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Gaza Hostages Could Be Released Overnight Sunday Into Monday; Airlines To Passengers: Prepare For Delays As Shutdown Continues; Transportation Sec. Warns Absent Air Traffic Controllers May Be Fired; Government Shutdown Enters 11th Day; Witkoff, Kushner And Ivanka Trump Speaks In Hostage Square. Aired 1-2p ET

Aired October 11, 2025 - 13:00   ET

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

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[13:00:00]

HAGAL ANGREST, FATHER OF ISRAELI HOSTAGE: We are very excited waiting for our son and for all the 48 hostages.

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WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: CNN has learned the hostages could return from captivity as soon as Sunday, overnight into Monday. And it's likely to happen in different locations.

Meanwhile, in Gaza right now, the ceasefire is holding. Security forces affiliated with Hamas have been seen back on the streets as Israeli troops continue to withdraw. New video shows aid has begun flowing back into Gaza as part of phase one of this ceasefire deal. We're told half a million displaced Gazans have already returned to their homes since the ceasefire began. Many of them are facing scenes of utter devastation. Here's how one resident described it.

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SHADHA AL-NAJJA, RETURNED TO HOME IN GAZA (through translator): The scale of destruction is indescribable. Nothing remains in its place. All our bedrooms are destroyed. Only the roof remains intact. It hasn't collapsed, so that will shelter us in winter, but it may take 50 years to restore it to what it was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: With me here is CNN Jerusalem bureau chief, Oren Liebermann. So what do we expect right now as far as the implementation of this cease fire agreement?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: This is the crucial first phase that we'll see playing out over the course of the next 48 hours or so. This is where we see the details in the proposal, in the agreement itself. The first stage of that, which could play out anytime before noon on Monday, is the deadline would be the release of the 48 remaining hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, 28 of whom are deceased. Officials have told us, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at this, that it's possible that not all of the 28 deceased hostages will be returned because Hamas may not know the whereabouts of all of the deceased hostages. Still, that's not expected to derail the first phase of this agreement. So sometime over the course of the next day and a half or so, we expect to see the release of the hostages.

That will then trigger Israel's part the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences as well as 1,700 Palestinians detained since the start of the war. We've already seen Israel begin to move in that direction. According to Israeli prison officials, they've begun to move Palestinian prisoners to prisons and detention facilities in southern Israel ahead of their anticipated release and deportation for many of them.

That's the crucial first phase of the agreement. That is the big accomplishment that we have seen and are seeing play out. And that's all the anticipation in hostage.

BLITZER: And I think, Oren, it's significant that President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff and the head of the U.S. military Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, they're already here in the region and the U.S. is about to start deploying troops to Israel to help in the facilitation.

LIEBERMANN: Absolutely. And that's part of what comes after that, the second phase and beyond for the agreement itself. And that's at least part of the reason why U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Admiral Brad Cooper made their way into Gaza. Cooper released this statement a short time ago after going, he said, just returned from a visit inside Gaza to inform how we are moving forward to establish a CENTCOM-led civil military coordination center that will synchronize activities to support post conflict stabilization.

America's sons and daughters in uniform are answering the call to deliver peace in the Middle East in support of the commander in Chief's direction in this historic moment. The great effort will be achieved with no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza.

All of that is talking about what the agreement calls an international security force that will be deployed from several Arab states into Gaza to take care of security in Gaza as Israeli forces withdraw. The U.S. will be a part of that from the outside, but the details for a lot of phase two are unclear. Veteran Israeli journalist Nahum Barnea wrote in Yedioth Ahronoth yesterday that the agreement has more holes than Swiss cheese. It takes a lot of faith and the negotiators have to work out a lot of these details to make phase two work.

But this, Cooper and Witkoff in Gaza are part of the U.S. commitment to make sure that happens, that this first stage of a ceasefire agreement becomes the comprehensive deal that we have seen. The hostage families, so many in Gaza calling for to end this war.

BLITZER: Yes. And all of these historic agreements, the big picture works out. But then you got to find all these little details that could screw things up.

LIEBERMANN: Absolutely.

BLITZER: We'll hope that doesn't happen this time. All right, thanks very much, Oren Liebermann on the scene with us here.

In the meantime, I want to go back to the CNN Newsroom. Brian, what are you hearing?

BRIAN ABEL, CNN HOST: Yes, we have much more and we'll be right back with you soon, Wolf. Thank you.

This holiday weekend, the ongoing government shutdown could cause delays for millions of travelers taking to the skies. Major U.S. airlines are urging travelers to be patient as TSA agents and air traffic controllers are working without pay and some calling in sick, CNN's Leigh Waldman is in New York following this for us. And Leigh, what are you learning?

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brian, it's good to be with you today, yet again, three more staffing triggers issued for FAA facilities, including one of the New York centers here. And also in another advisory sent out from the FAA talking about ground delays happening at the Newark Liberty International Airport. Taking a look at some of the flight tracking websites, FlightAware specifically, flights coming in delayed more than two hours.

[13:05:17]

Flights leaving, averaging about a 45-minute delay that's going down, so some good news there for passengers. But 12 FAA facilities were short staffed on Friday, including two that deal with traffic around the Newark Airport. There they reported staffing problems for the control towers and for this facility that handles flights coming in and flights leaving. That's leading to some of these delays.

Now, reasons for the short staffing is not clear at this time, but the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy in a statement on Thursday said, a small fraction of these controllers are lashing out because of this government shutdown. Take a listen to what he had to say.

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SEAN DUFFY, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY: I am not going to have them leverage our system, our air travel system for political benefit. I don't like it. And so I'm willing to make changes that are necessary so that doesn't happen again in the future.

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WALDMAN: Duffy also pointed out that more than half of the air traffic delays are caused by the staffing shortages. And to put it all into perspective, earlier this year, that was only about 5 percent of those delays that we were seeing. The FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in an e-mail to employees on Friday, quote, as Secretary Duffy has said, staffing shortages have increased across the country. Air traffic controllers are still required to report to work and carry out their critical duties, the safety and efficiency of our airspace depend on them.

He also promised to delay flights whenever it was necessary to keep people safe in the air. And Brian, like you had mentioned, this is a holiday weekend. So airports across the country, they're busy. Industry group is assuring flyers, though, it is still safe to fly despite all of these staffing challenges.

ABEL: Despite that, it will still get most likely messier as the shutdown drags on. Leigh Waldman for us in New York. Leigh, thank you.

We are also following breaking developments in Mississippi after a deadly overnight shooting. The mayor of Leland says at least four people were killed and a dozen injured around midnight. CNN affiliate, WAPT reports the shooting happened at a gathering after the Leland High School's homecoming football game.

Now the mayor says the gunfire did not happen near the high school and did not offer further details to CNN. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assisting with this case. No one is currently in custody.

Coming up, airports are feeling the strain of the government shutdown, as you heard from Leigh, as federal workers go without pay. I'll speak to the President of a group representing TSA agents at the world's busiest airport right here in Atlanta about what employees are facing.

Plus, stock markets tumbling after President Trump announced even more tariffs on Chinese goods.

And the controversy on the sidelines of the California governor's race as a democratic frontrunner goes viral for all the wrong reasons.

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[13:08:11]

KATIE PORTER, FORMER REPRESENTATIVE: Get out of my -- shot.

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BLITZER: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Tel Aviv where we're watching history unfold right now. The ceasefire agreement in Gaza is holding. Israeli troops are beginning their withdrawal and return of Israeli hostages could happen as soon as overnight on Sunday.

With us now is Khaled Elgindy, he's an adjunct professor of Arab studies over at Georgetown University in Washington. He's also the author of the book, "Blind Spot: America and the Palestinians." Khaled, thanks so much for joining us. What's your sense right now, you know this issue well, what's your sense among Palestinians as phase one of this historic agreement begins to take hold? KHALED ELGINDY, PROFESSOR OF ARAB STUDIES, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Well, I think Palestinians in Gaza especially are, are -- are hopeful, breathing a sigh of relief. I think they're also in for a rude awakening for those who are able to return back to the north, especially where virtually everything has been destroyed. But -- but I think they're -- they're cautiously hopeful just given what we've seen in the past. We've had ceasefire deals that collapsed. And so, I think -- I think there's a lot of hope, but still some trepidation.

BLITZER: Well, let's hope for the best. This is certainly, Khaled, a very complex agreement that hasn't fully been hammered out yet. Many details still need to be worked out. What hurdles do you see laying ahead as far as you can see?

ELGINDY: Well, as far as this first phase is concerned I think the question is, are the Israeli hostages going to be released on time as expected? We also don't have clarity on the full list of Palestinians who are going to be released, the political prisoners and -- and the Palestinian hostages in Israeli detention.

There is still some disagreement on that and we don't have a timetable for -- for those Palestinians who are going to be released. And then we just have to see, is this going to hold? How long is it going to hold? Will Prime Minister Netanyahu have any incentive to continue with other components of the plan or even to maintain it at all once Israeli hostages are back home?

[13:15:23]

BLITZER: What do you think big picture, Khaled, the -- the future of Gaza will look like, assuming all these current details work out?

ELGINDY: Yes, it's I think the -- the future is extremely uncertain. People have seen, I think the scale of destruction in Gaza. It's hard even to wrap your brain around, 92 percent of homes in Gaza have been destroyed. Virtually everything else has been destroyed. Infrastructure, hospitals, roads bakeries agricultural land, everything that can sustain life has essentially been destroyed.

So it's the -- the future is very uncertain in the near term. What kind of humanitarian assistance is going to come in? When will it be unrestricted? And more importantly, over the medium term are there construction materials going to be allowed in? I think all of those are -- are questions that we don't know the answers to and will make the difference between whether Gaza can be salvaged as a place where 2 million people can live, or whether eventually it will simply be depopulated as a result of this destruction.

BLITZER: In your view, Khaled, does this agreement lay the path potentially for the realization of a new Palestinian state?

ELGINDY: I don't think that's on the table. I think Prime Minister Netanyahu and his far right government have made very clear that they will do everything they can to prevent an independent Palestinian state. The plan itself is -- is rather vague. It talks about Palestinian statehood in aspirational terms in some sort of, you know, far off distant future.

So it really, I think, will be up to the international community, up to the United States, the Arab states. What kind of pressure are they going to bring to bear on Israel to -- to kind of retrieve from that outcome. But right now the Palestinian statehood is not really on the table.

BLITZER: As, you know, the Trump administration says it has provided assurances that Israel won't annex parts of the occupied West Bank. How important was that pledge to achieving this current agreement?

ELGINDY: Well, I think that's very important, particularly for getting the Arab states on board with the Trump plan, which is, you know, not necessarily an ideal plan from a Palestinian or Arab perspective. It is very front loaded with the Israeli demands and interests. So those kinds of assurances on the status of the West Bank are important to, you know, to get buy-in from Arab and European states who at the end of the day are going to be asked to foot the bill for any kind of rehabilitation or reconstruction in Gaza in the future.

And they'll want to know that -- that the -- the -- a Palestinian state is at least in the future is -- is -- is at least still possible in some way. And -- and I think those assurances are needed for that.

[13:19:00]

BLITZER: Khaled Elgindy, thank you so much for joining us. In this note later this hour, my interview with a woman who survived being taken hostage by Hamas. We'll learn about her time in captivity. That's coming up.

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ABEL: We are learning new details after officials in Tennessee just gave an emotional update on that tragic plant explosion. They say there are no survivors after a massive blast that the munitions plant raised it. They're also taking extra precautions, including moving slowly through the site and having ambulance and helicopters on standby just in case anything happens during that process. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis explains this phase of the investigation.

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SHERIFF CHRIS DAVIS, HUMPHREYS COUNTY, TN: Ma'am, I never want to give up hope. Hope's always in my heart, but I don't want to give false hope.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You said you're checking DNA, right?

DAVIS: Well, again, we are doing the DNA, but -- but we're going to have to slow walk that because of the scene, the way that the scene is, and as devastating as it is for any type of true confirmation.

At some point in time, we've got to rip off the bandaid. Can I tell you, and -- and I alluded to it yesterday, it's not like working a accident, it's not like working a tornado. We're dealing with explosions. And I would say at this time we're dealing with remains.

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ABEL: Now officials also say the large blast trigger several smaller explosions. Due to the nature of the material that's in the facility, one person has been identified. Melissa Dawn, Stanford, 53, believed to have died during the blast, her niece told CNN. At least 18 people are missing and feared dead. An ATF spokesperson says the national response team will arrive this afternoon.

[13:25:10]

Well, the financial markets closed the week sharply lower after President Trump reignited his trade war with China. Yesterday, Trump said Tariffs on Chinese imports will jump another 100 percent on November 1st or sooner. That's in addition to the 30 percent tariffs that are already in place. The President said it's in response to China Xi Jinping increasing export controls on rare earth minerals, which are critical for electronics.

CNN Business correspondent, Vanessa Yurkevich, has more on the announcement that sent stocks tumbling.

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: The Dow tumbled 879 points on Friday after President Donald Trump threatened to increase tariff rates on China. The Dow had its worst day since May, and the Nasdaq and S&P their worst days since April when President Trump first announced wide sweeping tariffs.

President Trump said on truth social that he's considering a massive increase in tariffs on imports from China, which are already being tariffed at a rate of 30 percent reigniting trade fears between the two largest economies in the world. So this threat came after President Trump says that China has been imposing strict export controls on rare earth minerals from China going into other countries.

China dominates the processing of rare earth minerals controlling 90 percent of the market, and they're used in everything from laptops to fighter jets to wind turbines. And the flow of rare earth minerals from China was a key negotiating point in order to lower the tariff rate on China from that high 145 percent tariff to the current 30 percent tariff rate.

Now, President Trump says he doesn't see a need to meet with President Xi Jingping of China later this month at the Apex Summit in South Korea because of this. Now, Wall Street has been on a record breaking streak, but is -- as investors have really moved past tariffs and focused on better than expected corporate earnings. But Friday really marks a sharp turnaround. CNN's Fear and Greed Index went from neutral to fear for the first time since May. Back to you.

ABEL: Vanessa Yurkevich reporting there. Vanessa, thank you.

Well, with no end in sight to the ongoing government shutdown, delays in cancellations at airports are growing as air traffic controllers and TSA agents continue working without pay. I want to discuss more now with Aaron Baker, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 554. He's also a TSA worker at the world's busiest airport, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International. Aaron, thank you so much for being here. First of all, right now, what is the morale like for TSA agents as -- as we creep up here on the second week of the shutdown?

AARON BAKER, PRESIDENT, AFGE LOCAL 554: Uncertainty, frustration, anger because of all that's going on, not knowing when their next paycheck will come in. Although some did receive partial paychecks, as of today, some are still waiting on that paycheck due to the holiday coming up. So it may be Tuesday before they'll receive their -- their partial paycheck.

ABEL: OK. And -- and how, for the ones that aren't and ones that are, how is this impacting their lives at this moment outside of work?

BAKER: It's, you know, for some of them it is -- it is pending detriment, you know, because some of them are one car payment or one rent payment away from being evicted or losing their car. So, the concern of not receiving a paycheck is weighing heavy on the officer's minds right now.

ABEL: I -- I can imagine the -- the emotional stress --

BAKER: Absolutely.

ABEL: That -- that can do to you. I do want to ask you about this, Transportation Secretary Duffy is threatening to fire air traffic controllers who don't show up without a good reason. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to believe that that can extend to TSA agents as well. Do you think that this is putting you in -- in -- and your coworkers between a rock and a hard place here where you either have to show up for work, having no idea when you're going to get paid, as you say or the idea of getting fired if you don't because you can't afford to go to work?

BAKER: That's a -- that's a true concern for officers for sure. The uncertainty of really knowing, you know, if I have to make a decision whether to put gas in my car or pay for a daycare or a babysitter, or buy food for my family or come to work. I mean, you know, here in Atlanta -- the Atlanta area, there is a fall break happening this week.

So that extra money that would have been there to take care of the -- the necessary things at home is not there, which is, you know, having the idea that I may be rift if I don't come to work is very concerning.

ABEL: I do want to ask you about the video that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is playing for passengers as they're in the queue to come to you all. What do you make of that?

[13:30:07]

BAKER: I don't have any comment on that. You know, that's the agency. The agency, hey, they're making their decisions to do and put those things out there. I can't really comment on that.

ABEL: Well, let me not ask you about the motivation, though, but maybe so the response to it for people that come up to you. Are you seeing any change in their interactions with TSA agents as a result of that?

BAKER: Actually, you know, and I've been talking with a lot of the officers here lately, the passengers are a lot nicer right now because they are hearing that TSA workers are working without pay. And, you know, for anyone to miss a paycheck, you know, depending upon who you are. But I believe that most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, you know. So, they understand the mental anguish and stress that comes along with that. So, they're being a lot nicer right now.

ABEL: And I wonder where that level is, because I know it could get pretty low at times with somebody that travels frequently that TSA agents aren't always treated the best. So, appreciate what you do. I do want to ask you, what do you think happens to you and your fellow workers the longer that this shutdown drags on?

BAKER: Well, I will say this, TSA officers are committed to the mission and the oath that they've taken. They are coming to work, they're showing up, and they're doing a job that needs to be done. But at some point, when the paycheck is not there, that tough decision is going to have to be made. Whether it's going to do Uber, Lyft, Instacart, whatever the case may be, some officers may have to make that decision to take care of their family.

And that's even to put -- maybe pay for medication for elderly parents and things like that. So, eventually, I'm sure that, you know, the tough decision is going to happen. We want our lawmakers to come to the table and do the job that we elected them to do.

ABEL: That's the message to the lawmakers. I do want your take on what you feel that both travelers, but also just people at home watching, need to know or should know about your work at the moment.

BAKER: Yes. I mean, the work that officers do is very important. And they are coming to work. Just know that when you do come to the airport, you will be safe traveling. One thing that I will say is if you know a TSA worker or a federal worker, you know, overall, you know, reach out, give them some support during this time because there's a lot of uncertainty, and officers and federal workers definitely need it.

ABEL: All right. Aaron Baker, really appreciate the conversation. Thank you very much.

BAKER: Thank you.

ABEL: Well, coming up, just days away from the agreed return of the remaining hostages in Gaza, my CNN colleague Wolf Blitzer speaks to a former Israeli hostage about her time in captivity and her greatest hope as the ceasefire agreement in Gaza moves forward.

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[13:35:00]

BLITZER: President Trump's special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been speaking over at hostage square here in Tel Aviv. I want to listen in to hear what he had to say. Listen to this.

STEVE WITKOFF, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: Good evening. Good evening. Good evening, everybody. I dreamed of this night. It's been a long journey. This is the most powerful site. I don't know how many people are out there. It's quite a bit, as I can tell. Looks like almost more than 100,000 people here tonight.

All of our hearts beating as one, gathered here in Tel Aviv. For peace, for unity and for hope in this sacred place we call hostage square. I only wish the president was here. He would he would he would love this.

CROWD: Thank you, Trump. Thank you, Trump. Thank you, Trump.

WITKOFF: Thank you. Thank you. We stand here tonight. Jews, Christians, Muslims and people from every corner of the world united by one shared prayer, for peace.

[13:40:00]

WITKOFF: Tonight, we celebrate something extraordinary. A moment that many thought was impossible. Yet here we stand living proof that when courage meets conviction, miracles can happen. A peace born not out of politics, but out of courage. The courage of those who refuse to give up hope.

First and foremost, I want to honor the people of Israel. Your strength, your resilience, your unwavering spirit through unimaginable pain and loss, you have carried the weight of hope on your shoulders for the entire world. You've prayed, you've persevered, and you've shown the world that peace is not weakness. It is the highest form of strength. Through heartbreak and fear you never let go of the faith. Your courage and endurance inspired the world. And it was your belief joined with the bold leadership of my friend and president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, that made this piece possible.

This moment was made through the tireless dedication of leaders who would not rest until the world saw what could be achieved. One of them standing right here with me, Jared Kushner.

To Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- oh, OK, OK. To Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -- OK. Let me just finish my thought. I was in the trenches -- guys, let me, let me just finish my thought. I was in the trenches with the prime minister. Believe me, he was a very important part here.

Prime minister -- the prime minister and his staff, Ron Dermer included, have both -- OK -- have both sacrificed so much for this country and devoted their lives to the service of Israel. Their dedication to the history and destiny of this nation stands out tonight. They've given everything, their time, their energy and their hearts to building a safer, stronger future for the Jewish people. Their commitment to this country has never wavered and it never will. We thank you. The president thanks you. Thank you.

WITKOFF: And to President Donald J. Trump.

[13:45:00]

CROWD: Thank you, Trump. Thank you, Trump. Thank you, Trump.

WITKOFF: Thank you. Thank you. To President Donald J. Trump, a man who is a humanitarian through and through, with the indomitable spirit who once again proved that bold leadership and moral clarity can reshape history and change the world. We all owe a debt of deep gratitude to President Trump.

In the worst of times, he refused to accept the idea that peace in the Mideast was out of reach. He brought together nations once divided -- excuse me, he brought together nations once divided by generations of conflict and showed us that shared peace is stronger than shared pain. History will remember what, that when others doubted, President Trump believed. He is the greatest president in American history and we're here because of him.

WITKOFF: He showed the world that strength and peace go hand in hand. They are not opposites, they are partners. To the Arab leaders and partners of ours who meant so much in this negotiation, including President Erdogan from Turkey, including Sheikh Mohammed from Qatar, including the Emir, including President Sisi, all of whom played a critical and an integral role in this peace deal, I say thank you.

Each of those Arab friends and partners of ours, each of them come from nations that chose reconciliation over resentment. Thank you for showing that the future of this region can be built not on the ashes of old hatred, but on the promise of shared hope.

And now, from the depths of our hearts, we honor the families of the hostages. Each and every one of you have carried the moral weight of this nation. Your courage has moved the world and has touched me in ways that I have never been touched before in my entire life.

You have -- thank you, thank you. But if you, if you keep me here all night, then Jared and Ivanka won't get to talk to you. Your courage has moved this world, I say to the families. You have prayed through endless nights and never let the world forget who your loved ones are. And in this way, you honor and you bless them.

To the hostages themselves, our brothers and sisters, you are coming home.

CROWD: Bring them home. Bring them home. Bring them home.

[13:50:00]

WITKOFF: Your faces, your names, your stories have lived in every heart here tonight and in mine since I began this job. Your endurance, your faith, your will to live have been symbols of the human spirit that cannot ever be broken. And now, as you return to the embrace of your families and your nation, know that all of Israel and the entire world stands ready to welcome you home with open arms and endless love.

And let's not forget that we are all in this together. Let's not forget the people who have lost children who are not coming home, members of a very terrible club that I'm a member of myself. We remember the heroes and the innocent souls who are no longer with us, those who were taken from us on that terrible, tragic day, October 7th, and those who have given their lives since then in defense of freedom and their nation, in defense of this country, Israel, in defense of peace.

Their memory is a blessing. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten. From their courage, we draw our strength. And from their love, we find our purpose. This piece is their legacy. It is a promise that their lives will not be remembered only in sorrow, but in the hope of a future without fear.

So, in closing, I say, may God bless the souls of the fallen. May God bless the hostages and their families as they return home. May God bless the state of Israel. May God bless the United States of America. And may God bless Donald J. Trump, the greatest president the world has ever seen. Thank you.

CROWD: Thank you, Witkoff. Thank you, Witkoff. Thank you, Witkoff.

JARED KUSHNER, DONALD TRUMP'S SON-IN-LAW: I agree with you. Thank you, Witkoff. I've had the great honor for the last 10 months of working with Steve very closely, even more so in the last month.

And I have to tell you, it's been an honor to me to work with such a special man who's approached this impossible task with a full heart and with a full commitment. And when things got tough and we ran into brick walls, every time that happened, we just said, let's make a new plan. Let's try again. And that's what being partners with Steve was like.

And I also have to say, working with President Trump on this, his commitment to seeing peace, to seeing the hostages return home, to seeing Israel secure and safe, and to seeing the entire Middle East stable and thriving is unmatched.

CROWD: Thank you, Trump. Thank you, Trump. Thank you, Trump.

KUSHNER: That's right. Thank you, President Trump, for the amazing job you did and for your commitment to bring this horrible conflict to an end. October 7th for me was a shattering day. My wife and I were at a friend's wedding in Colorado, and I remember hearing the news. And I just went to the hotel room, and I was looking at videos and trying to speak to whoever I could to get information. And I just stayed there all night, and I cried.

Seeing some of these acts that were committed on that day made me think about how fortunate we are to have a society with rules and laws and people with morals. And seeing these horrific, barbaric acts shocked me to my core in a way that I'll never be the same.

Since then, my heart has not been complete, and it's been a tremendous burden that I felt to see these hostages come home, to see their families get the closure they deserve and to end this nightmare, to see their families get the closure they deserve and to end this nightmare, and also to see the suffering end for the people in Gaza who, for most of them, were experiencing this through no fault of their own other than being born into a situation that was horrific.

[13:55:00]

CROWD: We want peace. We want peace. We want peace.

KUSHNER: We're not going to celebrate tonight, we're going to celebrate on Monday, when the phase one gets into conclusion. But what I did come here tonight to say was that I couldn't be more proud to see the way that the State of Israel and its people have carried themselves through this traumatic, unthinkable, horrific experience.

Instead of replicating the barbarism of the enemy, you chose to be exceptional. You chose to stand for the values that you stand for. And I couldn't be prouder to be a friend of Israel, somebody who supports Israel, and somebody who fights very strongly to see Israel survive, succeed, and to achieve its fullest potential.

CROWD: Thank you, Kushner. Thank you, Kushner. Thank you, Kushner.

KUSHNER: Thank you. All I know, and I have complete confidence in this, is that what will rise from this trauma will be a level of greatness, a level of achievement, a level of impact on the world, a level of leadership that Israel has never seen. And I encourage you all to go forward, to seize that opportunity. And as we close this chapter, let's learn from the challenges and the pain of the last few years, and let's do our best to make Israel, to make the region, to make the world as peaceful, to build bridges of understanding, to eliminate hatred in ourselves, hatred for others, and to really lead with love and understanding.

So, I thank you all for the tremendous commitment you've all shown, for the support that you have given to these amazing families through such a horrific time. And just the final thing is I just want to thank the amazing soldiers of the IDF. Without their heroism and brilliance and bravery, this deal would not have been possible. So, I really want to give a big tribute to them.

So, God willing, we've accomplished the first phase. It's been very, very rocky. Steve and I will one day tell the stories. They'll make you laugh. They'll make you cry. It was crazy. I noticed he had no four-letter words in his speech because I think he used them all up in the negotiation. But I think that it's a really great thing, hopefully, to celebrate Monday. So, really an honor to be with all of you tonight. And I'll introduce my wife, who wants to say a couple words.

IVANKA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S DAUGHTER: Thank you, Kushner. And thank you, Steve. And thank you, President Trump.

Tonight, as we stand here together in Tel Aviv, we honor the strength of every family waiting, praying, and believing. Over the last two years, the president, myself, Steve, Jared, and so many of others have met these incredible people. And I am in awe by their strength and conviction in spite of such suffering.

And the president wanted me to share, as he has with so many of you personally, that he sees you, he hears you, he stands with you always, always.

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