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Hamas and Israel Agree to Ceasefire-Hostage Deal; Extreme Red Flag Warnings Back in Effect for Parts of L.A. Region. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired January 15, 2025 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

DANA BASH, CNN HOST: Breaking news coverage is ceasefire and hostage deal reached between Israel and Hamas with the first phase set to take effect this Sunday. It includes the release of 33 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. President Biden said talks will continue and a second phase of the deal could include a permanent end to the war.

I've got my incredible team here with me. Alex Marquardt, what have you been hearing from your sources as we have been doing other news and talking to others?

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, now we're pretty sure this is going to happen. So how is it going to happen? And President Biden, we heard just moments ago talking about how this is exactly the plan that he laid out back at the end of May in 2024.

I think what's slightly different is this figure of 33, 34 hostages to come out, that has remained consistent. But what's different this time is that it's going to be a combination, we think, of both hostages who are still alive and those who are deceased. Now, the first ceasefire deal in late 2023, that was 10 hostages per day. There was a steady drumbeat before it fell apart after eight days.

There's a lot of room for error here. We're talking about just over 30 hostages to come out over the course of 42 days. And so, there's a lot that can go wrong during those gaps between those releases, because we think that they're going to come out in different groups.

And then, of course, the big question about what happens after those six weeks, assuming that they go successfully. Will the Trump administration have the same priorities as the Biden administration in terms of seeing -- and these are key Hamas sticking points -- the Israelis leave the Gaza Strip and allow all that aid to get in?

I think one of the main driving factors for the Trump administration is this desire to see Israeli normalization with Saudi Arabia, a growing of the Abraham Accords. And Saudi Arabia, for all the criticism of Crown Prince MBS, and perhaps that he may not be the biggest supporter of Palestinians, he is not going to normalize with Israel unless there is a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood. And we're certainly not hearing that from the Israelis today.

I think that's a that's a major question going forward.

BASH: Yes, I mean, he not might not be a big supporter of Palestinians, but the people, young people, especially on the streets of his country certainly are. What about you?

BETH SANNER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Absolutely. I mean, I think that this the level of difficulty of any of this, yes, the level of difficulty of getting to this from the first place, hugely high, right. But now the level of difficulty of seeing this through is just incredible.

And I think that, you know, we are probably in for a pretty rough ride, a lot of ups and downs. But the point that Alex just made about what does Donald Trump want, and this is key for what Netanyahu does, because he faces so much domestic opposition to doing a permanent deal. But Donald Trump needs that permanent deal in order to get what he wants in the Middle East.

BASH: Beth, you are the only person at this table who has briefed Donald Trump a few times. You didn't -- you were not a political appointee per se. You are a career intelligence official. And as part of that job, Donald Trump came in and you helped to give him his daily brief.

Given that knowledge of how he approaches these things. Obviously, that was his first term. This is eight years later, different set of circumstances, a lot of different experiences behind him. Give us some insight into what you expect him to do and not do as he does take the reins on this really important yet, as you were both saying, deal that is kind of on tinder hooks.

SANNER: One of the things I think is really important to understand is that he is going to negotiate hard and pressure Netanyahu. This idea that was suggested that, you know, he's buddies with Netanyahu, whether that is true or not is, I think, disputable. But regardless, he is going to hold Netanyahu's feet to the fire to get this done.

And the second thing is that all of this is about a negotiation and everything that happens is about strengthening his position in order to get this done.

BASH: Posturing.

SANNER: Posturing purposefully.

BASH: Yes.

SANNER: And so, we're going to see a lot of pressure on all sides. It's not just going to be about threatening Hamas. There's a lot going behind the scenes on Netanyahu to keep this going. And it's going to be required.

[15:35:00]

BASH: Yes, and I mean, listen, Donald Trump and Bibi Netanyahu had a falling out after Donald Trump lost because Netanyahu dared to call Joe Biden the president or the president-elect.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: They did. They've obviously repaired that relationship through meetings and whatnot. But Beth's point, I think, is a good one, that this is something that the Trump administration, President Trump, wants.

He does not want to be weighed down by this. He was not elected because of this. This is not really a central focus, but a reminder that presidents have to deal with whatever comes their way.

But I think, interestingly, President Biden, just a short time ago, who is still president for five more days, he said, in these past few days, we've been speaking as one team. And I think it's members of the team who are involved in this are very important to this, because Brett McGurk, who has been a President Biden's longtime Middle East negotiator, he worked in the Bush administration in the rebuilding of Iraq. He worked for President Obama and whatnot.

So, these are very core parts of the team. But Steve Witkoff is a real estate investor, developer, does not have this type of foreign policy experience, but they work together on this. So, when President Biden has said, I told my team to coordinate closely, speaking with the same voice, because that's what American presidents do.

I think that is what is remarkable of this. Now, he saw this through five days before he leaves office, he will not be involved in the rest of this. So, we don't know actually how it will be for legacy purposes.

But it certainly is one of the just interesting developments for these bitter rivals, at least on the Biden side, work together at the end.

AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: The devil is in the details and the implementation is the biggest thing. I mean, I'm sorry to work towards the end, because I want to know from Beth, what does it mean to bring people up to speed who don't have those backgrounds? What is it like to sit in that room and have -- be on the edge and to tell them, hey, this is what you need to know.

There's a lot of complex questions coming up. And it's not totally clear beyond what Donald Trump wants, who's equipped to have those conversations going forward.

SANNER: Well, the thing that Witkoff brings to the table is that he speaks for the president. And that's what allowed him to go into the room a week ago and really tell Bibi, get this done. That is what made the difference in this deal.

BASH: OK, thanks, guys. Don't go anywhere. We are following other breaking news that is still happening in California. Firefighters are still battling dangerously high winds, threatening to fan several deadly wildfires. We are going to go live to Los Angeles County with the latest next.

[15:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: Southern California's extreme red flag alerts remain in effect across parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Eaton Fire is 45 percent contained, but the area is still under the highest threat level. Fire officials warned there are still hot spots burning in the Palisades Fire. And even though those strong Santa Ana winds are expected to finally ease tonight, more could be coming.

Meantime displaced elementary school students from two Palisades campuses that burned down returned to class today in temporary new locations. CNN's Stephanie Elam is in the evacuation zone in Pacific Palisades, rather.

Stephanie, what's going on there at this hour?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you hear the idea that these fires have not really grown, Dana, in the last few days, and the fact that they've got it almost halfway knocked down on the Eaton Fire, so just at 19 percent here, the Palisades Fire. But the real issue is those hot spots because they can burn down into root systems of trees and bushes and linger there. The fire can linger there.

And if we're worried about this wind picking back up, that could pick up an ember and blow it, and we could have more of this, which, obviously, nobody wants to see any more of this. And for a lot of people who live in this area, they want to come back and check on their property. But I can tell you, the power companies have been out here, the gas company out here.

You have got the fact that Cal Fire is going through lot to lot, and then also the cadaver dogs going through and sniffing, trying to make sure that no one lost their lives and that they aren't found, if that is the case.

But when you listen to the chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, she knows that this is what people want, is to get back in here. But listen to her explain it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF DRISTIN CROWLEY, LOS ANGELES FIRE DEPARTMENT: We understand your desire to return to your community. However, significant safety and infrastructure issues remain, including downed power lines, broken gas lines, hazardous materials, and unsafe water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: And also, that toxic ash. You see, I've got my mask back on because when we were out here overnight, you could actually see in the lights how much is blowing in the air. And now the Los Angeles County health officials are saying that the air quality measures that they've been using, the index, may not actually pick up the ash that's in the air. And so they're recommending that everyone wear your masks. You can get masks from the libraries all throughout Los Angeles County. But just look at this devastation from up here. You can see it goes

all the way down. Looks like it goes all the way to the ocean. In fact, I've been down by the ocean. It does go down by the ocean. And all of this that needs to be cleaned up. And they're working to figure out how they're going to get in here and start cleaning up all of this debris, get it out of here, so it could be the big process of beginning to rebuild can begin -- Dana.

BASH: Yes, what a task. And I'm glad you're wearing your mask, given the toxic air there. Stephanie, thank you so much. Appreciate it.

After a quick break, we're going to go back to the big story today. Israel and Hamas, their ceasefire and hostage deal is set to go into effect in just days.

[15:45:00]

I've got a speaker, who was forced to evacuate Gaza. And he's going to talk about the humanitarian crisis going on right now. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BASH: And the breaking news is the United Nations Secretary General is calling the announcement of a ceasefire for hostages deal between Israel and Hamas a critical first step. He also says the ceasefire must remove obstacles to delivering aid to Gaza amid what he calls a catastrophic humanitarian situation there.

I want to get straight to the person who knows firsthand what the humanitarian situation and what the medical challenges are on the ground in Gaza, Dr. Thaer Ahmed -- Ahmad, forgive me, Dr. Ahmad, who treated people in Gaza after October 7th.

[15:50:00]

And, Dr., I know you are also an emergency physician on the board of the Palestinian American Medical Association. Thank you so much for being here. First, your reaction to the news.

DR. THAER AHMAD, TREATED WOUNDED IN GAZA AFTER OCTOBER 7TH: I mean, there's an incredible sense of relief. I mean, I've been watching the live feed from Gaza, speaking to colleagues since the news first broke. And there's just so many people who are excited.

And there's people celebrating in the streets. They were just very tired. You know, for the last 15 months, there have been people who've been suffering tremendously displaced from their homes. And the idea that this can finally be over, you can feel it in the air.

And so, really, the work starts now, but also people are taking a second to process everything that's happened. And the sense of relief is very much palpable here in the United States, as well as over in Gaza and in the West Bank.

BASH: So, the humanitarian aid is supposed to start soon, as soon as this is fully -- phase one is starting to be implemented, I should say. What are the first critical items needed, based on your time there on the ground?

AHMAD: Well, you know, it was miserable the last 15 months with respect to getting aid in. It was a point that many organizations were raising, the fact that it was impossible to predict when you'd be able to deliver food, water, medical supplies. And in addition to that, there was also this notion of trying to get people out of Gaza who needed medical evacuation.

My hope is that we don't go back to a pre-October 7th situation, because even then there was a blockade on Gaza that made things difficult. I hope that the Rafah border, which is between Egypt and Gaza, can be open in a consistent fashion, so that we can see food coming in. I mean, it's important to keep in mind that there was an intentional starvation of the population over the last 15 months.

And the first thing that you have to do is you need to flood the markets with food and clean water. We know that there was the polio outbreak, but many diseases that get spread because there's a lack of clean water can be eradicated really quickly if we can make sure enough clean water is getting in.

And finally, it's important to keep in mind the health care system has been devastated. I mean, there's been attacks on hospitals and doctors being arrested. Are we going to be able to bring in medical supplies and try to get this back on its feet? I mean, these are huge questions.

And if we go back to the day before October 7th, things will not be easy, and people will unnecessarily die. So that's what everybody is really anxious about.

The other thing I'll mention is that in the ceasefire deal, what we're looking at, it's suggesting that air raids will be paused for 12 hours in the day. I hope that that can actually mean that there will be no air raids, because people are going to be very anxious to see what's left of their homes to get back to the north. And I just hope that they're not caught in any sort of raids that will cost them their lives.

BASH: Are you confident that Hamas will allow this critical aid to get to its civilian population?

AHMAD: Well, I think you have to look at the agency of the Palestinian people. That's part of the pressure that led to a ceasefire deal. I think people in the Gaza Strip are ready for this to be over.

And I think all of the parties in the Gaza Strip recognize that. And it's going to make it -- you know, there's a lot of people who've lost their lives over the last 15 months. There's a lot of homes that have been gone. The health care system was brought to its knees.

And so every single part of Palestinian society is going to be motivated to try to return to some sort of normalcy. I fear, just as a humanitarian and a physician, that it's going to be impossible to get back to that point, given the destruction that Israel has inflicted on the Gaza Strip. I mean, we are talking about hell on earth. So I just hope that there can be an effort from the international

community to support the recovery, and so that people in Palestine in the Gaza Strip can actually start to heal and start to move forward, hopefully back to some sort of normalcy.

BASH: Yes, it is going to take a lot of effort by a lot of people in the region and well beyond in order to get Gaza to a place where people who live there have the rights that they deserve to live freely from everybody who's trying to keep them down. I really appreciate you being here. Thank you so much, doctor.

AHMAD: Thank you.

BASH: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[15:55:00]

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: ... incredible opportunity. As I said earlier, standing at this podium behind this lectern serving the American people in this administration has been an honor of a lifetime. And I will be forever grateful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Jean-Pierre first took over as press secretary in May of 2022 after serving as deputy press secretary, the first Black woman and LGBTQ person to be the White House press secretary.

"THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Welcome to the lead. I'm Jake Tapper. Our major breaking news right now, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal that will pause the fighting in Gaza and lead to the phased release of hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

President Joe Biden just confirmed that in the last hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: More than 15 months of terror for the hostages, their families, the Israeli people. More than 15 months of suffering by the innocent people of Gaza. Fighting in Gaza will stop and soon the hostages will return home to their families.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: The deal, the formation of which has been incredibly laborious and obviously is still fragile, could take effect as soon as this Sunday as the government of Israel releases hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is expected to release 33 of the 251 hostages they kidnapped from Israel 467 days ago in their October 7, 2023, attack. 157 of those 251 hostages have already been released.

Israel believes most of the 33 hostages set to be released hopefully Sunday are alive.

Sources tell CNN this group will include Americans Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen. Seven Americans in total are still being held hostage by Hamas, only three of whom presumed to be alive.

In addition to bringing the hostages home, the ceasefire itself could also allow the much needed relief and aid that be brought to the people of Gaza.

Celebrations in both Israel and Gaza are taking place today, as this is all intended to be just the first phase in a larger potential peace deal. If phase one goes well, negotiations for the second phase could begin on the 16th day of this first deal.

Phase two is intended, we're told, to end the war itself. President Biden says it would bring the remaining hostages who are still alive home. We should note, of course, this deal is fundamentally what Biden proposed back in May.

President-elect Donald Trump also claims the deal is only happening because he will take office in just a few days. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was there in Qatar for the final three-day stretch of negotiations, a development that Biden administration officials said was critical in bringing negotiations over the finish line.

A Democratic insider, indeed, tells me that the threat of what Trump would do if this was not resolved by the time he took office was a, quote, huge, unquote, factor in this deal happening.

Let's get right to CNN's Jeremy Diamond in Tel Aviv and MJ Lee at the White House for us. And, MJ, we're getting brand new details about the hostages. Tell us.

MJ LEE, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, we had heard President Biden saying earlier today that Americans would be among the hostages that were released in this first phase. And sources tell me and my colleague Jenny Hansler that two American hostages, they are Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, they are on the list of the initial 33 hostages who will be released in this first six-week phase of the ceasefire.

As a reminder, you're looking at their faces on the screen right now. Seven American hostages remain in Gaza, and four of them have been declared dead. And Keith and Sagui are among the three who have been presumed alive this entire time. So that is going to be, of course, a joyous celebration for those families once they are hopefully soon reunited with Keith and Sagui.

But for the rest of the American hostages and their families, of course, they are going to be waiting still for some good news.

Now, securing the release of the remaining hostages, as you said, Jake, is going to fall on Donald Trump and his incoming administration. And President Biden actually said that it was for this specific reason that he instructed his team to work hand in hand with the incoming Trump team.

But it was also clear during this -- the remarks that the president gave at the White House, that even still there are some sensitivities around the question of who actually gets the lion's share of the credit for this deal coming together. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: This deal would have to be implemented by the next team. So, I told my team to coordinate closely with the incoming team to make sure we're all speaking with the same voice, because that's what American presidents do ...

END