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U.S. Pauses Intelligence Support to Ukraine; Trump Could Back off on Some Tariffs Today, Again; Trump Boasts about Election Victory, Criticizes Democrats; U.S. Rejects Alternative Gaza Reconstruction Plan Proposed by Arab Leaders; Supreme Court Reinstates Order Requiring Trump Administration to Release Frozen Foreign Aid; Pope Francis Remains in Hospital for Ash Wednesday; Jordan Evacuates Sick Patients from Gaza. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired March 05, 2025 - 10:00   ET

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

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): Welcome to our second hour of the show. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi, where the time is 7:00 in the

evening.

In a continuing sign of worsening relations between Ukraine and the United States, the CIA director now says that Washington has paused intelligence

support along with weapons shipments to the wartorn country.

The U.S. government dealing with the fallout from president Donald Trump's trade war with his neighbors and allies, Canada and Mexico, and doubling

levies on Chinese imports. All three countries immediately announcing retaliatory tariffs of their own.

And the Trump administration flatly rejects a long-awaited plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, endorsed by Arab leaders. The U.S. president

remains committed to his vision to transform the besieged enclave into a vacation town or area owned by the United States.

Well, just days after halting military aid, CIA director John Ratcliffe says that the U.S. has now paused intelligence support to Ukraine. That

comes after last Friday's now infamous tense Oval Office exchange between Presidents Trump and Zelenskyy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN RATCLIFFE, FORMER U.S. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: What president Trump said is he asked for a pause. As I mentioned, president

Trump is the peace president. Never been a war under his leadership. He wants to end the wars that exist.

And so, in this case, as everyone saw play out, president Trump had a real question about whether President Zelenskyy was committed to the peace

process. And he said, let's pause. I want to give you a chance to think about that.

And you saw the response, that President Zelenskyy put out a statement, saying, I'm ready for peace and I want Donald Trump's leadership to bring

about that peace.

And so I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think, will go away. And I think we'll work

shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, as we have, to push back on the aggression that's there but to put the world in a better place for these

peace negotiations to move forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, during an address to the joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, Mr. Trump referenced a letter from his Ukrainian counterpart

who he says is ready to get back to the negotiating table.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Earlier today, I received an important letter from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The letter reads, "Ukraine is ready to come to the

negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians," he said.

"My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts. We do really value how much America

has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence. Regarding the agreement on minerals and security, Ukraine is ready to sign

it at any time that is convenient for you."

I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago. Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and received

strong signals that they are ready for peace.

Wouldn't that be beautiful?

Wouldn't that be beautiful?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN's chief international security correspondent, Nick Paton Walsh, covering the latest from Kyiv. I spoke to him last hour about

Ratcliffe's announcement to pause intelligence and military aid. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: We knew just 24 hours ago that military aid had been paused.

But we got an indication from Ukrainian sources that intelligence sharing, which is utterly vital for Ukraine to often target Russian positions, know

what the Russians are doing, that that appeared to be continuing.

But CIA director John Ratcliffe telling FOX Business this morning that this was something that also had been paused along with the military aid.

Now he described this more as something that had led to the sense of rapprochement we got last night when president Trump spoke at length about

a letter that he'd received from president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

That letter, he said, showed that they were willing to sign the rare earth minerals deal at a time that was convenient for the White House, that they

were committed to peace.

[10:05:04]

And earlier in the day, Zelenskyy had described, both on video and in a social media posting, that he felt that the Oval Office scene, which many

here in Ukraine felt was essentially him being ganged up on by two of the most powerful men in the world, that he felt that was regrettable,

Zelenskyy did.

So a real effort by Kyiv here, despite, I think, how many Ukrainians have interpreted those White House scenes to try and bridge the gap.

Yet it does appear that that hasn't radically changed matters as yet, as Ratcliffe is essentially suggesting that he thinks the pause in

intelligence sharing and military aid will be lifted as we see the Ukrainians move closer back toward the peace process.

I should point out the Ukrainians have never been against a peace process. It's the kind of peace process that they're being asked to sign up to that

they and their European allies are wary of.

I should also add that Trump's national security advisor, Mike Waltz, has also said in the last hours, that he thinks they can nail down these

negotiations.

"If we can nail down these negotiations and move these negotiations forward and put some confidence building measures back on the table, then the

president will take a hard look at lifting this pause."

So a suggestion, too, that Ukraine hasn't made enough steps yet that they want to see them make more, to see more engaged in a peace process for this

to be lifted.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, that's Nick Paton Walsh reporting.

To Donald Trump's defiant address before Congress that was part victory lap, then part campaign rally, part road map for the next four years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years. And we are just getting started.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. president, touting the, quote, "swift and unrelenting actions" of his first six weeks in office, including the

upheaval of the federal government guided by Elon Musk. Trump also defending his tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China after launching a

trade war and sparking global economic fears.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: April 2nd. Reciprocal tariffs kick in and whatever they tariff us, other countries, we will tariff them.

Tariffs are about making America rich again and making America great again. And it's happening. And it will happen rather quickly.

There will be a little disturbance. But we're OK with that. It won't be much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, throughout the speech Democrats took to several forms of protest. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. AL GREEN (D-TX): Get out. Get out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The chair now directs the sergeant at arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Congressman Al Green of Texas, removed from the House chamber at the beginning of the speech. Others waving signs or turning their backs on

the president and walking out, a slight which did not go unnoticed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: These people sitting right here will not clap, will not stand, and certainly will not cheer for these astronomical achievements. They won't do

it no matter what.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, in the official Democratic rebuttal to the president's address, Michigan senator Elissa Slotkin arguing that everyday Americans

are going to bear the brunt of Mr. Trump's economic plans.

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REP. ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI): He's going to make you pay in every part of your life. Grocery and home prices are going up, not down, and he hasn't

laid out a credible plan to deal with either of those. His tariffs on allies like Canada will raise prices on energy, lumber, and cars, and start

a trade war that will hurt manufacturing and farmers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, I want to bring in my panel of experts for you, former lieutenant governor of Georgia, Geoff Duncan, a Republican who voted for

Kamala Harris; CNN global affairs analyst Kim Dozier and Jason Furman, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under the Obama

administration.

It's good to have you all on board. Thank you.

Kim, before we dig into this speech, I have to start with you on the breaking news this hour, that is of the U.S. pausing intelligence sharing

with Ukraine.

Just what sort of impact will that have and how big a shift is this?

KIMBERLY DOZIER, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: This is a huge kick in the gut for the Ukrainians, because this is the kind of intelligence that they

were using to focus especially their long range strikes.

[10:10:00]

Including those into Russia, into the Kursk territory that they're currently holding.

And it's also a way for the White House to make sure that this is immediately felt. In terms of cutting off weapons that would have taken two

to three months to have an impact on the ground because of the stores that Kyiv already has from past deliveries.

But cutting off intelligence has an immediate effect on the battlefield and threatens Ukrainian forces and their ability to hold the territory that

they're currently holding on to, to withstand Russia's efforts. So that was a real way of muscling Kyiv back to the negotiating table.

ANDERSON: And to be clear, the CIA director has said this may just be a pause. But for however long that pause continues, of course, as you rightly

point out, the impact will be swingeing when it comes to this intelligence.

All right. Thank you, Kim, I just wanted to make sure that we covered that off as we begin this.

Geoff, let me get to you. Just before Donald Trump's address, what, 12 hours ago or so now, you wrote an op-ed, entitled, "Is Trump running a

Ponzi scheme or a country?"

Arguing that Trump, quote, "continues to make unrealistic promises that have the distinct feeling of being too good to be true.

"These populous-fueled promises offer quick fixes to serious domestic and foreign problems ranging from immigration, budget deficits, inflation and a

peaceful end to two wars. As the days pass and the faux shiny objects stack up in the West Wing, it is starting to become apparent."

You say that Trump is "writing checks he can't actually cash."

And given what you heard last night, do you stand by the conceit of that piece?

GEOFF DUNCAN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA: Absolutely. Last night's speech was exactly what I wrote about. On the top line, you know, majority of

Americans agree that we want to cut spending in the size of government, that we want world peace, that we want safe and secure borders.

But the devil's in the details. And Donald Trump, in my opinion, his life and his time in office really proves, like Mexico paying for the wall to be

built; not only did they not pay for the wall to get built but it wasn't built.

He constantly says things that he doesn't actually feel like he's going to or doesn't actually follow through with, much like a Ponzi scheme. Give me

your money. I'll invest it and give you more money, which never ends up happening.

And that's, you know, that really played out last night. I mean, think about this. The campaign speech of $2 trillion worth of spending being

taken out of our budget is only going to turn into billions, which is still important.

But it's a far cry from the $2 trillion. And actually going through the veins of Congress now is a is a deficit increase, a rise in our debt, our

debt as a nation. And so look, this is a smoke and mirrors game. And Donald Trump played out last night exactly what a Ponzi scheme would play out

sitting in an office.

ANDERSON: Well, let me bring you in, Jason, because, he talked tariffs last night. He doubled down on his narrative, saying they are likely to

cause a little disturbance.

But to Geoff's point, his Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, today signaling some flexibility, certainly in the wake, one assumes, of Justin

Trudeau's positioning yesterday, which is, we're just going to come at you with similar tariffs. This is what the Commerce Secretary said earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD LUTNICK, U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY: The president is listening to the offers from Mexico and Canada. He's thinking about trying to do something

in the middle. He's thinking about it. We're talking about it.

We're going to -- when I leave here, I'm going to go talk about it with him. And I think, early this afternoon or this afternoon, we expect to make

an announcement.

And my thinking is, it's going to be somewhere in the middle, so not 100 percent of all products and not none, somewhere in the middle, because I

think Mexico and Canada are trying their best. And let's see where we end up. So I do think somewhere in the middle is a likely outcome.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Look, folks could be forgiven for feeling like the Trump administration was making things up effectively as they sort of go on.

Does, though, what we've just heard suggest that perhaps we should step back from what we are hearing and focus more on the Trump administration's

actions ultimately, more than Trump's sort of bombast, as you might describe it, or his fiery words at this point?

JASON FURMAN, FORMER CHAIRMAN, COUNSEL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS, OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: You know, first of all, if the tariffs were completely

taken away, they still will have done some damage by injecting uncertainty.

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FURMAN: Businesses are going to have to take into account they may come back. If the tariffs are cut to, say, 10 percent, that's really, really

high with an highly integrated, highly successful North American market.

The only thing 10 percent tariffs are moderate, relative to, is the 25 percent that they are right now. There is no choice for businesses, for the

Fed, for consumers but to think ahead. The president is talking about another round of tariffs, starting in the beginning of April. He had moved

tariffs on and off.

I don't know what's going to happen. I don't think president Trump knows what's going to happen. But that uncertainty itself is a reason, if you're

a business, to pause, maybe do a little bit less investing now, until all this uncertainty clears itself up. Unfortunately, that might take four

years to happen.

ANDERSON: Kim, Donald Trump taking a jab at the Europeans in his address last night. Let's have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Europe has sadly spent more money buying Russian oil and gas than they have spent on defending Ukraine by far. Think of that. They've spent

more buying Russian oil and gas than they have defending. And we've spent perhaps $350 billion, like taking candy from a baby. That's what happened.

And they've spent $100 billion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Yes.

This is all this is all sort of happening in real time, isn't it?

As we listen to the U.S. president, but again, I wonder how much of this is just talk and whether the world needs to kind of sit back somewhat and wait

for some clear action.

And how much does what we are hearing, as far as this talk is concerned, do you believe, really speaks to an emerging Trump doctrine for Europe?

Or is that just do you think going too far and, frankly, all part of the art of the deal here?

DOZIER: Well, it seems the major message that Trump is sending is not so much peace through strength but peace through intimidation, with a side of

sneering. He could have reframed this differently by saying that currently Europe is buying more Russian oil than it's giving to Ukraine.

But we're ready. Now that we've turned on the taps, to use his phrase, to step in and provide them that oil, that would -- was one potential positive

spin that he didn't take.

He also keeps repeating this refrain that the U.S. has given Ukraine more aid than Europe has, when, by the numbers, Europe has dispensed about $166

billion to the U.S.' about $100 billion, about half of what the U.S. promised under the Biden administration.

So I just feel like I've got to mention that every time. I know that a number of European officials were furious at the disinformation getting

spouted about that again. But it made a great message to American people, who might be pro Ukraine and upset at how rosy Trump's view has been on

Putin and Russia.

So he's trying to once again present the U.S. as the aggrieved nation and everybody else as recalcitrant and in need of being set on the right path.

ANDERSON: That sort of foreign policy, sort of writ large when it comes to the Europeans, CNN did some -- crunched some numbers last night, Geoff.

Domestic policy, including DOGE, that took up 32 minutes worth of this speech, a little less for immigration and then a little less for the

economy, just under 14 minutes.

I wonder what that tells you about Trump's priorities and how everyday Americans will be affected and will perhaps respond ultimately.

DUNCAN: Yes. And for me, this is one of the reasons why my stomach turned on Donald Trump as a lifelong Republican, as a conservative who won a

statewide election in Georgia in 2018 with 11 million people in it.

I didn't walk away from Donald Trump because I'm not a conservative. I just watched the shallowness of his decision making. You have to go no further

than watching his reaction to COVID in this country, whether he followed a tweet or whether he followed a headline or whether he saw a whimsical poll

that was run.

That was his leadership style.

[10:20:00]

And you're watching this play out. He's just chasing headlines, creating a shinier object every day as to distort people's vision into what he hasn't

accomplished. And that's the reckless nature where we're headed.

This world is very complicated. I would argue it's very dangerous at this point. And just being reckless, even those comments yesterday, whimsically,

about -- from one of his cabinet secretaries that they were going to, you know, roll back the tariffs.

And that affects global markets, billions, if not trillions of dollars of commerce. These are people's livelihoods. These are people's retirements

and businesses, health care. This is serious stuff. And he just plays like roughshod across it.

And look, he's found his partner and that's Elon Musk. They're two peas in a pod. They care about the headlines more than they care about the

substance.

ANDERSON: Geoff, Kim, Jason -- and apologies to you. We'll have you back, sir.

We'll have you all back, of course, but just run out of time on this occasion. But there is so much to discuss, so thank you. And as I say,

please make some time for us again. You are all more than welcome on this show.

Next up, a day-after plan for Gaza. Find out why the United States says it is dismissing a new proposal by Arab leaders.

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ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. says president Trump is sticking to his vision for a postwar Gaza, despite Arab leaders coming up with an alternative

plan. Well, that plan, drawn up as a $53 billion proposal in Cairo, it calls for Hamas to hand over power to a future interim government in Gaza

until the Palestinian Authority can eventually take over.

It would also allow Gaza's 2 million residents to remain there. Washington, though, rejects that plan. Now it comes as Israel's new army military chief

of staff says the IDF must be prepared for a long war of attrition on multiple fronts. Paula Hancocks with me now -- Paula.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, it's interesting that the Trump administration has quite so quickly said that they don't accept this

proposal from the Arab League. It was an ambitious plan. We saw from them, as you say, $53 billion over five years. They say that they would have

rebuilt Gaza.

They would have had shopping malls, an international convention center, an airport, which Gaza did actually have at one point but only for a few

years.

But what we heard from the National Security Council spokesperson, Brian Hughes, is that Trump wants to stick to his plan. He wants to displace more

than 2 million people from Gaza. He wants a Gaza free from Hamas. But it also appears free from Palestinians as well.

[10:25:00]

He hasn't guaranteed they'd be allowed to move back, because, he said, it's simply uninhabitable, that, given the debris, given the unexploded

ordnance, there shouldn't be Palestinians living there.

But this Arab League proposal, we understand, will be taken to Washington. It will be presented to the U.S. president. And also, they're acknowledging

the difficulties of disarming militants in Gaza.

That's the key point, right?

Hamas appears at this point to be happy to pull back from the administrative role of running Gaza. They have said it's a red line for

them to be disarmed. So, of course, that's the key problem here.

ANDERSON: The temporary ceasefire, still holding to a degree, although Israel has blocked aid from going in, which is part of the ceasefire

agreement. It goes on. Conversations being had about what happens next. No end to this war in sight.

This was, of course, a plan, a counter proposal to Donald Trump about what a day after might look like. We are not there by any stretch of the

imagination, of course, at the moment, because the war effectively continues -- or could.

And the new IDF chief saying that this could be a long war of attrition on multiple fronts, by which he means, what, Paula, do we have any sense?

HANCOCKS: He -- I mean, a war of attrition is a war that will continue, maybe at a low level but it will continue for a long time. And he said that

it's on multiple fronts.

So you're looking at Gaza. You're looking at Lebanon, you're looking at Syria. Now, of course, this could be coming in with fighting talk, at a

talk, at a time when Israel is trying to pressure Hamas into agreeing into its version of what this ceasefire deal should look like as opposed to what

had been agreed before.

But, of course, it will be a concern. We heard from an Israeli official just yesterday that they believe the next two to three days were crucial

and that the option of going back to military action was very much on the table.

So this is all coming at a time when the pressure is on Hamas to agree to this changed deal, that the Middle East envoy for Donald Trump is expected

back in the region imminently to try and sort this out as well.

So it could well be that that the new head of the IDF is pointing out that this is definitely an option. But, of course, it makes everyone in the

region very concerned at a time when military action is not off the table; there are concerns that there could be a war that returns to Gaza.

ANDERSON: There's a lot of positioning going on, as you say, though, in what are still very uncertain times. Paula, thank you.

A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's request to keep billions of dollars in foreign aid frozen.

The 5-4 ruling does not say when the money must be released, allowing the dispute to continue in lower courts.

Last month, a U.S. district judge ordered the money to keep flowing on a temporary basis. CNN crime and justice correspondent Katelyn Polantz joins

me now.

And, Katelyn, last hour we talked about this, really, just as the decision came down. As you look into the detail and at those who dissented.

What are you learning?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, this is a case about the power of Donald Trump's presidency and the power

he has over shutting down USAID, that agency that distributes foreign aid all over the world.

And one way it does it is it provides money to nonprofits and businesses that then implement foreign aid projects everywhere around the globe. In

this case, the Trump administration froze the money that was going out to those contractors and wanted to keep it frozen.

But then it got tied up in court. And a lower court judge said, no, you have to pay for those contracts that you owe. And you owe that money to

them by tonight. That was last week, the lower court judge had said.

That was a $2 billion bill that the government was facing, looking at an imminent deadline. And so they went to the Supreme Court. Today, the

Supreme Court said, yes, we're not going to give Trump all of the relief he wants here. We're not going to allow him to keep all of the money in USAID

frozen in just a blanket way.

What we're going to do is kick this back down to that trial level judge and have him figure it out.

But Becky, it raises a lot of questions here about where the Supreme Court wants to land on the power of the presidency versus what courts can do. And

those dissenters that you mentioned, it's the four members of the Supreme Court in the far right, the right wing of the U.S. Supreme Court, Justices

Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.

Justice Alito wrote a dissent saying, "I can't believe that this is something that you're wanting a district court to figure out.

[10:30:00]

"Colleagues on the bench," he wrote, "does a single district court judge who likely lacks jurisdiction have the unchecked power to compel the

government of the United States to pay out and probably lose forever 2 billion taxpayer dollars?

The answer to that question should be an emphatic "no." But a majority of this court apparently thinks otherwise. I am stunned."

So a fight blossoming at the Supreme Court between the conservative wing of the court, saying, we think the president should have some power here and

we should be stepping in.

Whereas the rest of the court, the five other members, including the Chief Justice Roberts, saying, no; let's let lower courts figure these claims out

about Donald Trump's executive power and the ability to turn off money going out to people in the federal government. Becky.

ANDERSON: One assumes that this will this will not be the last that we hear of this, nor the last case, that we learn of, as DOGE and its work

continues in the U.S. Katelyn, always a pleasure. Thank you.

Coming up, we're going to get you to Vatican City. The Ash Wednesday service getting underway. Pope Francis, though, not there to lead it. We'll

get an update on his health after this.

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ANDERSON (voice-over): Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD, with me, Becky Anderson I'm here in Abu Dhabi. It's just after 7:30.

Your headlines: U.S. president Donald Trump told the American people he is digging in on his second term agenda. He made those comments in a speech to

Congress. The president defended his drive to reshape the federal government at a dizzying pace with the help of Elon Musk, while making

false claims about inflation and immigration. Meantime, the president is expected to speak with the Canadian prime minister about tariffs and that

discussion expected in the coming hours.

A suspected terrorist involved in the planning of the deadly bombing at Kabul's airport in 2021 has been charged and extradited to the United

States. President Trump announced Mohammad Sharifullah's capture during his address to Congress on Tuesday.

The attack killed 13 U.S. service members and at least 170 Afghan civilians during the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Tropical cyclone Alfred barreling toward Australia's eastern coast. The outer bands of the category two storm are already bringing heavy rain and

strong winds to Queensland and New South Wales.

[10:35:00]

Residents on the projected path have been asked to evacuate.

Well, Ash Wednesday services are beginning at the Vatican. Pope Francis, though, is not taking part in them this year. He is still in hospital,

fighting double pneumonia. CNN's Chris Lamb is in St. Peter's Square.

And Chris, both the latest, if you will, on the pope's condition and what is the mood there in Vatican City today without Francis?

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, its the 20th day that Pope Francis has been in hospital, battling pneumonia in both of his

lungs. The Vatican said he rested well last night, woke up at around 8 am.

Vatican source saying he's off this mechanical ventilation that he was on overnight, that helped him breathe. Medical experts say it also puts in

oxygen and reduces the work of breathing for the pope, helps him to rest.

But, yes, it is an uncertain time here in the Vatican because Ash Wednesday is happening. It's the very important day for Christians and Catholics

across the globe. It's the start of Lent, the runup to Easter.

And there are services beginning. The main Vatican or the main service that the pope would have been at is starting up on the Aventine Hill right now.

The pope will not be there. Its the second time he's not attended an Ash Wednesday service during his papacy.

But the first one he's going to be marking from hospital. A cardinal will read his homily or his reflection. Of course, Ash Wednesday is all about

recognizing mortality. And that, of course, has an added poignancy this year, with Francis in hospital.

People will, of course, be gathering again behind me in St. Peter's Square to pray for the pope, as they have been each evening. There's really a mood

of uncertainty and anxiety in the Vatican as the pope continues to battle this health crisis, now in its 20th day. We're expecting a further update

from the Vatican in the coming hours. Becky.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, sir. Thank you.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Time here 7:36. We will be right back.

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ANDERSON: Last month, president Trump shocked the world by announcing that he wanted to take over the Gaza Strip. Well, as part of that plan, he

wanted neighboring countries, Jordan and Egypt, to take in the Palestinians of Gaza.

Well, the displacement of Palestinians was outright rejected by not just Jordan and Egypt but much of the international community. And when Jordan's

King Abdullah II visited his American counterpart a few weeks ago to discuss solutions for the region going forward, he announced this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABDULLAH II, KING OF JORDAN: I think one of the things that we can do right away is take 2,000 children that are either cancer children or in

very ill state to Jordan as quickly as possible.

[10:40:10]

TRUMP: That's really a beautiful gesture. That's really good and we appreciate it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, now, King Abdullah did not specify whether Jordan would take those Palestinians permanently or for the duration of their treatment.

And yesterday, in coordination with the WHO, the Jordanian military safely evacuated 29 children from Gaza into Jordan, the first group they are

expecting of many in order to reach that 2,000 number.

Well, these kids' cases are severe. They have either lost their limbs during the war or suffer from cancer. So this moment is very important for

them and their parents. One young boy, Abdul Rahman, lost his leg after an airstrike hit a school he was sheltering in. Here's what his mother had to

say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASMA AL-NASHASH, ABDUL'S MOTHER (through translator): The psychological state was very bad, to the point he started pulling his hair and hitting

himself hard. He became like someone who has depression. Seeing his friends, playing and running around, learning, and he's sitting alone.

Also, his father died in this war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, the aim here is to evacuate 2,000 children in total in several groups. But the second group of children won't be able to leave

Gaza until the first is completed with their treatment.

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BRIG. GEN. MUSTAFA AL-HIYARI, DIRECTOR OF MILITARY MEDIA, JORDANIAN ARMED FORCES (through translator): After this group of children receives

treatment and health care, they will be returned to the Gaza Strip. Only then will the next batch be evacuated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, according to a Jordanian official who spoke to CNN, the reason behind that decision is to avoid the displacement of Palestinians

from Gaza.

In response to a question about how Israeli authorities will safely facilitate the return of Palestinian patients to Gaza, Israel's

Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories or COGAT, as its known.

They told CNN that if a request is received to return patients to Gaza, it will be coordinated and executed in accordance, they say, with established

procedures.

Well, that is it for CONNECT THE WORLD. This hour. Thank you for joining us. "MARKETPLACE MIDDLE EAST" up next.

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