we've done so through many years through our center for the middle east, through our scowcroft middle east security initiative and iran strategy project as well as through our strategic project hold the iranian regime accountable and establish a syrian victims fund. significantly we have also done this through our n-7 initiative in partnership with the jeffrey palpans foundation which seeks to sans the integration launched by the abraham accords between the united states, israel and arab and muslim partners around the world. thanks to will wexler and the atlantic council's take. history is in motion and you've been at the center of it. with your work to advance the united states to secure a more prosperous global future. as you wrote recently regarding u.s. forbe policy, quote, the choices the united states makes in the second half of this decisive decade will determine whether this remains a time of renewal returns to a time aggression. one last thing before secretary blinken takes the stage. in a moving exchange between you and president biden yesterday at the state department, the

for many years through the career center for the middle east through that middle east security initiativend iran strategy project series strategy project as well as through strategic litigation projects to hold the iranian regime accountable and establish a series victims fund significantly we've also done this there and seven initiative in partnership with the foundations seeks to advance the process of regional integration at lunch by the abraham accords among the unites is, israel, arab partners and muslim partners around the world. thank you to wilt wexler from the remarkable team histories and motion mr. secretary event at the center of your work to advance the interest of the united states, to secure a more prosperous global future as you work recently in foreign affairs regarding u.s. foreign policy more broadly quote the choice of the unites states makes in the second half of this decisive decade will determine whether this moment of testing remains time of renewal returns or time of aggression. one last thing before secretary blinken takes the stage of the stateth department, the

it is notjust the middle east, i it is notjust the middle east, even — it is notjust the middle east,even china, it's got off to a very— even china, it's got off to a very rough— even china, it's got off to a very rough start _ even china, it's got off to a very rough start with - even china, it's got off to a very rough start with the i very rough start with the chinese _ very rough start with the chinese in _ very rough start with the chinese in his— very rough start with the - chinese in his administration and — chinese in his administration and it— chinese in his administration and it took— chinese in his administration and it took years _ chinese in his administration and it took years before - chinese in his administrationj and it took years before they were — and it took years before they were able _ and it took years before they were able to _ and it took years before they were able to stabilise - and it took years before they were able to stabilise that. i were able to stabilise that. who— were able to stabilise that. who knows _ were able to stabilise that. who knows if— wer

leaders in the middle east know he means what he says.cratic gridlock and focus on tangible results is the game changer. it allows me to approach delicate negotiations with the confidence that the full weight of the united states is behind me. the principles president trump has laid out for our approach to the middle east and foreign policy in general are fourfold and they are clear. one, respect for sovereignty. every nation deserves the right to determine its own destiny free from the interference of external powers. two, economic prosperity as a bridge to stability. through economic partnerships and investment, we can build a foundation for cooperation that transcends historical grievances. three, courageous diplomacy, real progress requires difficult conversations and bold decisions. it is through these that trust is built and maintained. and finally, four, reciprocity and accountability. the united states requires reciprocal actions from our partners. we are done carrying the financial burden for nations that are unwilling [ applause

real estate manager from the gulf will say the middle east and boy talking about a stable, middle east is not beyond our reach. she was a major intermediary and securing the seas. 5 deal of courses now underway and a floating to present drums bold vision flows. we had shaped by them, very much claimed credit for the cx. 5 deal, but to it's now, i think generally accepted that faith hits job items and even coming pressure from the company. destruction made it happen as the because it took about expanding the abraham piece of colds in the coming for years and saying that the relations overseas days of blank checks. all right, but let's cross to the white house. mike kind of joins us live from the mike as we watched the scenes of the families of the captives in gaza meeting the union overrated president. tell us what the senses, the about, the incoming presidencies, approach, the foreign policy. i thought it was significant that steve would cost is speaking at this uh, an organization event. uh he is a middle east peace invoice. he is an appointee, so he doesn't require send a confirmatio

and around the middle east and around the middle east and around the world.y successful, lethal response israel has taken against the proxies that are trying to oust the israeli government. i think the israeli government. i think the incoming administration is going to be very supportive of those long—term strategic objectives. it's in the united states' interest and our allies' interest and many gulf states that do not want to see this type of extremism proliferate throughout the middle east as it has. market, very good _ middle east as it has. market, very good to _ middle east as it has. market, very good to talk _ middle east as it has. market, very good to talk to _ middle east as it has. market, very good to talk to you. - middle east as it has. market, | very good to talk to you. thank you for your thoughts here on bbc news. also here from a student in gaza. he told the bbc that locals are excited to go back to their homes, even though they know there won't be much left of them. this is the moment we have been waiting _ this is the moment we have been

the middle east.m the raoutset, the biden administration's primary goal in the middle east was not to repeat the blunder of years past trying to transform government but transform relations with between and among u.s. partners in the region. we saw more integrated region is more likely to be stable and secure. a more integrated region is also in a stronger position to prevent anyone of its neighbors from dominating others. we move swiftly to pursue this issue. we deepen .abraham court spearheaded new coalitions like i to you to bringing together indiana israel and the united states. have announced groundbreaking economic order were tracking indiana. we work for the un, in the wake of the trump administration unilaterally exit from the iran nuclear deal we made clear was a patent which will return to compliance of toronto was going to take the steps necessary. same time, we strengthen american. [inaudible] thank you, i respect your views. [inaudible yelling] so to continue. at the same time, we strengt

we saw in the middle east. who would ever imagine how exciting the abraham accords -- to see the association of israel with so many of the arab countries. this should be continued. i have the perspective. i led the delegation of congress members to the opening of the embassy in jerusalem. the coverage of donald trump. on may 14, 2018. in 1994, speaker newt gingrich had congress passed legislation that would move the american embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. jerusalem was the only capital the world we did not have an embassy. every time it would come to the attention of a president that they should locate the embassy, the state department would say it would create a dislocation and destabilization in the middle east. it was donald trump that the guts to say promises made, promises kept. there was no destabilization. it was the exact opposite. that was the abraham accords. i'm looking forward to the future of peace through strength. the emissary to the middle east. mike huckabee. heart be still. the ambassador

a stable and prosperous middle east is not in unattainable dream. it is. it is, it is a goal within our reach. so let's take this on with kind of scotsman is a senior fellow and national security ex, but from the c front center in the united states joins is now a from miami. i kind of great to have you with us. so this canceling of sanctions against checklists who are committing violence against palestinians online the settlers legally occupied. what does that tell you about what's to come with trump release policy? well, thank you for having reared again. uh, i think this is an indication of, uh, what was made it really to get men yahoo to agree to the cease fire with the home us. we knew, you know, trouble course putting pressure on it. yeah. hope it. busy certain maybe offered him some incentives to finally agree to the deal with us hostage release. and i think this is something that was promised right. i do think that i'm all to come well it's possible or they're very, i think the, the big issue i think is the normalization. what saturday rate be. i th

for a more peaceful year ahead for the middle east. yet, behind this long-awaited milestone lie the sacrifices of peacekeepers in the region, who have endured deliberate attacks as they valiantly upheld peace. honoring their courage, let me make the following three points. first, we condemn in the strongest possible terms any attacks against peacekeepers and facilities. since last october, the security council has received disturbing reports of dozens of deliberate assaults against peacekeepers in unifil's area of organization. never before have we witnessed such targeted violence against the blue helmets. as a contribute in country, we are deeply alarmed that this may set a dangerous precedent. let us be clear, there is no conceivable justification for deliberately attacking u.s. peacekeepers or missions, which may constitute war crimes. such actions run counter to international law and betray the trust member states play in the u.n.. even if the attack is not deliberate, all parties must refrain from taking actions that may risk the

iran is in the weakest position it's been in the middle east in decades.h he go back to the table in december hamas for the first time, for the first time, was ready to accept the may framework and begin to release hostages. it wasn't until early january that they actually approved the hostage list and that's how we got to the result today. >> do we know keith siegel, chen and alexander how they are doing. >> keith will come out in phase one, segui will come out in phase one, edan will be phase two. we've been working with the incoming team. this is a testament to president biden and president trump allowing us to work together. i've work with steve witkoff over the last week, a partnership i think historic to help get this one. >> trump's envoy. >> we are committed to getting edan out as early as possible. i spoke to his father just last night. >> prime minister netanyahu described this overnight as a temporary ceasefire and he says he has permission to begin fighting as needed. do you believe he sees this as just a strategic pause or that he actually wan

a break in the middle east as israel and hamas a cease-fire with devastating 15-month war in gaza.lo, 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 negotia

there has been reporting of president trump's middle east envoy out in regular contact and out thereht now with brett, reporting back to both of us and back to the president-elect and the president as we have a shared mission to get our people out. and to get the middle east, i think, back on track towards stability and towards the next round of abraham accords with normalization or, or, whatever moniker you want to give it. so, there are a number of things that are ongoing. that will not slow down. cyber being another. and then there are areas where we are having, you know, conversations about where do we maybe need to change and go in a different direction? we have had very candid conversations. on things, we tried this, this works, that does not work. if you want to try that you go right ahead. and we probably will. and the american people can then judge. but it is such a unique moment in our history. president trump is a not a year one, president, he is years -- he is year nine. he is been thinking about these issues the last four years. he's already foot on the gas. for a man wh

the second phase is still questionable as it is the middle east. it's only like a match light away from blowing up always. and the only thing predictable about the middle east is it being unpredictable. so we need to try as much as possible. push that. the second phase, with the release of the additional hostages happens as soon as possible, and hopefully both sides will see the benefit of the cease fire and understand that we need to move quickly to a more permanent ceasefire and get the hostages out, as well as also starting to try to give the people of gaza that have been a human shield for this terrorist organization, the humanitarian aid that is also required for them to be able to start beginning and piecing their lives together. >> you mentioned that you and your wife were in doha during these negotiations, and in fact, you've traveled the world. you have been a relentless advocate for your son. so i remember about eta. he was a big basketball fan, right? nba fan, that he was an athlete himself. but tell people about your son. >> yeah. so ju

first policies, policy decision on the middle east, east council functions, the by the ministration to put in place. some jewish settlers who committed violence against punish things and they'll depend westbank any of traumas, middle east and voice. the woodcock was the 1st person to address the crowd of the capital one arena, introduced the president highlighting trumps, middle east. i'm form policy plants of this leadership provides the confidence and direction necessary to navigate these complexities. as we move forward, my commitment is to continue to the work of advancing president trump's vision for the middle east. whether it's ro expanding the abraham peace accords, fostering economic development, or facilitating dialogue, which we long standing adversaries. my focus remains on action with actionable results. let me close by saying this. a stable and prosperous middle east is not in unattainable dream. it is. it is, it is a goal. within our reach, the government is a senior fellow and a national security expert from this to funds send for the united states. he told, obviously,

50. is and what do you think his middle east agenda is? so, as ou middle east agenda is?d, _ middle east agenda is? so, as you mentioned, you _ middle east agenda is? so, as you mentioned, you and - middle east agenda is? so, as you mentioned, you and i- middle east agenda is? so, as you mentioned, you and i and| you mentioned, you and i and you mentioned, you and i and you and others have talked about potential for a ceasefire this last months. and in the after months of the november elections where donald trump one and now he is coming back to office, that seems to be a factor. was the potentialfirst ceasefire to be finalised just as close prior to that? we don't know the answer to that right now, but at least going forward, since november of last year, that seems to be a major factor, not the only factor was top and president trump has warned all sides involved that if the deal doesn't happen or a ceasefire doesn't happen by the time he comes back into office, and that is now next monday, four days from now, that in his words, the paraphrase is that there would be hell

a cease fire deal now reached in the middle east. we're breaking down what the agreement includes, what it does not. and reaction from american families whose loved ones are being held hostage. good morning. thanks for joining us for our midday newscast. i'm marcus washington, and i'm laura garcia. senior officials from both sides say the deal ends 15 months of fighting in gaza, which started back in october of 2023. the war started after an attack where 1200 people were killed, 250 takenen hostage. moe than 100 were released in late november 2023 during a pause in the fighting in exchange for 240 palestinian prisoners. the agreement will also eventually free dozens of hostages, as well as palestinian prisoners in israeli jails. israel and hamas have not officially announced a deal, although a senior hamas official confirms the agreement. if all is approved, the first group of hostages couldld come t on sunday, with more being released over time. cal state east bay professor lonnie evy brooks says while this deal provides hope, many

iran is in the weakest position it's been in the middle east in decades.n we went back to the table in december, hamas for the first time was ready to accept the may framework and begin to release hostages. it wasn't until early january they approved the hostage list and that's how we got to the list today. >> how are the american hostages doing? >> keith will come out in phase one. segi will come out in day one. edan is phase two. we are exited, i think you heard this from mike walz, we've been working seamlessly with the transition team. this is a testament to president biden and donald trump. we've been working to get this done. we are committed to getting edan out as early as possible. i spoke with edan's father just last night. >> so, prime minister netanyahu described this overnight as a temporary cease-fire. he says he has permission to begin fighting as needed. do you believe he sees this as just a strategic pause or that he actually wants to end this war? >> the way the deal is structured on day 16, negotiations begin for phase two. phase two will

our people are at in the middle east right now. host: let's move into europe if we can, the situation in ukraine. some people have described it as a stalemate. how do you see this playing out next? and what, what's your, what's your takeaway at this moment in time about that conflict? gen. milley: well, i think it is a strategic stalemate so tactically, at the tactical level, you're getting puts and takes on either side, you saw this offensive by the ukrainians into kursk. you have seen local offenses by the russians. so tactically, you're getting some advances and retreats on either side. so there's some tactical gains and losses. but at the strategic level, it is, in fact, it's stalemate. it has been for some time. and what do i mean by that? well, warfare is always about political objectives. so the political objectives of the russians was to go ahead and topple the government of ukraine. capture and kill zelenskyy and his government. and then get to the carpaccio mountains. that failed a couple of years ago. the political objec

that has changed the map of the middle east and is continuing to change the map of the middle east when thousands of hamas militants crossed over from gaza into israel in a surprise attack, a shocking attack that caught israel off guard. the. it was a tremendous embarrassment to the security establishment and embarrassment to the intelligence apparatus in this country, how they could have missed it, how it took them many hours to respond, days to clear the hamas fighters out of southern israel. since that moment and since the fighting began, there have been tens of thousands of palestinians killed. the official count is about 47,000, although medical journals say that the estimate is probably higher. as as palestinians are trapped under rubble and bodies were never located, and secondary effects of the conflict, 1200 israelis plus were killed on that day. another 400 israeli troops died in combat in operations. so this this was a serious ground war. but it didn't just stay in israel. it didn't just stay in gaza. we've also seen israel, in coordination with the united states, go after an

to be this special envoy for peace in the middle east. and i'd like to describe to you some of the things we're doing and how we can forms on president trump's policies. first of all, it is an honor to stand before you today. as i reflect on the enormity of the role that president trump is tasked me with. i am constantly reminded of the privilege it is to serve and to the leadership of my boss, president donald j trump. his presidency has provided a clear, bold vision for the middle east. and it is this vision that guys, every step i take in the mission. >> president trump's leadership has redefined what is possible in the pursuit of progress and stability in the middle east. his decisive, pragmatic, pragmatic approach. ensures that even the most entrenched conflicts are met with fresh perspectives and innovative strategy his policies have already delivered. remarkable successes such as yesterday's release of hostages in gaza. this achievement demonstrates the strength of president trump's leadership and the respect he commands on the glo

that might shape what we're going to see in the middle east. yeah, well, i've worked with the secretary of defense, nominated p takes that. and um, you know, he's, he's a brilliant guy, is very passionate about protecting and serving the war fighters. he himself was military. prior, he was when i worked in the pentagon under secretary rumsfeld, he was in cool doing counter insurgency school. so he knows what it's like, he knows the consequence of war. and i think that makes it all the more important to, to really be vicious when you put your troops in harm's way. and i believe fully that he's going to carry out what donald trump wants, in this particular incense and, you know, negotiate and try to drop piece. and you do that by, by really showing leadership by stepping up there's been a little bit of a vacuum in washington and around the globe because we haven't stepped up and been very forceful. our policy hasn't been clear for the world. and, you know, been chaos of pounds also. thank you. you see secretary rubio? i mean he's got great skills

returning to the middle east.e've not had any response from hamas to mr netanyahu's comments. we have had one other development however — egypt, one of the countries which helped to mediate the ceasefire deal, has said that israel will release 1,890 palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 israeli hostages in the first phase of the ceasefire. and our correspondent jonah fisher had further analysis from jerusalem. the overwhelming message from mr netanyahu in his address was that this was going ahead, but it certainly didn't feel like peace in our time, did it? i mean, part of the reason that he, mr netanyahu, is not talking about this being a permanent ceasefire is because by getting to that point of permanent ceasefire, it throws up all sorts of difficult questions, both for him politically and questions about what happens in gaza. at the moment, with it as a temporary arrangement, it's easy to, if you like, keep the option of war open and indeed not try and tackle some of the significant issues and problems arou

haifa middle east we are cooking with gas right here-— gas right here.ived _ gas right here. how will this be received in _ gas right here. how will this be received in the _ gas right here. how will this be received in the middle i gas right here. how will this i be received in the middle east, the region itself?— the region itself? first of all. as your _ the region itself? first of all. as your viewers i the region itself? first of all. as your viewers are l the region itself? first of. all. as your viewers are well aware, we have seen a revolution in last 60 months. the destruction of the iranian proxy movement through the region, a much greater chance for long—term security, look at syria, gaza, lebanon, even look at iraq and iran and if the european initiation, turks and israelis and arab states we could see for the first time in many decades a middle east that is not an exporter of insecurity and terror and crisis. i insecurity and terror and crisis. ~ , , crisis. i think this is the most hopeful _ crisis. i think this is the most hopeful i - cris

still rumours, but apart from that, we don't have a clear idea on how trump sees his policy on the middle east wait and _ east. all right. we will have to wait and see. _ east. all right. we will have to wait and see. thank- east. all right. we will have i to wait and see. thank you for talking to us today. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. around the world and across the uk, tfrom bbc news. his refrained from expressing his own views. the only big priority that seems very clear right now in the middle east or trump and his team is around. we have a lot of indications that this is at the top of the agenda to deal with iran and in particular to deal with the nuclear programme of the run with potential rumours that the us and possibly israel launch strikes on iran. but these us and possibly israel launch strikes on iran. e rumours, at this stage still rumours, but apart from that, we don't have a clear idea on how trump sees his policy on the middle east. �* ~ ., east. all right. we will have to wait and _ east. all right. we will have to wait and see. _ east. all right. we w

this was not an offer it for broader conflict in the middle east.going to be a pause in the current conflict between israel and hamas specifically inside gaza it says nothing about the west bank and the cells operate on a daily basis against their. mark: there's a talk he is not in good health, he's from the top par party that competes with hamas. they have sort of a civil war there early on. hamas won one and they took over gaza. the talk is that when he dies that hamas will have more of an ability more room to grab power in judeo, samaria, other parts of the area there and use them as a possibility to question. >> absolutely bring the course of our reporting we speak with everyone in the region. i have talked to palestinians both in gaza and in places like ramallah and jeanine to get a sense of where they stand after this conflict. the support for hamas is wide spread. without getting too far into the weeds many palestinians looked at the palestinian authority they see in an organization thas corrupt. they see the people that have been promoted an

he's been a middle east negotiator in republican and democratic administrations. dennis, we are told that qatar is going to announce this deal. it is as we was described, and it's based in large part on what president biden proposed last may and what was almost agreed to in july when the hamas negotiator was assassinated and it, you know, fell apart since then and we've lost a lot of hostages in the intervening time as well. one just last week. so 33, not 34 are going to be released and it will be triggered once there is an announcement and the israeli cabinet approves it and the security cabinet first, and then there is going to be a 48 day, a 48 hour period before the hostages actually start coming out. but your your takeaway from all of this and how it potentially it's the middle east. we all know the setbacks but potentially it could reshape the region. >> well i think we need to put it in a context. and i would say there's two elements to it. one is israeli military achievements, obviously within gaza, which have come at a very high price. but israeli militar

even the middle east, strategically has changed. a lot of the most important change is frankly the diminishment of a ron's capabilities. so donald trump left office, ron was still, you know, a negotiated reduced ability to get nuclear weapons, but it had many proxy forces in the region that were quite capable today. as he takes office, there's no ally in damascus for iran. there. lebanese has bala allies been greatly diminished, and the iranian military itself has been shown to be serious to be deficient in airpower and air defense. so i think for the trump team wild as a, as the news of the day, the strategic changes on iran or the enduring factor that they're going to have to face when they try to shape events in the middle east. and as you had said, i think for the last 18 months or so, there's been a sense in the world that the u. s. administration is not, can really driving events in the middle east and trying to catch up. i would imagine that with to cease fire and gaza, it's an opportunity for the americans to reassert this.

it's just simply redirect all efforts in the middle east. but when it comes to that, um, you know, there was very little change between bite and waltz between, i'm sorry, between the blinking and, and, and waltz and between bite and trump. well, you know, alexander, i mean, since he crane is being brought up here. um i, i just, it, uh, i'm just befuddled on how the incoming administration, the individuals we have mentioned here, discontinue the same, talking points as if they're saying something different. i mean we, we had waltz and he goes on the blood shed must come to an end. paraphrasing, of course, must come to an end as trench warfare must come to and then, but we all, in the same paragraph, they must, the lower the conscription age and ukraine. i mean, what do you see talking about that? that's just more for the meat grinder. i, i, i don't know how it's being, so we seen in the united states, but these people are saying that, well, that's the same conversation. maybe it's 2 sides of the same calling, but it's the same message. alexan

this has been time of real turmoil in the middle east. but as i prepare to leave office, our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there is a genuine opportunity for a new future. in lebanon, there is an opportunity for a future. free from the grip of hezbollah. in syria, a future free from the tyranny of assad. and for the palestinian people, a credible, credible pathway to a state of their own. and for the region, a future of normalization, integration of israel and all its arab neighbors, including saudi arabia. the g-20 in deli -- delhi in september of 2023 i rallied countries from an economic carter from india across the middle east to europe. that vision can now become a reality. there are risks as well including isis in iran. even in badly weakened state, but, but we are handing off to the next team a real opportunity for a bert future for the immediate -- better fuamatu-ma'afala taour for the -- future for the middle east. let me close with this my friend for years in the united states senate, former senator george mitchel

we got here without a wider war in the middle east. now it falls to the next administration to help implement this deal. i was pleased to have our teams speak as one voice in the final days. it was necessary, effective and unprecedented. this will require persistence and continuing support for our friends in the region and the belief in the policy backed by deterrence. as we reflect on the news from gaza today, we must also remember the victims of this war. remain mindful that the pursuit of lasting peace while never easy or quick must always be our calling. may god bless you all and may god protect our troops. all look forward to this deal being fully implement the. i'm not going to take any questions now because there is a congregation waiting for me. thank you very much. >> can you say anything about the condition of the hostages that were released today? pres. biden: the three that were released into gaza, out of the hands of their captors, they appear to be in good health but it is early to tell. they may be across the border into

will gusting all around the world from the middle east today. and 1961. the world woke up to news of us present. generalizing how revealing the dangers of a military industrial complex, not democracy, controlling the united states today and 2025 fireworks. a scheduled to light up the sky of donald trump's golf club in virginia, or ahead of a cabinet dinner. and the integration of the 47th president on monday, many of those cabinet picks are on the record for promoting war on russia through ukraine. the genocide in gaza was in that in central america and was on their run in china. this despite trump himself declaring that his design is well peace. joining me again from cleveland, ohio is dennis percentage of the mayor of cleveland, who twice ran as a us for democratic presidential candidate, most recently running as an independent candidate for congress. dennis, thanks so much for coming back on happy new year. you're on the season premiere of going undergrad. you are the washington press club just a few weeks ago before christmas. right? speaking about th

our middle east correpsondent lucy willamson is there. with protesters demanding the release of hostages, but tonight it is empty, a reminder of the caution many people feel here about this deal after so many disappointments and so many false starts, and the clock that has been counting the minutes and hours and days of captivity is still going, more than 466 now. but for many hostages and their families, they can finally glimpse an end to they can finally glimpse an end to the ordeal, while some others still cannot. after the public anger and the protests, in tel aviv tonight a private shared relief. too soon for celebrations. this deal too partial, too long coming to spark an explosion of joy. for 15 months, demonstrators here demanded the hostages' release. the names of israel's missing repeated like a mantra. theirfaces papering israel's walls. among them, five—year—old ariel and one—year—old kfir bibas and their parents. it's like a roller—coaster. i'm not breathing right now. we don't know if they are on the list, if they are going

he's now chair of the middle east program at the wilson centre.ering that has been taking place in gaza. how fragile is this ceasefire? i place in gaza. how fragile is this ceasefire?— this ceasefire? i think it will hold, at least _ this ceasefire? i think it will hold, at least the _ this ceasefire? i think it will hold, at least the first - this ceasefire? i think it will. hold, at least the first phase, thatis hold, at least the first phase, that is the first six week 42 day period with the initial exchange of palestinian prisoners and israeli hostages. again, these by underground. it's amazing at elements of his government to vote on this, that may happen tomorrow as we just heard new reporting. there is a great deal of opposition to it. i don't think our opposition is large enough to block this but we will have to wait and see.— block this but we will have to wait and see. israel's security minister said _ wait and see. israel's security minister said he _ wait and see. israel's security minister said he would - wait and see. israel's securi

and we know like trunk has 3 agendas in the middle east, 3, tom, mount agendas, 1st is to in the blood shit. as the 2nd is maximum pressure on your on the 3rd is to have normalization between israel and the king north saturday of which the united states and everyone knows that is considered to be almost impossible or impossible for it to materialize without having the post in cause to be addressed fairly unjustly. what are speculation swells about the shape in nature of the peace agreement power? those are a bulging between these really government and the top teams to shed. he goodness, to keep bottling, have mass alex they can listen to the statements. i updated codger callous. hi, representative of the european union for foreign affairs and security policy on the details of the deal to release our hostages, which will be discussed in the security cabinet and then voted on by the israeli government. israel will have to pay a heavy price. i emphasized that we will not accept thomas rule because after the war, which would endanger israel security and continued to also ruined the lives o

now our research fellow of a center for middle east studies says that the strategic deal between a ron and russia is a pivotal moment in the history of the 2 countries relations done to the go. what do you, disagreement is truly ethical circle. so i'm saying that beyond any doubt and without exaggeration, which still for russia and iran have reached a new level of cooperation from now on. we are strategic partners with russia, caesar, ron, as a very serious partner with whom it would like to develop its relations in the middle east. and of course, iran has long regarded russia as one of its most important strategic partners. sometimes even describing moscow as an ally and with the gym iran seas, russia as a player who can help form a new world order within the system of international relations, which is a fundamental task for t ron russia is just one of the few sovereign countries in the world that can do what i see, because mostly in this case of course, disagreement is very significant, both for our bilateral relations and for the entire region, which is now i must say, closely monit

— be or his thinking towards the middle east? well, we certainly have an idea. _ middle east? well, we certainly have an idea. first and - have an idea. first and foremost they will be a tremendous amount of focus on iran. iran has never been closer to having the ability to produce their nuclear weapon stop it was the trump administration that left the deal that would have forestalled iran's production of nuclear capability. however, coming back to the table now, it appears that it is the intention of the administration to restore its maximum pressure campaign for the purposes of trying to barter a better deal. it is a changed region was over the course of this conflict we have seen basically the complete collapse of hezbollah as a military force. that precipitated the collapse of the assad regime and then when iran attacked israel directly on two occasions over the past year, israel responded in ways that were controlled have left iran exposed. the rd defences are highly weakened, their ability to produce ballistic missiles has been heavily treated and there is a great degree

the wrong is public enemy number one, when it comes to the middle east, it's been long regarded as the greatest belligerents the great is rival to us american interest. and that's on yahoo has long regarded iran also as one of the biggest obstacles against what he regard as stability. iran is the enabler of his bullet. it, it propped up the former a sod regime in syria. and so, you know, in this step. so it's, it's, it's tempting to think the trump is going to be somehow different tell from that of the bite and ministration when it comes to iran in the middle east. the 2 of them are basically just continuing the same strategy that the united states has been employing within that region. since you know, time in memorial. so, you know, we'd like to think many people like to think that trump is going to be a breath of fresh air against, you know, against the bite and ministration. a new sense of american foreign policy. maybe that would be for ukraine. i don't know. right. ukraine is one story, trump seems to be eager to end that conflict to simply redirect all efforts in the middle east.

this has been time of real turmoil in the middle east. but as i prepare to leave office, our friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there's genuine opportunities for a new future. in lebanon, there's an opportunity for future, free from the grip of hezbollah. and syria, a future free of the tyranny of assad and for the palestinian people, a credible, credible pathway to a state of their own and for the region, a future of normalization, integration, of israel and all its arab neighbors, including saudi arabia. with the g-20 in delhi in september of 2023, i rallied key countries behind the vision of an economic carter, from india to the middle east to europe. that vision can now become a reality. the risk as well, including isis and iran, even in a badly weakened state. but we're handing off to the next team of real opportunity for a brighter future for the middle east. i hope they will take it. let me close with this. my friend for years in the united states senate, former senator george mitchell who did so much to forge peace once