and we prayed together on air, and i was just hopeful that they would get closure. some of those who will come home will not be alive. but this is still closure for them. >> it is still closure for them. i pray we see that moment where the babies come home. and kafir, his second birthday is with his family. >> emily, a quick last word. >> with the celebration and acknowledgment of this historic moment that indeed it's because of the incoming commander-in-chief, i argue that the real work to deter and to again salvage our ally relationships begins now. >> harris: amen. kennedy. >> i pray for peace and i pray for life. you know, not just for the americans. but for the other hostages, their families, and everyone in the region. >> harris: amen. thank you for being with "outnumbered" for this breaking news, and always, ♪ ♪ >> sandra: and we began with

spiritual live look in the middle east, tel aviv on one side and gauze on the other. a break in the middle east as israel and hamas a cease-fire with devastating 15-month war in gaza. hello, sandra smith in new york, hi, john here just me when this is a day we have waited for for a long time and john roberts in washington. this is "america reports." painstaking negotiations and releasing dozens of hostages held by hamas for palestinian prisoners currently in israel. president-elect trump weighing in on tweets social, "we have a deal for the hostages in the middle east and they will be released shortly. thank you." >> sandra: you will remember live during mar-a-lago just last week president-elect trump filed there would be, "hell to pay if the hostages were not freed before election day."

>> john: live with more tel aviv and talking with the trump team, they believe the deal would go through but the question is, what happens next? >> john, good afternoon. a source briefed on the talks confirmed that a cease-fire and hostage deal has been reached. can we do have more details what happen in the final moments. the prime minister directly involved and go hot and the negotiating room separately with the israelis and hamas leadership trying to iron out the details of the agreement. we receive statements and comment not only from qatari officials by israelis from hamas leadership all confirming this deal is a go. to the prime minister's office believe a vote on the deal will take place tomorrow to ratify te agreement at which point things will start to move forward. in phase one drama, for six weeks, 42 days and 33 hostages. some alive and some dead will be

released from the gaza strip. they will be exchanged for hundreds of palestinian prisoners held by the israelis. i can tell this tale is met with mixed emotions in tel aviv. they were demonstrators in the streets outside of israel's version of the pentagon. they are celebrating that also understand they will be morning in the days ahead. they will be accepting the bodies of some of their loved ones held for the past nearly 500 days. just so i can, mixed emotions tonight in israel as news breaks of the agreement being reached in doha. a lot of moving parts. we are looking at a 42-day phasg inside gaza and the release of hostages, john. spain went so it is coming and phases. that means not all the hostages are getting out immediately. at the transition happens in five days. donald trump says he wants all

of the hostages out or hell to pay and i'm assuming he's talking about the american hostages. do we know if the americans would be in the first wave? >> we are not sure at that exact for the first wave air until there was a list previously from the framework released last may. it gives you a sense the timeline how slow it has been. 467 days into the conflict. even the israelis were not sure the last minute among the list who would be alive or dead. they are still waiting to gather more information on the exact names who will be released, but again, a trickled out process. in the first process when implementation takes place, we expect only three living israeli hostages to be released. day seven, three or four will be released and that will continue phase 1 complete. part way through phase 1 pay 16, they will have discussions about phase 2.

and the hostages will be released phase 1 humanitarian category. women, children, female soldiers and anyone over the 50. and may also just released and the rest of the bodies currently held by hamas. phase 3 implemented ultimately the withdrawal of all forces from gaza and more going into the strap with aid and building process. we have to take you to tel aviv in the streets as israel's second-largest city. they are not sure how to feel about the deal understanding the loved ones will be coming home in coffins and others coming home alive in reunited with loved ones. in the center as israel. but the big question, what comes after that and will the cease-fire hold? all still to be determined. >> sandra: they want to get this in as soon as possible. till the office of the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu that says this cease-fire deal has still

not been reached. they are working out the final details. they still need to be sorted out according to the prime minister's office. trey yingst. >> i'm going to be very careful in commenting on the latest statements from the prime minister's office. throughout this process, we talked about domestic political pressure of the prime minister is facing. members have coalition, far right members, some of these ministers have actually threatened to leave the government and collapsed the power of the prime minister has if this deal moves forward. so the prime minister is certainly facing internal, domestic pressure as it relates to an agreement. according to the negotiators on the ground the people close to the process, president-elect and those involved in the agreement including hamas, a deal was reached. >> john: trey on that front the incoming president said a

deal was reached and they will try to build on this and start the abraham accordance. i take it that benjamin netanyahu is not going to upset the apple cart. >> absolutely. it's been a complicated process to begin with domestically here to get together the details of an agreement unpopular among moderates in israel. they say, look, we want the hostages to come home but we don't want to release convicted terrorist back into the west bank and kamala gaza. but they simply have no other choice. they have seen the result of what happens when rescue operations go wrong or forces get close to hostages to make hostages held within gaza. six hostages executed by hamas and the strip as is really forces got closer so it is incredibly difficult situation. when we report on this because so often we are spun by political parties involved,

hamas, the israelis, the americans, qataris that takes place in a broad, regional population, we look at the people directly affected by this conflict. i can tell you the hostages released from gaza that we spoke with in the families that gathered in tel aviv each week and palestinian civilians inside of gaza are looking for an end to the conflict. they have seen months of suffering and not just physical warfare but the psychological aspect of hamas releasing hostage videos and making people question with their loved ones are alive or dead. it has been a horrific situation for everyone involved. everyone involved the players at the table tonight at a deal has been reached. we have received the statement from the prime minister's office. it does come with domestic pressure against the prime minister as members of his own cabinet have threatened to resign if they deal moves forward. >> john: trey yingst we will

let you work your sources to see other information you can clean as we head into the night, trey, sandra. >> sandra: brett settler, former pentagon official. adding to what we are hearing and seeing from the statement coming from benjamin netanyahu's office go to the final details still unresolved and it helped "the details will be finalized tonight. tell your thoughts. >> the devil is in the details here. benjamin netanyahu's government is a coalition one. israel getting to a conclusion will rest on the same details. but i do want to reiterate the number one priority here is getting the americans, state departments counting of october last year has seven. they should be home before the inauguration next week or that threat of all hell is still in the table. >> john: let me ask about the

feel of an this because benjamin netanyahu stated over and over again that the israeli military operation had to continue until hamas was no longer in a position where it could rule gaza. but now the 11 left in place and antony blinken said the other day that hamas recruited as many militants as it lost during the war over the last 460 whatever days. so hamas is still very much a forest, even though david friedman says it has no future. >> that is the end goal in the best interest of the united states and the prevention of hamas coming back in any form of governance or power in gaza at the end of the fighting. we are at the final stages of it. this is the hardest part of the marathon, the fight that israel and the middle east is in right now. but it has to be taken to the end or six months, six years, we

could see a repeat with more death and destruction. it is important that hamas is not given the chance to reconstitute itself and come back again. it is at its core a murderous, barbaric. >> john: given that, how does this deal prevent that from happening because phase 3 as trey yingst was talking about, israeli forces would pull back so gaza and palestinians with hamas in control? >> it is important point to also say this is a cease-fire or maybe a pause and some are calling it, you might say resumption of fighting again in the near future once the hostages are released. that is still on the table. but is not clear what these details entail for a permanent cease-fire. >> sandra: all right, as we await, anything more from the prime minister's office as far as what the working out of the details looks like and the timeline looks like? this is a statement from

president-elect trump on the x, "the agreement can only happen as a result of historic victory in november. he writes, "a signal to the entire world a piece in negotiating deals to ensure safety of all americans and allies, i am thrilled," says president-elect trump. obviously right now the coming minutes and hours are telling as to whether or not this deal goes through. >> absolutely. i think there is a great deal to be said about the pressure applied certainly on hamas and backers in tehran by the assumption of the trump administration not hesitant to use all tools available to get and protect american lives. most certainly our allies in this case, israel. at that effect definitely has been playing out, but again the devil is in the details. it does not seem clear this is leaving to a permanent cease-fire that would see hamas continue in some form in gaza, i

can, against america's interest. >> sandra: brent budget thank you for jumping on and the breaking coverage, thank you. >> john: u.s. marine phone technician, brent sadler does not think this is the end of it but a temporary pause because if it were anything less than temporary pause, hamas would stay in power. how long it might take to launch another operation like they did a year ago october. so is this just merely a deal? do you think a deal to get the hostages out and fighting resumes? i don't know why hamas would sign onto that because that would remove all of its leverage? >> you have to look at the state of the goal benjamin netanyahu put out to begin with, to bring home the hostages and separately to destroy a hamas. i don't think those goals have changed and said as much and i don't think it will change. much like the previous guest was saying, this is a 3-phase plan. i look like you might know you

will get the first phase. everything happens after that is subject to any number of things. in the first phase, you get 33 women and children and i believe seven americans left and three or four would not be a part of this because of military aged males. so americans held hostage and it says they have to negotiate and they have to start negotiating face to between 60 days. i would imagine hamas will stretch this out as long as they can. any hostage they have is really the only leverage they have to survive and stay alive. israel has been willing to bomb gaza with hostages there, what stops them from doing it once the hostages are home? i think hamas knows that. when you see the farmer about to be new president say all hell to pay, i look at iran and hezbollah has driving forces because hamas cannot sustain on their own. there is no way appeared to

those type entities saying, we are out and president trump is not bluffing, that might be as much a part of the willingness to come to the table is anything. >> sandra: joey, apparently marco rubio was asked about this in real time. he responded as he learned the news the senate foreign relations committee confirmation hearing a few minutes ago. i am a please make place to see the return of hostages but i prayed this is implemented and marco rubio said that is good news and not just about the cease-fire, although that is important, potentially we've had dynamic shift in the region that has given historic opportunity appropriately structured and pursued that changes the dynamic, he says, what might be possible. i want to make sure i get that in there as he is responding as he learns the news. >> yeah, i think politically it's a biden administration and

incoming administration take a victory lap if this goes through. they should, but it is obvious at this moment with the recent comments from trump's cabinet picks and his own comments not to mention the work on the ground. to the region know trump handles things differently. at some point, this speaks, and neck softly with a big stick but speaks loudly and i think that is where president trump is periods be when i want to come back to the idea that this may not be anywhere near the end. there is still 98 hostages being held in the initial phase of the deal in the first 60 days according to trey yingst would say 33 hostages come home and 23 of those are still believed to be alive. so that would be the remains of ten or two but that still leaves 65 hostages. phase 2 would be many of the men who were held hostage, but that is still an awful lot of people even after the first phase that

are left behind. is hamas going to follow through with that knowing if they give up the hostages, the theory the israel may rain down on them once again? i don't think we are out of the woods in terms of all hell will break loose. >> i don't think so at all to the only potential possible solution is if hamas reinvents itself as less aggressive entity but i don't think history proves that to be true and benjamin netanyahu cabinet has an appetite for that. i will say, a tremendous amount of pressure on israel's government to get hostages home first and foremost. this is definitely an inflection point for them as well. if this goes through perhaps take a breath. those hostages, gold currency and a lifeline for the identified members of hamas that israel is going after that may still be in gaza. i'm sure they have a list with

names and pictures. what happens next? maybe those people in charge how they secure their own life after this, that might be what phase f that is possible. there is a lot to be determined. if you can get hostages home the next couple of days and that is phase 1, that is as much i believe until we see what happens next. >> john: joey, we will watch it and thank you for joining us. appreciate it. >> sandra: joey bill hemmer coanchor. thank you very much. this as we report that a deal could be happening. we will see if one is ultimately goes through. netanyahu's office reads in part, "the details are unresolved at this hour but they hope the details will be finalized tonight." >> john: the tone that joey and john were delivering is the right one. i think everybody should just slow your roll for now because

until hostages come out of gaza on buses alive, there is no reason for israel to celebrate. i think the outgoing president and the incoming administration, i think they have huge incentive to get this deal done now, especially with inauguration day next monday. there have been many comparisons what ronald reagan did january 20, 1981, bringing american hostages out of iran and parallels with that. until, they are hostages that are alive, confirmed alive, and on ambulances leaving because of. there is no reason to celebrate some sort of deal here. the deal yesterday suggested that israel needs to accept a palestinian authority that would govern both the west bank and the gaza strip and whether or not netanyahu or his cabinet comes to agree on that, it is

really anybody's gas. i think netanyahu holds a lot of cards right now how it goes forward and if he is satisfied enough with the terms and the actions on behalf of hamas in the gaza strip. we were told and i know the number 98 came out a moment ago by trey yingst and i heard it from joey and john, we were told of months ago about 100 hostages were being held there still, but only half of them alive. those were gases, sandra. nobody really knew that. let's say there were 50 hostages alive, that would be an absolute miracle but they have gone through going back to october 7th. two at the things that i would mention here. the last cease-fire you had november 2023 -- 2023 and that was 100 hostages that made their way back to freedom in israel but since then nothing. and with joe biden schedule with the oval office address tonight

at 8:00 prime time, this is something he would want to fly the flag on. who would not after relay divided the world and divided the country and divided college campuses. it would be a terrific accomplishment in concrete but until that deal is done, nothing is set for this. spain when bill, on the number of hostages, we have a running tally and estimate 98 hostages l healthy and gaza and 63 of them they believe may still be alive. we are getting a little more detail from the prime minister's office. it sounds like the situation is not quite as fluid as we were led where we thought due to the initial statement a moment ago here to listen to the longer statement, due to the strong assistance of benjamin netanyahu, hamas folded on last minute to change idf forces and the philadelphia core a doric, the part of gaza where

it meets egypt in the south. however several items in the framework have yet to be finalized. we hope the details will be finalized tonight. so i think that sounds a little more positive than the first indication. that we got from the associated press. it sounds like the deal was not done in shaky, but that sounds like they got a few i's dotted and tees crossed. >> the negotiations the hamas leadership had a demand idf and every last soldier on behalf of israel would lead chemically because i appear to that was a big for netanyahu in israelis in the southern part of the country there they are told they want hamas to exist anymore and they don't believe they can exist side-by-side by those who would perhaps still be in gaza and try to find some sort of peaceful future. if hamas conceded to that demand, that would be

significant. if true, that might be the breakthrough necessary. >> sandra: just getting another statement u.s. senator jim risch, the senate foreign relations committee. he also issued a statement reading in part, "wild this cease-fire is welcome news, he goes on to say, make no mistake this does not mark the end. we cannot forget remaining american citizens that must be returned. we must ensure that the cease-fire agreement continues to protect israel's security and prevent hamas from waging another ruthless attack like patron iran, hamas is not an honest broker." these details are being hashed out every minute of what is slightly according to the prime minister's office perhaps the finalization of this deal by tonight. >> sandra, the two words are important: honest broker. israel does not trust what is happening inside the gaza strip.

until you are able to reestablish that, you are not going to get a deal that either happens or has a lasting effect. honest broker, tough to come by now. >> john: so, let's come back to the deployment of israeli forces in this core door. it is very narrow and about the length of the football field. but it is long and it goes all the way across the south of gaza and the length at the football field, why? the presence of israeli forces there would be to intercept arms reshipments that come across the border into egypt. so they might be able to prevent to some degree hamas from getting rearmed, but they have so many ways of getting ammunition and weapons into gaza. it seems to me in any way, shape, or form strike a deal that leaves hamas in control and antony blinken to be believed 18,000 or so fighters on the

hamas side, that have been eliminated by israel and already replenished, van hamas may be in a good position to keep its iron fist grip over gaza and remain a threat to israel. >> i would contribute to things and i saw a headline yesterday they have given birth, so to speak, to as many hamas fighters as skilled as you mentioned twice in the last couple of minutes. secondly, with regard to the philadelphia corridor so the audience knows at home, one, the mediterranean sea eastern mediterranean runs a strip on the sinai peninsula as you cross into egyptian territory. none of that can happen unless you have the cooperation of the egyptian government in cairo. and if they are willing to enforce it, you might be able to have success and interdicting a lot of the weapons taken under the tunnels. i don't think yet, john, we have

a firm grasp how many tunnels the idf has been able to blow up or take care of care of. maybe all of them that in terms of military secrecy, they are not making that information public and for a very good reason. but if you want to secure the area, you need the cooperation of the egyptians to make sure that is solid. >> sandra: bill, i want to play out the sound of president-elect trump. the press at mar-a-lago last tuesday, january 7th, making it very clear where he stood in the negotiations and what would happen if the hostages are not freed once he takes office. watch. >> if those hostages are not back, i don't want to hurt you negotiation. if they are not backed by the time i get into office, all hell will break out in the middle east and it will not be good for hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone. >> sandra: he said that, built, multiple times during that presser alone.

josephine went gentleman next in hand henry let nick the gentleman tag to do a lot of the negoti negotiations. before october 7th happened, we should remind ourselves that benjamin netanyahu and the saudi arabian leader, they were pretty much ready to do a deal. as our own bret baier went to saudi arabia and recorded the interview with him, there was a sense he was maybe posting is too strong of a word of, but he was very confident how he could build certain aspects of saudi arabia, draw in more investment, draw in tourists, especially the red sea and the west coast there of saudi arabia. san trump's reelection, many people talk about the strong possibility that abraham accords could be expanded.

once the gaza matter is settled, you could get a deal between saudi arabia and israel. if you did, sandra and john could you get temple in japan to this and pulling jordan. and maybe even iraq has been mentioned in that conversation but it might be too far of a stretch yet, but it is not out of the possibility over the next couple of years. i suggested one time as belen not back in lebanon that may be from the government in lebanon would come to some sort of arrat year. and the entire leadership and syria has changed as well and the leader there who has quite a history with the u.s. military has painted himself as a moderate and we will see over time that that plays out that way. that you have the foundation, you have the possibility in the next 12, 24, 36 months to get one of the most significant

middle east peace deals we have seen since jimmy carter in 1979. and if you get that deal, you have an opportunity to transform this entire region. not that all of the problems would go away and everything would be safe and secure because in my estimation, if able to do a deal like that, the leadership in the various countries would be under and warmest pressure internally from groups, radical groups, that did not want any sort at peace with the united states or israel. they would cause a lot of problems for the leadership here. it is possible as we look at trump 2.0 term, larger, more sustained, middle east peace deal could be one of the grace to make great accomplishments at the next trump. >> sa >> john: obviously, bill, that is what the incoming president would like to see. we talked to adam boler many times on this program and one of

the architects of the abraham accords. and steve went cough to expand on everything we have seen. there is great hope that will happen. but the flight and that went to meant on front is if there is still unrest and turmoil in gaza, it may be difficult for countries like saudi arabia and others to get on the bandwagon with expanding the abraham accords. saudi arabia's info throws throes of reforming itself and its economy. it wants to be a big player on the world stage much the same as the united era united emirates have been and relations with isd go a long way to coming things down in the middle east. but as long as there is turmoil in because at, i don't know how saudi arabia can be seen abandoning muslim brothers and sisters in that area and signing a deal with israel. >> i think you are exactly right, john the necklace to the

question of the palestinians, which is an age-old question in our life and back decades. i think you're exactly right the middle east.apologies for m, fitzgerald highly accomplished and that guy playing golf with trump when the barrel or muzzle of that gun went to the bushes at the palm beach with that attempt several months ago. >> sandra: we do know, by the way that we are waiting on next and obviously any word from the prime minister's office on negotiations. 8:30 p.m. locally there as you can see tell if they buy a live shot. john, we know expected to be a press briefing room and you would imagine in this moment we might hear from the president eventually. >> john: we will air from him tonight a fair a farewell

address from the white house. to that end, peter doocy lives 1600 pennsylvania avenue. this is what president biden had been hoping he could use to help put a coat on his presidency set by a lot of problems. jacob was hoping to say we have a cease fire. >> it is one of the only things he was able to work on the last couple of months that didn't require cooperation with congress. when he dropped out late july and gave his address to the nation the last time he gave his address to the nation before tonight, he was talking how this was something he could achieve before he left office. but the question for this president, joe biden, who cares a lot about what historians think of him is who historians will give credit to. because he asked it was his team working for months after this attack. the attack was so long ago 15 months ago when it was underway,

president biden was actually being interviewed by robert hur in his lawyers from the special counsel's office about the classified documents case. that is a case since come to a conclusion and came to a conclusion almost a full year ago, that is how long ago the attack was. the president's team was working on it that we heard from national security advisor jake sullivan talking about how to project a united front to the hamas negotiators. they had trump's team there and steve went cough and doha to iron out the d cut details. so impossible for jill biden or if we just hear about it at the press secretary's final briefing ever which is set to start 1:30 which is right now. it would be impossible for them to say we are projecting a unified front with the trump team and then two days later take all of the credit for everything that has happened. so it will be really interesting

to see how president biden talks about this and how he frames it in terms of all of the phone calls he has made over the last couple of months. we know there are many that regardless of what he and his team tell us, remember throughout this process, his torture relationship with benjamin netanyahu kept coming to the forefront here to the two of them have known each other for decades. and we would always be told president biden and netanyahu understood each other. but then went weeks or months without talking. i believed before a call in the last week or so, the two had not spoken a since october. this tentative agreement. but the two of them did not have the kind of constant communication you would may be expect them to cope guys that have known each other that long. but that is the way biden chose to handle this and to get it

done. >> john: of course the question how much of this was driven by biden and how much driven by trump's threat all hell will break loose if this does not happen. they are 4 minutes past the scheduled time of the briefing and i expect it will be a little while longer because we are trying to formulate what they want to say. in the meantime, sandra. >> sandra: david freeman former and passenger. welcome to the coverage. share with us your thoughts in the moment. >> look from united perspective when god willing in a day or two or three when the first hostage is reunited with her family, you know, i will be in here is hundreds of millions of people throughout the world will be in tears. no one has suffered as much as these poor people. and i think we have to be grateful that we are getting

some of the hostages released. we don't know how many and we don't know their condition. i think people who are looking down the road, this is the beginning of a new era. it is early, it is really early in the war is not over. it is clear from both israel and the united states, the war is not over. president trump made a strong statement just about an hour ago that hamas will not remain as the ruling party of the gaza strip era to the gaza strip will never again be a safe haven for terrorists. so there is a lot of cleanup. hamas is still there and the war still going on and hopefully the hostages can come out and the goal of eradicating hamas will continue. virtually, every single member of the trump team, without that, no going forward. pete hegseth yesterday testified he supports killing every member of hamas.

mike said the same thing and marco rubio said if hamas there never a cease-fire. a new head of foreign affairs said he stands on hamas' throat and president trump has led comments about hell to pay. and an enormous advancement to get the hostages out. no one sleeps at night with this happening to these people, but it is the first step in a very long process. hamas still has to be erad eradicated. there is no future for hamas and the middle east. >> john: ambassador, paint two essay scenario how this unfolds if they honor the cease-fire deal and release the hostages. we believe the number alive and dead somewhere between 98. what happens then? does israel and lay hell to hamas to eradicate it? if hamas gives up the hostages and still in power, you are exactly where you were

october 7th. >> well, you have got the hostages. that is a huge accomplishment. i don't think anybody thinks that there is a future for hamas there. so, the war will continue. israel has kind of a whack a mole game has people have said, hamas terrace are killed and others recruited. but better control over the perimeter for hamas fan october 6, 2023. hamas has better intel and the tunnels are largely destroyed. the ability for israel to win this war is not 12 months away anymore. it is not at that level. what really is needed is a diplomatic initiative that really reintroduces into the gaza strip and more optimistic vision. it will not come from hamas and it will not come from palestinian authorities.

it will come from the united states in partnership with the allies and the golf. that is the future with hamas if there is a picture for hamas but if not a place of misery, unfortunately. >> sandra: has the confirmation hearings continue, many are learning about the details real time during the confirmation hearings including as i mentioned marco rubio who is getting a lot of credit to the middle east envoy for trump. steve witkoff who has been hashing out the details of such an agreement. obviously, this is going into the evening now we anticipate we will hear from the president that give us your final thoughts here? >> i think the key to where we are today is that perception by hamas. with the trump administration coming on and president trump and the entire team that hamas days are numbered and no future for hamas. whatever deal is on the table will be better than tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

hamas has to make the best of a terrible situation now. that is why this is getting done. several months ago a table will make similar deal on the table and hamas backed away. they are seeing this kind of connection, does not support between america and israel. and unfortunately, it has not been to make the last 15 months. began, usage cause for happiness if you see the hostages come out alive. that much, much more work to do. i'm a lot happier that work will be done under the supervision of the trump administration than the past administration. >> sandra: thank you so much, ambassador. >> john: martha maccallum with the anchor and executive of "the story."." the adage in the middle east a breakthrough is preceded by crisis but not every crisis receives a breakthrough or a joke in that formulation, where do you think we are questioning. >> i think it is interesting

listening to david afraid men and good to be with you as we watch this breaking news story. it appears there was a catalyst here and it appears that catalyst came from november election from the understanding that exists between netanyahu and his government and the incoming president. steve witkoff who deserves a lot of credit here. we are moments from hearing from president biden that has been spending a lot of time and understandably so in recent days trying to pack the legacy into his exit. he and his team has had for some time they are working towards a goal and close so many times and it hasn't happened. it think it is pretty clear at the wheel started to turn after november election but you all have been discussing what is the crisis that you mention, john continue to exist. hamas continues to rebuild here till there is nothing like

attacked in a completely logical and just way by israel after her meant as a seventh to inspire young hamas fighters. the question is whether or not means to exist and proliferate and attack again have been diminished greatly. i think every indication it has. think about the attacks against has the lead by think about how unrelenting netanyahu has been entering to diminish and greatly diminishing the numbers have has vilified her as, the strength and leadership he has taken it out over the course of the several months. he's dealing with politics at this point in the other difference i would quickly point out, john, yes out this public scolding as israel's response by the biden administration over and over again. based felt pressure from the progressive side in the united states to admonish israel for attack after brutally attacked and people held

hostage. i think postelection coach at that pressure seems to have subsided. the negotiations you see and discussions you see behind the scenes of the trump team and is real and not in an open way where people are being scolded. are they nudging towards negotiation? i would imagine so. >> sandra: a sense of momentum in the negotiations with envoy to the middle east with steve witkoff and president-elect trump at the news conference last tuesday. we lost count how many times he vowed all hell will break loose if the hostages are not home prior to trump taking office. you got the sense they knew enough in the moment that they felt they had enough momentum to continue to draw the redline. >> absolutely, sandra. i think about steve witkoff, who we saw with president-elect trump at mar-a-lago the other day talking about all hell will break loose.

this is classic trump doctrine. he speak strongly and carries a big stick as teddy roosevelt would say, and he wants to get things accomplished and push people across the line in the negotiation think about steve witkoff. the second assassination attempt west palm beach golf club in florida who was with president trump? one of his closest friends, steve witkoff. when the con men tried to fire and taken down by secret service, one at the first questions that president trump said is how is steve? he was with him that afternoon. they are close and see things similarly. i think steve witkoff was wanting to see a resolution on the issue and he took on ambitious task to be middle east envoy appeared to the next goal will be to rebuild a new coalitn between saudi arabia and israel something that was close. we all remember brett's interview and with benjamin netanyahu.

there will be a reshuffling here that has a lot of promise in the coming weeks. >> john: you know, there is a lot of belief, too, that interview they had said to hamas the world is changing around you. when hamas saw what saudi arabia was doing, we have to do something to get the entire region off balance. martha, we will see you at 3:00. we appreciate it. >> sandra: all right, martha thank you brent settler retired navy captain and pentagon official, brent. >> one of the key details in the last minutes i came to mind that was announced was that philadelphia corridor fed allows israel to maintain control what goes in and out mostly to resupply whatever hamas fighters might still be there. the devil is in the details. until those are worked out and coalition government in

jerusalem that can agree to this deal, that is open question whether we will see anything go forward to. and to piggyback on the comment which of the region has changed dramatically with israel with enemies all around. lebanon and hezbollah will be disarmed in real government for the first time in many decades and will be in place there. iran is on its back heels. the benefactor, too, hamas and we have to see what happens with the sufis in all of this. the region around hamas changed dramatically. there is room for optimism that the americans who are their coaches have a need be home immediately. it should have been released earlier, but that is important to keep front of the mind the well-being and bring a pack those last seven americans. >> john: brent, thank you for joining us today. bill hemmer for a final word on all of this. will, to brant's point, hamas

looking at the overall calculation in the region after upsetting the entire region to october 7th, that the situation is only going to get worse for us because to his point, look at what is happening in lebanon. look at what is happening in syria. iran will be on its back for the next four years with trump coming in. hamas thinks it's next best chance to get a deal and survive. i'm not sure israel will allow that to happen. >> watching all of this you have to ask the question whether or not this israel. if it is a real, is it at the end of the war or a pause in fighting like we have seen 14 months ago? ultimately, if there is a deal, who govern gaza? how long does israel stay. i the irony of the moment is 20 years ago this year, the former prime minister of israel, ariel sharon made the decision to take

down israeli settlements and move the israelis out of gaza. after that happened, hamas took over. they won a war against competing factions. they won in election and starting 2006, hamas has ruled the gaza strip for 19 years. what do the people in gaza get for that? they got october 7th. that has led to, perhaps go to the finality in this conflict today. we will see like i said in the beginning, slow your roll because it's got a ways to go. >> sandra: live pictures coming out of god's have. tel aviv earlier where you see a lot of emotions on the street and likely to continue with the prime minister putting out a statement basically stating, no deal yet. we are hashing out the details coach about something could get done tonight. we are possibly going to hear from the president of the united states, biden in if not

now certainly tonight. >> john: that would be quite the announcement if outgoing president who just given remarks on his approval rating. that number, i believe, right near the lowest point of his approval ratings over the past four years. if you are trying to hang your hat on something, if this really is a concrete deal, this would be substantial for that. >> john: let's look at the politics of it all, bill. with this deal have gotten done and donald trump not said repeatedly all hell will break loose in the middle east if the hostages are not released. we do not believe paul will be released by the time he takes oath of office. on monday that you have benjamin netanyahu under pressure from the left and all of the protesters that have occupied hostage square for more well over a year now. putting pressure on him and then

coalition partners on the right who are saying don't dare sign a deal with hamas. there is a lot of politics at play here but the pressure on biden and pressure on netanyahu. >> as it relates to us in the u.s., you have two, strong competing factions here. and outgoing president an incoming president and both have high incentive to get this done. and perhaps to claim credit for getting it done. john, there is huge incentive on both sides at home. i would be very curious to understand how deeply incentive it is an competing factions in the government at this moment. >> sandra: we continue to watch live pictures. we will wait on new details to come out of the middle east especially benjamin netanyahu's office. with that statement following that is saying no deal yet that possibly tonight. they are working out every detail of their spiritual

bill hemmer, thank you very much and also martha for coming on as well. john, we know that all of this is happening with a lot happening back home with confirmation hearings. >> john: there is a number happening and we sell pete hegseth confirmation hearing yesterday. only one round of questions. pam bondi confirmation hearing is ongoing, excuse me, now. and just getting into the second round of questions here. we have it yet? no, we don't. apparently it's a minister -- so let's go back to the middle east. >> an increased flow of relief and humanitarian aid to all parts of the gaza strip as well as rehabilitation of hospitals, health centers, bakeries and allowing the entry of defense equipment as well as basic necessities for displaced people who lost their houses as a result of the war.

phase 1, they will release 33 captives women, children, elderly people as well as civilian people and wounded. in return for a number of prisoners being held israeli prisons regarding phase 2 and 3, the details finalized during implementation of phase 1. qatar and both sides committing to the implementation of all three stages of the agreement in order civilian bloodshed and shield region from the consequences of this conflict and ensure we have lasting peace in the region. qatar will continue joint efforts with arab and united states of america to ensure all sites are following through with commitments and engagements and ensure all three stages will be implemented. we look forward to seeing regional and international efforts coming together in order to assist with relief and humanitarian aid in supporting

united nations and its attempt to enter eight in the gaza strip. qatar will spare no effort to help the families and the gaza strip and doing everything necessary to alleviate the suffering of the gaza strip. since october 8, we in the state of the tar say no effort with the constant -- under the constant watchful eye. we worked day and night to reach this moment and since our remediation efforts succeed up last november to guarantee release of 109 hostages in return for a number of palestinian prisoners. we have been working continuously in order to prevent bloodshed and put an end to the war machine for restore hope for our region and a prosperous future that will allow our people to dream of a better future for 411 days, meetings, context with our partners and both sides of the conflict until we reach this long-awaited moment today. however, today begins a

responsibility for both sides will be supported by international community and the mediators in order to achieve complete success. at this is what we will be focusing on in the coming days d weeks. i would like to express thanks to all of our partners in the region and internationally for their support to our efforts all the way until we reached this deal. in conclusion, i would like to also remind our brothers and the gaza strip that qatar will continue to offer support to our brothers in palestine and that this happens under that close watch and watchful eye of your highness day and night, hour by hour and minute-by-minute. we would like to tell them we give thanks to bringing us to this moment today and hopefully, this will be the last page in the days of the war. we would also like to call upon

all sides to willfully commit to all of the articles of this agreement and to continue implementing these procedures and measures in accordance with the agreement the state of qatar will continue to work jointly with its partners in order to make sure that this deal is implemented in full and that returns to the gaza strip in a sustainable manner and we will never give up the people of gaza. thank you. first questions. >> congratulations. this is a huge moment. you as you say have been working on this deal for many months. the question is, why now? why this moment? what is the pressure from incoming trump administration that got it over the line? thank you. >> thank you very much for this question. actually, we have been raising the question at the right moment

for the entire period since the collapse. that we have seen a momentum that started to build in the last month and we kept pushing for that working together closely with our partners. >> john: there is the foreign minister of qatar talking about what he believes the last, the beginning of the last days of the war. we will see if indeed it bears fruit because these things historically have been a little phony and many times have fallen apart. we will see where this all goes. up a promising at least in the near future. >> sandra: bottom line, obviously serious ongoing negotiations behind the scenes that we know we have been told from the president-elect and middle east envoy have been ongoing. we will see what this goes as we work to the 9:00 hour in tel aviv. john, we will bring the viewers news especially from the prime minister's office. spain when there is a lot ahead that can go right and a lot thao

wrong. behind me on capitol hill today, there is a senate confirmation hearings. pam bondi, john ratcliffe, senator marco rubio to be the secretary of state. pam bondi has been on the hot seat from democrats including this exchange with adam schiff where he asked if pam bondi would seek to go after jack smith. listen here. >> will you investigate jack smith? senator, i have not seen the file. i have not seen the investigation. i haven't looked at anything. it would be irresponsible of me to make a commitment regarding anything without -- you are a long practicing attorney -- without looking at a file. >> so you would need a factual, a factual predicate to open an investigation on jack smith? not a summary by you, yes, sir. >> a different question, the

president wants to jail liz cheney sitting here today. are you aware of factual basis to investigate liz cheney? yes or no? >> senator, that is a hypothetical and i want to answer that. >> i'm asking you sitting here today if you are aware of the predicate to liz cheney? >> i cannot investigate liz cheney. >> you are aware that the president has called for that publicly. >> but the president, the president has called for a -- >> you know what we should be worried about, california right now. >> donald trump, you less than 2020 election but can you tell us sitting here today -- >> senator, what i can tell you is i will never play politics. you are trying to engage me in a gotcha. it will not play politics with any ongoing investigation like you did with your colleague devin nunes. >> john: and that is the way it has been much of the day as the democrats go after pam

bondi. let's go back lives to the hearing. >> where there is a regular process for the doj and the clemency process has looked at to see whether there are reforms that should be made in recommendations that could be made to the president throughout his term. >> i would love to look at that process. i can tell you the pardon, the commutations joe biden made were abhorrent to me, absolutely abhorrent taking people off death row. i looked at the facts in many of those cases, and they were so troubling to me. i don't know what process you intend to implement, but i would love to study that with you. >> we talk positively about your expanse in mind with mental health courts, and some things we will continue to disagree about and other things i hope we can work on together. thank you. >> thank you, senator. >> senator leahy. >> thank you, mr. chairman. pam bondi as you are aware, in

important part of my role on this committee, i work for the better part of a decade with senator durbin, chairman grassley, senator whitehouse, senator cornyn, senator brouk the macbook or which president trump signed into law september 2018. the first step act as the name implies intended to be the first of multiple steps and much remains to be done with the implementation of the first step back that the credits available under the first step act still implemented in needmore and i assume you would be willing if confirmed to continue to implement the first step act? >> yes, senator and also my understanding but i don't know for a fact but it is my understanding that a lot of those beds for halfway houses for reentry have not been filled in at the first step act. if that is true, i want to look at that right away and figure out why.