Return to Transcripts main page
What We Know with Max Foster
Thousands Trek North In Gaza As Ceasefire Begins; Israeli Police: Trump To Visit Israel On Monday; Deadly Blast Rock Military Explosives Plant In Tennessee; U.S. First Lady Announces Ukrainian Family Reunifications; Power Outages Across Ukraine After Massive Russian Attack; U.S. Justice Department Indicts New York Attorney General; Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado Wins Nobel Peace Prize. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired October 10, 2025 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:30]
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: The long trek north begins in Gaza.
This is WHAT WE KNOW.
Thousands of Palestinians fleeing a mixture of joy, sadness and exhaustion are making their way towards home. They're streaming north, mostly by foot
as Israeli troops pull back to new lines inside Gaza. An aid worker who has been living in a tent with her children in Gaza, says the ceasefire that
came into effect today represents a fresh start for war weary Palestinians in dire need of food, medicine and shelter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YOUSRA ABU SHAREKH, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, INARA: The recent months were so catastrophic, and it's time for everyone to relax, to breathe, to have this
glimpse of relief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, here's where we stand with the first phase of this agreement. The IDF says the ceasefire began 10 hours ago. That started the
72-hour clock ticking on the return of the hostages being held by Hamas. At least 47 are being held in the enclave, with 20 of them presumed to be
alive. A U.S. official says American forces have begun arriving in Israel to help with humanitarian and logistical aid. CNN's chief international
correspondent, Clarissa Ward, is joining us now from Tel Aviv.
And, Clarissa, there is a lot of hope in this moment, but a lot of tension, too, as we count down to the return of the hostages and the exchange for
those Palestinian prisoners. Just talk to us about what where we're at right now and what you're hearing there on the ground about what could come
next.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, here in Israel, I would have to say, Christina, the mood is completely different to
anything I've experienced in the past two years that I have been coming here regularly to report there is a palpable feeling of lightness, of
relief, of excitement. We have seen scenes of jubilation, particularly in Hostage Square, not just from hostage families, but also former hostages
who have been released, who have been tirelessly campaigning around the clock to try to get their hostages back home as well. And from the broader
Israeli public, Christina, many of whom are very tired of this war and who feel that this grim chapter needs to come to an end.
On the other side of the border, as you were pointing out, those pictures from Gaza, truly biblical scenes which give just a sense, at least to
people of the absolute horror that Palestinians there have been living through for two years. It is a very different scene. It's less about
jubilation and celebration and more about grappling with the relief of this moment, but also the huge amount of hurdles and challenges that now remain,
going back to homes that probably don't exist anymore, huge questions now about what happens to Gaza. Who takes responsibility for the security and
how to get that desperately needed aid into Gaza?
The U.N. saying they have 170,000 metric tons of aid waiting to go in Gaza. Of course, in the grips of truly a historic humanitarian crisis. So, there
are a lot of different facets to this, Christina, and a lot of different balls in the air. But everyone I have been speaking to from the various
different countries that are involved with trying to facilitate the implementation of this plan, say the same thing, which is the first phase
is the crucial phase, and we need to get that down first.
And that first phase, that 72-hour window, which, as you pointed out, began ten hours ago, is about seeing the release of the 20 hostages who are
alive. Of the 28 or so who are deceased. Although Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated earlier today that its possible that they won't be able to locate
all of the deceased within that 72-hour window. And of course, crucially as well, the release of 1,700 Palestinian detainees who have been held since
October 7th and a further 250 Palestinians who are facing life sentences.
Once that part of the plan has been carried out, then the talks begin for the implementation of the second phase of the plan. And we've just seen in
the last few hours the news that some of those 200 U.S. troops from central command, who are going to be part of this broader regional sort of
stabilization force, have started to arrive in Israel.
[15:05:04]
Part of their tasking is to help facilitate the implementation of some of that aid that we just discussed, but also creating some kind of a security
zone within parts of Gaza where the IDF has now withdrawn from -- Christina.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, that reporting obviously in the last hour or so.
Clarissa, in terms of the more immediate of this hostage exchange that we know has to take place within the next 72 hours, and the prisoner exchange,
of course, as well. Are you learning any more detail, Clarissa, on how logistically that is going to happen and what preparations may be put in
place for that?
WARD: Well, we have, you know, our experience to go on with the last couple of times there have been hostage exchanges. What's different about this one
is that according to the plan, the hostages should be released all in one go. We don't know if it will indeed transpire that way, but in the past,
they were released in smaller groups.
We do know that there's three specific hospitals in Israel that are on a state of high readiness to greet and meet those hostages, to offer them the
medical care that they might need. We know that at least two of the hostages who are coming home alive are believed to be in very poor
condition, but so far, we don't yet have a specific timeline. We also know, Christina, that president, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to
arrive here on Monday. He will also be traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh to preside over the signing of this agreement.
But the assumption that some are making is that potentially he would be traveling here around the same time as hostages have just been released, or
are being released, but we don't yet have any specifics in terms of timing, people here are literally holding their breath. They are counting down the
minutes and hours until they see those hostages safely back home -- Christina.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, a crucial few days and hours ahead there in Israel. And of course, the border in Gaza, too. Clarissa Ward, for now, thanks very
much.
Now, several people have died and others are unaccounted for after a massive blast at a military explosives company in the U.S. state of
Tennessee. Emergency services are on the scene, and officials say they are working to determine the extent of the damage and of the injuries.
Ryan Young is joining us.
And, Ryan, I've been watching these pictures for the last few hours. The devastation here is immense. Just walk us through what we know of what
happened.
RYAN YOUNG, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is immense. And I think a lot of us were shocked in the newsroom when we first saw these
images start coming across the screen, especially the aerials. What we learned from EMS is they weren't able even to get close at first because of
the secondary explosions that were happening in the area.
You can see from this video some of the cars that are still on fire here, as they were moving closer to the scene. Those secondary explosions that
were happening actually kept firefighters away from getting water on that initial fire scene. Now, what we know so far is three people have shown up
to the hospital on their own, but we have not got an accounting for the people who are at work.
We know from the mayor in the area that 80 people worked at that facility. Not sure how many people worked in that actual building that completely
eviscerated, as you see here on the screen. But you can tell from the parking lot, there were definitely people at work, there were cars there.
This still all remains on fire.
Now several different big agencies from across Tennessee have shown up. The ATF is there state fire and bomb arson units are there. But we know this
facility did not only military grade explosives, but did commercial grade explosives as well. So they handled this stuff all the time. But at the
same, when you look at that shot like that one, you can just see how big and immersive the scene is.
We're told some 1,300 acres. It rocked homes 11 miles away. We're actually waiting for a news conference right now so we can get an accurate
accounting of everything that's going on. We know there's some fatalities involved in the situation, but this all began early this morning. Something
happened there.
It rocked this area. It's about an hour from Nashville where this happened. So, take a listen to the mayor and what he told us a little earlier last
hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR OF JIM BATES, HICKMAN COUNTY, TENNESSEE (via telephone): It is unknown at this time what caused this blast. You know, it's going to be an
investigation that's probably going to go on for days. You know, this facility, they do manufacture not only military, but demolition explosives.
You know, to, for road work and things like that as well. They're not -- they're not just strictly military. But I will say this, that, you know,
that that this investigation is going to go on for some time. I'm sure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YOUNG: Yeah, we know the place is called accurate energetic systems. One of the things the mayor went on to say is a lot of times in town, you see
people proudly wearing the gear from that facility.
[15:10:01]
You understand this place employs a lot of the folks there.
One of the things they were concerned about is obviously family members finding out. And the hard way, by watching this and discovering that their
loved ones may have passed in this explosion. Once again, we thought there was going to be a news conference about an hour and a half ago that has
been delayed. We are waiting for federal officials and local officials to give us an update about what's going on. But that scene there, those
pictures will be something that a lot of people won't forget for quite some time.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, huge blast in such a small community. I can only assume so many lives have been touched by this. Ryan, we'll wait for that press
conference. Thanks for now.
YOUNG: Thank you.
MACFARLANE: Now, a surprise announcement today from U.S. First Lady Melania Trump on Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russia. She says she has
an open channel to Russian President Vladimir Putin after writing him a so- called peace letter. In turn, Russia has allowed eight children to reunite with their Ukrainian parents. Mrs. Trump says the reunions followed months
of private discussions with the Kremlin and her office.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELANIA TRUMP, U.S. FIRST LADY: President Putin and I have had an open channel of communication regarding the welfare of these children. For the
past three months, both sides have participated in several back-channel meetings and calls, all in good faith. We have agreed to cooperate with
each other for the benefit of all people.
(END VIDOE CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, the first lady's letter to President Putin did not specifically reference the thousands of Ukrainian children who have
allegedly been abducted, but urged Putin to consider the impact the conflict was having on children in general.
The Ukrainian capital enduring an intense barrage of Russian air attacks overnight, plunging parts of the city into darkness. While other regions
are reporting widespread power outages as well, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls it a cynical and calculated attack targeting
critical energy infrastructure just before winter sets in.
CNN's Fred Pleitgen has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ukraine says that Russia launched what they call a massive attack on Ukraine's energy
infrastructure in the night from Thursday into Friday. And the Ukrainians are saying that that attack was not only gigantic in scale, with some 450
drones being used and 30 missiles being fired at Ukrainian territory, but also as far as the length of that attack is concerned as well. Folks on the
ground in Kyiv telling CNN that air raid alerts were on for about seven to eight hours as that attack dragged on. The Ukrainians are saying that even
in the early morning hours, during times that are normally there for commuter traffic, that the air attacks were still going on.
Now, all of this, of course, had major consequences for Ukraine. There were big power failures in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Again, folks on the
ground telling CNN that large parts of the inner city of Kyiv were without power for several hours, but also the left bank of the Dnipro River. Of
course, that's the massive river that runs through the Ukrainian capital also without power for an extended period of time.
The Ukrainians are also saying that one boy was killed in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and several people were wounded in the area of Kyiv and the
surrounding areas as well.
The Ukrainians claim that what the Russians are trying to do is literally to freeze the Ukrainian population into submission, especially now with
those power failures and also in some cases, failures of heating, having a devastating effect as the weather in Ukraine grows colder, the Russians
have a very different take on things. They also commented on the situation. The Russian defense ministry confirming that they were behind these
strikes. They called them high precision strikes using drones and ballistic missiles, including hypersonic ballistic missiles. And the Russians are
saying that all of this was for was retaliation for Ukrainian attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, berlin.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: All right. Coming up, thousands in Gaza start to return home after two years of war. I'll speak to one woman in Deir al-Balah on what
comes next for almost two million displaced Palestinians.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:17:32]
MACFARLANE: Israeli police say President Trump is expected to visit Israel on Monday. Thousands of police officers will be deployed. Trump's
administration officials say the U.S. president will visit Egypt next week, where he plans to convene world leaders for a summit.
Jeff Zeleny is joining us live from Washington.
So, Jeff, tell us what more we know, what is expected of Trump's visit to Jerusalem, but then also on to Cairo for that world summit. That was just
really recently announced in the past hour or so.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF U.S. NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: It was certainly an extraordinary turn of events. But President Trump, scheduled
to be in Israel on Monday, scheduled to deliver a speech at the Knesset, the parliament, to talk about this deal, which certainly is a tremendous
achievement for him politically here in the United States, but certainly in the Middle East as well if peace holds, if an everlasting peace, as he
often talks about, holds.
But the timing on Monday is so interesting and important because we are told he is also scheduled to likely meet with freed hostages. He will not
be going to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv for security reasons, were told, but likely will visit with hostages when he is at the parliament giving a
speech. But then on to Egypt as well.
And this would be quite an extraordinary convening of leaders from the region. Of course, that is where most of these peace talks were taking
place. So, all of this is still coming together. The White House is still putting the finishing touches on this schedule, to say the least. It's very
much in flux. And this is happening during the middle of a government shutdown here in the United States. So, it is more difficult for U.S.
president to travel. But he is traveling to Israel and then on to Egypt as well.
MACFARLANE: Yeah. And I mean, as all of this is being worked out as we go of the difficult work still lies ahead. Of course, we're still in stage one
of this ceasefire, but we're already looking ahead to stage two. And we know that Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff are in Israel still
preparing -- well, preparing the ground. We believe where, you know, there are a number of sticking points that remain, Jeff -- I mean, perhaps chief
among them, the demand for Hamas to disarm.
Just talk us through, you know, the diplomacy, we know that may be going on behind the scenes right now.
ZELENY: Well, considerable diplomacy going on behind the scenes. Yes. Historic achievement and accomplishment.
[15:20:00]
However, only if it actually comes to be. And this is a fragile, in every definition of that word, particularly given the history here. But there's
momentum on the side of reaching a deal. And President Trump has seen, even by his critics, as sort of a singular figure, if you will, to bring all
sides together here to apply pressure on Israel. But also have the confidence and faith largely of the Arab world as well.
So, this is one thing that, that President Trump has expressed optimism about and hope about, but there is still a sense that the White House and
certainly among the president that this must still be going forward and momentum is the key here.
It's why he is going in person to try and sign the deal and see an end to this endless at least two-year war -- Christina.
MACFARLANE: Jeff, I know you'll continue to follow for this for us closely. Thank you very much.
I want to take our viewers now to listen in live to Tennessee, where authorities are giving a briefing following that massive explosion at a
military explosives facility. Let's listen in.
SHERIFF CHRIS DAVIS, HUMPHREYS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: We've come together and we're making the very best team effort that we can. To move forward.
Please keep in mind that we, these families, you know, and I've said it up front, I said it to start with. That's what thoughts and prayers need to go
right now.
And we've just got to take one day at a time or one hour at a time. We're processing things. We're finding out more information. We're trying to
figure out, you know, maybe the cause of this. There's not going to be a short explanation for that. I know, I'm repeating myself there a little bit
for.
Forgive me, but, we're all tired and trying to put together the best effort we can. And remember the families and who we're working for. I do want to
touch on accurate, energetic. They are here with us. The facilities here with us.
They have discontinued operations. They're focusing on their families, their employees. They're focusing on the next things that they need to do
to try to make everything best for their people. We've got critical incident folks on the scene. I'm just sitting here trying to think through
the scene.
You know, we got the critical incident. People here for the families as well as some of the first responders. For those of you that don't know, it
was about 7:45 a.m. this morning that this explosion happened. We had a really amazing response from the first responders, fire and here again, I
commend those first responders because it was multiple jurisdictions. They worked together. They got the situation under control very quickly and
safely. And when you see or you pull up to the things that they were seeing and doing and having to do at the time they done very, very well.
And, anybody, any questions?
REPORTER: Sir, you mentioned the word "souls" earlier. Can you tell us how many people have lost their lives?
DAVIS: I can tell you that we've had, there are fatalities. Do I want to put a number to that? Because I always. And those of you that have known me
in the past, always wish for the best. Is there a possibility that somebody might be injured somewhere or somebody that we don't know about? Yes.
I can tell you right now that we're looking for 19 individuals. And a lot of times when I have these types of situation, I refer to them more than
just a person, they're a soul to me. So we're trying to -- I can tell you that we're missing 19 souls right now. I'm sorry.
REPORTER: Sheriff, I was wondering how many people were working at the time and how many people were taken to the hospital?
DAVIS: I don't think, there was, I think four to five individuals. That was taken maybe even by POV. I can't talk about the ambulance part of that. And
forgive me for some of those other questions.
That not being from we've concentrated so hard on getting the scene secured, getting things moving, taking care of basically the security,
getting the personnel that we need here that I can't answer some of those early questions. So, forgive me for that. I don't want to give the
appearance that I'm avoiding that.
REPORTER: Have you had a chance to see the building and can you describe it?
DAVIS: Can I describe the building? There's nothing to describe. It's gone. It's -- again, it's the most devastating scene that I've seen in my career.
REPORTER: Sheriff, do you know what kind of work they did in that building, specifically?
DAVIS: I do not, ma'am, I do not.
[15:25:02]
I'm not familiar with day to day operations of that.
REPORTER: I see a lot of family members there waiting. Are they waiting for confirmation about if their family member is missing or what communication
are you having with them right now?
DAVIS: We have -- we have communicated with the family. We have. Weve done it twice. We wanted to get some solid information because we were sliding a
little bit and information that we were receiving and from past experience from the flood and those kind of things that we wanted to make sure that we
had the information, the correct information that we needed to talk with.
So, yes, we have spoke with families, again, Accurate Energetics is taking care of those families and trying to do everything that we can to comfort
them and get them the information as quick as we have.
REPORTER: I know it's early in the investigation, but does it appear its accidental or intentional?
DAVIS: I can't answer that. You know, we -- and it's something -- that's a good question. And the reason I say that's a good question. You know, in
law enforcement, we have one opportunity. And that's the reason why you see a lot of things that we have to do in law enforcement. We have to make the
worst assumption. We have to make that and improve it away that it is an accident.
So, we only have one chance at the evidence. We only have one thing or one chance to be able to do the things that we need to do, and we're going to
be slow, methodical and diligent and do everything that we can to make sure this is what it is.
And we're working for those families and those -- and those people that were in that building to make sure we get -- if they deserve justice, we
want to be in a situation that we get them justice. And that's how we have to approach these situations.
REPORTER: Okay. And there was another report that there was a destructive explosion in 2014, in the same building that was operated by Rio
Ammunition. Can you confirm that and tell me if there's some kind of trend going on?
DAVIS: Rio was on the -- Rio was on the facility. That did happen here. I was here during that time. I don't believe that it was that -- that current
facility at all.
Yes, ma'am. You had a question.
REPORTER: That was my question is, do you have any information about a previous explosion at this facility?
DAVIS: And -- well, see, you have to remember, this is a huge compound, and there's a couple of different businesses that may operate within this
facility. So I don't want to get in too much to the operation of the facility because they're -- they are very delicate operation, and we have
to maintain that.
REPORTER: Sheriff, I had heard some comments earlier about fallout outside the campus area from the blast early on.
DAVIS: Yes, sir.
REPORTER: Is that something?
DAVIS: There may be some debris that went over the fence. I don't think that we're too far from one of the property lines. And there may be some
debris that's on another property here.
REPORTER: Does that mean its stable?
DAVIS: It means that the scene is stable. The ATF and the FBI are on that. They are methodically moving through the location of the explosion.
REPORTER: Sheriff, I'm not sure if you noticed, but was at some point, was the plant up and running or were people just arriving for work? Do you have
any idea?
DAVIS: I believe the plant was up and running.
Last question?
REPORTER: Have you been able to speak to any families directly and if so, what are you telling those families?
DAVIS: We have spoke to the families directly, and we told them that they were going to be very transparent with them and get them the information
and try to answer every question that they have the best we can. It's -- again, it's going to be a very slow process.
Sheriff Craft (ph), you're going to --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I agree.
REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE)
DAVIS: May I ask you a favor? Would you repeat that louder, please?
REPORTER: A lot of different departments showed up here. Did you guys contact them or did they contact you?
DAVIS: We contacted them. I think Sheriff Craft and I both got information about this very quickly. I don't mind telling you, from the prior
experiences here, with the Rio and the questions that y'all had, I immediately picked up the phone and called Commissioner Long, and I said,
this is what I've got. This is where I'm going, because we are in a bad cell range. We are in a bad location, and commissioner and I are personal
friends, and he helped me get the agencies here that we needed and rapidly. So that was one of the things that I was very -- I'm very thankful to him
for that. And that relationship as well.
All right. Last question. I think I might have said that. Anybody?
REPORTER: Sheriff, I'm curious. I mean, after Waverly, I mean tragic, another tragedy. I mean, just you talked about in the beginning, but just
how are you feeling? I mean, how's the community doing after another tragedy like this?
DAVIS: My friend, I can't answer that. And forgive me for saying that. I can't answer that right now because he and I and the people from this
facility, Mr. Stinson, we've concentrated so much on what is here right now and getting this stable, secure and taking care of the people here that I
haven't been able to, to have any kind of feedback, from the community.
So, I'm sure that I'll start hearing some things. We'll start interacting with things as time goes through this. And again, this is not going to be -
- we're going to close this up tonight. It will probably be here three or four days from now, five days from now. It wouldn't surprise me at all if
we're here next week.
But we're just, you know, again, we got to go slow, methodical. So, forgive me. I don't mean to avoid that question, but we just can't -- I can't -- I
can't answer it right now because I don't know.
REPORTER: I do have one more question. I know you were kind of being really sympathetic towards wondering if eventually you are going to let us know
how many people have perished.
DAVIS: Yes, ma'am. We will confirm that. And like I can say right now, the list that we have right now, we are missing 19 souls. Okay?
REPORTER: Thank you. We're not confirming that some of them are missing. You can't confirm which ones have actually been accounted for.
DAVIS: I cannot tell you who's been accounted for.
REPORTER: What are the next steps for you?
DAVIS: Good question. Right now, honestly, we're having to go hour by hour. We're having to take things out. We're having to take developments that's
going on. We're operating this, as for lack of better words and I don't want to say two different scenes, but we're letting them take care and
doing the things that they need. And up there where the incident occurred, and were taking that information, compiling what the needs are and setting
goals. That we're trying to reach as we go.
So, to answer that, we're on an hour by hour situation.
REPORTER: What do you think we'll have about the number of people treated?
DAVIS: Ms. Gray, if you don't mind, what time was we going to come back together? Four p.m.? I'm hoping by 4:00 p.m. that that we can be able to
tell you more information about that. So, it's -- there again, it's not that I'm avoiding it. It's that we're getting information as we go.
And that's why I want to try to maybe do these every hour or every couple of hours to be able to answer your questions. Okay?
REPORTER: Again. I'm sorry. Is there some kind of list of missing people that we could potentially access? There was this one woman that told me her
son was on that missing people. I don't know if that's something that the media is privy to?
DAVIS: (AUDIO GAP) have that available for the media at this time. And we're still working with that there again, because there's some of the
delicate information. We're trying to confirm that all of every family's been notified and got a 110 percent have got to make sure that that's
happened. You know, the Sheriff Craft and I have even said if there's somebody we can't get a hold of, we're going to send officers and along
with Accurate Energetic staff to make sure that we go out and find that. So -- excuse me. We're trying everything we can do to hear again to take care
of the people.
Fair enough?
Hey, Chris.
REPORTER: In years past, you've asked media to help in different aspects. Is there anything we can do to assist at this time?
DAVIS: But I really appreciate you commenting on that. And putting things out here. We had some early pictures that was released and man, I'm just
asking you to be mindful of these families, this is a -- this is a huge ordeal. It's a very devastating ordeal. And I'm not talking about
devastating on the scene. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about devastating in the fact of a loved one just come to work. And now maybe,
missing or deceased.
So please keep that thing that that in mind when you're having or doing these stories, you know, these stories, we often find ways that we try to
turn things into negative. This is a bad situation. This is a negative situation. The reason for us to take the downward spiral or the downward
side of this story when it comes to these families.
So, I'm all about that. And I'll always be about that. I think sheriff and I both will always be about that.
So, thank y'all. Thank you, Sheriff.
MACFARLANE: That was County Sheriff Chris Davis speaking on the Tennessee explosives plant after that massive blast, confirming that the scene is now
secure. But they do not still have an explanation for why the explosion happened. It was confirming there that there are fatalities and that 19
people are still missing, but their priority right now is taking care of the families of those workers.
We'll be right back just after this. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:38:40]
MACFARLANE: With more than ten hours into the Gaza ceasefire, and here is what we know. Displaced Palestinians are now streaming to Gaza's north as
Israeli forces withdraw from parts of the enclave. Under terms of the agreement, Hamas has 72 hours to release all of the hostages. U.S. troops
have begun arriving in Israel to monitor the Gaza deal. Israeli police say U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Israel on Monday.
So, what we want to know is what is the mood among Palestinians in Gaza right now?
Earlier, I spoke to Amany Haniya, a youth program officer with the United Nations Population Fund from Deir al-Balah in Gaza. I asked her if she had
seen any Israeli military operation since the ceasefire came into effect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMANY HANIYA, YOUTH PROGRAM OFFICER, UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND: No -- today, there were, no military activities, no drones. This is the first
time we had this calmness and peace to be honest, since days and months and years. It's sometimes -- it's like a miracle to sleep today without these
voices. Maybe my kids today will have a moment of peace to sleep without nightmares and without being suffering or stressing because of these
voices.
MACFARLANE: You have, of course, been working with the U.N. throughout the entirety of this war, working to help girls and women to survive this.
[15:40:06]
What aid is needed right now? As soon as restrictions are lifted on the ground?
HANIYA: UNFPA has hundreds of trucks that are waiting to enter the Gaza Strip with medical supplies, with equipment for hospitals, for medical
points, for sexual and reproductive health, for the health of pregnant women, postpartum kits for the mothers and for the babies. Hundreds of kits
and thousands of kits for the women for the dignity kits, that are distributed for the women and girls in Gaza Strip.
We also have the minister of hygiene management kits that are essential during this time for the women and girls for their well-being and dignity
to absorb and to live the humanitarian situation with at least dignity and to be protected with these kits. UNFPA is ready to expand its operation in
Gaza City and the north, and all governorates of Gaza strip by establishing more safe spaces for women and girls, by establishing more youth hubs for
adolescent and youth in Gaza Strip, and expand the service delivery points at all areas to leave no one behind.
MACFARLANE: Amany, you are a humanitarian, but you're also a mother as well of three young children. I know you've been displaced seven times during
the course of this war, but if you can leave, will you evacuate again? Is there anything left in Gaza for you to remain?
HANIYA: To be honest, I have nothing remaining in Gaza for me personally, I lost everything I invested in, and I built during the past 10 years. I
invested everything to be in Gaza and to help Gaza. I have this kind of commitment to the people of Gaza, and I still have it. And I give up on
serving my people in Gaza despite I have this plan to complete my studies, maybe outside Gaza, and to have a moment of peace and restoring well-being
and mental health for my children at -- still serving my people. And I'm committed to helping them by all means that I can do for them and for
providing any support and help for the people of Gaza. Gaza will stay in my heart, and I will never abandon it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says U.S. president Trump deserves a Nobel peace prize and greater global recognition
for his work. Mr. Netanyahu is crediting Mr. Trump for his role in negotiating the ceasefire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER: I wish to thank President Trump for his global leadership and his tireless efforts in formulating the plan
for the release of the hostages. Once again, he has demonstrated his great friendship toward our people and our nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Meanwhile, in the United States, another of Donald Trump's political enemies has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice. New
York Attorney General Letitia James has been charged with two felonies related to a mortgage she took out on a home in Norfolk, Virginia, back in
2020. Trump has publicly called for legal action against James and even pressured a U.S. attorney to resign after he declined to bring a case
against her.
James says she is innocent and this is a clear case of Trump weaponizing the Justice Department.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LETITIA JAMES (D), NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: These charges are baseless., and the president's own public statements make clear that his only goal is
political retribution at any cost.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, CNN's Kara Scannell has been tracking developments on this story and joins me now.
And, Kara, this is being seen as political on many levels, not least because Lindsey Halligan, Trump's hand-picked attorney, personally
presented the case to the grand jury on Thursday, which is not something typically that U.S. attorney general, U.S. attorneys do.
KARA SCANNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's little about this that is typical to how prosecutions come about. In this case, Trump and the New York
Attorney General Letitia James, have a long history, a combative history where James had campaigned for New York attorney general, saying that she
was going to investigate Trump's real estate business. She did. She brought a civil fraud case against him. He went to trial, had to testify, and since
then has said on his own campaign trail for the presidency in 2024 that he thought that Tish James should be prosecuted.
And that is what culminated with the charges yesterday. And this investigation, looking at mortgages of various of Letitia James homes began
back in April from a referral from another Trump aligned person who oversees the U.S. housing market.
[15:45:07]
They -- this had been under investigation by the U.S. attorney's office in the eastern district of Virginia. And the prosecutors that were working on
the case. Sources tell us, did not think they had enough evidence to warrant an indictment. The U.S. attorney at the time, Erik Siebert, was
under pressure by Trump to bring a case against James and another person that Trump views as a political enemy, the former FBI Director James Comey.
So that U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert resigned. And in its place, Trump handpicked Lindsey Halligan, his former personal attorney, to take on the
case.
And within weeks of taking on that position, she personally brought the criminal indictments before the grand jury, which they voted on against Jim
Comey and against Letitia James. That is very unusual, but it kind of shows the direction that this is going with, you know, during this period to
Trump was leaning on his attorney general, Pam Bondi, urging her to bring cases against these people that he had highlighted, including James.
Now, this indictment charges James with one count of bank fraud, one count of making false statements to a financial institution. It all relates to
that 2020 mortgage she took out. The issue here is that the mortgage was for a second home. But the prosecutors allege that she was renting that
home out. Therefore, it should have gotten a mortgage related to an investment property.
The rub there being that -- it means that James, having gotten a mortgage that had a lower interest rate, benefited by about $19,000. The James team
has come out strongly saying that they do think this is a case of political interference, selective prosecution. They also have said that she is going
to fight these charges.
She will be due in court at the end of this month in Virginia, where she will be presented with this case, and then we'll see how it plays out from
there -- Christina.
MACFARLANE: A lot at play. I mean, given what you're saying about in both cases, James Comey -- Jim Comey and Letitia James case is the evidence has
been called insufficient. So, in Letitia James's case. I mean, how likely is this indictment to go anywhere legally?
SCANNELL: Well, we still have to see all of the facts at play. And if there are other materials, this is only a five-page indictment. It just says that
there was a document that she signed that said that she would not rent out the property, and they are saying that she would rent out that she did, in
fact, rent out the property.
Now, a source familiar with the property tells me that James did not have any kind of rental agreement. She had family members staying there, so that
will likely be part of their defense. And with everything that goes before the courts, there will likely be motions to try to get this case thrown
out, decisions by the judge before it even gets to a jury. But ultimately, this case is one that could go before a jury to ultimately decide whether
or not James had any sort of intentional misstatement to the bank.
Normally, cases of this size are not brought in a federal charge. It could be something that would be handled by a state or local prosecutor. So
another just unusual element of this whole situation.
MACFARLANE: Yeah, somewhat uncharted territory.
Kara Scannell, thanks very much.
And we'll be back in a moment. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:50:55]
MACFARLANE: Welcome back.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is this year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Machado is currently in hiding after attempting to
run against President Nicolas Maduro in last year's election. Machado describes her life's work as promoting ballots over bullets. The Nobel
Committee says she is one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.
Isa Soares has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A beloved opposition leader and a target in Venezuela. For decades, Maria Corina Machado has stood firm,
showing resilience in her fight for freedom and democracy.
Known as Venezuela's Iron Lady, she has rattled President Nicolas Maduro's authoritarian rule, a battle that has intensified in the last two years in
2023, Machado won the opposition primary by a landslide, but the regime soon disqualified her from running in the presidential election.
Faced with bans and threats of arrests, she endorsed a fellow candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, and was forced into hiding.
And today, the world recognizes the spirit of her democracy movement.
JOERGEN WATNE FRYDNES, CHAIR, NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE: The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 to
Maria Corina Machado. She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela.
SOARES (voice-over): For Machado, the phone call came as a moment of shock, and she was humbled by the honor.
KRISTIAN BERG HARPVIKEN, SECRETARY, NORWEGIAN NOBEL COMMITTEE: And I'm calling to inform you that in a few minutes it shall be announced here at
the Nobel Institute that you will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025.
MARIA CORINA MACHADO, NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER: Oh, my God. Well, I have no words. I hope you understand. This is a -- this is a movement. This is a
achievement of a whole society.
SOARES (voice-over): Last year, Venezuela held its presidential election. Incumbent President Nicolas Maduro declared he won. The opposition also
claimed victory. Independent observers say was unlikely that Maduro actually won.
In January, Machado stepped out of hiding to join a protest in Caracas. I spoke with her earlier this year where she described it not as a choice,
but a personal responsibility to lead the fight.
SOARES: What happens, Maria Corina Machado, what happens if you're arrested?
MACHADO: Well, we're taking one day at a time, Isa. I trust the Venezuelan people and believe me, Maduro has never been so weak at he is right now.
SOARES (voice-over): Some Venezuelans living overseas are echoing her call.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This reinforces that the fight we Venezuelans have against dictatorship is real, and the world needs to see
it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I feel proud to say that woman is Venezuelan. I'm really happy and truly we are very hopeful the situation
will change for the better.
SOARES (voice-over): But not everyone welcomed the decision. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he deserved the price.
For Machado, the fight isn't over, but the award sends a powerful message of hope, saying on social media, quote, "We are on the threshold of
victory. And today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America and the democratic
nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve freedom and democracy".
FRYDNES: For her tireless work --
SOARES (voice-over): A Nobel Peace Prize may not bring democracy overnight, but it does shine a light on those who refuse to give up in Venezuela's
fight for freedom.
[15:55:06]
Isa Soares, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: And before we go, it's the final moments of trade on Wall Street, and stocks are sharply lower. The Dow Jones is down more than 800
points, more than 1.5 percent. That all came after a bombshell post from Donald Trump on Truth Social. Mr. Trump has been threatening new economic
measures against China in response to Beijing's new restrictions on rare earth materials.
The U.S. president says he no longer sees any reason to meet with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, later this month, after China tightened its
control over some valuable elements. And we will, of course, have lots more on this story in the next hour.
But for now, that is it for us. I'm Christina Macfarlane. That is WHAT WE KNOW.
Jim Sciutto is next with "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS".
END
TO ORDER VIDEOTAPES AND TRANSCRIPTS OF CNN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMING, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS
