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Israel: Hostage Release And Temporary Truce With Hamas Delayed; New Details About North Korea's First Spy Satellite; Putin To G20: War In Ukraine Is A "Tragedy."; Israel & Hamas Reached Deal to Pause Fighting and Release 50 Hostages; Israeli Prime Minister Says Red Cross to Be Allowed to Visit Gaza Hostages; State of Emergency Declared After 16 Train Cars Jump the Tracks in Livingston, Kentucky; FBI Says the Car Explosion at the U.S.-Canada Border Was Not Terror Related; Thanksgiving Day Parade Set to Begin at an Earlier Time, No Security Threats Expected; TSA Expects to See Record Number of Air Travelers on Sunday Owing to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 23, 2023 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:0026]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States around the world and streaming us on CNN Max. We continue our breaking news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. I'm Rosemary Church. And we are following a surprising delay in the agreement between Israel and Hamas that puts off the expected release of hostages until Friday.

A temporary truce is also delayed. The update came just hours before a humanitarian pause in fighting and the initial release of 50 women and children hostages was expected to begin. Both U.S. and Israeli officials point to logistical details for the delay, while one Israeli official says Israel has not yet received the names of the first hostages to be freed.

Meantime, Israeli forces are still pressing on with their offensive against Hamas, striking parts of North Eastern and Central Gaza. Though Palestinians say areas further south were also hit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making it clear the war is not slowing down, and he expressed confidence the deal would soon go into effect.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL (through translator): Which paved the way to the current agreement was a combination of two big efforts. The first one, being a massive nonstop military pressure that we are putting on Hamas. The second is the heavy diplomatic pressure we've been applying to release our hostages.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: For the families of the hostages held by Hamas, their agonizing wait just got a bit longer. But some are remaining hopeful that they will see their loved one soon. CNN's Matthew Chance has more now from Tel Aviv.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): As Israelis await the release of some women and children held in Gaza, a vigil for one of the hostages who may be left behind. 22-year-old girl Alon Ohel was abducted at a music festival on October the seventh. As adult male, he's unlikely to be among those freed under the latest hostage deal.

Still his mother Idit told me she believes her son will eventually be set free.

IDIT OHEL, SON HELD HOSTAGE BY HAMAS: I know in my heart that I want my son home. I believe this is just a start, you know, because if everyone has to get home, then this is just, you know, it's a start and there will be more.

CHANCE (on camera): So, you're optimistic.

OHEL: Very.

CHANCE (voiceover): Israeli insists it's keeping up pressure on Hamas. Even as the agreed paws in this Gaza war approaches.

Under the hostage deal, strikes like this one in Khan Younis in southern Gaza will be suspended. While Israel frees Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages are handed over.

Hostage support volunteers like Orna Dotan tell me they're bracing to cancel dozens of traumatized women and children as they return home.

ORNA DOTAN, HOSTAGE AND MISSING FAMILIES FORUM: Maybe Sharon and your daughter were released today. Maybe because it's a daughter and the mother.

CHANCE (on camera): Yes.

DOTAN: The way they are going to continue is first of all, we have to ask for the permission to go inside and to do the first step together.

CHANCE (on camera): And of course, there's a possibility that these people could have suffered terrible trauma whilst in in Gaza.

DOTAN: We are so afraid about the condition that they will come. So, we cannot plan the trauma program because first, we have to meet them to understand from the best psychologists, what is the best way to deal with. And then step by step with the family, as a family (INAUDIBLE)

CHANCE (voiceover): Step by step down a long road. Matthew Chance, CNN Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: CNN's Clare Sebastian joins us now live from London. Good morning to you, Clare. So after hopes were raised when Israel's Cabinet approved the hostage deal, now the hostage relief and temporary truce with Hamas won't happen until Friday.

[02:05:08]

So, what is behind this delay and what happens next?

CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary. It seems to be a more about execution and logistics than about the core of the deal itself which as we know, has been approved by the Israeli cabinet. Now, obviously, we're hearing from not only Israeli officials but the White House as well, the White House National Security Council spokesperson, saying that this was about ironing out final logistical details that delaying one day was in effect to minimize the chance of something going wrong.

I think that's a measure of just how delicate and how hard won this agreement is. As to what happens next, what we're hearing this morning from a diplomatic source in Qatar to our Becky Anderson saying that Qatar is expected to announce in the next few hours when the truce between Israel and Hamas will begin as you know, that was also delayed it was expected to start this morning.

Now the earliest that would start according to this source would be midnight local time which is 5pm in the -- in the eastern coast of the United States. So that would be the earliest that this would start. Now, obviously, what happens after that, we expect suddenly, according to the Israeli Security Council that will progress along the lines of the agreements, the details of which we already had seen many of that, essentially, that an initial group of 50 Israeli hostages, this would be heavily focused on women and children to begin with would be released over the course of a few days.

A minimum of 10 per day according to the Qatar residers, of course, the key mediator in this. This wouldn't be accompanied, of course, by that four-day pause. And in return, the homicide would get the release of some 150 Palestinian prisoners, minors and women from Israeli prisons as well as of course, a significant increase in aid trucks going into Gaza. And a six-hour window each day when neither Israel nor the U.S. would fly surveillance drones over Gaza.

So that's what Hamas would be getting in return. Obviously, now, we know that some of those logistical details are still being ironed out. There is an option, this is critical to extend baked into that agreement if things go well. There could be further pause and fighting, followed by the further release of both Palestinian prisoners within Israel and Israeli hostages. But it's not clear at this stage how far this can be pushed because of course, Israel has two key goals with its operation in Gaza. One to free these hostages and two, to completely dismantle Hamas. This is why Israel continues to say that it will return to fighting once this pause is over. Take a listen to what Prime Minister Netanyahu had to say on that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NETANYAHU (through translator): Citizens of Israel, I like to be clear the war continues. The war continues. We will continue with it until all our goals are achieved. To bring back the hostages, to demolish Hamas and ensure that the day afterwards, there is no source that educates terror to children and the terrorists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SEBASTIAN: Now, we know that clearly there's a tension between these two goals that Israel has. And we also know that certainly in Qatar and several other Arab countries had been open about this, Jordan, Egypt, that they hope that this will essentially provide a diplomatic template that could turn into something more sustained that would stop the fighting for a longer period or even turn into a ceasefire. Right now, that is something that Israel has still ruled out. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right. Our thanks to Clare Sebastian joining us live from London with that report. Let's go live now to Israel. Eitan Shamir is the director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University. Thank you so much for joining us.

EITAN SHAMIR, DIRECTOR, BEGIN-SADAT CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES: Thank you for having me. Good morning, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Good morning to you. So, Prime Minister Netanyahu views Israel's mission in Gaza as twofold, release the hostages and destroy Hamas. And there's a great deal of tension, of course, in those two goals. But I want to start with the hostage release deal that was approved by Israel's cabinet. Now it's delayed until Friday? What's your response to that deal of details in that deal that you know of to date? And of course, this delay?

SHAMIR: Well, like many other people in Israel, we are expecting the release of the hostages and as you just said or your reporter said that this is one of the primary objective of this whole operation. So, I think the -- we are -- we reached a point where the Hamas offer and the details sound reasonable. And so, it was -- I think it was the right move for the Israeli government to respond to that and to reach an agreement.

CHURCH: And this delay, what do you think is behind the delay?

[02:10:03]

Shamir: From what I hear, the delay has to do with the process, not with the principles. So this is, you know, when you -- when you make an agreement with someone -- when there is a little trust between the sides the more the lack of trust and the more you are into the details of the contract. If you trust someone, you can just close the deal within handshake. And this is not the case, of course.

So, the two sides are -- I believe are very specific with the details. And that trust, of course, is very low. So, I think it has to do with the process, not something with the principles for matter here.

CHURCH: And, of course, Israel's other objective is to destroy Hamas. How viable is that goal, though? Is it even achievable and does it essentially work against the goal of trying to safely release more than 200 hostages which is clearly a very complex issue, isn't it?

SHAMIR: Absolutely. And -- but the -- we have to understand that the Israeli government has more responsibility for the two objectives on the - one hand to release the hostages and the one hand to remove the threat which is now on the other side of the border. So, the people who live in the -- in the villages and towns in the kibbutzim could return safely to their -- to their homes.

So, these two goals are very important. And in terms of whether it's achievable or not, yes, there is -- there is still a lot of -- a lot of -- the road ahead is very, very long. Israel is operating now only on the northern part of the -- of the Gaza Strip but there's still the southern part, which is a big -- a big question about regarding what's ahead in that sense.

CHURCH: And we have seen the families of those hostages held in Gaza confront Prime Minister Netanyahu and his war cabinet angry because many of them feel that the government is putting more emphasis on the war and destroying Hamas rather than ensuring the safe release of the hostages. Are they right? And how much extra pressure has that put on the government to prove that the hostages do come first?

SHAMIR: I think that it is a very delicate balance that the government has to do and the pressures were mounting. And we saw that we saw the campaign that is getting momentum of the -- of the families. And obviously it was -- there was an element of pressure on the government. I heard a few ministers giving interviews and they said that they were not sure whether to support or not to support the operation -- the release I'm sorry, of the -- of the -- support the disagreement with Hamas on the release.

However, the IDF did gave its backing, the Israeli Defense Forces ensured that the IDF could return to full military operation and will be able to handle the situation, even with this oppose and -- or cessation of fire. Of course, we'll have to see about that. But I think this insurance that the IDF has given is -- was very important to the -- to the ability of the government to go forward with this -- with this deal.

CHURCH: And just finally, what is Hamas trying to get out of this? What's their ultimate goal apart from getting three Palestinian prisoners, for every one hostage taken from Israel? And what happens once all the hostages are released if you think that is achievable?

SHAMIR: Yes. So, Hamas goals is very, very obvious. Hamas wants to stop the Israeli war machine because obviously, the Israeli war machine is going to pursue and going to continue, like he did so far. I think the schools also to your -- to your other question, that the Hamas military capabilities will be destroyed and Hamas will no longer rule Gaza. So, Hamas is trying to do whatever it can to stop the Israeli war machine and getting -- buying time and getting to do the stops.

Hoping that at the end, there will be some international pressure, maybe some domestic pressure and the Israeli operation will have to stop and then it means that Hamas has survived.

CHURCH: Agent Shamir, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

SHAMIR: Thank you very much, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Well, Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to play Peacemaker at the virtual G20 Summit. He put on a show over the tragedy in Ukraine, the war he started and continues to fight. We'll show you that's just ahead.

Plus, new details about North Korea's first ever spy satellite now believed to be in orbit. What we know about the military satellite and its capabilities. Back with that and more in just a moment. Do stay with us.

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[02:18:44]

CHURCH: A tragedy that should be stopped. That's how the war in Ukraine was described at the virtual G20 Summit on Wednesday. But the man who started that conflict, Russian President Vladimir Putin. Irony aside, he also tried to use the fighting between Israel and Hamas to push his line on Ukraine. Clare Sebastian has our report.

SEBASTIAN: Well, this is the first time since Russia launched its war on Ukraine that President Vladimir Putin has addressed a G20 Summit. And it comes as the conflict in Gaza has significantly reduced international scrutiny of Russia's actions in Ukraine. Something Putin attempted to capitalize on nuclear.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): Several colleagues in their presentations have talked about how shocked they are by seeing Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine. Yes, of course, military action is always a tragedy for specific people, specific families and the country as a whole. And of course, we should think about how to stop this tragedy. By the way, Russia never refuse to hold peace talks with Ukraine.

And what about the bloody coup in Ukraine in 2014, followed by the War of the Kyiv regime against its people in Donbas? Isn't this shocking isn't the extermination of the civilian population in Palestine and the Gaza Strip looking today?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[20:20:02]

SEBASTIAN: Well, that kind of what aboutism is common from Putin. The comment that "We should think about how to stop this tragedy though is more unusual." But it's not clear that Putin is overtly calling for peace talks here. Ukraine ruled out peace talks with Putin last year after Russia held a ceremony illegally annexing four occupied regions in Ukraine, nearly a fifth of the country.

And Putin has repeatedly used that to accuse Ukraine of getting in the way of peace. This seems like more of that rhetoric. But it's also clear that this is a moment when Putin may feel emboldened Ukraine has not liberated any significant amount of territory in a year. Russia still has more manpower and industrial capacity, despite the efforts of Ukraine's allies. And it will of course, be keenly aware of the paralysis in the U.S. Congress over funding and some signs of fatigue among Ukraine's European allies.

Well, Ukraine, for its part is unwavering on its stance on peace talks and a recent social media post the foreign minister calling Putin a "habitual liar," saying no one can seriously use the words Russia and negotiations in the same phrase.

Clare Sebastian, CNN, London.

CHURCH: North Korea says it will immediately restore all military measures which had been halted under a pact with South Korea. The announcement comes after South Korea partially suspended the inter- Korean military agreement on Wednesday. Seoul accuses Pyongyang of showing no will to comply with the agreement after North Korea said it launched its first ever spy satellite into orbit this week.

Pyongyang also attempted to fire a ballistic missile on Wednesday, though Seoul believes that launch failed. South Korea says the North Korean spy satellite has indeed entered orbit and one South Korean M.P. says it was made possible, thanks to help from Russia. North Korean state media reports the satellite will now undergo some adjustments before its first official mission begins on December 1st. More now from CNN's Will Ripley.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTENATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): As if the world doesn't have enough to worry about rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korea claims big progress in its satellite program. Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un appearing triumphant in state media, posing for propaganda cameras with a team of North Korean scientists and engineers. Celebrating an apparently successful third attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit. Two failed launches earlier this year.

Pyongyang promises more satellite launches in the near future. Satellites crucial to improving the accuracy of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile program. A program banned by the United Nations Security Council possibly perfected with the help of Russian rocket scientists acting on orders from President Vladimir Putin. Kim and Putin September summit at this Russian Space Launch Complex signaling Moscow's growing support for Pyongyang's space program.

A partnership believed to be providing Putin with badly needed North Korean weapons arming Russian soldiers on the battlefields of Ukraine. Putin told state media reporters at the time, Russia would help North Korea launch its own satellites and rockets saying that's exactly why we came here. Japanese authorities issued an emergency warning what they believe to be a satellite carrying ballistic missile soaring over Okinawa.

FUMIO KISHIDA, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER: Today, North Korea conducted a launch using ballistic missile technology.

RIPLEY (voiceover): The Japanese Prime Minister condemning the launch. Swift reactions from South Korea, Seoul suspending military pacts with the North.

HEO TAE-KEUN, DEPUTY MINISTER, NATIONAL DEFENSE POLICY, SOUTH KOREA (through translator): The North Korean regime is entirely responsible for this situation.

RIPLEY (voiceover): A troubling sign even for locals who live every day under threat from the nuclear armed North.

BAE RA-MI, SOUTH KOREAN RESIDENT (through translator): A successful launch of North Korea's spy satellite means that their technology has improved that much.

RIPLEY (on camera): We're at North Korea's brand new satellite control center. In 2015, I met with senior officials at North Korea's Satellite Control Center. They insisted their purpose was peaceful space exploration, even expressing outrage and ongoing speculation. They were secretly operating a ballistic missile development program.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Our peaceful launch was not a threat yesterday, a threat to you today and it won't be a threat tomorrow.

RIPLEY (voiceover): Tomorrow has arrived and this may be just the beginning.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIPLEY (on camera): And tensions are already flaring up on the Korean peninsula. The South Korean military says less than 24 hours after the satellite launch. A ballistic missile was launched from the North Korean capital area, but they believe that missile failed just minutes after taking off. Now, in the meantime, the big question -- the unanswered question is whether this satellite is actually good able to conduct reconnaissance. We know that it's an orbit.

[02:25:02]

But can it actually surveil U.S. military installations in places like Guam or Hawaii or Japan? That remains the unknown question.

Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei. CHURCH: Still ahead this hour. High hopes from the families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza and prayers for those who may not come home just yet.

Plus, Qatar says it was extremely difficult to get Israel and Hamas to agree to the hostage release deal. Now in his own words, Qatar's lead negotiator give CNN his insights into the complex process to free the hostages.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:10]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR OF "CNN NEWSROOM": Welcome back everyone. An update on our breaking news, Qatar's foreign ministry says it will announce in the next few hours when the truce between Israel and Hamas will begin. A diplomatic source says it is likely to start Friday, as early as midnight local time or 5 p.m. Eastern. The hostage release and Israel's pause in its military campaign in Gaza were delayed on Wednesday.

The White House says it's due to logistical details. Hamas is expected to release at least 50 women and children over the next few days. And Israel has agreed to free more than 150 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. And so, the agonizing wait will continue for hundreds of families for their loved ones to come home. CNN's Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward reports from Tel Aviv.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even as the first batch of hostages is poised to be released, they are not backing down. Look in their eyes, this protester says, tell them that every day you are doing everything that it takes. For 47 days, friends, family members, and supporters of the estimated 240 hostages in Gaza, have demanded the Israeli government prioritize bringing them home.

Here, they gather in support of Hadas Calderon, whose children, 12- year-old Erez and 16-year-old Sahar were taken on October 7th, along with her ex-husband.

WARD: Tell me what you're going through now. Are you hopeful? Are you anxious? Are you in denial?

HADAS CALDERON, SON AND DAUGHTER ABDUCTED BY HAMAS: All of it. I smile, I laugh, and then I cry. And then I --

WARD: Do you know anything? Have you heard anything?

CALDERON: Nobody knows anything. Nobody. Nobody. No information. I have to pray. We have to pray.

WARD (voice-over): Calderon is not the only parent desperately waiting, hoping for news that has yet to come. Nine-year-old Emily Hand's father Thomas was initially told his daughter was killed on October 7th, only to then get the news that she may be alive and held in Gaza. I want to jump through the roof with hope, Hand told us today about the possible prospect of Emily's release, but I also have to keep a level head emotionally. It's a challenge Calderon is all too familiar with.

CALDERON: Every day is tough. Every day is -- all day is tough. I don't want to think. I don't want to feel because it's too painful. You know, when they start to ask me, like interview, like you, show me the picture of your child, tell me what's the last thing he told you, it breaks my heart because the last thing he told me was, "Mom, be quiet. I love you." He was worried for me.

WARD: When you think of, God willing, your babies come home and are part of this release, do you worry about how they will be changed by what they have experienced?

CALDERON: They are changed. They won't be the same. They got -- they've been kidnapped brutally away from their beds, from the house, from their safe place. They kidnapped the infants as well (ph).

WARD (voice-over): At the Central Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, prayers for those who will come home over the next few days and a promise to keep pushing for those who will not.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, Tel Aviv.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Qatar's lead negotiator says the work as hostage mediators was extremely intensive. In an exclusive interview with CNN's Becky Anderson, the Qatari Minister of State hailed the agreement as significant and he offered more details about the hard-fought deal to free hostages, especially women and children first.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMED AL-KHULAIFI, QATARI MINISTER OF STATE: Within the four days pause, in each day, there will be an obligation on each side, an obligation on the Israelis and an obligation on Hamas, making sure that they are going to fulfill those obligations in each day. So, in each day, we aim to have a number of releases because the number is big. So we've managed to get the parties to agree on the releases systematically. In other words, there will be an organized schedule, allowing the releases in each day and each party is quite familiar now with their obligations.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ABU DHABI MANAGING EDITOR AND ANCHOR: Ten hostages released on day one, for example, of --

AL-KHULAIFI: A minimum -- a minimum of ten.

ANDERSON: Who will be released?

AL-KHULAIFI: So, this agreement specifically focuses on civilian women and children in each side -- on both sides.

[02:35:00]

AL-KHULAIFI: And we hope that within the four days, we will be able to complete the release of women and children on both sides moving to the safe side, away from this war. By the first hours of the agreement, we will be notified of the official list of people and each day, and by having that list, we will make sure that we notify either the sides -- the parties themselves or even the countries that have their hostages in the Gaza Strip currently.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: At a news conference, on Wednesday, before the hostage delay was announced, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as part of the deal, the Red Cross will be allowed to offer medical support to the hostages who will remain in Gaza after the initial release. The four- day truce would also allow more humanitarian and relief aid to reach Gaza. Hamas released a statement on Wednesday saying the deal involves hundreds of trucks carrying aid, medical supplies and fuel to pass off the enclave.

Israel has been very reluctant to allow fuel into Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7th. Some fuel has been allowed in, but several governments and humanitarian groups say it is not nearly enough. They're pushing to get fuel that is critical for hospitals as well as civilians. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAMARA ALRIFAI, DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS AT UNRWA: Any halt in the active hostilities is welcomed by everyone, especially by the people of Gaza who have been through hell over the last seven weeks now. What we are expecting is, if we do get the security guarantees that we need, we want to be able to go over the entire strip, the north, the middle and the south. For the last few weeks, we've only been active in the middle and the south areas after the northern part of the strip has been completely sealed.

We've been able to deliver food, some clean drinking water, and to provide medical services mostly through our mobile clinics and nine of our 25 health centers, because the rest of them are in the north and they have been closed. We want to be able to scale up, to replicate, to receive more trucks and supplies, and be able to distribute them. We're currently talking about 156 shelters by UNRWA hosting around 930,000 people, that is more than half of those who were displaced.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Pope Francis is calling, once again, for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. He met with relatives of his hostages and Palestinian prisoners at the Vatican on Wednesday. CNN's Barbie Nadeau has that report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Pope Francis is doing his best to comfort both sides of those who are affected by the war between Israel and Hamas. On Wednesday morning, on the sideline of his usual Wednesday audience, he first met with a group of family members of those taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th in Israel. After the audience, he met with a group of affected Palestinians as well, including a woman who had just escaped the Gaza Strip a couple of days ago. Both groups held press conferences after they met with the Pope, and the Pope made a few comments as well.

POPE FRANCIS, HEAD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, BISHOP OF ROME & SOVEREIGN OF THE VATICAN CITY STATE (through translator): This morning, I received two delegations. One of Israelis who have relatives held hostage in the Gaza Strip and another of Palestinians who have relatives imprisoned in Israel. They suffer so much and I heard how both sides are suffering. This is what wars do. But here, we have gone beyond wars. This is not war; this is terrorism.

NADEAU: Both groups expressed appreciation for the time spent with the Holy Father. Both of them saying that the Pope had been calling for a ceasefire for many weeks now and that they hope those words would not fall on deaf ears.

Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Multiple U.S. border crossings into Canada were shut down Wednesday when a speeding car exploded in a fireball near the Rainbow Bridge crossing in Niagara Falls. The latest on the investigation, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:43:40]

CHURCH: Welcome back everyone. Kentucky has declared a state of emergency and is urging residents nearing Livingston to stay clear of the area following a train derailment. The CSX railway company says at least 16 cars jumped the trucks on Wednesday afternoon. Two cars containing molten sulfur which spilled and is burning, could lead to the release of sulfur dioxide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says the chemical can cause irritation and breathing difficulties. The railway has sent air monitoring equipment to the area.

With thanksgiving travel in the U.S. hitting its peak, Buffalo's International Airport has resumed normal operations after the FAA imposed some restrictions earlier on Wednesday. That was in response to a border scare at the Rainbow Bridge crossing with Canada in Niagara Falls. Domestic flights were not affected but the FAA paused all international arrivals and departures until the incident could be investigated.

The FBI has now concluded that the deadly car explosion Wednesday morning at the Rainbow Bridge was not a terrorist act, but rather a tragic incident. Investigators believe a husband and wife had left a casino sometime before their vehicle crashed in a fireball near the border crossing, in full view of surveillance cameras. CNN's Brynn Gingras has details. [02:45:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: New York Governor Kathy Hochul saying there is no indication of a terrorist attack at this point in the investigation of that explosion that happened at the Rainbow Bridge crossing there -- the crossing between U.S. and Canadian border. What we're learning from sources is that a vehicle was traveling on a local road on Niagara Falls at a high rate of speed, before it hit a curb, went airborne and then eventually collided and exploded really into the secondary screening at that border crossing.

And investigators from the federal -- at the federal level, state level and local are looking at surveillance video in that area, getting a registration for that car, and sort of tracing its movements prior to this explosion happening to get a better sense of exactly what happened. The governor actually saying that the debris field of this explosion spans about 13 or 14 booths at that crossing, and only an engine is left of that car. So that, of course, as you can imagine, is making this investigation go a little bit slower than typically one would go, because of the size of that debris field.

But the big point here though is that, at this point, it does not seem there's any indication of terrorist activity which was, of course, something that everyone was concerned about as we are all in the state of heightened -- especially authorities are in a state of heightened alert in response to what is happening overseas, but also because of what is happening right now in this country as our thanksgiving holiday. We know also in response to this, in the immediate aftermath, that borders were -- the border checkpoints were all shut down.

We know some have reopened and we also know that there was extra security measures that were taken at the airports in that area, and even really in some U.S. major cities in the northeast. But we know some of that has tamped down, but certainly, heightened security is the theme here as we head into the holiday. And that was the case even before this incident happened. But again, the headline here that it does not appear to be a terrorist incident.

I'm Brynn Gingras, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Still ahead, Americans across the country are traveling for the thanksgiving holiday. We will have more on the busiest travel season this year.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:51:45]

CHURCH: In just a few hours, this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off in New York, the holiday tradition enters its 97th year with an earlier start time. Police say there are no credible or specific security threats that could derail the festivities, which include live musical performances from singers and marching bands from across the country. The weather is expected to cooperate as well and seven new balloons this year are expected to dazzle the crowds.

Most of the U.S. will be dry on Thanksgiving Day with reasonable temperatures expected across much of the country. But fresh snow is expected to powder the Rockies. CNN's Chad Myers has the holiday forecast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHAD MYERS, CNN WEATHER CORRESPONDENT: Well for those of you watching from the United States, Happy Thanksgiving. Temperatures are going to be in the 50s in New York City, 40s in Chicago, and 40 in Denver after an afternoon high in the upper-60s yesterday. But if you're going west of Denver, you are going to get snow and that is likely what you want if you're going there because these are all the (ph) ski resorts are. There will be significant snow on some of the peaks of those 14ers all the way down towards Crested Butte, even up into Wyoming, significant numbers likely over a foot at those highest of ski resorts.

Cold weather across most of the U.S. over the next couple of days, at least below normal. Denver, you were upper-60s yesterday, and 13 by tomorrow morning. That is the cold front that is going to affect even Chicago, although not quite as dramatic because we are already in the 40s and the morning lows are going to be in the 20s over the weekend. There will be some snow on the Rockies for your way home, possibly all the way up even towards Chicago, but none of this likely enough to cause too many slowdowns. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.

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CHURCH: And for those of you traveling on Thanksgiving Day, the roads and skies have cleared up after weather caused some disruptions on Wednesday. However, there are some flight delays although very few cancellations. CNN's Pete Muntean has the latest.

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PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From slam (ph) traffic on the 405 in LA to snaking airport security lines in D.C., the thanksgiving travel rush is at its jam-packed peak.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is crazy, you know. I thought it would be like this, so I am three hours in advance for my flight.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): The TSA says it will screen 2.7 million passengers at airports on Wednesday, making it the biggest day for air travel leading up to the holiday. Heavy clouds and congestion caused the FAA to slow the pace of flights at New York's LaGuardia and JFK, as well as Houston, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. 5,500 flights in the U.S. were delayed on Tuesday as cold wind and rain pummeled east coast airports.

NICK CALIO, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AIRLINES FOR AMERICA: The weather always is the key. We've been working with the FAA to adjust routes, to move things around.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): From its Station Operation Center at Washington, Dallas, United Airlines has a team of 50 monitoring weather, flight connections and even bags.

MIKE HANNA, AIRPORT OPERATIONS, UNITED AIRLINES: We are going to move approximately 6 million customers this holiday season and we expect to be able to do that very reliably.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): On the roads, AAA says Wednesday is the toughest for traffic, with trips in many major metro areas forecasted to take up to 80 percent longer.

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AIXA DIAZ, AAA SPOKESPERSON: The reality is many people are leaving on Tuesday, on Monday and also may be coming back on Monday after thanksgiving.

MUNTEAN (voice-over): But, some like school teacher Katie Bell have no choice but to travel on one of the busiest days of the year.

KATIE BELL, TEACHER, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Everyone is doing the best that they can, so assume the best in people and be kind to people.

MUNTEAN: In all, airlines have delayed about 8,000 flights on Tuesday and Wednesday combined. But there have been very few cancellations and airlines insist they've handled this rush pretty well. This is all building up to Sunday when the TSA anticipates 2.9 million people passing through security at America's airports. That could be at an all-time air travel record.

Pete Muntean, CNN, Reagan National Airport.

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CHURCH: And thanks so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. I will be back with more "CNN Newsroom" in just a moment. Do stay with us.

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