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Gaza Faces Uncertainty Over Next Steps in Ceasefire Plan; Stocks Fall on Renewed U.S.-China Trade War Fears; Some Airports Refuse to Play Noem Video Blaming Shutdown on Democrats. Aired 10- 10:30a ET

Aired October 14, 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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WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, next steps unclear. Key points in the Gaza ceasefire plan remain unresolved, and Hamas has returned only four of the 28 deceased hostages.

Plus, rejections -- rejecting an ultimatum. Media outlets are pushing back big time against the new Pentagon press policy with even pro- Trump channel Newsmax calling the new requirements unnecessary.

And later, quote, we are not airing the -- we are not airing this, why multiple airports are refusing to play this video of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at security checkpoints around the country.

Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Tel Aviv, Israel. Pamela Brown is off today. Jessica Dean is with me in New York, and you're in The Situation Room.

And we begin this hour with President Trump saying phase two of the U.S.-brokered peace plan in Gaza has begun, but the future of the Gaza situation and the road ahead in this ceasefire agreement, all of that remains very much in question.

There are new drone images coming in right now of Gaza. Take a look at this. And as you can see, the devastation is sweeping. Overnight, President Trump said his immediate focus is on rebuilding Gaza and not the larger issue of establishing a Palestinian state. Watch this.

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DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I am talking about something very much different. We're talking about rebuilding Gaza. I'm not talking about single state or double state or two-state. We're talking about the rebuilding of Gaza.

A lot of people like the one state solution. Some people like the two- state solutions. We'll have to see. I haven't commented on that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Hamas has freed all 20 living hostages, and Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. But one huge challenge could threaten the entire agreement. Hamas has returned the remains of only 4 of its 28 dead hostages. The remains of all 28 are absolutely required within 72 hours.

Today, we're learning the names of two men whose remains were, in fact, returned. Bipin Joshi was an agricultural student from Nepal. He was working on a farm when Hamas fighters stormed the area and kidnapped him. He was 22 years old at the time he was taken hostage. And 26-year-old Guy Illouz was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival. His family remembers him as a promising musician who also worked as a sound engineer. Last week, Guy's father spoke to CNN's Jeremy Diamond about the hope and importance of his son's remains coming home.

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MICHEL ILLOUZ, SON'S REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO ISRAEL: I am so happy for the family, the 20 family that they received their children back alive.

We are two years already fighting together. So, I'm so excited for them in one hand. And the other hand, I feel sadness. I feel sadness of starting my journey.

In what way, in what meaning, how do I will get him? I will get him by DNA, by bones. How can I recognize him? How can I be able to bury him without to recognize him? And I'm so afraid from this moment because it's kind of starting of recovery, I hope so.

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BLITZER: We're following, of course, all the latest developments and there are many. CNN's Nada Bashir is in Jerusalem for us, and CNN's Alayna Treene is over at the White House.

[10:05:00]

Nada, let me start with you. What are you learning this morning? There are dramatic developments certainly still unfolding.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, Wolf. And just as you mentioned, that anticipation that the deceased hostages would be returned within that 72-hour framework, as outlined in the deal, has clearly not been met. We know, of course, that at least four, four confirmed deceased hostages have been returned and now identified by forensics teams. Only two of those names have been made public. Authorities say they're keeping the remaining two names private at this stage until they receive the permission of those family members.

But for so many family members who were anticipating, they would get that closure yesterday, that they would be able to lay their loved ones to rest. This has been a very difficult moment knowing that their bodies have not yet been returned. And we've just heard from the international committee for the Red Cross, which has said it could take days, even weeks for their bodies to be recovered and returned to Israel. Some bodies they say may not be recovered at all. So, a very distressing update for many of these family members. We know, of course, that it will be a very difficult process, and while that deal was being negotiated, there was an understanding amongst officials and mediators that it may not be the case that we would see all deceased hostages returned on day one of that exchange, and that it may be a long process.

We understand, of course, that an international committee is set to be established in order to help with that recovery process. But it's important to note, of course, the sheer scale of the destruction in the Gaza Strip and the fact that just in the last few days since that ceasefire has come into effect, we know, of course, that the Gaza civil defense teams have recovered hundreds of bodies from beneath the rubble in the Gaza Strip. This is set to be a very lengthy process, both for the family members of deceased Israeli hostages, but also for Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip still searching for their loved ones.

But certainly a lot of international pressure mounting on this very important part of the ceasefire agreement being met. We know that the Israeli Prime Minister has made a clear commitment to return all hostages, including those deceased. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right. Nada Bashir in Jerusalem for us, thank you very, very much.

Let's go back to Alayna right now. She's over at the White House. Alayna, President Trump is declining to commit to what's called a two- state solution, a new state of Palestine living alongside Israel. What are you learning now?

ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, Wolf. I mean, look, in my conversations with people at the White House, they essentially are saying they recognize that they don't want to have this conversation right now. Despite the success of this, despite the celebrations we saw, of course, yesterday with the hostages returning home, with the Palestinian prisoners being released, this is still very much a fragile plan. And there's a lot of disagreement about what the future of the region will look like, specifically, of course, a controversial question that has gone back years and years that many people have been divided over, which is should Palestine be recognized as its own state? Should they have statehood?

And it's where you saw a lot of leaders yesterday, and this is what I found pretty remarkable at some of the scenes from that summit in Egypt yesterday, was many of the leaders who were standing behind President Donald Trump. Many of those who are sitting next to him and signing that deal, they are pushing for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Of course, you have people like Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others in Israel who say that is a nonstarter for them.

So, we're kind of seeing the president push this off further. He's been saying that for some time now. I'd remind you that last week he, he kind of reiterated that saying, you know, I will support whichever path my team decides. And so they're kind of looking at that as an option for the future.

But I do think, big picture here, of course, we saw the celebrations yesterday. I think there's no question that what the Trump administration has achieved with the ceasefire deal is very remarkable. But there's still so much work to be done and so much opportunity that could potentially upend this.

The president said yesterday that he believes we are already in phase two of this 20-point ceasefire plan. That's including, you know, the trying to disarm Hamas, trying to figure out the long-term governance of Gaza, all issues that are very, very difficult. And so there's a long road ahead still to make sure that this lasts and that the security guarantees of this continue, all of that still up for negotiation in the weeks ahead.

BLITZER: All right. Alayna Treene at the White House for us, Alayna, we'll stay in very close touch with you. Thank you very, very much.

And there's more developments unfolding right now. There's new news this morning, for example, the father of one Israeli hostage whose remains have not been returned is pleading with the world today to not forget his son. Itay Chen was a dual U.S. and Israeli citizen killed by Hamas.

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His father, Ruby, has worked tirelessly for his son's return and wrote this in the newspaper, USA Today.

Quote, I celebrate with those who can now hug and embrace their loved ones. The sweet reunions October 13th displayed a triumph of our collective spirit and determination. But my family and 23 other hostage families cannot yet rest. Our loved ones are still being held in Gaza. Their remains have not yet been returned. We live in a state of suspended mourning, unable to grieve, unable to heal, unable to bury our children in the land they loved and defended, end quote.

Next hour, by the way, Ruby Chen, the father, will join me here in Tel Aviv to discuss this agonizing ordeal that he and the other hostage families are still facing right now.

We're, of course, going to continue to monitor all the late breaking developments right now. I want to check in right now with our Jessica Dean, who's monitoring the latest developments back home in the U.S. What are you learning, Jessica?

JESSICA DEAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Wolf, thanks so much. Could charges be coming for another fierce critic of President Trump? Still ahead this morning, what sources are telling CNN about a potential indictment of former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton.

And SpaceX hits a major milestone with its latest Starship test flight.

Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

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Happening now, stocks are seesawing on renewed fears of a U.S.-China trade war. Wall Street getting back some of yesterday's big gains. The Dow Jones Index down about 250 points right now. This, of course, after President Trump seemed to walk back threats of massive new tariffs on China. He posted on Truth Social over the weekend, don't worry about China, it will all be fine.

Let's go live now to CNN Business and Politics Correspondent Vanessa Yurkevich. She's here in New York with us. And, Vanessa, I think it's worth zooming out, how do we get here? Where do we think this trade war's now headed?

VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, A lot has happened in the last two months and you're seeing some of that reflected on Wall Street right now. Investors really trying to get hold of where this trade war is exactly going. But let's look at where we came from to understand where we're going.

So, in September, President Trump really tightened export controls on A.I. software. These are -- this is A.I. software critical to make chips, which China is a big producer of. So that impacted China's ability to produce these critical chips.

Then in October, we heard recently that China was starting to tighten its export controls on rare earth minerals, of which they produce some 90 percent. These are things that are used for everything, like fighter jets, computers. And then on Friday, you saw, the market's reacting to that because President Trump ultimately threatened a 100 percent tariff on China because of those tightened controls on rare earth minerals on Friday, the markets posting their worst day since April.

Then on Sunday, we heard from President Trump softening his stance on China, saying he did not want to hurt China. He wants to help China. And then Monday, just yesterday, markets largely recovering their losses, because as you can see on Wall Street right now, investors really trying to parse through some of what happened overnight in China, which is the Chinese ministry saying that they're putting additional sanctions on some South Korean chipmakers that impact the U.S. shipping industry.

So, a lot of details to walk through to try to understand where we are. Of course, the big question, Jessica, is whether or not that 100 percent tariff on China goes into effect November 1st. That will be a telling sign about whether or not negotiations are moving forward in any way. We know that President Trump often TACOs, or Trump always chickens out and removes these tariffs, but, of course, 100 percent tariff on Chinese imports into the United States would be a dramatic escalation of this trade war. Jessica?

DEAN: Yes, it certainly would. And regardless, it's a good reminder that whatever the president says can move markets up and down.

Vanessa Yurkevich, good to see you. Thanks so much.

YURKEVICH: Thanks.

DEAN: Also, this morning, several airports around the country are refusing to play a video from the Department of Homeland Security blaming Democrats for the current government shutdown.

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KRISTI NOEM, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Democrats in Congress refuse to fund the federal government. And because of this, many of our operations are impacted and most of our TSA employees are working without pay.

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DEAN: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who you just saw there, is facing growing criticism for the unusual message.

CNN's Gabe Cohen is following this story for us. And, Gabe, the video is intended to be played at airport security lines. When you're in line and you always look up and see that monitor, that's where that video normally plays. What more are you learning about this particular video?

GABE COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jess, first off, we're still working to confirm exactly how many airports are actually playing this video, but the list of those publicly refusing to play it is still growing. We have heard from airports in Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Charlotte, North Carolina State that's gone for President Trump three times all the way up to Westchester County Airport in New York, which told us in a statement, quote, the TSA politicizes the impacts of a federal government shutdown on TSA operations and the county finds the tone to be unnecessarily alarmist. It is inappropriate, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the values we expect from our nation's top public officials.

But to be clear, Jess, it is not just the tone here.

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There are also concerns that airing a video like this at TSA checkpoints could violate the Hatch Act, which limits political activities for federal workers in order to make sure that government programs are nonpartisan, of course, TSA being one of those. This video flat out blames Democrats for the government shutdown and for disrupting air travel, including forcing TSA workers to work without pay. And this video would be playing right in front of many of those workers in those checkpoint lines, dropping them right into the center of this political fight.

Now, DHS has defended the video. They sent us a statement saying in part that it is unfortunate that our workforce has been put in this position due to political gamesmanship. But I will say some have pointed out the irony that this video appears to be exactly that, political gamesmanship, Jess, given that DHS still insists that security operations remain unimpacted at this point. And I've been hearing these concerns for weeks from officials inside DHS given that at the beginning of the shutdown, they sent a memo to all staff blaming Democrats for the furloughs that were coming. And we've also seen those government website banners blaming Democrats for the shutdown. This, Jess, appears to be just one more piece of the pressure campaign against Democratic lawmakers.

DEAN: Yes, very interesting, and on day 13 of this shutdown with currently no end in sight.

Gabe Cohen, thank you so much.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have liftoff. Go super heavy (ph). Go Starship.

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DEAN: It is being billed as a successful test flight for SpaceX Starship. The mega rocket made it halfway around the world and released mock satellites before this.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three down to two.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Starship has landed.

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DEAN: Now, despite, eventually bursting into flames, SpaceX is saying this is a success because the spacecraft was able to smoothly navigate a series of landing maneuvers. SpaceX hopes to one day safely land the vehicle so it can be flown again.

Still to come, a new tool in the fight against Alzheimer's, how a simple blood test could help rule out the disease,

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DEAN: Happening now, doctors have a powerful new tool in helping determine if someone is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. CNN Health Reporter Jacqueline Howard explains how this simple blood test works.

JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: This new test was developed by the company's Roche and Eli Lilly. It's four adults ages 55 and older who are showing signs and symptoms of cognitive decline.

The way the test works, it measures a protein in the blood called p- tau 181. This is a protein that we know is associated with Alzheimer's disease. So, by measuring this protein, the tests can either rule out Alzheimer's, or in cases where Alzheimer's cannot be ruled out, then those patients would benefit from further evaluations and further testing. The companies say that in a clinical study, this test correctly ruled out Alzheimer's disease and about 97.9 percent of cases. So, they say that this test could be used alongside other evaluations, like in a panel of testing, to really give a comprehensive look at someone's cognitive health. We do know that more than two in five adults will develop dementia at some point later in life.

So, having easily accessible tests to, again, provide that comprehensive look at someone's cognitive health, that can be really beneficial in the future as we see more adults possibly developing cognitive symptoms.

DEAN: All right. Jacqueline Howard, thank you so much for that.

Let's send it back now to Wolf Blitzer, who's in Tel Aviv for more on our morning's top story. Wolf?

BLITZER: Lots of dramatic development still unfolding here in the Middle East. We're getting new video just coming into The Situation Room from Gaza City as bulldozers begin to clear rubble, while future restoration and rebuilding efforts remain very much uncertain.

Stay with us. You're in The Situation Room.

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