FOX News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst joins ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ to discuss the latest news emerging from the Israel-Hamas war as the IDF continues to move deeper into Gaza. The U.S. is “closer than we have been in quite some time” to broker a deal with Israel and Hamas to release hostages being held in Gaza, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Sunday.
In a recent interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Finer expressed optimism about the progress being made in negotiations. He stated, “I believe we are closer than we have been in quite some time, maybe closer than we have been since the beginning of this process, to getting this deal done. And we are following this minute by minute, hour by hour, and have been for a number of weeks.” These remarks came in response to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani’s statement that negotiations for hostage releases have improved, with only “very minor” logistical hurdles remaining.
Although the deal has faced ups and downs over the past few weeks, the Qatari leader expressed confidence that a resolution is within reach. He stated, “But I think that you know I’m now more confident that we are close enough to reach a deal that can bring the people safely back to their home.”
However, Finer cautioned against premature disclosure of the negotiation details, emphasizing the sensitivity of the situation. He highlighted the potential for negotiations to fall apart at the last minute and the need to prioritize the safe return of hostages. Currently, there are an estimated 240 hostages being held in Gaza, including a number of Americans.
While reports from The Washington Post suggested that Hamas was close to agreeing to release at least 50 hostages in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting, the White House clarified that no deal had been finalized yet. Finer refrained from providing specific numbers regarding the potential release of hostages, stating, “I’m not going to give a lot more detail, other than to say we are talking about considerably more than 12 [hostages]. But beyond that, I want to see where this goes and don’t want to say anything that would jeopardize the actual completion of the deal.”
The situation in Israel and Gaza remains tense, with ongoing military actions and negotiations. The Biden administration, along with international partners, is actively engaged in efforts to secure the release of hostages and bring an end to the conflict. The plight of those held captive in unconscionable conditions continues to drive the urgency for a resolution.
As developments unfold, it is crucial to closely monitor the progress of these negotiations and the potential impact on the lives of the hostages involved.
