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Israeli Army Recieves In Gaza Bodies Of Four Hostages Killed In Hamas Captivity; Defense Secretary Orders Military To Prepare For Major Budget Cuts; President Trump Reduces the Federal Bureaucracy; Bullying Claims About Family's Immigration Status Emerge After 11- Year-Old's Death Ruled Suicide; Hamas Set to Release Bodies of Bibas Children and Mother; Vatican: Pope's Tests Show "Slight Improvement"; 7 Men Charged in Burglaries of Pro Athletes' Home. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired February 20, 2025 - 01:00   ET

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

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[01:00:26]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: For Israel, a painful homecoming like no other with Hamas returning the bodies of the two youngest hostages. Hello, I'm John Vause. Ahead here on CNN Newsroom.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We are bringing home four of our beloved hostages fallen.

A demonstration says Hamas of their commitment to a fragile ceasefire amid growing concerns the Israeli prime minister is not.

From Ukraine's best friend and biggest supporter to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: A dictator without elections. Zelenskyy better move fast or he's not going to have a country left.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: The new U.S. president unleashing a string of insults and lies while repeating also talking points from the Kremlin.

And the real world tragedy born of a crackdown on migrants in the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): It's not fair. She was a happy girl.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Mother in grief over her daughter's suicide after taunts from school bullies that the family sheep could soon be deported. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN Newsroom with John

Vause.

VAUSE: They were the youngest of all the 250 or so people kidnapped by Hamas from Israel on October 7th. Ariel Bibas, just four at the time, and his baby brother Kfir was nine months old. And their bodies and the mother's body as well as one other will soon be released by Hamas.

This is the first time the remains of hostages who did not survive the war are being returned to Israel. The two little boys and their mother Shiri, were taken by Hamas militants from their home on a kibbutz in southern Israel. With their bright red hair, the family became among the most recognizable victims of the Hamas terror attack.

For more than 500 days, those who know the Bibas family as well as a nation left traumatized have been hoping the two little boys would make it home alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

YIFTACH COHEN, KIBBUTZ NIR OZ RESIDENT: So Shiri and the kids became a symbol. I'm sure they don't want it, but yes, I still hope that they will be alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Images of the Bibas family remain on display in their kibbutz as well as reminders of the brutal terror attack. The boy's father, Yadan Bibas, was also kidnapped but released alive earlier this month. The group representing hostages and their families released a statement which read in part, this news cuts like a knife through our hearts. The family's hearts and the hearts of people all over the world. It is with great sadness that we receive the news of the return of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas along with Oded Lifshitz, who were kidnapped alive and will return to cease for eternal rest in Israel.

Oded Lifshitz was 83 years old when he was kidnapped along with his wife October 7th. She made it out alive and released later that month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the hostage handover today will be yet another difficult day for the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NETANYAHU (through translator): We are bringing home four of our beloved hostages fallen. We embrace the families and the heart of an entire nation is torn. My heart is torn. Yours too. And the heart of the entire world needs to be torn because here we see who we are dealing with, what we are dealing with, what monsters we are dealing with. We are sad, we are hurting. But we are also determined to ensure that something like this will never happen again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: We have CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson live this hour in Jerusalem. Also, CNN's Paula Hancocks standing by live at Abu Dhabi. But first, Nic, we'll begin with you. In terms of the hostages who were kidnapped on that day, the Bibas family have been among the most visible, the ones that would provoke perhaps more sympathy than many others or all others.

What does this moment mean for Israel? What does it mean to actually receive the returns of the mother and the two children?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, and I think what the families would say and have been saying is that until these bodies are handed over and they've been transferred and transported, as expected, to Israel's forensic institute and it can be confirmed that it's who Hamas said, as they are Shiri Bibas and her two sons. And Oded lives as well. The fourth person you mentioned whose remains will be handed over, a Hamas say whose remains will be handed over today.

I think the families have really been hoping that this turns out not to be the case.

[01:05:02]

I hope against hope that their loved ones would be alive. And I think when you speak to the sense of the nation here, it is perhaps easier for Israel and Israel is to grapple with what is maybe today the toughest and saddest of news. But it's been an emotional roller coaster for the country.

As you say, those absolutely searing images of Shiri Bibas holding Kfir and Ariel in her arms, trying to sort of shelter them under a blanket, the absolute fear on her face in those images, the moments that she's been captured by Hamas, those are pictures that the whole country couldn't turn away from and was so connected to.

And then when a month or so after the October 7 attack and the war in Gaza began, that 105 hostages were handed over and they weren't, that was a moment of concern. And not long after Hamas said that the three had been killed in an Israeli airstrike.

The IDF was never able, and even to this moment today has not been able to say that definitively. Hamas's statements about that are correct.

So, I think for the families, and I was talking to Sharone Lifshitz just last weekend, the daughter of Odad, there is that for them that hope. But the nation, as you say, has been on this absolute rollercoaster of emotion, following them, tracking them, hoping against hope that the information that Hamas was putting out wasn't true.

Hamas had even used in a propaganda video Yarden, the husband, to call out the prime minister and blame him for the deaths of that Hamas said of his wife and two sons. So it's been a source of searing pain. And when the prime minister and when the families talk about striking to the heart, this is what they're speaking about. John. VAUSE: Nic, we'll will be coming back to you later this hour. Thank you for being with us. Let's go to Paula now in Abu Dhabi. And what we're seeing right now at this hour, Paula, is what appears to be a gathering in Khan Younis, which is a city in central Gaza. That's where we expect these remains to be handed over to the Red Cross. And then from there, the Red Cross are expected to bring the bodies to Israel. So what are the expectations? How is this all expected to play out?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, we are seeing those images of Hamas militants that are gathering in Khan Younis. We can see from that footage that there's a table, there is a stage with chairs on as well, and posters denouncing the Israeli military and the Israeli government.

What we have seen in the past, obviously this is a very different situation today as it is the remains of those hostages being handed back. But what we have seen is that there is a process where Hamas hands over the hostage to the International Red Cross. We are expecting that to be a similar situation today. And then the Red Cross would then drive the remains to the Israeli military inside Gaza still. And that is where a handover would take place, very similar to what we have seen or heard about with previous releases.

Now from that point, they would then be brought back into Israel and they would then go to a forensic institute. This is where the formal identification would take place to ensure that it is in fact these four individuals that Hamas says that now that could take up to 48 hours to have that formal identification, something which the families are saying they will wait for before they are able to start their grieving process.

And then after that will come the burials and the final laying to rest of these four hostages. So it could take a fairly similar tack to what we have seen in recent weeks with the hostage handovers. But obviously a v different day, a very somber day in Israel as these four will be brought back to the country. John.

VAUSE: Just very quickly, will there be a release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel?

HANCOCKS: That's not expected today. We understand that when there are six live hostages released on Saturday, that there will be a number of Palestinian prisoners released as well on Saturday. We're not expecting that today.

VAUSE: Paula, thank you. Also, thanks again to Nic Robinson in Jerusalem. Talk to you all again soon.

Relations between the United States and Ukraine appear to have soured at record speed with the U.S. president accused of parroting Kremlin talking points while trading insults with the Ukrainian president.

[01:10:07]

Donald Trump's uneasy relationship with the truth was on display again Wednesday after a flurry of falsehoods about Volodymyr Zelenskyy, calling him a dictator while also overstating by almost $200 billion the amount the U.S. has spent supporting Ukraine since the conflict began.

President Zelenskyy's more recent remarks are a little more diplomatic, saying the world faces a choice between Russia's Vladimir Putin and peace. But earlier he accused Donald Trump of living in disinformation. CNN Fred Pleitgen reports on how all of this is now being received in Moscow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Breaking news on Kremlin controlled TV. Even the anchor can hardly believe her eyes. U.S. President Donald Trump calling Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, quote, a dictator in a social media post.

Attention. This is incredible, the host says, Trump is obviously angry, having had modest success as a comedian Zelenskyy writes the U.S. president couldn't have won in the Ukraine conflict and the U.S. was giving him money in vain. Zelenskyy is doing his job poorly. Donald Trump now called Zelenskyy a dictator. This is what he wrote.

Many Russians now hoping that Trump induced thaw in U.S.-Russian relations could bring fast sanctions relief. At the Skazka souvenir shop in Moscow, Boss Alexander is rearranging the matryoshka dolls according to what many here hope could be the new world order.

BOSS ALEXANDER (ph), SKAZKA RESIDENT: Our president and American president and also we have Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud also. So all friends of Russia.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): On the street, much praise for President Trump. Sometimes maybe a bit too much.

PLEITGEN: What do you think about Donald Trump?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think maybe small Stalin.

PLEITGEN: You think small Stalin? Why?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why? But character.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Of course I like Donald Trump. This man says. He's a positive president. He will change America and make it great again. Moscow's leaders optimistic, saying they believe the Trump administration understands their view of the Ukraine, where Russian troops continue to make modest gains. This Russian Defense Ministry video purporting to show drone units hitting Ukrainian positions in Russia's Kursk region.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin visiting a drone factory, also praising Trump, saying a face to face meeting is in the works.

We're not in a position where it's enough to meet each other, have tea or coffee and chat about the future, he says. We need to make our teams prepare issues that are crucial for both Russia and the U.S. including the Ukraine conflict but not only it. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Joining me now is Robert English, director of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California. It is good to see you.

ROBERT ENGLISH: DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL EUROPEAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Glad to be here.

VAUSE: OK. So in less than a week, Ukraine has seen the U.S. go from being its biggest supporter to very vocal critic. The U.S. president repeating his attacks on the Ukrainian president during a speech just a few hours ago. Here's part of it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: A dictator without elections. Zelenskyy better move fast or he's not going to have a country left. I love Ukraine, but Zelenskyy has done a terrible job. His country is shattered.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: At home, Zelenskyy has been called a dictator. Critics and opponents also calling out corruption within his administration. But that's, I guess in the context of domestic politics, seems to be a whole different issue when it's coming from the President of the United States.

ENGLISH: Yes, to whatever extent there are problems of corruption or authoritarian practice it's wartime after all in Ukraine. The larger point is, of course, we are allies. We're on the same side. We're there to represent Ukraine's interests in high stakes negotiations with Vladimir Putin's Russia. This is the worst possible time to be sniping at each other and showing division. We need to be united and speaking with one voice. This is very unfortunate.

VAUSE: And here's another attack on Zelenskyy from the U.S. president which he posted on Truth Social. And it starts like this. Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Let's just pause it there because isn't that an insult which was often used by Russian state media to describe Zelenskyy after he was elected? And is there a significance here that is now being repeated by Donald Trump?

ENGLISH: He was actually a very successful comedian, wildly popular in Russia as well as in Ukraine. And his famous series called Servant of the People was actually, I think you can see it on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

[01:15:07]

He was a good comedian. So to put him down in this way is sort of a silly derogatory slight of the cheapest possible kind. VAUSE: Yes. He then goes on to say Zelenskyy talked the United States

of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that couldn't be won that never had to start. So a quick fact check. According to the U.S. government, which Donald Trump now runs, as of September 30, 2024, the U.S.-Ukraine response funding totals nearly $183 billion.

And when it comes to that issue of why this war began, that's a question for Russia. And this is the second time the U.S. president has in two days either falsely claimed or implied that Ukraine is responsible. He may not be able to rewrite history here, but is Donald Trump at least hoping to maybe blur some memories?

ENGLISH: You know, I think Zelenskyy was right in one of his comments today, one of his responses, which is that President Trump lives in a different and alternative media bubble or media verse. He listens to Tucker Carlson, he's been listening to Steve Bannon and God knows what other sources of ultra-right wing revisionist, perhaps Russian influenced disinformation.

I think Trump really believes this. At the same time he is pressuring Zelenskyy. There may be a negotiator's tactic here in which he's trying to keep Zelenskyy off guard. Push him hard and then perhaps he'll get quicker agreement on a deal. Right.

Trump always goes in with bluster and threats and thinks that'll benefit the deal he gets in the end. Maybe he's trying that here, but it's not the right place in time to again be divided at home when we're facing such a deadly adversary abroad.

VAUSE: And in the same post, Donald Trump goes on to claim that Europe has contributed $200 billion less to Ukraine compared to the U.S. and he wants some kind of compensation because he argues this war is far more important to Europe than it is to us. We have a big beautiful ocean, a separation.

Maybe the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor put an end to this idea that the U.S. is protected by the oceans. But this is a lot Donald Trump's worldview and why this week he demanded half of Ukraine's estimated $11.5 trillion in rare earth minerals. That deal was rejected by Ukraine.

But for this U.S. president defending democracy, protecting Europe, following through on NATO commitments seem to be of no cash value.

ENGLISH: Yes, you know, once upon a time, we chose our defense commitments, we backed allies, we intervened in foreign conflicts on the basis of our values, on the basis of defending the weak or oppressed, not to make the most cash we could out of the deal. So this is the most crass transactionalism in the worst possible circumstances.

All I would add to that crazy list of things you gave. It's just hard to keep up. That's like drinking from a fire hose. I'd only say that. Which big, beautiful ocean does he mean? The ocean of America west or the ocean of America East?

VAUSE: Robert English, always good to see you, sir. Thank you for your time and your insights.

ENGLISH: You're welcome.

VAUSE: In just a moment, our coverage from Gaza continues as we wait for Hamas to return the bodies of four Israeli hostages. Among them the two youngest victims, who were kidnapped more than 500 days ago.

Also ahead, calls for drastic budget cuts to the U.S. military. That's coming from the Defense secretary, asking military leaders to slash tens of billions of dollars.

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[01:23:07]

VAUSE: Donald Trump's attempt to end birthright citizenship could soon be heading to the Supreme Court. An appeals court will not overturn a ruling which placed a hold on the administration's plan to end birthright citizenship for certain children of immigrants. The executive order was first blocked by a Seattle court ruling it was unconstitutional.

The 14th amendment says anyone born in the U.S. is an American citizen. Donald Trump says that should not apply to children born to parents who are undocumented while are in the United States on temporary visas at the time of birth.

The U.S. Defense Secretary has ordered the military to prepare plans to make drastic budget cuts over the next five years. That's according to information obtained by CNN.

A memo from Pete Hegseth calls for military leaders to provide a proposal for 8 percent in budget cuts each year for the next five years, with an exception for border security. That would amount to tens of billions of dollars in cuts in the first year alone, the largest reduction in the Defense department budget since 2013.

The order was issued the day before President Donald Trump endorsed the House budget plan, which includes a $100 billion increase in defense spending. Hegseth himself called for an increase for the defense budget a week ago. Proposals are due by Monday, less than a week after he says issued the memo.

Donald Trump has made clear his plan to vastly reduce the size and scope of the federal government. And he's doing this almost entirely through executive orders, including one which increases executive branch control over independent U.S. agencies. Congress intended to be removed from the reach of the President. Rene Marsh.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Explains well, this executive order gives the president near complete control over the executive branch and the people who work in it. The order mandates that agencies submit draft regulations to the White House for review. Consult with the White House on agencies priorities and plans. [01:25:00]

The White House will set the agency's performance standards. Russell Vought, who's the head of the Office of Management and Budget and co- author of the Project 2025, he will decide how agencies spend money, potentially limiting the spending of money that Congress has already approved. And only the White House and the attorney general will interpret laws that agencies base their rules and regulations on.

And agencies must also set up a White House liaison's office to, quote, regularly consult with and coordinate policies and priorities with the White House.

Now, the Federal Election Commission, for example, is independent of presidential control so that it can serve its election integrity mission without political influence. And this order changes that. Now, the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission are charged with defending consumer and investor rights and protect market integrity.

These agencies are supposed to do all of that without political pressure from big corporations and others. This order could certainly chip away at that independence. And this order doesn't just add an extra step for agencies. It totally disrupts how they operate.

This executive order will certainly draw an enormous amount of litigation, making it very hard to get the very important work that these agencies do involving Americans' health, environment, safety, consumer protections and financial markets and get that work done. Rene Marsh, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: In Texas, an investigation is underway into why an 11-year-old girl committed suicide. She was reportedly being bullied over her family's immigration status. Jocelynn Rojo Carranza was laid to rest at a church in Gainesville Wednesday. And according to her mother, she was taunted at school so much that she started receiving counseling. And according to the mother, school officials kept her in the dark about the counseling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARBELLA CARRANZA, JOCELYNN'S MOTHER (through translator): They told her that they are going to call immigration so they will take her parents away and she was going to be left alone. Apparently the school was aware of that, but they never told me what was happening with my daughter. Apparently she went to counseling once or twice a week to report what was happening.

It's not fair because the school knew. They didn't keep me informed of what was happening with my daughter, who was a very happy girl. She was a happy girl.

(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: Marbella Carranza did not talk about the family's immigration status. The school district did not acknowledge whether it was aware of the bullying, but says it has anti-bullying policies in place.

Another midair collision in the United States, this time at a regional airport in Arizona. Details of another deadly incident. That's up next.

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[01:32:22]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everyone. I'm John Vause, you're watching CNN NEWSROOM.

It's just gone 8:32 a.m. in Gaza, where many have gathered in the city of Khan Younis ahead of an expected handover of the bodies of four Israeli hostages, among them Shiri Bibas and her two sons, among the most recognizable victims from October 7th, 2023.

The fourth body is Oded Lifshitz. He was kidnaped along with his wife from their home during the Hamas attack, but his wife was released alive later that month.

CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson, once again live in Jerusalem for us. The timing of these handovers can often be fluid, if the past is any

guide. But the images from Khan Younis seem to indicate that there are preparations underway.

So is there an update now on when and also explain how this will all happen.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, really it's in the hands of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas who control the bodies -- the remains that will be handed over, precisely the timing.

It's raining in Khan Younis now. There's a thought that as soon as the Red Cross vehicles arrive -- this is what we're hearing from the ground there -- that the handover could take place, and that handover will go, as we have seen previously, except it won't be live hostages. It will be their remains passed to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross will bring them to the edge of Gaza. They'll hand them over to the IDF. The IDF will then transport the bodies to an institute for forensic medicine, where a determination can be made on the exact identities of these remains.

And this will answer what Hamas has been saying about the identities that Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz or not. The families, of course, desperately hoping that that's not the case.

But what we're seeing on the ground, you can just see by the different flags that are there, there are five different militant groups represented on the ground. I've counted well over 100 gray plastic chairs set out. There seemed to be a 100 or so or a few hundred people gathered around -- the preponderance of them, all fighters and a stage set.

Interestingly, on that stage, at the back of the stage, one of the big murals, one of the big pictures there has been covered up by black sheeting. And before that black sheeting was put up, it was a very political image that was being presented there.

[01:34:53]

ROBERTSON: And this is something that the Israelis have been hoping that Hamas and the other groups there wouldn't do. They were hoping that this handover of the remains, which is a very solemn and somber event here for Israelis, is not politicized in any way by Hamas.

We've seen Hamas politicize the handover of hostages, putting them on a stage. They have to say things. They're given gifts. It's very politicized for Hamas to get their message across.

So it's not clear precisely how this will unfold and whether it will be a very dignified and solemn handover, or Hamas will be trying to score political points.

VAUSE: Nic, thank you. Nic Robertson, live for us in Jerusalem.

We'll stay in Jerusalem. Yaakov Katz is a senior columnist at "The Jerusalem Post". He's a fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, as well as author of three books on the Israeli military, including "Shadow Strike".

Welcome back.

YAAKOV KATZ, COLUMNIST, "THE JERUSALEM POST": Thank you John.

VAUSE: Few will ever know the pain of the Bibas family. And right now they're angry that the prime minister made public these details about the release of the bodies of the two young children, as well as Shiri Bibas the mother, and that came without their approval.

In a statement, they asked the public not to "eulogize our loved ones" until there is a confirmation after final identification. This now seems to be clearly a day that the Bibas family had hoped would not happen. There had been this hope, not just with the family, but across Israel, that somehow maybe these two little boys would make it out alive. But now that has not happened. How traumatic is this moment?

KATZ: It's a traumatic moment.

I would say it's probably one of the saddest days, if not the saddest day since October 7th. John. The Bibas -- Shiri the mother holding her two sons covered in a blanket on October 7th surrounded by a violent and murderous mob. Those two young boys, angels, Kfir and Ariel.

Kfir was just not even a year's old, right? They. They were taken. Those redheaded boys so cruelly to Gaza and to watch now what's happening in Khan Younis, to see a stage for Hamas to make a spectacle of the return of people who were murdered in -- when they had taken them, stolen them from their homes, little children. So just imagine who is willing to do that? Who could take those young

little boys with them into Gaza, put their lives on the line and have them be killed while they're supposed to be protected?

And now, to put on a spectacle and a show to return them just shows us once again, who is this enemy that Israel had been fighting against the last 16 months, and how cruel and barbaric they truly are?

VAUSE: See, that's what doesn't make a lot of sense to me, because on the one hand, Hamas wants to try and spin the release of these four bodies, these four dead hostages, as a way of showing their commitment to the Gaza ceasefire.

But then at the same time, as you say, they're putting on a show, there's this sort of disrespect for the dead, if you like, in this moment.

KATZ: You're right, John, on the one hand, you would think that Hamas would want to show that it's back in charge of Gaza, that it's trying to play ball and cooperate with the international community. It doesn't want to be seen as this illegitimate partner for what is supposed to come. When it comes to the rule over Gaza and the future control of this embattled territory.

But on the other hand, we just see the cynicism. We see the cruelty. At every juncture, John, Hamas shows its true self, and that is these are human monsters unfortunately.

These are people who are willing to do everything. They sanctify death over the sanctification of life. And unfortunately, this is a type of enemy that is always going to be very difficult whenever a country like Israel, a democracy, a country that actually sanctifies life, that has tried to do everything possible to bring back its people, let's remember were in the middle of a hostage release.

That for every hostage that we get back as a country, another six living hostages will hopefully be released in just two days on Saturday. Every hostage that Israel gets back, we release about 50 upwards of 50 mass murderers. People who have killed, murdered people in cold blood.

We send them back to their families, to their homes, to Gaza, to the West Bank, or even outside the borders of Israel depending on the danger that they pose to the future of Israel.

But we release murderers to get back our people who were stolen from music festivals or from their beds. It just shows a complete difference of values, John. And I think that's unfortunately what we're seeing right now with those images out of Khan Younis.

VAUSE: On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be taking greater control over cease fire talks, appointing a close political ally to lead talks over phase two of the current cease fire, replacing Israel's previous chief negotiator.

[01:39:55]

VAUSE: For the families of the hostages, who are not part of the 33 being released in phase one, there is now this increasing concern that there will never be a phase two and that move by the prime minister kind of reaffirms those doubts in many ways.

Do you think that they will get to phase two? Or will they just be a continuation, if you like, in a best-case scenario of phase one?

KATZ: I mean, that is the big question, and I don't think we have a clear answer. On the one hand, you're right. Netanyahu is shaking up the negotiating team. He's installed the strategic affairs minister, a close ally and former advisor of his, Ron Dermer to run now those negotiations instead of the two heads of Israel's different intelligence agencies, the Mossad and the Shin Bet.

Dermer now will be leading those negotiations, partly because he does have very close ties with the Americans and particularly with Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff. So there's a lot of ability here for Dermer and Witkoff to work together on spearheading these negotiations.

But at the same time, there is a lot of concern that with the installation of a politician to head up those negotiations, these talks will become even more politicized than they already were.

And we do know, John, that for the last 16 months, there has been some hesitancy on the side of this Prime Minister Netanyahu to move ahead with a hostage deal because of the way that it would endanger his ruling coalition.

And we also know that one senior member of his government, Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, has already made very clear that if Israel does not renew the fighting in Gaza, does agree to a complete cessation of the fighting in stage two, which is what would be required in stage two to get back the remaining hostages, he would pull out of the government.

So Netanyahu is at something of a juncture. He's going to have to decide in this fork in the road, what does he prioritize now? Does he prioritize the hostages coming back, or does he prioritize his political survival? And some will try to keep some hostages coming back in a trickle and keep his coalition together.

We'll find out in the next couple of weeks, because this has to be decided very soon.

VAUSE: And in the meantime, hostage families wait, Israel goes through this national trauma, and the two little boys are dead.

Yaakov, thanks for being with us.

KATZ: Thank you, John.

VAUSE: Among the dozens of hostages who will not be released during the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire is Alon Ohel. More than 500 days ago, he was at the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel when he was kidnaped by Hamas militants.

Every day since, his mother has been campaigning for her son's release, as well as the release of all those who were taken that day. Alon plays piano. He has plans to study jazz in Tel Aviv and one way to honor him and remember him is with this piano in hostage square.

And earlier, I spoke with his mother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: I cannot imagine how difficult this day is for you. And thank you for being with us. Its appreciate it.

IDIT OHEL, MOTHER OF HOSTAGE ALON OHEL: Thank you. Yes, it is very hard for us. it shows that, you know, there is not much time. And the Hamas is not an easy. they're very harsh.

Alon -- Alon is alive, We know this a week and a half ago, when the hostages came home. The hostages looked like they were not in 2025, they looked like they were in 1940 -- very thin, you know, undernourished.

And also Alon -- Alon was with them the whole time. And they told us about him being in that position. Alon has been in the tunnels for 400 days, does not know the difference between day and night.

Alon has been given maybe one piece of bread a day, which means that he has been starved every day that we're talking right now. Alon has been, you know, there's like chains. He's been chained in his legs so he cannot move much.

VAUSE: And he turned 24 last week, right. He had his second birthday as a hostage.

OHEL: Yes, yes, yes. That's right, that's right. So two days before we got the sign of life from the hostages that returned. And he has an eye injury which has not been treated. So he cannot see in one eye.

And we're worried and we know that he is in a humanitarian situation, they're very badly. And we need -- we need him to come home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Idit Ohel, speaking to me there a little earlier. We'll continue to monitor the situation in Gaza.

In the meantime, a short pause. You're watching CNN. Back in a moment.

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VAUSE: Another midair collision in the United States, this time at a regional airport in Arizona. Two people were killed in the crash between two small planes. One plane hit the ground, caught fire while the other was able to land. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport does not

have an operating air traffic control tower. Pilots often use a common traffic advisory frequency to announce their position to other nearby aircraft. The airport is now closed during an investigation.

Just days after doctors diagnosed the Pope with pneumonia, now comes word of a slight improvement. The Vatican says the 88-year-old pontiff had a peaceful Tuesday night in hospital in Rome, where he was admitted last week.

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VAUSE: And in the Pope's home country of Argentina, the archdiocese of Buenos Aires, urging all churches to hold masses and prayers for the swift recovery of the Holy Father.

CNN's Christopher Lamb has more from Rome.

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CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Some encouraging signs tonight about Pope Francis' condition. The Vatican saying that there has been some slight improvement, that he is stable and that he was able to meet with prime minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni at the Gemelli Hospital behind me for 20 minutes.

Prime Minister Meloni said that she had been able to joke with Pope Francis, and she found him alert and reactive. The Pope has also been doing small amounts of work. So some encouraging signs for the Pope.

And it is that word "improvement" that everyone has been looking for ever since Francis was hospitalized at the Gemelli on Friday following these breathing difficulties that he's had.

There is, of course, a lot of concern for the Pope, who has pneumonia in both of his lungs. He's 88 years old, and he has had a history of respiratory infections, and part of his right lung was removed as a young man.

There's still clearly a long way to go. We don't know how much longer Pope Francis will be in the hospital, but some encouraging signs tonight from the Vatican as the Pope continues to battle pneumonia.

Christopher Lamb, CNN -- Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Nine minutes before the top of the hour. You're watching CNN.

We're following breaking news out of Gaza.

We'll take a short break. Back in a moment.

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VAUSE: More news -- more breaking news from Gaza, where crowds are gathering in the city of Khan Younis, where Hamas is expected to release shortly the bodies of four Israeli hostages, three of them belonging to the Bibas family.

We'll continue to follow this breaking news, bring you the very latest as that happens.

Now, seven suspected burglars reportedly went for a high prize -- the homes of some U.S. professional athletes. Their alleged targets include some famous names who had more than $2 million worth of property stolen.

As CNN's Polo Sandoval reports, it all happened while they were either on the court or on the field.

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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: While Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis was on the NBA court last November, authorities say a team of burglars was stealing nearly $1.5 million worth of property out of his home. The hit is detailed in a newly-unsealed federal criminal complaint.

In it, FBI agents share a selfie obtained through a search warrant showing alleged members of a so-called Chilean South American theft group. They smile and show off their loot, including luxury watches in a safe.

Notice one wearing a Chiefs top. Investigators suspect some of these men also hit the Kansas City homes of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight-end Travis Kelce in October.

Prosecutors suspect seven Chilean nationals of comprising a burglary ring targeting the homes of pro football, basketball and hockey players. According to court records, they traveled around the country to the homes of pro athletes using fake IDs to rent cars and hotels.

PAUL VIOLLIS, CEO, VIOLLIS GROUP INTERNATIONAL: They conduct due diligence on who the marks are. Then they conduct surveillance to see What patterns of behavior are.

They then go further and conduct a little bit more investigation into the building plans to see points of access. Is this an entire wi-fi system? How do I get into the house? Does it have a backup generator?

[01:54:50]

VIOLLIS: They put these things together. They select the mark and the time, and that's how they have a high probability of success.

SANDOVAL: Paul Viollis heads an international security firm serving high profile and high earning clients. He's not surprised an alleged criminal ring is targeting celebrity homes, especially athletes with public schedules and habits of showing off their luxury goods.

VIOLLIS: We need to stop it from within, and the best way to do that is for the individual athlete, the entertainer, the homeowner to take control of their own homes. Spend more attention on what they are sending out in social media. Don't telegraph your life.

SANDOVAL: The millions in stolen property are funneled through a fencing network according to federal investigators, who just this month were led to New York City's diamond district in a separate investigation. They charged two men suspected of working with South American theft groups as middlemen to sell merchandise stolen from an NFL star.

And long before information on these charges was officially released, the FBI has been closely tracking and investigating these high-profile burglaries. In fact, the agency issued a warning to the National Football League late last year, warning them about these sort of practices, saying that these criminals often exploit their teams' schedules so that they can target some of these athletes in their homes when the athletes are away at play.

The memo also warning about the tactics, and they vary from the more primitive, such as posing as joggers in the neighborhood or maintenance crews to maintain surveillance on potential targets to the more advanced, like using drones or wi-fi signal jamming equipment to mess with wireless surveillance cameras.

So we've heard from many experts and law enforcement suggesting that these criminal groups are not only well-informed, quite trained, but also highly-sophisticated.

Polo Sandoval, CNN -- New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Well, for many, paying more than $1,000 for an iPhone 16 seem just way too much. Well, now comes a new version of the iPhone 16 called iPhone 16-e, a more affordable version, unveiled Wednesday by Apple.

Price? Just shy of 600 bucks, it will launch February 28th. The 16-e will be the most affordable iPhone to feature Apple's A.I. system. Apple Intelligence, Its release will mark Apple's renewed push to gain ground in what is considered a budget market for smartphones.

Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm John Vause.

Please stay with us. Rosemary Church picks up our breaking news coverage out of Gaza on the imminent release of the bodies of four Israeli hostages.

See you tomorrow.

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