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CNN International: CNN Live in Doha, Qatar as Israel Nears Hostage and Ceasefire Deal with Hamas; Qatar: Israel & Hamas Nearing a Ceasefire- Hostage Deal; L.A. County Fire Threat to Remain "Critical" Through Wednesday; Wicker on Hegseth: This Nominee is Unconventional; Confirmation Hearing for Trump's Defense Secretary Pick; Coleman: Pete Hegseth is the Real Deal. Aired 9-9:34a ET

Aired January 14, 2025 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: This is the scene Communis at this hour. Palestinians, Israelis and the world really focused on the prospect

of a cease fire and hostage deal, which at this moment, may be closer than it has been in months. According to officials in Qatar, it is 04:00 p.m.

right now in Gaza, I'm Erica Hill in New York, where it is 09:00 a.m. thanks for joining us on "Connect the World".

We are also monitoring two breaking stories here in the United States, Los Angeles County dealing with a new Red Flag Warning. Some of the highest

winds in days are now threatening to undo the progress firefighters have made there over the weekend. Meantime, in Washington, this hour, Donald

Trump's controversial pick for defense secretary goes before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

That hearing set to kick off in about 30 minutes. Pete Hegseth will be facing tough questions from lawmakers drilling down on his qualifications

for that key role. We'll have much more from Capitol Hill in a few moments. First though, we turn our focus to what is really a critical 24 hours for

fire ravaged Southern California, a new blaze erupting there.

The auto fire broke out just hours ago in Ventura County, that's northwest of Los Angeles. It has now scorched some 22 hectares, about more than 50

acres. Firefighters say they have now halted its forward progress. That is a good thing. However, the blaze itself remains at 0 percent containment.

And the forecast not likely to help things calling for powerful winds into Wednesday, that has prompted red flag warnings across both Los Angeles and

Ventura Counties. Officials say those strengthening winds could cause extreme fire behavior or turn really any new spark into a raging inferno.

Crews at this point also struggling to contain the most destructive wildfires still burning. These are the most destructive in the state's

history. More than 15,000 hectares, about 37,000 acres have now been burned. CNN's Stephanie Elam spoke with my colleague Kate Baldwin just a

short time ago about the impact of this dire wind forecast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Now they won't be as strong as those hurricane force winds that we saw last week that led to the devastation

that we see here, but still, strong winds could be a problem, as there's still some hot spots burning out there. I'm going to move out the way so

you can see where I am now here in Pacific Palisades.

This was an apartment complex that had ocean views. I believe that's an elevator there in the background. Right now, some ATF Special assets are

coming into the area to investigate what could have started this Palisades fire, because it's not clear yet if there's any one thing.

However, on the other side of the Eaton fire, the other massively devastating fire, the Los Angeles Times reporting that they are

investigating a tower, an electrical transmission tower. And to that end, there's this video from a couple, Cheryl and Jeffrey Ku, who CNN did speak

to, and they talk about when Cheryl was making her way back home.

What she saw and then what they were able to proceed to see through the ring camera? Take a listen to Jeffrey Ku.

JEFFREY KU, NARROWLY ESCAPED EATON WILDFIRE: The mountains, the canyon was dark. She could see a light in the hillside, and as she got closer to the

house, sure enough, it was burning bright, and it was the base of the tower on fire. And that was when the video started, where she came in to get me,

and in her voice, which I'll never, ever forget, which is you need to come out here now. We have a big problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: We will continue to follow those developments for you, of course, throughout the morning, Becky Anderson, though, is in Doha with much more

on this cease fire deal, which officials say, Becky, is very close. Just, just how close do we know at this hour?

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Yeah, well, proximity talks, or last-minute talks, as they are known here, are ongoing as we speak, but

certainly Qatar's Foreign Ministry says Israel and Hamas are the closest that they have been in months, Erica, to finalizing a cease fire deal at

this point.

[09:05:00]

Let's get you back up to date on exactly what we know at this point. Nothing, of course, is finalized until the final details are signed off on.

But here's where we stand right now in what would be the first phase of a deal, Hamas would release 33 hostages over initial six week cease fire.

The bodies of dead hostages would likely be released, as well as negotiations to reach a second phase intended to end the war that would

begin 16 days after implementation of the first phase. Now, this deal also calls for the return of Palestinian residents to Northern Gaza, and it

specifies an Israeli military presence in the Philadelphia corridor, as well as a buffer zone.

That was something that was a real problem for Hamas in talks in earlier months. Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman expressed optimism that the deal

will finally happen. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJED AL-ANSARI, QATARI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON: We do believe that we were able, through the negotiations and with our partners in these

negotiations in Egypt and the United States to minimize a lot of the disagreements between both parties. The talks that are ongoing now are on

the final details of reaching an agreement.

But obviously, until there is an announcement, there will be no announcement. And therefore, we shouldn't be over excited about what's

happening right now, but certainly we are hopeful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, any deal, of course, must pass both Israel's security cabinet and the wider government cabinet and far right minister, Itamar

Ben-Gvir, already calling on another far-right minister to join him in threatening to collapse the government. Ben-Gvir describing the potential

deal as a quote, catastrophe for Israel's national security.

Jeremy, diamond tracking developments for us now in Tel Aviv, and just bring us up to speed on the perspective where you are and why what we are

hearing from Ben-Gvir, very specifically, is significant.

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's because Itamar Ben-Gvir is threatening to topple the governing coalition, if indeed the

Israeli Prime Minister moves forward with this cease fire agreement. But he can't do so alone. Netanyahu has an eight-seat majority in the Israeli

Knesset and Ben-Gvir only has six seats.

But Bezalel Smotrich, another far right member of this coalition, the finance minister, and an ally of Ben-Gvir, has also voiced opposition to

this deal, calling it a surrender deal and a catastrophe for Israel's national security. He has seven seats in Israel's Knesset, and so Ben-Gvir

is calling on Smotrich to join him in threatening to leave the government and following through on that threat if indeed the Israeli Prime Minister

tries to move forward with this agreement.

I'm told that the Israeli prime minister was meeting this afternoon with bets al Smotrich to try and convince him otherwise. We have not yet heard

how that meeting went or what emanated from it. We know that Smotrich, while he has voiced opposition to this deal. He has yet to actually go as

far as Ben-Gvir and threaten to leave the government altogether.

The Israeli prime minister, of course, has other options if he wants to move forward with this deal and risk his governing coalition. That's

because Yair Lapid, the opposition leader, has said that he would come in as somewhat of a white knight and buttress this Israeli Government keeping

Netanyahu in power as prime minister in order for the ceasefire deal to move forward.

So ultimately, this is going to come down to a question of political will on the Israeli Prime Minister's part. And an Israeli official told me today

that this Israeli government does want this cease fire is prepared to move forward with this cease fire agreement. They believe that they have made

significant compromises at the negotiating table, and that enough compromises that a deal can indeed be reached.

We have, of course, heard similar optimism and willingness on the part of Hamas, which has said in a statement today that they hope that these latest

rounds of negotiations will ultimately conclude with a clear and comprehensive agreement for a cease fire in Gaza. And of course, reaching a

cease fire agreement would be earth shattering, Becky.

It would be the longest pause in the fighting that we have seen in this 15- month long war, a six week cease fire to begin with, one that could get extended and ultimately even perhaps lead to a permanent end to the war, if

indeed, Israel and Hamas can reach terms on that during the next phase of negotiations.

And it would bring an end, at least a temporary stop, to the carnage that we have seen in Gaza, where more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed,

according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

[09:10:00]

And of course, there is hope now for the families of those 94 Israeli hostages held since October 7th, who are hoping that they will get to see

their loved ones, or at least be able to bury their loved ones. Several dozens of those hostages are indeed confirmed dead by the Israeli

government.

We do not know the fate of all of the others. There is the expectation that among the 33 hostages who will be released in the first phase of this deal,

most of them will be alive, but there may also be the bodies of some of the deceased, included among them, Becky.

ANDERSON: Jeremy, it's good to have you with the perspective from there, and just to sort of underscore where we are at then again here in Doha,

these last-minute talks ongoing as we speak, described by the Qatar Foreign Ministry spokesman today as nailing down what he describes as simple

issues.

These are issues of implementation, how the mechanisms to implement any deal would actually be carried out. That is where things stand as we speak.

So, a great deal of optimism, but no deal, of course, until a deal is done at this point. So, we can't expect to see, for example, even if a ceasefire

deal gets struck, that we would see any hostages being released in for example, the coming hours.

This is going to take some time, if indeed a deal is struck, the implementation will take some days. America's incoming president has been

very vocal about getting a deal done, and about the prospect of Israel and Hamas getting an agreement. Here is what Donald Trump said earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT AND CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL-ELECT: If they don't get it done, there's going to be a lot of trouble out there, lot

of trouble like they have never seen before, and they will get it done. And I understand, it's been, there's been a handshake, and they're getting it

finished.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, meantime, Qatar's Foreign Ministry says that although a deal is close, as I say, negotiations are fluid. A short time ago, we did

hear, as I say, from the spokesman for the foreign ministry, and this is how he framed things.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AL-ANSARI: We especially appreciate the roles of both the Biden Administration and the incoming Trump Administration in the talks in the

past couple of weeks. They have been involved fully in the talks, as I said, from the Biden Administration and the incoming administration.

They were working in tandem together here in Doha and beyond in the region to make sure that the deal happens. And we appreciate statements by both

President Biden and President-elect Trump that were helpful in pushing the deal forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Then hope may be in the air, but on the ground in Gaza, of course, it is a very, very different story. Let's get you there. And at

least 31 Palestinians, including a journalist and multiple children killed by Israeli strikes across Gaza overnight on Monday and into Tuesday

morning.

According to local officials there in Khan Yunis, an air strike leveled three floors of a residential building, according to the Gaza European

hospital. All right, well, let me bring in my panelist, now. I'm joined by Middle East Analyst and Former Pentagon Adviser El-Gamal and as well as HA

Hellyer.

He's a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. A defense and security expert and a good friend of this shoe show. It's good

to have you both. Let's just start very briefly by getting your perspective on what we are hearing here on the ground last minute talks to get nailed,

to get what I've described as the simple issues of implementation nailed.

Nothing is simple, of course, in war and in negotiation for a cease Jasmine fire deal. What's the perspective? Firstly, from your point of view,

Jasmine, on where we stand.

JASMINE EL-GAMAL, FORMER PENTAGON MIDDLE EAST ADVISER: Good afternoon, Becky, and thank you so much for having me. This is obviously a critical,

critical moment. I mean, these negotiations have been going on for months and months, and the hopes of so many have been dashed time and again.

And now we're finally seeing what could potentially be a breakthrough in the negotiations, and finally, an announcement of a cease fire. I watched

closely the press conference of Dr. Majed Ansari that you were highlighting earlier, and he hinted at the fact that this time is different from all the

other times.

[09:15:00]

That there have been breakthroughs made in the last few days that had not been made in the last several months, and that he finds hope for great

optimism that there will be a signing of the deal very, very imminently, although he warned us not to get ahead of ourselves. He also mentioned the

efforts of both the Biden and the incoming Trump Administration.

Although there have been reports in the Times of Israel, for example, that really highlighted the pressure that had been added, above and beyond what

the Biden Administration has been putting on the Israelis and on the other end, the Qataris and the Egyptians, on Hamas, that Trump and his special

envoy, incoming Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, really turned up the pressure in these last few weeks and days, saying that this is the deal that has to

be made, and it has to be made now.

And so, you have to assume that, that added level of pressure from the incoming administration is what really made the difference in these last

few days.

ANDERSON: And I'm hearing the same thing from sources associated with these deals briefed on the matter. Steve Witkoff has been involved in this phase

of talks from the back end of November, and there has been a real momentum for these talks since then, both sides, both the Biden team and indeed, the

Trump team, applauding each other for the work that they've been able to achieve in working in coordination.

But it is absolutely clear, without it being said out loud by the lead negotiators here, the Qatari's that the introduction of this Trump

Administration and this pressure that's been put on both parties, but that includes, when I say both parties, of course, on the Israelis as well, on

the part of the Trump Administration that there that that has been sort of key to moving the needle on this.

HA Hellyer, what has changed in the end from where we were at with a Biden proposal back in May of this year, some six or seven months ago. What has

changed, aside from this uptick in pressure from the Trump Administration, when you consider what this deal looks like on paper, the details that we

have today, what do you see as having changed?

HA HELLYER, SENIOR ASSOCIATE FELLOW AT ROYAL UNITED SERVICES INSTITUTE: So, thank you, Becky. It's always a pleasure to be on the program. When it

comes to the details of the deal, the deal itself has not really changed all that much. On the contrary, it's the same deal, pretty much, with very

few amendments that was proposed by the Biden Administration, also passed by the U.N. Security Council.

There are some very minor changes, and therein lies also some of the flaws. Because the deal is a deal of three stages, three phases, phase one, two

and three. And when we talk about a ceasefire, a ceasefire means the posing of hostilities with the express intention of not returning to hostilities,

not returning to war and bombardment.

And I don't think that that's the case here at all. I think on the contrary, the Israelis are talking about this in the press over the past

week or so, it's been very clear, at least from my perspective, that phase one is very close.

OK, I expect phase one to be declared as having been agreed in the next 24, 48 hours. Perhaps I'll stretch it for a few days, because there are reports

that Netanyahu may drag his feet a little bit, but I think we're pretty much done. I think that the idea that we won't get something signed before

Trump comes into the Oval next week is quite fanciful.

The question for me is, OK, then, what about phase two? What about an actual withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and an actual ceasefire being

implemented. And I find this incredibly dubious. When you look at how -- has been actually fortifying its positions on the ground in Gaza, where the

Netzarim Corridor is being expanded in both directions, where all of the infrastructure is showing very clearly that the IDF has no intention of

leaving Gaza.

You mentioned the buffer zones. The buffer zones are simply another word, another phrase for expressing the intention to remain in certain parts of

Gaza. But I think they go far beyond the buffer zone. So, I'd be very, very focused at seeing what are the mechanisms for insisting that phase two and

phase three actually take place and are implemented, because right now, there's very little to suggest that.

ANDERSON: Yeah, to both of you, look, we haven't got a deal as of yet. These meetings continue whilst we have a lot of hope, we must remain

cautious until we actually see something, get something announced at this point.

[09:20:00]

It's good to have you both with me and expect to talk to you both again in the coming days. The Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti tweeted this

just earlier on today, and I just want to read it to you. Netanyahu is no longer able to sustain external and internal pressures calling for a

ceasefire.

This is the reason we are close to having a ceasefire agreement. We could have had this agreement months ago in July last year, if it wasn't for

Netanyahu selfishness, he said, which caused the loss of thousands of lives, including those of several Israeli prisoners. The words of Mustafa

Barghouti, who is a Palestinian lawmaker, reflecting what you hear around this region from many in support of the Palestinian cause.

Of course, there is huge amount of support internally in Israel for a cease fire, for the return of the hostages, but it is not necessarily, while

there is a lot of support, it is not support from everybody, and we have been reporting that there are those outliers, certainly in the Benjamin

Netanyahu government, who do not want to see the end of this war.

And if that means not seeing the release of the hostages, then so be it. It seems we are going to take a very short break at this point, back after

this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Welcome back to "Connect the World". I want to bring you back now to Southern California as we continue to closely follow the developments in

these devastating wildfires. Pasadena, a City in Los Angeles County, is one of those under a red flag warning because of those strong, gusty winds

returning.

Joining me this hour, the city spokesperson for Pasadena, Lisa Derderian. Lisa, it's good to have you with us at this hour. We look at these winds,

we know how concerning those are. What does it mean specifically for your area?

LISA DERDERIAN, PASADENA PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER: That we're not out of the woods yet we are still actively searching homes, especially in the

Upper Hastings Ranch Area. Our fire chief has committed to searching every home for recovery efforts, for any remains, for any home that was

devastated, destroyed.

HILL: And in terms of those searches, how much have they been able to cover at this point? And I guess I should say, you know, to follow up on that.

How many homes still remain to be to be searched, or where homes were, quite frankly?

DERDERIAN: Yeah, I don't have an update this morning. Majority of the ones that were impacted are in the Upper Hastings Ranch Area of Pasadena, so the

east end of town. So, we have the FEMA urban search and rescue personnel, their search dogs, our police officers. So, and we are going to be very

detailed to ensure that nobody is left Behind and that we can locate anybody that has been reported missing.

[09:25:00]

Fortunately, we have not found any remains yet.

HILL: I know that there have been some positive developments, right to point out in Pasadena, some the community centers reopening, that also

involves different programs, including after school programs for kids, there is an understandable and widespread concern about what the coming

months and potentially even years will look like for residents who have lost everything, who have lost their homes.

What do you know about what will be available for folks in terms of housing as they struggle to navigate this with thousands of others who will also

need somewhere to live in a housing market that was already stressed and, frankly, expensive?

DERDERIAN: Right. So today, we have a soft opening, and tomorrow, a full operation for what we call a disaster recovery center. We have the state

and the federal government coming into town. It's one stop shopping so you can come if you lost your vital documentation, medical records, DMV

information, driver's license, and it will help you with the appeals process.

Several people are saying they're being denied by FEMA. This will help walk you through the process, childcare issues, transportation. So, we encourage

anybody to go to the Disaster Recovery Center, and if we can't help you there, we will make sure you get the proper resources.

We'll have several non-profits set up there. I mean, the outpouring of support from the community is amazing, just from somebody walking up and

giving somebody that's been impacted a big hug to, you know, major donations from corporations. And we have over 30 personnel just from the

City of Pasadena that have lost their home.

HILL: Yeah.

DERDERIAN: So, we're hurting internally, but the same personnel are also out there helping others. You know, they've lost their homes, and they're

out there the next day handing out gift cards and helping in the shelter.

HILL: Certainly, a real testament to the people who make up your community in Pasadena. Lisa, thank you for taking the time to join us.

DERDERIAN: Thank you.

HILL: As I noted at the top of the hour, we are also following a key story out of Washington today, a critical day this Tuesday for one of Donald

Trump's most controversial Cabinet nominees, the confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth set to begin shortly. He is, of course, the president-elect's

pick for defense secretary, he is going to be facing questions from the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee for what is expected to be hours of

frankly grueling questions.

Democrats in particular, expected to press head access on a number of different allegations ranging from sexual assault to mismanagement of funds

at two different veterans' organizations that he was heading up to excessive drinking claims. Hegseth has denied. He, of course, will be

making his case for why he is, in fact, the man for the job.

As part of that, Hegseth acknowledges in his opening statement he doesn't have what he refers to as a similar biography to Defense Secretaries of the

past 30 years, saying it's time for somebody with dust on their boots at the helm a change agent, but he will also tell senators in that opening

statement.

He believes he is that person that he can fulfill and carry out the vision of Donald Trump for what the Department of Defense and frankly, for what

the U.S. military should be. CNN National Security Correspondent Natasha Bertrand is joining us with more now on what we can expect from this

hearing.

This is arguably one of the most important positions, and so there is such a focus on this, we should point out to the department itself is massive.

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. And I can tell you that the people in this building that I'm sitting in right now, they

are, of course, watching very closely to see what happens with these confirmation hearings today. Because, of course, this is a massive

bureaucracy, and there are a lot of people here who are going to be staying across administrations.

They are career civil servants, and so they are going to be watching to see just how Pete Hegseth does in this hearing, what it portends for whether or

not he actually is able to get confirmed. Because when it comes to getting out of this committee vote, he needs every Republican to be on his side

here.

He can't lose even a single one. And so, what we're expecting to see really are fireworks, particularly from Democrats who are going to be drilling

into his past, his documented history of infidelity when it comes to his previous marriages, his allegations that have been made against him about

excessive drinking as well as mismanagement, allegedly, of these veterans' organizations that he ran.

He has denied allegations of alcohol abuse and of mismanaging those organizations, saying that those are simply the claims of disgruntled

former employees and people who have been jealous of him. But still, you know, a big part of this probe into Hegseth's past has been this FBI

background check that was done on him, and which apparently had several gaps.

Including the fact that it did not interview either of his ex-wives, did not interview the woman that accused him of sexual assault in California in

2017. So, these are things that the Democrats in particular on this committee are going to be very interested in getting him on the record on

under oath during this hearing.

[09:30:00]

HILL: Absolutely. And we see things just. Trying to get underway there. Natasha, thank you. You're looking at live pictures there on your screen.

Pete Hegseth had just entered the room. You can see the back of his head amid that Scrum. Of course, plenty of cameras trained on him as they settle

in there, into the hearing room.

We're going to take this moment to take a quick break here. Our coverage continues on the other side. You're watching Connect the World.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Let's take you live now to the U.S. Capitol, where Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is before the Senate Armed

Services Committee.

END