the most of your life. I mean, I guess that's what I decided. I want to
make the most of what I've been given.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: What a loss, saying goodbye to a legend. Hollywood pays tribute to the one and only Robert Redford.
Hello, everyone. Live from New York, I'm Bianna Golodryga. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
Nearly two years into Israel's war with Hamas, despite mass protests, backlash, and international condemnation, Israel is escalating the war in
Gaza.
The nation is launching a ground incursion into Gaza City with tanks and troops. Israel says the target is some 3,000 Hamas militants in Gaza City.
That's less than one percent of the local population.
Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel is making efforts to open additional routes to allow for a faster evacuation of Gaza City.
Around one million people, nearly half of Gaza's population, once called Gaza City home. The IDF says about 40 percent of them have left.
Now, hundreds of thousands are piling their entire lives on top of cars and makeshift carts fleeing once again. The ground assault comes on the same
day as an independent U.N. Commission concludes that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The U.N. itself has not made such a declaration. Israel rejects the report. The U.N. Human Rights Chief is calling on Israel to quote, stop the
carnage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TURK: The whole world screams for peace. Palestinians, Israelis scream for peace. Everyone wants an end to this. And what we see is a further
escalation which is totally and utterly unacceptable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: President Trump says he doesn't know much about the operation to take control of Gaza City. He spoke ahead of his departure for the United
Kingdom. But sources tell CNN that Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel has the full support of the United States
for the assault on Gaza City.
Before leaving Israel, Rubio said, time has almost run out for any sort of ceasefire hostage release deal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Well, as you saw, the Israelis have begun to take operations there. So, we think we have a very short window of
time in which a deal could 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)
GOLODRYGA: CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us now from Jerusalem. And, Jeremy, two IDF divisions have already begun advancing more, are expected in the
days and weeks to come.
But as we heard there from Secretary of State Rubio, this is an operation that the U.S. at least is envisioning to last only for a short period of
time. How much of a window is the United States giving Israel for this operation?
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's really unclear at this stage exactly how long this operation will last. And I think the point
of emphasis there from Secretary Rubio is that as this operation ramps up, the window for potential diplomacy will also be closing. And that, I think,
was the key point that he was making there.
You know, the Israeli military has, over the course of the last few weeks, been making the kind of opening moves to lay the groundwork for this
invasion of Gaza City. We have watched as Israeli troops have taken up positions along the outskirts, the northern outskirts and the southern
outskirts of Gaza City, ramped up their bombardments and artillery shelling of the city.
[12:05:16]
And last night, we saw really terrifying scenes of Israeli bombardments striking Gaza City that were described to us by residents on the ground.
The images from Al-Shifa Hospital, for example, showing multiple children being brought in, bloodied, covered in soot. Some of them lifeless already.
And then we saw the scenes of mourning unfolding in the hospital's courtyard, where bodies, big and small, were laid out for their parents and
loved ones to be able to grieve.
Now, we know that this invasion of Gaza City is really just in its opening move. Some 20,000 Israeli troops mobilized for the effort with many more
likely to soon follow. We have yet to see, though, any evidence of Israeli tanks and troops actually moving into the heart of the city. But that does
appear to be the intention now.
And not just to carry out some kind of a raid where forces will move in and then out as we have seen so many times before. But rather this time, the
intention is to take over the city as a whole and occupy it for an indefinite period of time.
We have seen 350,000 people, according to the Israeli military, who have fled Gaza City so far. But many more still remain in the city, with some
lacking the means or the ability to actually leave the city themselves.
And so there is a tremendous amount of uncertainty about what exactly lies ahead, as the Israeli military says, that it is targeting a Hamas force
that is only really just two to three thousand fighters in that very city.
And, of course, beyond that, there is concern for the lives of Israeli hostages, 20 of whom are still believed to be alive, several of whom are
believed to be held in Gaza City. Their families have been taking to the streets over the course of the day and last night as well, arguing against
this Gaza City offensive and calling for an end of the war, fearing that their loved ones could be caught in the crossfire here and killed as a
result of this Israeli military offensive, particularly as just a few weeks ago. We saw Hamas put out a video of one Israeli hostage being driven
around, not in the tunnels, but above ground in Gaza City.
Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And we heard from President Trump just a few hours ago before he departed for the United Kingdom, once again warning Hamas of
severe consequences if they use these hostages as human shields above ground as this operation in Gaza City unfolds.
Jeremy Diamond reporting to us live from Jerusalem. Thank you.
Well, for the first time since he took over the FBI, Kash Patel is sitting in front of Congress to answer questions today. His time as FBI chief has
been filled with controversy with plenty of questions about his handling of high-profile cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and the recent assassination
of Charlie Kirk.
Democrats have also grilled him about whether he is turning the FBI into a political operation rather than a law enforcement one. They say he lied
when he promised not to fire FBI employees who once investigated Donald Trump or Trump's allies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR: The only way people get terminated at the FBI is if they fail to meet the muster of the job and their duties. And that is
where I will leave it. And you accusing me of lying is something I don't take lightly, but I'm not going to get into a tit-for-tat with you.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (R-CT): Well, let me just ask you to answer my question. Has anyone from the White House contacted you about personnel
decisions?
PATEL: Generally speaking, we always discuss with the White House OMB during the budget process, how many personnel we need, who we need where.
BLUMENTHAL: Answer is yes.
PATEL: For budgetary purposes and via --
BLUMENTHAL: You've been directed to fire people, agents, because they participated in investigations of the president.
PATEL: I don't receive directions to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Our Arlette Saenz has been tracking the testimony by Kash Patel. She joins us now. Another fiery exchange there between a democratic member
of the Senate and the FBI director.
Arlette, the president was asked this morning whether he still supports Kash Patel as FBI director, especially in light of some of the criticism
he's received in the handling of the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the subsequent investigation. The president seems to still support his FBI
director.
What more stands out to you, though, from what you heard today?
ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, FBI director Kash Patel has been testifying in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee for over three hours
at this point. And really top of mind for many senators heading into this hearing was the investigation, his handling of the investigation, into the
killing and murder of Charlie Kirk.
Now, Republicans that we spoke to largely have fallen in line, saying they continue to have confidence in Kash Patel's ability to serve. But Democrats
have said that he bungled this investigation, particularly pointing to those social media posts from last Wednesday when he had indicated that
there was a suspect in custody when that was not actually the case.
[12:10:17]
We spoke to many democratic senators who simply believe that he is not up for the job in part because of that handling of the investigation. Take a
listen to democratic Senator Pete Welch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. PETE WELCH (D-VT): He's not up to the job. He's putting himself first. And the fact is that there should be coordination and cooperation in what
you saw was kind of an overreach in the part of him on a personal basis. A lot of our FBI agents have done a tremendous job.
What Patel has done is essentially purge a lot of folks who did a really good job for political reasons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAENZ: Now, Kash Patel defended his handling of this investigation and said that he is not going anywhere.
But we've also heard criticism from democratic senators. And what they believe is the politicization of the FBI. They've pointed to various
firings of FBI officials as they have tried to challenge Patel on that issue.
You also heard Senator Blumenthal talking with Patel about the need he said heading into this hearing that he wanted to get Patel to commit to not
using the FBI as a -- a way to politicize or weaponize the agency against political organizations.
So, these are all some of the concerns that the senators have. Heading into this hearing, Republicans that we've spoken to, so far, have said that
they've been satisfied with what Patel has had to say. But Democrats certainly remain critical of his handling of the FBI and that investigation
into Charlie Kirk's shooter.
GOLODRYGA: All right. Arlette Saenz, thank you so much.
Now, let's bring in CNN senior law enforcement analyst, Andrew McCabe. He's a former deputy director of the FBI. Andrew, it is good to see you.
There had been a lot of concern once Kash Patel had been nominated for the FBI Director role of exactly this, politicizing the job and actually
executing some of the president's own grievances while he is in that post.
From what you've heard from his testimony today, remind you as we heard from Arlette, he still seems to have the backing of the president and
Republican members of the Senate. A lot of criticism from Democrats. Objectively, what stands out to you and what concerns are raised?
ANDREW MCCABE, CNN SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I think the director is quite rightly being questioned about his personal performance
last week around the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation, you know.
Look, he -- he had a number of stumbles last week, everything from his inopportune text, releasing information kind of out of -- out of school as
it were, discussing details of the case without coordinating with his state and local partners, claiming every -- every advance in the investigation,
every success in the investigations directly the result of his own personal and private decision making, which I'm sure is probably far from true.
So, there's all kinds of issues there, but honestly, in my opinion, what the senator should be focusing on is the long-term damage that this man is
doing to the FBI on a day-to-day basis from purging agents who have exhibited nothing but investigative prowess, political -- no political
motivation, and who bring in irreplaceable experience and wisdom to the job, replacing them for political reasons, deciding to eliminate the
requirement of a college degree for new agents, newly hired agents, deciding to reduce the amount of training giving -- given to new agents
from 18 weeks to eight weeks.
These are all fundamental decisions that will inept, that will completely change the structure and the efficiency and the ability of the FBI to
protect America. And I think those are questions that he should have to answer today.
GOLODRYGA: He was asked about firing agents, as you said, purging agents who had either been investigating former President Trump at the time or
even asked if he fired agents, depending on who they voted for.
He said that agents had only been fired when legally warranted, but we know there are some lawsuits going on as we speak to that point.
Let me ask you about the Charlie Kirk investigation, and specifically how Kash Patel has been handling that. He has made a number of errors, as you
know, than you have said, according to experts like yourself and others, over the last week.
He's also publicly revealed details of the investigation in ways that are highly unorthodox and differ from, for example, how the attorney general
has been handling this case when asked about specifics.
[12:15:12]
Talk about the significance of that. It's one thing to be unorthodox and reveal information to the public. As consumers, I'm imagining the public is
fine in listening to all of that. But what does it do for the case itself?
MCCABE: There are some very good reasons, Bianna, that the Department of Justice and the FBI have always had a policy that you do not reveal
sensitive investigative information, particularly from an ongoing investigation, particularly one of this importance and investigation that
literally the entire world is watching each step of, in which we have a -- an alleged political assassin in our hands who will be charged with murder
later this afternoon. And who will have to be prosecuted in court.
So, I think you're hearing the attorney general take the traditional and judicious line when asked for details about the case. She demurs and says,
I can't share details about the case. It's not been charged. Somebody's going to be going to court. We don't want to violate that person's rights.
We're not here to charge -- you know, to -- to try people in the public square.
Kash Patel has decided to throw that playbook out the window and reveal on his favorite news programs, the app -- the details of messages statements
allegedly made by the shooter to his friends and associates on -- on the internet and on this Discord messaging application.
That's like an extraordinary level of detail of messages that might be vital to the prosecution that have now been released to the world and to
the defense and possibly to the detriment of the defendant.
You know, this person has a right to be tried under the -- under the requirements of due process. And the more chances you give him to complain
or make motions that his due process rights have been violated, the more jeopardy you potentially place this prosecution in.
So, it's just -- it's a bad idea. It makes the bureau look horrible. I think it erodes his own already limited credibility. And it's inconsistent
with the behavior of his own boss, the attorney general.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. And the president having to be asked whether he still trusts and has faith in the FBI director. He paused for a second there and
then said that he -- he supports everyone on his administrative -- on his administration, on his team now.
As you noted, we should be getting formal charges pressed against Tyler Robinson later today. We'll bring them to you live when that happens.
Meantime former FBI director Andrew McCabe, it's always good to see you. Thank you.
Well, here in New York, a judge dismissed two terror related charges against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing the former
UnitedHealthcare CEO.
In his ruling, the judge said the terrorism charges were, quote, legally insufficient, but the 27-year-old still faces a second-degree murder charge
in the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson at a Manhattan hotel in December of 2024.
Mangione also faces federal charges that could net him the death penalty or a life sentence. His supporters have flocked to his hearings, raising more
than $1.2 million for his defense.
Meantime, coming up for us, is the U.S. really pushing for war in the Caribbean? We'll bring you the Venezuelan president's warning.
Also ahead, Monday was Mexico's Independence Day and this year's celebrations were unlike any other, but this year's festivity made history.
Plus, Bad Bunny made a surprise announcement and it's going to make some of these superstar singers fans cheer.
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[12:20:14]
GOLODRYGA: The feud between Washington and Caracas appears to be heating up. U.S. President Donald Trump says the U.S. military has targeted three
boats, not two, which he claims were transporting drugs from Venezuela.
He shared this video on Truth Social of one of the strikes, claiming that those on board were, quote, confirmed narco-terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Stop sending Tren de Aragua into the United States. Stop sending drugs into the United States. We
knocked off actually three boats, not two, but you saw two. And the problem is there are very few boats out in the water. There are not a lot of boats
out in the water. I can't imagine why. Not even fishing boats. There's nobody. Nobody wants to go take a fish. So it's one of those things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Meantime, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is warning that a, quote, great war in the Caribbean could break out if the region is filled
with missiles and gunpowder. He says Venezuela has opened an investigation into the U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats and is urging the White House
to investigate the matter as well.
I want to bring in Stefano Pozzebon. And, Stefano, we heard those words from both the president and from Maduro today. What's happening behind the
scenes? How worried are the Venezuelan leaders -- is Maduro himself about further retaliation?
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, Bianna, I think that the concern is real. We haven't seen this level of escalation, this rapid escalation
coming this way in quite a few years, actually.
Like we heard two weeks ago about that strike, the kinetic strike, which is the language that the White House uses in these cases, a kinetic strike
against a speedboat that allegedly killed 11 Venezuelan alleged drug traffickers. Of course, these are people who have not given a due process.
But then the escalation that we were seeing happened in the last 48 to 72 hours with the U.S. President Donald Trump announcing yesterday another
striker that allegedly killed three Venezuelan drug traffickers. And now just as you -- you played that tape, but this morning as he was traveling
towards London saying that there was yet another strike.
Caracas has played down these narratives. They said that they still need to see the fact. We've asked them if they can confirm either of these two new
incidents that the White House seems to be hinting at and the Venezuelans haven't gotten back to us as of -- as of now, Bianna.
But at the same time, I think that the concern is real. And one interesting strategy that I'm seeing coming out of Caracas is trying to appeal directly
to Donald Trump and to Donald Trump's deal-making habits rather than to the Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Yesterday, Maduro gave a press conference speaking for two and a half hours on national television. He once again proposed the idea of having a
personal meeting with the U.S. President just like Donald Trump had met in the past with the likes of Xi Jinping or Kim Jong Un of North Korea or even
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
But at the same time, Maduro had very strong words against the Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It seems that the strategy from Caracas is trying to
dislodge the Marco Rubio side of the U.S. administration from the Trump MAGA and the more deal making soul of these second White House that we're
seeing.
We're seeing that, for example, oil exports from Venezuela into the United States have not stopped. And perhaps that is a sign that Maduro is willing
to trade to negotiate to sit down at the table with the president himself. And in a way trying to bypass the Secretary of State, who we've seen in
recent weeks, has been behind this new strategy of maximum pressure against Caracas.
[12:25:09]
Of course, it remains to be seen whether Trump is hearing these calls from Maduro because for now what we've heard from the U.S. president is only
that all options are on the table and he has refused time and again to rule out the possibility of strikes within the Venezuelan territory. Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: Yes. That -- that is an interesting tactic on Maduro's part to try to speak directly to President Trump and lay the blame there on Marco
Rubio, a secretary of state and the national security advisor, dual role who President Trump, by every indication, views very highly and he's quite
close too.
Stefano Pozzebon, thank you so much.
Well, Mexico, ranged in its Independence Day celebration this year on a historical note.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, MEXICAN PRESIDENT: Viva Mexico.
ALL: Viva.
SHEINBAUM: Viva Mexico.
ALL: Viva.
SHEINBAUM: Viva Mexico.
ALL: Viva.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Quite energized Claudia Sheinbaum. Historians say that Mexico's president is the first woman to lead Mexico's Independence Day ceremony
called the Grito de Dolores. Thousands of people flock to Mexico's city's main square to mark the event. Reports say Sheinbaum's ceremony emphasized
themes of inclusiveness and social justice key priorities of her administration.
Well, fans of Bad Bunny, take note. The superstar has announced a final bonus show to wrap up his residency in Puerto Rico. Except for September
20th, it will also be broadcast live on Amazon Prime, Twitch and the Amazon Music app.
For weeks, Bad Bunny's residency of shows has filled Puerto Rico with cultural pride and millions of tourism dollars.
CNN's Isabel Rosales shows us what makes this entertainer so special.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISABEL ROSALES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has closed out his sold-out 30-show residency, a run unlike anything
his home island has ever seen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: Are you going to put on lipstick?
LUCIA COTO, BAD BUNNY FAN: Si.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
ROSALES (voice-over): Lucia Coto may be his oldest fan. At 101 years old, she was born six decades before reggaeton even existed. She once wanted to
be a nun.
Today, Lucia has proof reggaeton and Bad Bunny has no age limit.
COTO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: I like reggaeton. It gives you joy. And then suddenly, your feet start moving.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: That's what you're going to do at the show? Show me again.
COTO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: Everyone starts shouting, and it's contagious.
ROSALES (voice-over): It's clear this isn't just a concert. It's a cultural moment. Tourism agency, Discover Puerto Rico, says around 600,000 visitors
have flocked to the island in just two months. And more than $200 million pumped into the local economy.
Lucia is on her way to see her favorite artist live for the first time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: Where are we going, grandma?
COTO: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: To see Bad Bunny.
ROSALES (voice-over): For fans, it's a cultural homecoming.
ROSALES: This house, just a little bit famous.
JORGE PEREZ, JOSE MIGUEL AGRELOT COLISEUM OF PUERTO RICO: Famous. La Casita.
ROSALES: La Casita.
PEREZ: Very typical in our culture, this is where family, friends meet, have a good time. People are here for three hours, and they have a great
time. But they're out and about for days, exploring our island.
ROSALES (voice-over): So, we went to see it for ourselves. Deep in the mountains of Ciales, we joined the Cafe con Ron Tour.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Los Angeles.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Atlanta.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Atlanta.
ROSALES (voice-over): Foreigners, coming from near and far and staying to immerse themselves in the culture, music, and heritage of the island.
Here, they're discovering plena, Puerto Rico's so-called sung newspaper. Born from African roots, it tells the story of everyday people.
Bad Bunny giving the traditional music new life. And touring with him, Jeneth Rivera's three children.
JENITH RIVERA, CAFE CON RON TOUR ORGANIZER: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: And for Benito or Bad Bunny to recognize their work, and then bring them into the residency is very gratifying and beautiful.
[12:30:06]
ROSALES (voice-over): These tourists will leave the island, but the spirit of Puerto Rico goes with them.
RIVERA: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: The residency transitions into a new chapter, but it has left us a legacy that we will continue to build on. And I think this is the start of
something bigger that we will be able to do collectively as cultural ambassadors of Puerto Rico.
ROSALES (voice-over): Isabel Rosales, CNN, San Juan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Welcome back to "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga.
An independent U.N. inquiry concludes for the first time that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Israel dismissed the report and called for the
abolition of the commission.
In a 72-page report released today, the commission finds Israel has, quote, committed four genocidal acts, the killing of Palestinians, causing
Palestinians serious bodily and mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about physical destruction, and imposing
measures intended to prevent births.
Nearly 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in the strip since October 7th. This is according to the Palestinian Health Ministry that doesn't
differentiate obviously between combatants and civilians.
Moments ago, CNN's Isa Soares spoke with the chair of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry. Here's part of what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:35:00]
NAVI PILLAY, CHAIRWOMAN, UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY: So, I expect them to challenge our factual findings in that way. Instead of that, they
make personal attacks. They are now repeating what has been said about us from the time we issued the first report.
I've only been labeled anti-Semitic by these lobby groups when I became chair of this commission. I was never called anti-Semitic for the six years
that I was high commissioner for human rights, in which six years time.
I was invited by the government of Israel to conduct a mission in Israel because they said that I exercised balance in the way I reported.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: You can watch the full interview with Navi Pillay on Isa Soares tonight in about 90 minutes time.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have launched an expanded operation in Gaza City. Israeli officials call the city one of the last remaining Hamas
strongholds. President Trump was asked about the offensive earlier and issued a warning to Hamas militants inside Gaza City.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, I have to see. I mean, I don't know too much about it. I can tell you that if they put the hostages in front of them, Hamas, as
protection what they call them bodyguards, Hamas is going to have hell to pay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLODRYGA: Joining me for "The Exchange" is retired IDF Colonel Miri Eisin. Miri, it is good to see you.
I just saw a post on X from Noa Argamani, who was a former hostage who was rescued last summer. And her boyfriend still remains held hostage in Gaza.
And she posted, "I cannot breathe watching the fighting inside Gaza City. As a former hostage, I know exactly what these moments feel like. The
booming blast, the gunfire, the wall shaking, the helplessness and despair that take over. The emotions come rushing back all at once, and it is
unbearable."
That is important to hear from a former hostage. It was also notable to hear the president reiterate on social media last night, and again the
warning today, about concerns that hostages will be used as human shields.
And that coupled with Prime Minister Netanyahu just moments ago, saying the goals of the Israeli land offensive into Gaza City are, quote, defeating
the enemy and evacuating the population. It was noted that he didn't mention the release of the hostages.
So, my first question to you is, what are you most concerned about now in terms of this operation, specifically as it relates to the hostages.
MIRI EISIN, FORMER COLONEL, ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES: Bianna, I want every single one of the 48 hostages home. And I also want to wake up tomorrow
morning and not have Hamas' terror army. I just don't want it to be there. And I don't know how to achieve both.
So, what am I worried about right now? The Israeli military is effective against Hamas' terror army, but we can't eliminate it. You can't destroy
it. It built itself as a terror army in the heart of the civilian population. It's in it. It's dressed like them. It uses the living rooms
and the children rooms, the mosques and the hospitals as their positions. It's going to try and take an Israeli soldier hostage again to add in.
And so I'm worried that in our action going in, we are definitely pressuring Hamas. And what Hamas is a terror organization, let alone a
terror army will do, is they'll take it out on the hostages. And I don't know how to resolve that enormous horrific contradiction.
GOLODRYGA: So, what are your thoughts on just the overall tactical objectives of this operation now, specifically given that the disputes and
the disagreements typically behind closed doors between military brass and government officials have now really been made public and come to light at
the end of the day, the military will do as the government then ultimately decides.
But the IDF spokesperson just said that the military chief, the army chief, Eyal Zamir, has responsibility to speak truth amid his opposition to this
offensive. How unusual is that?
EISIN: Not only is he there to speak truth, he's the top soldier. And, Bianna, he chose in this operation, which is such a complex one to be with
the troops in the Gaza Strip. I don't know of a lot of chief of staffs, you know, lieutenant generals. It's the equivalent of a four-star general who
go with their troops into the Gaza Strip in this type of offensive.
Remember that inside Israel, and I think that people are aware of it. We're a people's army. We have the draft. It's not volunteer. I served, my kids
served, my husband served. And in that sense, I think that what Eyal is, and I've known Eyal for many, many years in the military, is representative
of every single one of us.
And as you said, there's a lot of both controversy and dispute inside the Israeli public. And it goes back to what I said before. I actually want
both. I need the hostages home. I need that for our soul, for our country, for our future, but I also want to try to defeat Hamas, the terror army.
And that combo is one which just doesn't really go together.
[12:40:15]
And in that sense, I say nobody's asking me, but I would say right now, do what you can to get back to hostages. And afterwards, we'll try to take
care of Hamas. But I understand the idea that if you pressure Hamas as a terror army, then you don't allow them, the Hamas, not the Palestinians, to
define what's happening day by day. Neither one of us, neither you nor me want Hamas, a terror organization, a terror army, to be defining the rules
of the game.
GOLODRYGA: Of course. And as we always say, the onus is on Hamas, they can release the hostages, lay down their arms, and this would be over. Sadly,
that is not the reality we are facing, that Israel is facing, that the civilians in Gaza are facing.
If I could get you to respond to that U.N. Commission report accusing Israel officially of genocide. Israel has responded by calling this fake.
You heard from one of the lead authors of that report. We'll hear more from her later on, on CNN later.
But your reaction to what this means to Israel's global standing, which has already been significantly tarnished. The support of the United States,
obviously, is key. But I would imagine this is not a position Israel likes to find itself in isolated from so many of its other traditional allies.
EISIN: It's -- it's really in that sense for me as an Israeli right now, it's that sense that when I talk on T.V., I feel like darts are being
thrown at me because she's Israeli. And I have been not only delegitimized, but in this thing that calls a genocide, I am being dehumanized.
Bianna, for me, what they're saying is that I marry willingly and want to eliminate the Palestinians to commit genocide. And I'm looking at you right
now on the camera, I'm going, I, who have been my entire adult life, tried to have a better future for Palestinians separate from that Hamas terror
army, and that being accused of that is so hard.
The fact that it comes from the United Nations in its very odd way for me actually makes it easier. Fifty years ago, almost 50 years ago, same United
Nations was the one that defined Zionism as racism. And I thought that we were past that.
And here we are today, and I find that Israel is the only country that when we never target civilians, we openly look at ourselves and I am very aware
of the amount of casualties. But inside that entire U.N. report, one word is missing Hamas, Hamas, the terror army, it doesn't exist inside there.
And for me, that is just impossible, that legitimizing of Hamas, and the delegitimizing and dehumanizing of Israelis. And I really do hope that in
the future, we can totally change this. But until the war is over, until we have the 48 hostages back, and that includes in the end, and end of the
ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip, until that's over, I don't even know how we start to face these accusations.
GOLODRYGA: It can't be over soon enough. I -- I know I -- I speak for you and so many Israelis, so many civilians there in Gaza, obviously, the
hostages and their families as well.
Miri Eisin, let's hope for better days ahead. Thank you so much.
EISIN: Thank you so much, Bianna.
GOLODRYGA: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:45:03]
GOLODRYGA: Global luxury real estate is on the rise with average annual growth across 45 major cities hitting nearly three this year.
Asian and Middle Eastern cities are becoming a hub for investors and developers exporting its bold urban vision worldwide.
In today's Marketplace Middle East, we explore Dubai's real estate model and how it's influencing markets from London to Sydney.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YARA ENANY, CNN PRODUCER (voice-over): On this plot of dusty land in Dubai, what is said to be the world's second tallest tower is rising.
The $1.6 billion project is Burj Azizi. And it's the latest from the CEO of one of Dubai's most ambitious developers.
FARHAD AZIZI, GROUP CEO OF AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS: So the Burj Azizi is taller than every single building on Sheikh Zayed Road. And --
ENANY: This is only the beginning. Azizi wants to put his mark on cities around the globe.
AZIZI: In Australia, we're looking at a high-rise. In London, for example, we're looking at five towers. That is the international expansion is to go
as a Dubai company to those places and do something iconic.
ENANY: Dubai knows what it means to be iconic. Its skyline isn't just tall, it's powered by a real estate boom that has the world's attention.
LIAM BAILEY, GLOBAL HEAD RESEARCH DEPARTMENT, KNIGHT FRANK: Dubai has been incredibly successful at creating a business environment that people from,
you know, just about anywhere in the world are attracted to.
I think that Dubai is -- is offering a challenge to the kind of established model within Europe, but also in -- in North America, even in Australia and
other -- other Western economies.
ENANY: Dubai now ranks third on the Global Prime Cities Index, which tracks luxury property prices in top cities worldwide.
The Emirates saw property sales hit $73 billion in the first half of the year, up 41 percent compared to the same period last year.
AZIZI: But we want to take our experience from Dubai, our team from here, and be able to develop in different parts of the world in different
countries.
ENANY: Azizi is not the only one tapping into this growth. Other Dubai developers, including Emaar and DAMAC, are eyeing markets in Europe, the
U.S. and beyond.
BAILEY: Actually, if you just think through, you know, where is the most interesting developments happening right now in the world? A lot of them
are happening within Dubai. So actually the skill set and the expertise locally is now world-class.
ENANY: And the prices are going up. It's been going up for a while here in Dubai. Do you think it's going to be a bubble that's going to burst?
AZIZI: I -- I don't think -- I think the -- the way -- the way I look at Dubai is that Dubai is comparable to those other international cities like
Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, London. It's a bargain here. Prices are so much cheaper than those markets that I just mentioned.
ENANY: As Dubai skyline soars higher, its developers, like Azizi, are setting their sights far beyond the city to turn the Dubai model into a
global blueprint and put their name on the world stage.
Yara Enany, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:38]
GOLODRYGA: A Hollywood legend has died. From his ginger locks of hair to his charming smile, Robert Redford was the epitome of a Hollywood leading
man. But he was so much more as well. A passionate defender of the environment and award-winning director and one of our greatest advocates
for thought-provoking independent film.
CNN's Sara Sidner has more on his remarkable life.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hollywood legend and leading man, Robert Redford, had many roles in front of the camera as well as behind it.
He was a true filmmaker and will always be remembered for many iconic films.
REDFORD: She denies even knowing about the conversation.
SIDNER (voice over): "All the President's Men."
REDFORD, ACTOR, THE WAY WE WERE: I don't know when I'll be back.
SIDNER (voice over): And "The Way We Were."
1969's "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" was his first blockbuster film, starring alongside Paul Newman. They also co-starred in "The Sting," for
which he was nominated for best actor in 1974.
Redford was cast as the romantic leading man in films like "The Great Gatsby" and "Out of Africa," a label that followed him throughout his life,
even as he became older.
REDFORD: I didn't see myself the way others saw me. I was kind of feeling trapped because I couldn't go outside the box of leading man or good-
looking leading man. It was very flattering, but it was feeling restrictive. So, it took many years to break loose of that.
SIDNER (voice over): Redford won a best director Oscar in 1981 for "Ordinary People." He directed "A River Runs Through It," "Quiz Show" and
many other films.
A native Californian, he was born in Santa Monica in 1936. As Los Angeles grew, so did Redford's love for protecting the environment.
REDFORD: I grew up respecting nature because what happened to Los Angeles? It was a city as a child during the end of the Second World War that I
loved. It was a beautiful city and the air was clean.
And then what happened after the war was suddenly there were skyscrapers and there was pollution. It felt like the city that I loved as a child was
taken away from me. So I -- I moved away from that in sadness.
SIDNER (voice over): Redford moved to New York City to pursue an acting career on Broadway in the late 1950s. His big breakout role there was in
Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park," a role he would later reprise on the big screen with co-star Jane Fonda.
But after several years on Broadway, Redford left the glitz and glamour behind and in 1961 moved to Utah, where he bought two acres of land for
just $500 and built a cabin for his family.
REDFORD: I discovered how important nature was in my life and I wanted to be where nature was extreme and where I thought it could be maybe
everlasting.
SIDNER (voice over): An avid environmentalist, he bought more land over the years in Park City, Utah and turned it into the Sundance Institute in 1981,
a nonprofit dedicated to independent filmmakers.
And four years later, started the Sundance Film Festival to showcase their work.
REDFORD: Once the press came, then fashion came. And when fashion came, the paparazzi came. So, these are kind of like tiers that formed outside of
what we were -- and that's fine. That's their business, but it's not who we are.
[12:55:04]
SIDNER (voice over): And his love for the environment continued.
REDFORD: As years went on, I became more and more convinced that nature played a great role in our lives but wasn't being treated fairly. And so I
got committed to preserving that.
SIDNER (voice over): But he didn't stop acting and directing and was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2002 for his contributions to filmmaking.
REDFORD: I want to make the most of what I've been given. And you keep pushing yourself forward, you try new things, and that's invigorating. I
guess I found out that rather than retiring, that just feels better. Just keep moving as long as you can keep moving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLODRYGA: Just an amazing legend. No one will be like him. A life well lived.
Well, that does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Bianna Golodryga. Thanks so much for watching. Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back with
"Amanpour."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
