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Israel Receives Three Names of Hostages; TikTok Goes Offline in the U.S.; Trump's Inauguration Day Moved Indoors; Gaza Ceasefire Now in Effect. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired January 19, 2025 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:00]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.
Israel now says it has received the names of the three hostages Hamas plans to release in the coming hours. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that the lack of that list delayed the Israel- Hamas ceasefire in which was supposed to begin more than two hours ago. And in that time, the Israeli military says it carried out new strikes in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said artillery and aircraft struck what it describes as a number of terror targets in Northern and Central Gaza. Gaza civil defense and hospital officials say the latest strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians.
Meanwhile, in Northern Gaza, some Palestinians are already returning to places they fled because of fighting. Now, this was the scene a short time ago in Gaza City. And in Egypt, hundreds of aid trucks are at the Rafah Border Crossing, ready to enter Gaza as soon as the fighting stops.
CNN's Nada Bashir is live in Beitunia, West Bank, where we expect to see Palestinian prisoners released. But first we go to Salma Abdelaziz in London with the latest on the ceasefire. So, Salma, many in Israel and Gaza, incredibly anxious as that planned ceasefire deadline passed with no ceasefire. So, bring us up to speed, where do things stand right now?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you often hear in these cases, Kim, that every minute, every delay cost lives, in this case, it literally did. At least 10 people killed in airstrikes this morning after this ceasefire was set to take place, that's according to local officials on the ground. We now have word from a senior Israeli official that that list has been received by the Israeli government. It is unclear at this time if the guns have been fired.
But I think it's an indication of just how dire the conditions are on the ground that people were already trying to return to whatever remains of their homes in the north of the country. I know you're playing those images earlier, even as, of course, these airstrikes continue. You also have hundreds of air trucks -- aid trucks rather waiting at the Rafah Border Crossing. Some 600 aid trucks a day will be allowed into the Gaza Strip under this agreement. That's a huge improvement and one that's very needed. You have to remember, it's not just the bombs and bullets that have been killing Palestinians in Gaza, it has been hunger. It has been starvation. It has been cold. So, this will absolutely be welcome relief.
It will also be welcome relief for the families of hostages. You'll remember that yesterday, Saturday in Tel Aviv, there were gatherings to celebrate and welcome the return of hostages. The first hostages to be released should take place today. Three civilian female hostages should be released around 4:00 p.m. local time, but that was the original plan. Unclear at this time if that will be delayed as well.
But I can't over emphasize just how much people are waiting with baited breath, really, for these guns to fall silent so aid trucks can begin to flow into the Gaza Strip, hostages can come out and Palestinians can begin to return to whatever remains of their homes.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, I want to follow up on that, Salma. You talk about families going back. So, take us through the conditions that they're actually returning to.
ABDELAZIZ: And this is what's really important to emphasize, and that aid groups, the United Nations, and human rights groups are emphasizing, yes, the conflict may fall quiet, yes, the guns may fall silent, but the conditions on the ground could continue to claim lives inside the Gaza Strip.
You have 2 million people, nearly 2 million people, half of them children, who have suffered a brutal 15-month conflict. Nearly every single person has been displaced, forced out of their home. More than 46,000 people killed over 100,000 people wounded. The medical infrastructure of the Gaza Strip has entirely collapsed. Aid groups are struggling to get help in because the infrastructure, the roads, the basic signs, the basic ability to move through the Gaza Strip has been severely destroyed under this 15-month conflict.
So, for many on the ground, this is a respite, it is a chance to catch their breath, but it is also, more than anything, a chance to reassess, to say farewell to loved ones they never got to say goodbye to, to find out what's happened to their homes, to possibly receive aid or treatment. It will be the beginning of a very difficult time. process in the Gaza Strip. It does not end when those guns fall silent, Kim.
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BRUNHUBER: You know, and, Salma, the ceasefire couldn't come a minute too soon for so many people there. I want to go to Nada Bashir. So, Nada, explain to us the significance of where you are in the context of the release of Palestinian prisoners.
NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Kim, we were outside the Ofer Prison here in the occupied West Bank, and this is expected to be essentially one of the focal points and release points for the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees following that exchange. And, of course, this is all dependent on those three Israeli hostages being freed from captivity by Hamas in Gaza and returned to Israeli territory.
Once that is confirmed, we are expecting to see Palestinian prisoners and detainees released. So much as we saw back during that four-day truce back in November 2023 when, once again, the Ofer Prison was one of those key focal points over the course of four days where we did see the transfer and release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Now, of course, over the next six weeks is what is set to mark the phase one of this three-phase ceasefire agreement, if indeed it is upheld for those three phases. We are expecting to see hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees released.
Today, we are expecting to see, according to preliminary information from the Israeli authorities, 95 Palestinians released from Israeli jails. That includes 70 women and 25 men, among them 10 teenagers. And important to underscore that in this initial list of 95 Palestinians, at least 30 have been held under administrative detention, meaning there are no charges laid against them. There's no ongoing legal trial process to speak of. It is a deeply controversial practice that is enforced upon many Palestinians who are held in Israeli custody.
And of course, important to also note, as we've heard in many reports from the United Nations Human Rights Office, the conditions in which Palestinian prisoners and detainees are held are not only harsh, but there have been reports of mistreatment, harassment, and torture. In fact, in July, the U.N. Human Rights Office issued a report saying that the conditions which were already concerning had become dramatically worse following October 7th.
Now, of course, once we see the release of Palestinian prisoners, it's expected that they will be reunited with their families. But the details as to how exactly this will work tonight remain unclear. We know of course the Israeli authorities have said that this will not happen until after 4:00 p.m. local time. Of course, with the delay in the release of the names of those hostages set to be released today, we might see some delays tonight in that process.
What we do know at this stage is that, once again, we are expecting to see the Red Cross playing a part in terms of the logistical movement of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, but important to underscore that the Israeli authorities have said that they will be cracking down on any sort of celebrations or gatherings taking place. And what we saw back in November 2023 were huge celebrations, rallies, and gatherings, sort of like a parade even welcoming home at those prisoners and detainees. Many of whom, at the time, as we saw, were children who were held under administrative detention.
And then there's also the for a detention. Unclear whether we will see any sort of clashes in response to that. But again, this is very much a wait and see process. And the hope is that this does go as planned. Kim. BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. You talked about the numbers of the prisoners and some of the makeup of who it might be. Do we know any more about the number of prisoners who will be released? Who they are?
BASHIR: Well, we have an initial list that was issued by the Israeli authorities. At this stage, there is a little bit of confusion and uncertainty regarding that list, whether or not this will be the final list of names that we'll see tonight. What we saw back in 2023 were changes right up until the last minute with regard to the final makeup of that list.
What we do expect to see is, of course, this exchange to take place every seven days. It is dependent, of course, on the release of Israeli hostages. At this stage, we are seeing a majority of women and minors under the age of 18 being released. It is expected that as we move through this process over the next six weeks, we will see a full release of women and children and then move on to male detainees. Of course, we are also seeing male detainees today, but it's expected that that will conclude the elderly and those who are potentially sick as well. But again, it all remains to be confirmed once we see that final list being issued and also confirmed then by the Palestinian authorities.
Of course, for many families, particularly here in the occupied West Bank, where there is a significant number of Palestinians who are in Israeli custody, there will be many families waiting anxiously for confirmation that their loved ones are on that release list in this first phase of the agreement.
[04:10:00]
And of course, there is a sense of anxiety as well. What we saw last time is the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and then subsequently Israeli authorities ramping up their arrests, particularly here in the occupied West Bank, where we saw a huge ramping up of raids by Israeli forces.
So, of course, this is an uncertain situation. This is a staggered process, and of course, it remains to be seen whether the deal is upheld today and going forward over the next few days and weeks. So, this is a fragile agreement and tensions are high, and of course, there is a sense of anxiety for many here.
BRUNHUBER: Fragile agreement, a fragile situation. Appreciate getting all that context from you, Nada Bashir, and as well, Salma Abdelaziz, bringing us the latest on this fast-moving story. Thank you both.
Well, Donald Trump is gearing up for his inauguration tomorrow. What he plans to do on day one of his second term next. But first, TikTok is now offline. So, what's next for its millions of users? We'll have that and more coming up after the break. Please stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: All right. Returning to our top story, Israel now says it has received the names of the three hostages Hamas plans to release in the coming hours.
[04:15:00]
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that the lack of that list delayed the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which was supposed to begin more than two hours ago, and in that time, the Israeli military says it carried out new strikes in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said artillery and aircraft struck what it describes as a number of terror targets in Northern and Central Gaza. Gaza civil defense and hospital officials say the latest strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians. Stay with us for the latest developments on that.
TikTok is now offline here in the U.S. having gone down shortly before a ban was slated to go into effect. Now, a message from the app giant now says, sorry, TikTok isn't available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. The ban was created out of concern that China could spy on user's personal data and could change algorithms to influence elections.
So, the question now is, what will happen next? Perhaps 170 million American users could see service return as soon as Monday when Donald Trump takes office. The president-elect says he will, quote, "most likely delay a ban on TikTok for 90 days," but he hasn't made a final decision.
In the meantime, millions of users face uncertainty amid this shutdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DUSTIN TYLER, TIKTOK CONTENT CREATOR: I'm very upset, sad, angry, many emotions, and it's going to affect me tremendously. I mean, this is my main platform, is TikTok. I have other platforms that I monetize, but nothing monetizes quite like TikTok.
DERICK CASTENHOLZ, TIKTOK CONTENT CREATOR: For small businesses like myself that in the beginning didn't have a big marketing budget, but we had a phone in our pocket, we had a basement with some records in it or some other kind of set and we were able to start putting videos out there to reach our target market without spending any money.
HAYDEN RANKIN, TIKTOK CONTENT CREATOR: Obviously having our business start on TikTok and having to. Built about a 600,000 following there, it's tough to lose that, but also, it's foolish for any small business to build one sales channel. And so, we knew this for a while that we're going to have to build out other forms of marketing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: Earlier, TikTok threatened to go offline Sunday unless the Biden administration assured the company there would be no punishment for violations. The White House called the warning a stunt and said the issue now belongs to Trump.
So, as questions swirl about TikTok's future in the U.S., Trump has vowed to, quote, "save" the popular social media platform. In a message Friday, TikTok's CEO, Shou Zi Chew, thanked Trump for his commitment towards working to a solution that would keep TikTok available in the U.S. The CEO is among the tech titans expected to attend Trump's inauguration on Monday.
Two sources familiar with the ceremony's plan say the TikTok CEO will be seated on a platform with other prominent guests inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
Donald Trump arrived in Washington on Saturday, the kickoff days of inauguration events plans are still changing after tomorrow's ceremony were moved indoors ahead of freezing temperatures. Trump says he plans to get to work very quickly after he's sworn in. CNN's Alayna Treene has more on what to expect.
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ALAYNA TREENE, CNN REPORTER: Well, President-Elect Donald Trump and his team are planning a slate of executive orders to be issued on his first day in office, some of which I'm told are actually expected to be signed by him immediately after being sworn in at the Capitol Rotunda, but then more as well to be issued later in the day.
Now, one of the biggest issues that some of these early orders are going to be focused on, I'm told, is all about immigration. Now, Donald Trump has promised repeatedly throughout his time on the campaign trail to try and round up illegal immigrants in this country and deport them. And that's exactly what some of this early action is going to look like. We're told that you should expect ICE raids through major metropolitan cities, sweeps through cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Denver.
And Donald Trump actually addressed some of this in an interview with NBC on Saturday. He said, essentially, that he wants to begin very early, very quickly with some of these actions and some of these cities, but wouldn't say exactly where.
Now, some of the other actions, we're told, related to immigration as well as Donald Trump and his team are considering a national emergency declaration to try and free up some of the resources from the Pentagon to be sent to the southern border as well as looking at a different asylum restrictions and really rolling back some of what Joe Biden has done, some of which, of course, was him undoing what Donald Trump had done during his first time in office.
Now, we did hear from one of Donald Trump's advisers on Saturday speaking with CNN's Jessica Dean, really walking through some of this action that is expected to be taken. Take a listen.
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JASON MILLER, SENIOR ADVISER TO PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP: When you go back to the campaign trail, what President Trump would talk about is that local law enforcement really knows where the criminal illegals are.
[04:20:00] And so, partnering up with local law enforcement to make sure that we go and target the folks who are the really bad actors, we're talking to transnational gang members, we're talking to people that we know that are criminal illegals that are here in this country that quite frankly are a danger to society.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TREENE: Now, you heard Miller tell Jessica there that really one of the big focuses is going to be on targeting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes in this country. That is definitely a big focus, I'm told, for Donald Trump on day one.
But not all of those early executive orders are going to be focused on immigration, I'm told. There's also going to be some orders focused on trade and the economy as well as energy. So, a lot that Donald Trump is planning to do on day one just shortly after being sworn in.
Alayna Treene, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: And we can now report the breaking news. The ceasefire in Gaza is now in effect, that's according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Apparently, the truce took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time, or 4:15 Eastern time here in the U.S., and it was delayed by almost three hours after Hamas said there was a technical delay in delivering the names of three hostages due to be released to Israel.
So, once again, the ceasefire is formally in effect, that's according to the prime minister's office. We'll have more on that as we get it. And we'll bring you more probably in about 10 minutes or so.
We want to go now back to U.S. politics. Thomas Gift, I'm going to bring him in to talk about the Trump administration. He's the director of the Center on U.S. Politics at University College London. Thanks so much for being here with us again.
So, listen, I want to talk about the inauguration. I mean, this has changed a lot since it was supposed to be this grand event outdoors with, you know, tens of thousands of people attending now having to move indoors. What effect do you think that will have on the atmosphere?
THOMAS GIFT, DIRECTOR, CENTRE ON U.S. POLITICS, UCL: Well, thanks so much for having me, Kim. It's great to be with you. You know, certainly there are going to be a lot of disappointed MAGA fans who had made plans to be out in front of the Capitol for the event.
So, I think by bringing it inside, it's a little bit more of a solemn setting. I don't think that it will have a huge effect, though. I mean, most Americans are going to be watching this from their televisions. I do think that it'll probably put a damper on some of the protests that we've seen. You know, there was thousands of anti- Trump protesters in Washington yesterday and supposedly today as well. But, you know, I don't think that this will ultimately make a huge, huge difference.
BRUNHUBER: Now, looking back, his first inaugural speech in 2017, I mean, Trump was talking about, you know, American carnage, he said -- I want to quote him here, he said, "From this moment, it's going to be America first, America will start winning like never before." Do you think he'll have the same aggressive tone this time around?
GIFT: Well, Trump aides have promised that the inaugural address will focus on the themes of light and unity. That would be a total shift from his speech in 2017, as you note, Kim, where Trump notoriously painted this picture of American carnage.
At the same time, we were told in advance that Trump's speech at the Republican convention was supposed to strike an optimistic tone, but it quickly devolved into darker, more familiar rhetoric from Trump. I think regardless of the speech, though, I don't think anyone expects Trump to be bipartisan outreach from this administration. Trump has promised a retribution tour, you know, and he selected individuals and key positions to do that.
So, this is still the same trump who's driven by hubris, I think, and a pension for revenge. But it will be interesting to kind of see the contrast of this year versus 2017.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, and the contrast with who will and won't be there. Take us through sort of some of the notable names there that will be sharing the stage with them and those who chose not to attend.
GIFT: Well, Trump, of course, didn't attend Joe Biden's inauguration. But it's still a break for convention for some high-profile individuals not to be there. And I think most important are Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi. Sources said that Obama won't attend because she's not one to plaster on a pleasant face or to do something just because it's protocol. Of course, Trump has made numerous attacks on the Obama family and promoted birtherism conspiracies.
With Nancy Pelosi, she hasn't explained her absence. But as we know, she's called Trump a threat to democracy, said that he's unfit for office. She presided over two impeachments of Donald Trump. And of course, we all remember the time when she ripped up Donald Trump's speech at the State of the Union address. So, it's probably not too surprising that some of these individuals are deciding not to show up.
[04:25:00]
BRUNHUBER: You spoke earlier about protesters. So, I want to ask you about this so-called Trump resistance. I mean, I understand there are about 50,000 people who are out protesting, that was the reported number anyway. But I want to compare that to 2017 when there were about literally 10 times that many people. So, now, organizers say that the Trump resistance is still there, it's just trying to kind of figure out how to channel that resistance. What do you make of that and what that might say about how the next four years could play out?
GIFT: Well, you're absolutely right. I mean, there were 500,000 marchers in Washington during 2017. We're only expecting about one- tenth of that size this year. And I think that it is really reflective of the fact that the anti-Trump resistance, so to speak, is deflated. I mean, whatever it's been doing hasn't been working politically. So, I do think that there's a need to pause and rethink the strategy.
There's also this sense that we've done this before. So, whatever norms Trump violates, there's very little shock value. I do think that it undermines some of the rhetoric that we heard during the campaign that Donald Trump represents an existential threat to democracy. I think that there's no doubt that Donald Trump represents a challenge to democratic norms and institutions. But when we talk about sort of existential threats, I think that it's overblown, you know, and the fact that we're kind of seeing this muted response from the anti-Trump resistance is a reflection of that.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. We'll see how that evolves over the next months and years. Thomas Gift, always appreciate speaking with you. Thank you so much.
GIFT: Thanks, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: All right. Well, as we told you moments ago, the Israel- Hamas ceasefire has officially begun. We'll have the latest on the situation in a live report, that's coming up next. Please stay with us.
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[04:30:00]
BRUNHUBER: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.
An update now on the breaking news we've been telling you about. Israel says a ceasefire with Hamas has begun. Now, it was supposed to take effect about two hours ago, but it was delayed because Israel says it hadn't released -- or received a list of hostages who will be released today. Hamas blamed the delay producing the list on a technical matter.
Now, in that interval, the Israeli military says it carried out new strikes in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces says artillery and aircraft struck what it describes as a number of terror targets in Northern and Central Gaza. Gaza civil defense and hospital officials say the latest strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians.
All right. I want to bring back Salma Abdelaziz live from London. And finally, Salma, the moment so many in Israel and Gaza were waiting for, the official declaration, 15 minutes ago, of the ceasefire taking effect.
ABDELAZIZ: Yes, and according to the Israeli government that ceasefire took hold on the ground at 11:15 local time, just about 15 minutes ago, as you mentioned. But airstrikes were carried out this morning, actually I have an updated death toll for you from Palestinian officials, at least 13 people killed just in that window between that when the ceasefire was supposed to take place to when it actually took place.
So, when you hear negotiators, when you hear mediators saying, every hour, every minute counts, every minute could save a life, that is actually playing out on the ground in Gaza. But in a sign, perhaps of just how dire the situation is, Kim, before the ceasefire even took hold, families were already trying to make their way to the north of the Gaza Strip to find out what remains of their homes, their lives.
Nearly 2 million people, that's almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip was displaced by this conflict. You also have aid trucks waiting, standing by at the Rafah Border Crossing. Under this agreement, 600 aid trucks a day will be allowed into the Gaza Strip. That is a marked improvement, a huge improvement on what we were seeing during the 15 months of conflict.
So, there'll be a lot of eyes now on those trucks waiting at the border now that the ceasefire has taken hold to see when they will come across and when they will be able to begin delivering aid. Lots of eyes on those families trying to make their way to whatever remains of their homes.
Remember, it's not just bombs and bullets that are a threat to Palestinian lives inside Gaza, it is hunger, it is the cold, it is a lack of medical attention, it is preventable diseases, all of these issues that humanitarian workers are going to try to address when they get on the ground in the Gaza Strip.
And then, of course, on the Israeli side, you remember just yesterday that there were people gathered in Tel Aviv to celebrate and welcome the possibility of hostages coming home. We now understand, according to that list that Hamas has handed over to the Israeli government, three female civilians will be released 4:00 p.m. local time on the ground. Those will be the first hostages to come home in this deal. You can expect a massive home coming.
There should be 33 hostages released in the first phase of this deal in the next six weeks, but you have to remember this is an extremely fragile and volatile agreement. The first phase of the deal has been agreed. Again, 33 hostages released, a certain number of Palestinian prisoners will be released as well. Guns to fall silent in Gaza. But there are still so many details to work on here. Israel wants to have a lasting presence in Gaza. What does that look like? What does the government of Gaza look like? Where is Hamas' role?
So, many people are going to take this moment of respite, but point to their fears that there is still a great distance between now and a lasting peace.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, a long road ahead. Salma Abdelaziz, thank you so much. Families of Americans held in Gaza met Saturday with U.S. national security officials. They spoke with members of the Biden administration and President-Elect Donald Trump's incoming administration. Hamas is believed to be holding three Americans in Gaza and has the remains of four others.
U.S. and Israeli citizen Itay Chen was killed on October 7th, and his body was taken into Gaza. His father spoke to CNN on Saturday, saying the family has received a firm commitment that Trump officials will do everything they can to make sure the hostages are released.
RUBY CHEN, FATHER OF U.S.-ISRAELI HOSTAGE KILLED AND TAKEN INTO GAZA: So, Mike Waltz, the incoming national security adviser, Mr. Adam Boehler, in charge of the American hostages, both gave their firm commitment that they will want to see this hostage deal continue until the last hostage is released, specifically seven U.S. hostages, that five of them will remain in captivity, even after this first phase of the deal. And they said that they will do everything in their power to make sure that this deal indeed happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:35:00]
BRUNHUBER: Ofrit Shapira-Berman is a professor at Hebrew University, and she's been working with the families of those missing and killed in Israel on October 7th. And she joins us now from Tel Aviv. Thank you so much for being here with us.
Finally, after that long delay, welcome news that the ceasefire has taken effect, three hostages to be released today, 33 in the next few weeks. One can imagine the released hostages condition will be worse than the previous hostages who were released. Tough to know, of course, but what are you expecting in terms of the main health challenges they'll be facing?
OFRIT SHAPIRA-BERMAN, PROFESSOR, HEBREW UNIVERSITY: Well, some of them have been wounded on October 7th and probably did not receive either any medical help or of course, if they did receive, it -- for sure, it wasn't good enough. So, that needs to be treated. They suffer from malnutrition, extreme one, and that causes a lot of medical problems.
I think the physicians in Israel, which are very good, we'll have to -- they will be challenged because the western world has no knowledge of any women or civilians who were ever held -- or at least over the last some decades held as hostages anywhere. So, it will be very challenging. But I do think that with time, most of them will reach reasonable good health. I hope so. Of course, I can -- I'm an expert on mental health. And so, on the physical health, I will leave it to the physicians.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. Well, let me ask you specifically about that, because, of course, the physical challenges are just one element. Clearly, the mental challenges, the emotional challenges can last a lot longer. Based on what you've already seen, what types of challenges there will they be facing and how can you help them?
SHAPIRA-BERMAN: Well, they will be overwhelmed and probably in euphoria over the last -- over the first few days. I think that the problems will start with time. They will be very scared, startled very easily. They will probably suffer from depression and anxiety. And there will be a lot of things that will need to be worked out concerning the evilness that they have faced. I don't think any human being is ever prepared to experience another human being so evil to you.
So, it's always -- it's not just -- you know, it is literally heartbreaking and it's not easy to mend a broken heart. But I also think it's very important to hold in one hand the hope and the faith that I have in human strength. Humans have a lot of strength. And here in Israel, we are familiar with treating people who have suffered the Holocaust, which is probably one of the worst human experiences that we have encountered during modern times. And we do know that people can find a reason to go on living.
So, it's important, in one hand, to hold the hope and the faith in the strengths and in the other hand, to be to be realistic. The Holocaust survivors fell in love, most of them, and had children and worked and were even creative, but they also screamed at night. So, we have to hold, you know, the complexity of this experience.
I think the one thing that is very, very, very important is to respect their privacy and to do everything that we can for them to regain their sense of autonomy, which was robbed. They were robbed of their autonomy.
BRUNHUBER: I spoke to a rehab specialist who'd been treating returned hostages, and she said there was a lack of long-term support. And I know you've previously said that true healing could take a generation or two. Has there been enough investment in these long-term resources to help these returnees?
[04:40:00]
SHAPIRA-BERMAN: So, I think it's not very accurate, that specialist has said, because the Social Security here in Israel is paying and will be paying for therapy for those people for however long they will need it. I think there are experts. Personally, of course, I'm familiar with the experts who are working private practices and not necessarily in hospitals, but there are experts in Israel who are experienced in treating very profound traumas. Of course, not this kind of traumas, but other traumas that can be devastating for the human spirit. And we're familiar with long-term therapy.
It is completely clear to me that they will need therapy for many, many years. But it's also important to say that it's not that we have to wait 10 years or 20 years of therapy to see achievements, achievements are in the small details of every day's life and some of the hostages who were released last year or who were released over that -- over the previous years have already fallen in love, which I see as like the -- one of the biggest achievements and like, a proof of the human spirit to -- ability to rehabilitate.
So, if the hostages were coming back now, once I will hear that they fell in love with someone, I'll be -- my heart will be expanding to the moon. That's a very good sign. So, we see achievements on a daily basis. I think it's just important for them to have a therapist who is willing to walk the walk with them for however long it takes and not to have too many expectations or goal they have to do that, they have to be that. No. They have to find their own way to live. BRUNHUBER: That was a beautiful example you gave there of the triumph of those returnees falling in love and how that can represent healing. Some of those previously freed returnees, they face such unique challenges. And I understand that some of those hostages and their families have volunteered to help counsel these new ones. What role could they play? How important could that be, to hear from someone who's shared their experience about how to heal and reintegrate?
SHAPIRA-BERMAN: Well, I think that may be complicated. I think in due time -- and everyone has his own pace. In due time it may be helpful. But I think we should also taking into account that the people who are coming back are probably not very, you know, available to hear other people's stories for now. And of course, there's a big difference between the people who were released last November and the people who are being released now. We expect them to be much sicker physically, and they will need time.
And I think what the surrounding needs is to just listen to what they are asking. If they would ask to see someone who was held hostage in Gaza, the family knows how to find someone who will come over and talk with them. Everybody wants to help. And I think everybody should take a step back. And these first days or even first weeks are really holy and sacred times between the hostage and the family and every one of us who consider himself to be an expert and has such a goodwill to help, we only need to breathe deeply and take a step back and let these people give us, you know, a nod when they need anything, and we'll be there to help them. But we have to listen to them very, very carefully.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, it's such a huge challenge with so many people around the world are rooting for them and hoping that they get the help they need and deserve. Ofrit Shapira-Berman, thank you so much for speaking with us.
SHAPIRA-BERMAN: Thank you very much. Thank you.
BRUNHUBER: And we'll be right back with more. Stay with us.
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[04:45:00]
BRUNHUBER: Donald Trump is celebrating his inauguration weekend, watching fireworks at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia.
Trump stood next to his wife, Melania, as they watched the fireworks and listened to a performance. Most of Trump's family was also there, briefly braving the cold before heading to Washington.
Though many will no longer be able to watch Trump's inauguration now that it's been moved indoors, members of the public will still have a chance to view the presidential motorcade as it makes its way to the White House tomorrow. CNN's Holmes Lybrand has more on the shift in security measures around the Capitol.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) HOLMES LYBRAND, CNN REPORTER: While Trump has scrapped plans for an outdoor inauguration and parade, members of the public will be able to catch a glimpse of his motorcade as it travels to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Agencies, including the Secret Service, have 24 hours to put the final touches on a new security plan that previously took months to game out. Over 30 miles of fencing, more than is ever been used for such an event was originally being set up and was meant to filter crowds through security checkpoints in anticipation for Trump's now scrap parade to the White House.
Secret Service agents accompanying the president had been practicing security maneuvers on that route as part of plans that now appear moot. People will be able to watch Trump's motorcade as it transports the new president to the White House from the Capital One Arena, where Trump is expected to appear for his supporters following the inauguration. The inauguration will take place in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, which can hold approximately 700 people, and will be attended by members of Congress, spouses, and VIPs.
Holding the inauguration and parade indoors could alleviate some security concerns since it's often easier to control certain risk factors in an indoor setting compared to outside. Trump's inauguration on Monday was expected to be attended by hundreds of thousands of ticketed guests and involve roughly 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel. It's unclear if those new plans will change those numbers.
Holmes Lybrand, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Much of the United States will face freezing temperatures as winter storms set in, and that means Monday's inauguration will be the coldest on record since Ronald Reagan's in 1985. Well, the forecast just ahead. Stay with us.
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[04:50:00]
BRUNHUBER: All right. You're looking at live pictures right now of Tel Aviv and Khan Younis in Gaza. An update on the breaking news we've been telling you about, Israel says a ceasefire with Hamas has begun. Now, it was supposed to take effect about two hours ago, but it was delayed because Israel said, it hasn't received a list of hostages who will be released today. Hamas blamed the delay producing the list on a technical matter.
Now, in that interval, the Israeli military says it carried out new strikes in Gaza. Gaza civil defense and hospital officials say those strikes killed at least 10 Palestinians.
A massive winter storm will have much of the United States facing serious freezing weather in the next few days and that includes Washington D.C. where the presidential inauguration is set to take place. CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar has the forecast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The inauguration is set for Monday in Washington, D.C. and it is expected to be bitter cold. The high temperature only likely making it up to 25 degrees. You factor in that northwest wind. It is going to feel like it is only in the single digits. This would make it the coldest inauguration since Ronald Reagan's second inauguration back in 1985 when the temperature was only in the single digits.
[04:55:00]
Now, all of this cold air is coming in behind the cold front that's expected to bring rain and snow along the East Coast as we go into the day on Sunday. And that cold air is really going to drop. Look at Minneapolis. These are low temperatures, not the wind chill, the temperatures themselves, minus 17 in Minneapolis Tuesday morning. It's going to get down to 11 degrees Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C. The high temperatures, not much better. Even some southern cities like Atlanta, for example, is barely going to make it above the freezing mark as we head into the early portion of this week.
Now, the rain and snow component to that front, mostly rain on the south side, where those temperatures will be mild, at least on Sunday. Farther north, that cold air is in place. You're going to see snow for portions of the Mid-Atlantic as well as the northeast. And yes, that does include Washington D.C., Baltimore, and even Philadelphia.
The snow itself will be out entirely by the time we get to late Monday morning, but that cold air sweeps in behind it, which means any of the snow that likely falls is going to be there for quite some time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: Donald Trump says he'll probably go to California in the next week after being sworn in as president. Now, this as containment has improved for the Eaton and Palisades Fires, about 41,000 people were still affected by evacuation orders in Los Angeles as of Saturday, that's down from more than 170,000 at the height of the wildfires.
All right. That wraps this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more breaking news on the ceasefire that just went into effect in just a moment. Please stay with us.
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