October 13, 2025

>>> HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO "AMANPOUR & COMPANY", HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP .

FINALLY FREE.

PICTURES MANY FEARED THEY WOULD NEVER SEE AS ISRAEL WELCOMES HOME THE HOSTAGES, FAMILIES REUNITED AFTER A HARROWING TWO YEARS.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS RETURN TO THE WRECKAGE OF GAZA AND BODIES BURIED BENEATH THE RUBBLE.

I WILL SPEAK TO AN AIDE WORKER ON THE GROUND THERE.

THEN, AS WORLD LEADERS MEET IN EGYPT TO DISCUSS A LASTING PEACE, I SPEAK TO AN ISRAELI AND A PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR .

>>> "AMANPOUR & COMPANY" IS FAMILY ENDOWMENT, JIM ATWOOD AND LESLIE WILLIAMS .

CANDACE KING, THE PROGRAMMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM, THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF LAYLA AND MICKEY STRAUSS, JEFFREY KATZ AND BETH ROGERS.

THE PETER G PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND, CHARLES ROSENBLUM, COMMITTED TO BRIDGING CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN OUR COMMUNITIES, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>>> WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, EVERYONE, I'M CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR IN LONDON.

A HISTORIC DAWN, AND THE NEW MIDDLE EAST, THAT WAS TRUMP'S RALLYING CRY TODAY ADDRESSING THE AT ISRAELI KNESSET .

>> AFTER TWO HARROWING YEARS AND DARKNESS AND CAPTIVITY, 20 COURAGEOUS HOSTAGES ARE RETURNING TO THE GLORIOUS EMBRACE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND IT IS GLORIOUS, THIS IS THE END OF AN AGE OF TERROR AND DEATH AND THE BEGINNING OF THE AGE OF FAITH AND HOPE AND OF GOD.

IT'S THE START OF A GRAND CONCORDE AND LASTING HARMONY FOR ISRAEL AND ALL THE NATIONS OF WHAT WILL SOON BE A TRULY MAGNIFICENT REGION.

I BELIEVE THAT, SO STRONGLY.

THIS IS THE HISTORIC DAWN OF A NEW MIDDLE EAST.

>> SO ISRAEL, WITH OUR HELP, HAS WON ALL THAT THEY CAN BY FORCE OF ARMS, YOU'VE WON.

YOU'VE WON.

NOW, IT'S TIME TO TRANSLATE THESE VICTORIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE ULTIMATE PRIZE OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR THE ENTIRE MIDDLE EAST.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS HELD AROUND THE WORLD FOR MAKING THE CEASE-FIRE HAPPEN, AND TODAY WAS A DAY OF JOY AND EMOTION FOR ISRAEL AS THE 20 REMAINING LIVING HOSTAGES WERE RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILIES.

HEARTWARMING SCENES THAT MARKED THE END OF ONE OF THE DARKEST CHAPTERS IN THEIR COUNTRY'S HISTORY.

IN GAZA, THOUGH, LITTLE ROOM FOR JUBILATION, THE DEVASTATION IS STAGGERING.

NOW THAT THE SKIES ARE FINALLY FREE OF FIGHTER JETS AND DRONES, PALESTINIANS HAVE BEGUN SEARCHING THE RUBBLE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.

IT'S BELIEVED THOUSANDS MAY LIVE BURIED BENEATH.

ALSO TODAY, 250 PALESTINIAN PRISONERS WERE RELEASED ALONG WITH 1700 DETAINEES, HELD WITHOUT CHARGE SINCE OCTOBER 7th.

IN TEL AVIV, THERE HAVE BEEN SCENES OF TRUE JOY IN HOSTAGE SQUARE AND IN THE PICTURES OF THE HOSTAGES REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES AFTER A HARROWING TWO-YEAR ORDEAL AT THE HANDS OF HAMAS AND OTHER MILITANTS IN GAZA.

ONE DOCTOR TOLD CNN SOME OF THE HOSTAGES WHO WERE SOLDIERS, HAVE GONE THROUGH SEVERE MY FIRST GUEST UNDERSTANDS THAT AGONY EXPERIENCED BY THOSE RECEIVING THEIR LOVED ONE TODAY.

HIS DAUGHTER, WAS HELD BY HAMAS FOR 471 DAYS.

RELEASED IN JANUARY, AND THEN, SPENT NEARLY 6 MONTHS IN HOSPITAL AND IN REHAB.

HE IS JOINING ME NOW.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CAN I JUST ASK YOU, BEFORE I GET INTO THE DETAILS OF YOUR DAUGHTER, AND WE HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE, WHERE ARE YOU, WHERE WERE YOU, WHEN YOU HEARD THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING, WHEN YOU HEARD THE NEWS OF THE DAY, WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU TODAY?

>> WELL, FIRST, I AM AWAKENED FOR MORE THAN 40 HOURS, SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T SLEEP LAST NIGHT.

I'M NOT SURE WE CAN EXPLAIN AS THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, WHAT IT WE ARE RECEIVING BACK 20 BROTHERS ALIVE AND ANOTHER FOUR BODIES OUT OF 48 HOSTAGES THAT REMAINED IN HAMAS HANDS.

AND TODAY, I WAS IN THE SQUARE UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT, THEN THIS MORNING EARLY MORNING, I WAS SEEING, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE MY KIDS, SOME OF THEM, SEEING THEM OUT OF GAZA, SEEING THEM GOING OUT OF THE CARS, YOU KNOW, STANDING AND SMILING AND HUGGING WITH THE FAMILIES THAT THEY KNOW SO VERY WELL, SINCE TWO YEARS.

THIS WAS NOT JUST JOYFUL, IT WAS LIKE THE STARTING OF HEALING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE YOU WEREN'T SMILING AND I'M SURE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN SMILING THIS MUCH FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

SO, HOW IS ROMY DOING, YOUR DAUGHTER?

>> I THINK TODAY, FOR ROMY AND ALL THE OTHER HOSTAGES THAT WERE RELEASED IN THE FIRST AGREEMENT AND THE SECOND AGREEMENT, THIS DAY WAS EXACTLY THAT, A HEALING DAY.

I DON'T KNOW, THE SURVIVOR GUILT IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO DEVASTATING, THAT THEY NEEDED THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS COMING BACK , AND ROMY IS WORKING VERY HARD, IT'S NOT JUST REHABILITATE, TO HAND, SHE CAME BACK AS CRIPPLED IN HER RIGHT HAND, AND SHE'S WORKING SO HARD AND SHE WENT THROUGH THREE SURGERIES BUT TODAY WAS A HEALING DAY, SHE SAT TOGETHER WITH EMILY, THEY SPENT MOST OF THE TIME KIDNAPPED IN HAMAS HANDS, TOGETHER, AND THEY WERE SITTING AND SEEING GALLI AND ZZ COMING BACK AND ALL THE HOSTAGES, A REALLY HEALING DAY.

>> HAVE YOU SPOKEN OR HAS ROMY SPOKEN TO ANY OF THE OTHER FAMILIES OR ANY OF THE RETURNED HOSTAGES, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THEM YET, INCLUDING YOUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS IN THIS LAST TWO YEARS OF TORTURE, REALLY, WHO WILL NOT SEE THEIR KIDS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN KILLED, THEY DIED, THEY ARE COMING BACK IN BODY BAGS.

>> I THINK THE RIGHT TERM WOULD BE MURDERED, BECAUSE THAT IS HOSTAGES, THEIR BODIES ARE STILL HELD IN HAMAS HANDS, TODAY, THE FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGES THAT ARE ALREADY MURDERED WERE IN THE KNESSET TO TALK TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, FIRST, TO SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE WE NEEDED LEADERS OF THE WORLD, A LEADER LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO HELP US, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SUCH A BIG ISSUE.

SO TODAY, WE DIDN'T SPEAK AS MUCH WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGES THAT WERE MURDERED, BUT WE ARE THERE FOR THEM, BECAUSE WE NEED EVERYBODY TO COME BACK, THIS IS HOW THE JEWISH TRADITION WORKS, TO BURY THE DEAD IS SOMETHING WHICH IS A MUST FOR US, AND WE WILL BRING ALL THE 24 THAT ARE STILL LEFT IN HAMAS HANDS, WE WILL BRING THEM BACK HOME AND THIS IS SOMETHING ALSO THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMISED AND PRESSED HAMAS TO AGREE.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TALKING TO HIM, WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU AND WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HIM, WHAT WAS THAT MOMENT LIKE FOR YOU ALL?

>> I WASN'T SPEAKING TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE WAS AT THE KNESSET AND I WAS IN ONE OF THE CHANNELS , HE WAS SPEAKING TO THE HOSTAGES FAMILIES, THE MURDERED HOSTAGES FAMILIES IN THE KNESSET , BUT --I JUST SAID THANK YOU, BECAUSE THEY WERE SUCH A BIG FORCE IN BRINGING THEM HOME, THIS ISSUE MUST BE SOLVED AND CAN BE SOLVED AND ALL THE HOSTAGES THAT ARE STILL ALIVE COULD BE BROUGHT ALIVE, THIS IS SOMETHING, PEOPLE UNDERSTAND, THEY HAVE VISION, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT THIS HAPPENED.

>> AND I GO BACK TO YOUR DAUGHTER?

YOU MENTIONED THAT SHE IS STILL BASICALLY WORKING HARD TO YOU KNOW, GET BETTER, ESPECIALLY, HER HAND BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN SHOT.

REMIND US OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

SHE WAS REMOVED, KIDNAPPED, FROM ISRAEL BY HAMAS, BUT SHE WAS SHOT THEN?

>> THEY WERE ESCAPING THE NOVA FESTIVAL, AND THEY ESCAPED AND THEY HAD BEEN ESCAPING FOR MORE THAN 4 1/2 HOURS FROM HAMAS TERRORISTS INSIDE ISRAEL, UNTIL ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE CAR WERE SHOT AND TWO OF THEM WERE MURDERED ON THE SPOT AND ROMY AND ANOTHER BOY WERE SHOT PRETTY BADLY.

ROMY WAS SHOT IN HER HAND AND SHE LOST A LOT OF BLOOD AND SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO USE HER HAND, SO SHE WAS CRIPPLED, FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR AND THREE MONTHS, AND SUFFERED FROM HORRIFYING PAIN, AND WHEN SHE CAME BACK, WHEN WE BROUGHT HER BACK, SHE WENT THROUGH THREE SURGERIES UNTIL NOW, TO TRY AND GAIN BACK SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS IN HER HAND.

IT IS GETTING BETTER, BUT IT HURTS LIKE HELL AND IT'S VERY HARD WORK TO TRY AND MOVE AGAIN , THESE PARTS THAT WERE WORKING FOR 471 DAYS OR WERE DAMAGED SO BADLY.

THANK GOD WE HAVE VERY GOOD DOCTORS IN ISRAEL, AND SHE IS SO DETERMINED TO USE HER HAND AGAIN, AND SHE IS WORKING REALLY HARD .

>> AS WE ARE SPEAKING WE ARE SEEING YOU AND HER REUNITED WHEN SHE DID COME BACK, IN JANUARY, SO IT WAS A HAPPY, HAPPY SCENE BUT TEARS, OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ALL DAY ABOUT WHAT THE REMAINING OR THE RETURNING HOSTAGES CAN FACE, YOU KNOW, HOW DO THEY HEAL PHYSICALLY BUT ALSO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, AND THESE HOSTAGES HAVE BEEN IN EVEN LONGER, YOU KNOW, EIGHT MONTHS OR NINE MONTHS LONGER THAN YOUR DAUGHTER WAS IN.

SO, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM, TO THEIR FAMILIES, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE A BIG INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THEM, THEY ARE IN HOSPITALS.

BUT, HOW, HOW DO YOU HEAL FROM THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S MUCH ABOVE MY POSSIBILITY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM BECAUSE FIRST, THEY WERE NINE MORE MONTHS, MY DAUGHTER WAS 471 DAYS, THEY WERE 737 DAYS, TWO YEARS, IN HAMAS HANDS, SO FIRST, I TAKE IT AS THEY HAVE VERY STRONG WILL TWO YEARS, IN TORTURE, IN PAIN, IN DARK PLACES, NO FOOD, BEING STARVED, BEING TORTURED, YOU NEED TO BE VERY STRONG, SO FIRST, I SAY, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THAT REASSURANCE THAT WE TRUST THEM, THEY KNOW BETTER THAN US .

I CAN ALSO SAY IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.

WE ARE ONLY IN THE START OF THE HEALING PROCESS, SO NOW, WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT HOME, IT MAY BE A LITTLE FASTER, BUT IT TAKES TIME TO HEAL THE BODY.

IT TAKES TIME TO HEAL THE WOUNDS, AND IT TAKES MUCH MORE TIME TO HEAL THE SOUL.

WE CAN ONLY GIVE THEM THE GROUND, THE LOVE AND THE POSSIBILITY TO SEE THAT THERE ARE GOOD THINGS IN OUR LIFE, THAT THE FAMILY IS STRONG, THAT THEY ARE BEING LOVED HERE AND THEY ARE BEING PROTECTED.

PROTECTED IS TO KNOW THAT HAMAS IS NOT STRONG ANYMORE, AND WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR SECURITY INSIDE ISRAEL, AND IT'S NOT EASY, BECAUSE WE ARE RELEASING THE TERRORISTS THAT HAVE BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS, AND WE DO EXPECT, ALL THE COUNTRIES THAT HELPED US GET THIS AGREEMENT, TO CONTINUE IN SUPPORT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE, ALSO THE GAZA PEOPLE THAT WERE UNDER HAMAS, THE DOMINATION, AND ALSO WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN SECURITY.

ONLY I THINK, LOVE IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST FEELINGS WE CAN GIVE TO EACH OTHER AND THIS IS A VERY HEALING >> IT IS HEALING AND HELPFUL LISTENING TO YOU.

ONE LAST QUESTION, DO YOU THINK AS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID, THAT THIS IS THE END OF THE WAR?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY YES, BUT I'M JEWISH, AND I KNOW THAT FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN SOME TERRORISTS THAT WANTED TO ELIMINATE US, WANTED TO KILL US, THE HOLOCAUST WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, IT WASN'T THAT FAR FROM TODAY .

IN 1929, WE SUFFERED SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO THE SEVENTH OF OCTOBER.

IF WE ARE STRONG AND IF THE FREE WORLD IS STRONG, THEN IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT WE WILL HAVE MORE YEARS OF FEELING SECURE AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE TOGETHER WITH THE BIG STATES, THE BIG LEADERS OF THE WORLD.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING ONE COUNTRY CAN DO.

>> EXACTLY AND THEY ARE ALL THERE HOPEFULLY DOING WHAT YOU JUST SAID, SO THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US, CAN I SAY, IT IS THE END OF THE FIRST PHASE OF YOUR AGONY?

>> I THINK SO, BUT WE STILL HAVE 24 MURDERED HOSTAGES, THE ONES THAT ARE NO LONGER ALIVE, WE OWE THEM TO BRING THEM BACK HERE AND BURY THEM IN OUR LAND, SO WE DO NEED TO MAKE THE FINAL STEPS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMING BACK BUT YES, THIS IS THE START OF A NEW DAWN, THAT'S WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DO HOPE IT IS.

>> YOUR SMILE SAYS IT ALL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND WE HOPE YOUR DAUGHTER GETS FULLY BETTER.

THANK YOU.

>>> EARLIER, I SPOKE ABOUT WHAT A DAY OF REAL JOY THIS IS FOR ISRAELI FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES ARE FINALLY BEING RETURNED AFTER TWO YEARS OF CAPTIVITY AND FOR CIVILIANS IN GAZA WHO FINALLY HAD REPRIEVE FROM TWO YEARS OF BRUTAL AND DEADLY WAR.

I NOTED THAT FOR THE HOSTAGES WHO ARE FINALLY HOME, IT'LL TAKE A LONG TIME FOR THEM TO RECOVER MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY BUT I REGRET ALSO SAYING THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN TREATED BETTER THAN MANY GAZANS, BECAUSE HAMAS USED THESE HOSTAGES AS PONDS, AND BARGAINING CHIPS, BUT THAT WAS INSENSITIVE AND IT WAS WRONG.

FROM SPEAKING TO MANY FORMER HOSTAGES AND THEIR FAMILIES LIKE EVERYONE, I'VE BEEN HORRIFIED AT WHAT HAMAS HAS SUBJECTED THEM TO COME OVER TWO LONG YEARS, THEY TOLD ME AS YOU JUST HEARD, THEIR STORIES OF BARELY BEING ABLE TO BREATHE IN TO CRY, BEING STARVED AND MADE TO DIG THEIR OWN GRAVES AND TODAY, SOME OF THE HOSTAGES ARE COMING BACK IN BODY BAGS.

RETURNING NOW TO GAZA, WITH THE FULL EXTENT OF THE DEVASTATION BEGINNING TO EMERGE, LET'S SPEAK TO , SHE IS THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR AID, RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE AND SHE'S IN GAZA AND CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND THE CONDITIONS THERE.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

SO YOU HAVE BEEN THERE AND WORKING THERE SINCE THE START OF THE WAR.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'VE SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR PHONES OR WHATEVER, HOW HAPPY THE FAMILIES IN ISRAEL WERE TO RECEIVE THEIR HOSTAGES BACK .

WHAT KIND OF A FEELING IS IT IN GAZA WHERE YOU ARE, WITH PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER ARE FACING THE BOMBS AND YOU KNOW, THE SIEGE AND ALL THE REST OF IT?

>> YES, ACTUALLY, DIFFERENT REASONS, PEOPLE ARE HERE ALSO HAPPY AND GLAD FOR THIS WAR TO END, BUT ALSO, THEY HAVE THESE MIXED FEELINGS OF WORRY, AND THEY HAVE THE UNCERTAINTY AS THE MAJORITY OF THEIR AREAS AND HOUSES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY OR SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED, IN GAZA CITY WHERE I WAS DISPLACED FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, MORE THAN 85 OF THE BUILDINGS ARE TURNED INTO DUST, ALSO I VISITED FAMILIES, THE DESPERATION, IT'S SO OBVIOUS, EVEN WITH THIS LITTLE BIT OF HAPPINESS AND HOPE, IT STILL ASSOCIATED WITH DESPERATION AND ANGER.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO YEARS, 24 MONTHS, OF FACING ALL KINDS OF FEARS AND THE TRAUMA FROM THE DISPLACEMENT, AND HUNGER, I WITNESSED CHILDREN, WHO WERE CELEBRATING EATING CUCUMBERS INSTEAD OF CHOCOLATE, FOR EXAMPLE.

ALSO, I MET A BOY WHO HAS A WISH FOR HIS 15 YEARS BIRTHDAY, JUST TO HAVE WHEAT FLOUR BREAD, SO IMAGINE, FOR A CHILD ON THIS GLOBE IN 2025, THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO ARE FACING, NOT ONLY CONTINUING BOMBARDMENT IN THIS CURIOUS SITUATION BUT ALSO HUNGER, THE LOSING OF NORMALCY AS WELL.

IT'S NOW THE ACADEMIC YEAR, THEY ARE LOSING THAT YEAR, AND WE MYSELF, MY FAMILY, WE WERE SO EXCITED THIS TIME BEFORE, JUST A MONTH, FOR THEM TO HAVE A GOOD QUALITY EDUCATION AT ONE OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT HAS RETURNED IN GAZA CITY BUT UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE DISPLACEMENT, WE COULDN'T MAKE IT.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY ABOUT LIKE DISPLACEMENT, IT'S ABOUT LOSING THE NETWORK AND THE FRIENDSHIP AND MY SON TOLD ME DURING THE LATEST DISPLACEMENT FROM GAZA CITY TO THE SOUTH, HEY MOM, WHENEVER I HAVE FRIENDS AT THE NEW DISPLACEMENT AREA, WE ARE FORCED TO LEAVE AND FLEE AGAIN.

WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR US, PLEASE GET US OUT OF THE GAZA STRIP.

SO IMAGINE, AS A MOTHER, AND AS A HUMANITARIAN AID WORKER WHO WAS SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN THIS HORRIFIC SITUATION, IT'S AN ENDING FOR A CHAPTER, IT'S AN ENDING FOR THE BOMBARDMENT, BUT ALSO, IT'S A START AND JUST THE BEGINNING.

>> YES, LET ME --TOO MUCH WORK TO DO, AS YOU SAY, AS YOU ARE TALKING, WE WERE SEEING PICTURES OF SO MANY PEOPLE JUST DESPERATE FOR FOOD, THAT WAS BEFORE THE END OF THIS WAR.

AND NOW, WE ARE TOLD BY THE UN, REAL PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN HUMANITARIAN OPERATION SINCE THE CEASE-FIRE CAME INTO OPERATION, COOKING GAS FOR THE FIRST TIME AS WELL AS TENTS, FRESH FRUIT, MEDICINES, CAN YOU SEE THE SURGE, CAN YOU SEE IT ACTUALLY COMING IN , IT'S NOT THE END OF IT AND THEY NEED A LOT BUT CAN YOU SEE IT BEGINNING TO REACH THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

>> YES, BUT MUCH MORE IS NEEDED AND WE NEED TO SCALE UP, ENOUGH, WE NEED MORE, AT LEAST LIKE 600 TRUCKS AND SOMETIMES 1000 OF TRUCKS TO ENTER ON A DAILY BASIS, SO THE PEOPLE START TO FEEL THIS SCALE UP AND THIS ACCESS TO THEIR BASIC NEEDS, COOKING GAS, LIKE I AM, AS A HUMANITARIAN AID WORKER, I WORK FOR AT LEAST EIGHT HOURS A DAY AND RETURN BACK TO THE HOUSE TO FIRE COOK, AND IMAGINE HOW IT'S OVERWHELMING AND IT'S HARD FOR US, AS HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THESE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, SO YES, PEOPLE ARE HOPEFUL FOR THIS AID TO ENTER AND REACH PEOPLE AND WHAT CONCERNS US THE MOST NOT ONLY HAVING THEM ENTER INSIDE GAZA BUT ALSO TO ENSURE THAT DIGNIFIED AND IMPARTIAL DISTRIBUTION IS ONGOING FOR THOSE IN NEED, BECAUSE YOU WITH THE DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION AND THE CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS DAMAGED.

SO WE NEED TO WORK IN COORDINATION AND IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY AS A HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION TO ENSURE THAT THIS AID IS TIMELY BEING DISPATCHED TO PEOPLE IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE AND MORE COMING IN THE GAZA STRIP.

ALSO WE ARE SO HOPEFUL BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN.

THIS IS A GLIMPSE OF HOPE TO HAVE MORE SUSTAINABLE IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, BECAUSE DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS, WHENEVER WE PROVIDE ANY KIND OF SUPPORT THE TRAUMA IS ONGOING.

IT'S CONTINUING.

>> I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN .

YOU SENT US A VIDEO OF YOU TRAVELING AROUND GAZA, AND HE FOUND A GROUP OF CHILDREN, YOUNG BOYS, AND THEY WERE PLAYING WITH BULLETS.

I JUST WANTED TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF THE CONVERSATION YOU HAD WITH THEM.

>> WHEN I WALK BY THE GROUP OF CHILDREN, I THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING THEY ARE DOING.

SOMETHING LIKE THIS, TO PLAY WITH THAT, SO IMAGINE, AFTER TWO YEARS OF CONTINUING BOMBARDMENT AND DISPLACEMENT AND THE LOSS OF THEIR BELOVED ONES, THEIR ACADEMIC LIFE, NOW, THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE TO PLAY WITH IS THE WAR REMANENCE.

>> I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S REALLY SAD, AND I JUST WONDER WHETHER, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ORDNANCE, MAYBE SOME OF IT IS UNEXPLODED, THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF RISK OF LIKE IN ANY WAR ZONE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE GUNS GO SILENT, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF UNEXPLODED STUFF THERE.

SO I WONDER WHETHER THAT IS A WORRY AND WHETHER PARENTS ARE TRYING TO KEEP THEIR KIDS AWAY FROM THE STUFF BUT ALSO ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN, WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS AND WHO ARE NOW PLAYING IN THIS RUBBLE AND WITH THESE BULLETS AND THINGS, DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO CARE FOR PEOPLE'S HEALTH, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH?

>> YEAH, WE WORK TOGETHER TO HAVE THIS AWARENESS FOR NOT ONLY CHILDREN BUT PARENTS AND ADULTS ON THIS, BUT, TO ME, WHAT WAS SHOCKING IS, THIS IS THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE TO PLAY WITH , AND ALSO WHAT CONCERNS ME THE MOST AS A MOTHER AND A HUMANITARIAN AID WORKER, IS HOW TO MAINTAIN THE VALUES INSIDE THOSE CHILDREN WHO'VE BEEN ASKED, WHO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ALL OF THIS VIOLENCE, WE WILL WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP THEM BELIEVING IN HUMANITY BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HERE IN GAZA, STARTED TO LOSE THEIR LEAVES IN HUMANITY AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MAY BE, AFTER THEY FEEL THAT THEY HAVE MAYBE FAILED THEM.

I KEPT TELLING MY CHILDREN, TO BE EMPATHETIC AND HELP EACH OTHER AND THE OTHER DAY I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND MY CHILDREN WERE WITH ME AT THE MY SON TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO HELP A GIRL WHO WAS LIFTING AND CARRYING VERY HEAVY, IN HER HANDS AND HE CAME BACK AND SAID MOM, IT WAS SO EXHAUSTING, I COULD MAKE IT TO PICK THE GIRL UP IN THE CAR BUT I WANTED THE CHILDREN TO BE EMPATHETIC AND VERY SUPPORTIVE, EVEN IF THEY HAVE ENDURED TOO MUCH, AS THEY COULD SAY.

>> WHAT AN INCREDIBLE LIFE LESSON, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US IN GAZA.

>> ENOUGH WITH WAR, WELCOME TO PEACE, THAT WAS EGYPT'S PRESIDENT AS HE WELCOMED DONALD TRUMP AND THE LEADERS OF MORE THAN 20 WORLD LEADERS TO A SUMMIT ON GAZA'S FUTURE IN SHARM EL-SHEIKH, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU DECIDED NOT TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION, BUT HE HAD INTRODUCED TRUMP IN THE KNESSET EARLIER WITH PRAISE, THANKS, AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A VICTORY LAP .

>> THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING ISRAELI SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE GOLAN HEIGHTS.

THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP TO THE LIES AGAINST ISRAEL AND THE UNITED NATIONS .

THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING IN YOUR 2020 PEACE PLAN, OUR RIGHTS, AND THE HOMELAND OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE .

THANK YOU FOR BROKERING THE HISTORIC ABRAHAM ACCORDS .

THANK YOU FOR WITHDRAWING FROM THE DISASTROUS IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL .

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OPERATION RISING LINE AND FOR YOUR BOLD DECISION TO LAUNCH OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER, BOY, IS THAT, YOU'VE GOT TO HEAR THIS.

THIS IS THE MOST FITTING NAME EVER NAMED FOR A MILITARY AFTER MIDNIGHT, YOU REALLY HAMMERED THEM!

MY FRIENDS, THIS IS ONLY A PARTIAL LIST .

BUT IT'S ENOUGH TO AFFIRM WHAT I'VE SAID TIME AND AGAIN.

DONALD TRUMP IS THE GREATEST FRIEND THAT THE STATE OF ISRAEL HAS EVER HAD IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> SO, WE WILL ASK OUR NEXT GUEST WEATHER THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE SIGNING ONTO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CALL FOR A NEGOTIATED PEACE WITH THE PALESTINIANS.

JOINING ME NOW IS, A FORMER ADVISOR TO THE OFFICIAL PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP.

WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

YOU KNOW, CLEARLY, THERE'S A LOT TO ASK ABOUT THE EMOTION OF THE DAY BUT WE WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING IN EGYPT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK RIGHT NOW, THAT ACTUALLY, THIS CEASE-FIRE CAN BE THE FIRST BUILDING BLOCK TOWARDS THEN BUILDING A NEGOTIATION AROUND IT, FOR AN ACTUAL END TO THE WAR AND A REAL PIECE -- PEACE.

>> THAT'S THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.

I THINK THE IMAGES THAT WE SAW TODAY OF HOSTAGES AND PRISONERS BEING RELEASED AND WORLD LEADERS GATHERING IN EGYPT TO DECLARE AN END TO THIS REALLY HORRIFIC WAR, ALL OF THAT IS VERY WELCOME.

I THINK THE THING THAT STRUCK ME THE MOST IS THE SORT OF GRANDIOSE TERMS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP ESPECIALLY, WAS SPEAKING IN, TALKING ABOUT A GOLDEN AGE, TALKING ABOUT YOU KNOW, AND ETERNAL PEACE, AND SUFFERING IS OVER.

ALL OF WHICH I THINK REALLY UNDERSTATES OR RATHER OVERSTATES THE REALITY, I MEAN, YES, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE ENDED, BUT THE HARD WORK AS WE HEARD FROM YOUR PREVIOUS GUEST, THE HARD WORK IS REALLY JUST BEGINNING.

GAZA HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO REBUILD.

IT WILL TAKE A VERY LONG TIME.

AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES.

THERE'S A LOT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE MEANTIME, HOW DO YOU KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE IN A PLACE WHERE ALL OF THE MEANS TO SUSTAIN LIFE HAVE BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED?

SO I THINK THIS IS A HOPEFUL STEP THE NOTION THAT THIS IS THE END OF THE 100 YEAR PALESTINIAN CONFLICT, I THINK IT'S ILLUSORY, AND DANGEROUS, BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE THE IMPRESSION THAT ALL OF THIS IS BEHIND US, WHEN, IN FACT, WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE THE EFFECTS OF THIS FOR DECADES.

>> LET ME PICK A FEW QUESTIONS OR PICK THAT APART A LITTLE BIT.

CLEARLY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE HOPE, CLEARLY YOU HAVE TO PROJECT HOPE, AS A WORLD LEADER, AND CLEARLY, YOU HOPE THAT YOU HAVEN'T JUST NEGOTIATED A TEMPORARY CEASE-FIRE BUT YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT GIVES SPACE AND A CHANCE FOR THE REAL AND.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY, CERTAINLY ALL THE CIVILIANS, ONE THAT.

SO YOU BEING INVOLVED IN VARIOUS PEACE NEGOTIATIONS , WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN NEXT?

IS IT THE STABILIZATION FORCE FOR GAZA?

REFORM OF THE PA, IS IT GOVERNORS?

WHAT ARE THE BLOCKS AND THE PHASES YOU KNOW, CONTAINED IN THE 20 POINT PLAN BUT ALSO, IN PREVIOUS , ANY PLAN TO BE WORKABLE, LIKE IN OTHER, NORTHERN ISLAND, OTHER PLACES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF DECADES OF CONFLICT INTO A POLITICAL COMPROMISE ANY POLITICAL FUTURE?

>> I THINK WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN REALLY IS AT THE LEVEL OF POLITICS, AND NOT REALLY TECHNICAL ISSUES.

YES, OF COURSE, THERE NEEDS TO BE AID AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND RESOURCES, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT HAS TO HAPPEN, IS FOR PALESTINIANS TO PUT THEIR HOUSE IN ORDER.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A SINGULAR UNITARY ADDRESS, CREDIBLE LEADERSHIP WHICH FRANKLY DOES NOT EXIST.

THERE IS A LEADERSHIP, AND OF COURSE, THERE'S THE HAMAS AUTHORITY THAT HAS BEEN DISMANTLED IN GAZA, BUT NEITHER OF THOSE ARE GENUINELY REPRESENTED, OR CAN SPEAK TO THE KIND OF EXISTENTIAL THREATS THAT PALESTINIANS NOW FACE, SO, THERE NEEDS TO BE A CREDIBLE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP THE PALESTINIANS BEFORE ANY KIND OF FUTURE DIPLOMATIC PROCESS CAN PROCEED.

AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ISN'T PLAN, IS PALESTINIAN SELF-DETERMINATION, PALESTINIAN RIGHTS, OR THE ISSUE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS AN ARREST WARRANT, BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.

THERE IS A GENOCIDE CASE, PENDING AT THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE.

THOSE PROCESSES, I THINK, ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE THEM THROUGH, BECAUSE ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT TO STABILIZING THE SITUATION, TO GIVING PALESTINIANS HELP, AND TO ADDRESSING THE KIND OF COLLECTIVE TRAUMA THAT HAS BEEN INFLICTED.

SO, THERE'S SO MUCH THAT IS NOT IN THIS PLAN -- >> BUT I'M INTERESTED -- >> I THINK IT'S VERY EARLY TO TALK ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS OR A >> BUT I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN YOU DIGGING DOWN TO HOW PALESTINIANS HAVE TO GET THEIR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER.

WHAT DOES REFORM LOOK LIKE, AND ARE YOU AT ALL CONCERNED THAT EVEN TODAY, SOME HAMAS OR I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH, IT'S BEEN REPORTED MAYOR, THEY ARE BEGINNING TO FEEL THE VACUUM AREAS ONCE THESE AREAS ARE PULLING BACK.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY IT HAS TO BE LIKE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY ELSE DOING LAW AND ORDER BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'RE NOT MEANT TO HAVE A ROLE IN GOVERNANCE, ON THE ARAB STATES HAVE SIGNED ONTO THAT AS WELL AS THE OBVIOUS OTHER STATES.

SO HOW DO YOU BREAK THAT REALITY?

>> YEAH, THAT IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD, OF COURSE, AS YOU SAID, THERE HAS TO BE SOME BASIC LAW AND ORDER IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CHAOS COULD EASILY OVERTAKE THE SITUATION.

THERE IS A KIND OF DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE AND CIVIL DEFENSE AND OTHERS TO TRY TO ESTABLISH THAT THE DE FACTO AUTHORITY, BUT EVEN HAMAS HAS AGREED TO KIND OF END IT'S ROLE, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO PLAY, WE KNOW IT CAN'T BE THE ISRAELI ARMY, IT CAN'T BE THE INTERNATIONAL FORCE BECAUSE THAT IS NOT IN PLACE.

SO, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING IN THE INTERIM, AND IT'S REALLY UP TO THE PALESTINIAN POLITICAL FACTIONS OF HAMAS, OTHERS, PALESTINIAN CIVIL SOCIETY, NEEDS TO BE IN A CONVERSATION WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT HOW TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF GOVERNING GAZA.

I THINK IT REQUIRES A PALESTINIAN CONSENSUS FIRST, SO THAT IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVELY HAMAS OR CHAOS, THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO OPTIONS, BUT I THINK IT HAS TO BEGIN WITH AND INTRA- PALESTINIAN CONVERSATION AND CONSENSUSBUILDING PROCESS.

>> LET ME PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID TODAY ABOUT THE BIGGER PICTURE, SO AND ABOUT GAZA, TOO, LET'S JUST PLAY IT.

IT >> THE TOTAL FOCUS OF GAZANS MUST BE ON RESTORING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF STABILITY, SAFETY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SO THEY CAN FINALLY HAVE THE BETTER LIFE THAT THEIR CHILDREN REALLY DO DESERVE AFTER ALL THESE DECADES OF HORROR.

I INTEND TO BE A PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT, IN THE SENSE THAT, WE ARE GOING TO HELP AND WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING THAT BECAME I'M BELIEVABLY POPULAR, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ON IT, IT'S CALLED THE BOARD OF PEACE.

>> SO THE BOARD OF PEACE THAT HE MENTIONED WITH HIM AS HEAD OF THE BAR, THERE IS A PRIME MINISTER , FORMER PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR, WOULD BE A SECOND ON THE BOARD AND OBVIOUSLY THE REGIONAL PLAYERS THOSE WHO ARE IN SHARM EL-SHEIKH RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, THAT IS A FRAMEWORK, DOES THAT WORK AS A TEMPORARY OR A STOPGAP MEASURE TO GET TO SOMEPLACE WHERE YOU CAN THEN HANDED OVER TO THE PALESTINIANS?

>> I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE IDEA OF THE PEACE BOARD IS AN ABSTRACT IDEA, NOBODY UNDERSTANDS EXACTLY WHAT IT'S ROLE WILL BE, I THINK THE PROBLEM WITH THAT ON ITS FACE IS THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY INCLUDE PALESTINIANS, I MEAN YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF GAZA OR THE REST OF PALESTINE WITHOUT INCLUDING PALESTINIANS.

NOBODY HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF PALESTINIANS AT HEART, MORE THAN THE PALESTINIANS SO THE WAY IT'S LAID OUT, YOU KNOW, AND AMERICAN-LED PEACE BOARD WITH TONY BLAIR AS SOME SORT OF HIGH COMMISSIONER, SOUNDS MORE LIKE A COLONIAL PROJECT THAN IT DOES YOU KNOW, A STEPPINGSTONE FOR PALESTINIAN SELF-DETERMINATION OR STATEHOOD.

IN THAT SPEECH FROM DONALD TRUMP, WE HEARD HIM SAY A LOT OF WORDS THAT ARE IMPORTANT, POSTERITY, DIGNITY, BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T HEAR IS THE WORD FREEDOM.

PALESTINIANS HAVE TO HAVE THE HOPE THAT THEY WILL SOMEDAY LIVE LIKE ALL OTHER PEOPLE WITH A RIGHT TO BE FREE, ON THEIR OWN LAND, AND THAT IS NOT PART OF THIS PLAN, AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE NOT HEARING FROM AMERICAN OR CERTAINLY ISRAELI LEADERS AND FRANKLY, WE ARE NOT EUROPEANS AND THE ARAB STATES.

BUT PALESTINIAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM ARE THE KEY TO ANY FUTURE STABILITY IN ANY CONTEXT BUT ESPECIALLY, IN A WAR-RAVAGED GAZA.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH INDEED.

AS WE'VE HEARD, THE RETURN OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES TO THEIR FAMILIES AND THE RELEASE OF PALESTINIAN PRISONERS AND DETAINEES MARKS A HOPEFUL START TO THE AGREED CEASE-FIRE DEAL, BUT, HOW WILL IT UNFOLD IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS?

OR SEAN IS A FORMER ISRAELI HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR AND HE'S JOINING US NOW WITH HIS THOUGHTS ON THE NEXT STEPS.

WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

SO TELL ME SOMETHING, YOU ARE A VETERAN OF THESE WARS, AND THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE HOSTAGE DEALS.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS AN END TO THE WAR, AS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SAID?

>> I THINK IT IS , YEAH, I THINK I'VE BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED, INTENSIVELY INVOLVED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, IN THESE NEGOTIATIONS AND I THINK THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT NEGOTIATION THAN HAS EVER TAKEN PLACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE DIFFERENT FACTOR HERE IS PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE DECISION HE MADE AFTER THE FAILED ISRAELI ASSASSINATION A TAPE --ATTEMPT, HE IMPOSED IT ON ISRAEL AND CREATED THE REALITY AND BENJAMIN NETANYAHU AGREED TO IT AND HE CREATED THE REALITY WHERE HAMAS AGREED TO IT AND PUT TOGETHER THE PACKAGE.

I KNOW THAT WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN NEXT AFTER THEY SIGN THIS AGREEMENT, THE MEDIATORS IN SHARM EL-SHEIKH THIS EVENING, IS THAT THE AMERICANS ARE PLANNING TO GO TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO GET A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT WILL FRAME THIS IN AN INTERNATIONAL BINDING DECISION THAT WILL ENABLE THE DEPLOYMENT OF A MULTINATIONAL FORCE.

IT WILL GIVE A LEGAL BASIS TO PALESTINIAN TEMPORARY GOVERNMENT IN GAZA, A PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCE AND IT WILL BE THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE PEACE BOARD TO BE AN OVERSEER IN REGARDS OF WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR WATER, ELECTRICITY, SEWAGE, ALL OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

I RESPECT THE PREVIOUS GUEST AND WHAT HE HAD TO SAY BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS MOST OF WHAT HE SAID IS RIGHT.

THE PROBLEM IS THE PEOPLE OF GAZA DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO WAIT FOR PALESTINIAN NATIONAL CONSENSUS, THEY NEED TO HAVE HOUSING, WINTER IS COMING, IT GETS COLD, THEY NEED TO HAVE SHELTER, THEY NEED TO HAVE FOOD AND WATER, THAT CAN'T WAIT FOR A PALESTINIAN CONSENSUS ON WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, IS GOING TO ASK WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS, A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE REGION , PROBABLY NOT THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THIS, BUT OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS WHOLE IDEA OF A HIGH COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, DONALD TRUMP AT THE HEAD OF IT AND TONY BLAIR AS THE HIGH COMMISSIONER SMACKS OF OLD- SCHOOL COLONIALISM.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN, DO YOU THINK THAT, TOO, I NOTICED AT THE END OF THE WAR IN BOSNIA, THERE WERE, IT'S CALLED HIGH REPRESENTATIVE, BUT, THERE WAS ONE, FOR, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK THERE MAY STILL BE.

SO HOW DO YOU GET BEYOND THAT?

>> WELL, I KNOW OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, MY PALESTINIAN PARTNER AND I HAVE BEEN ENGAGING IN ZOOM MEETINGS WITH SOCIETY LEADERS FROM GAZA.

THEY HAVE WRITTEN TWO LETTERS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, I DELIVERED THEM THROUGH STEVE WITKOFF IN WHICH THEY SAID WE ARE A CIVIL SOCIETY, EACH ONE OF THEM HAS A POSITION AND A REPUTATION IN GAZAN SOCIETY, AND THEY SAID THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE PART IN THE NEW GOVERNMENT IN GAZA.

I THINK THE AMERICANS UNDERSTAND THAT THEY CAN HAVE THIS NEO-COLONIALIST SYSTEM THAT TONY BRITT --TONY BLAIR'S GOING TO GO FOR.

HE WILL HAVE A ROLE OF OVERSIGHT AND THERE'S GOING TO BE TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS REQUIRED FOR PEOPLE IN GAZA AND THERE ISN'T REALLY A MECHANISM FOR USING THAT MONEY FOR SPENDING THE MONEY, FOR MAKING SURE IT'S NOT FUNNELED OFF BY ALL KINDS OF OTHER THIRD-PARTY INTEREST, AND I THINK MORE OR LESS, THAT IS THE KIND OF ROLE THAT HE WILL PLAY, STEVE WITKOFF DESCRIBED TO ME AS A RECEIVERSHIP OF A BANKRUPT COMPANY, BUT THE DECISION IS REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE BY THE GAZANS, I THINK TRUMP, PULLED BACK FROM THE IDEA OF THE RIVIERA WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME AND INVEST IN GAZA, TRUMP HAS BEEN SAYING LATELY, WITKOFF SAID THIS, THAT GAZA IS FOR THE GAZANS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF GAZA WILL BE FOR THE GAZANS.

AND I THINK THEY HAVE TO MADE FOR THE FUTURE OF GAZA HAVE TO BE MADE BY THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

MOOD WHO SHOWED UP IN SHARM EL- SHEIKH, IT WAS A SIGNAL THAT THE AMERICANS ARE BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE, REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS AGO, TRUMP DENIED HIM A VISA TO GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND THERE HE WAS AT THIS AMERICAN SPONSORED, EGYPTIAN SPONSORED CONFERENCE IN SHARM EL-SHEIKH, HE SAID THE ELECTIONS WOULD BE CONDUCTED IN A WAY THAT POLITICAL PARTIES, WHERE ONLY POLITICAL PARTIES THAT SUPPORT THE TWO STATE SOLUTION WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE WHICH MEANS THAT IF HAMAS STILL EXISTS AS AN ORGANIZATION WHICH IS SEEKING TO DESTROY ISRAEL, IT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ELECTIONS I THINK THE PALESTINIANS HAVE LEARNED THE LESSON THAT THERE IS NO VIABLE SCENARIO ANYMORE, IT WILL NOT FREE PALESTINE.

>> IN FACT, SO MANY PEOPLE FROM GAZA, GAZANS, WHEN THE CEASE- FIRE DEAL WAS ANNOUNCED, THEY REACHED OUT TO THE PRESS AND THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD, THEY WERE VERY UPSET AND VERY ANGRY THAT HAMAS HAD LED THEM TO THIS.

THEY WERE TALKING AGAINST HAMAS, SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC AS WELL.

BUT LET ME ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION, SO THE SPECIAL ENVOY SAID TODAY THAT HE AND JARED KUSHNER HAVE ALREADY BEGUN WORKING ON THE IMPLEMENTATION SIDE OF THE PEACE DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS, I MEAN, HAMAS, BUT, THE QUESTION TO YOU IS, DO YOU THINK IT WAS, WHY DO YOU THINK BENJAMIN NETANYAHU DID NOT GO TO SHARM EL-SHEIKH BEING INVITED TO DO SO?

>> I THINK IT WAS A HISTORIC ERROR THAT HE WASN'T THERE THIS IS THE EVE OF THE HOLIDAY AND IS FORBIDDEN TO TRAVEL, SO HE USE THAT AS THE EXCUSE AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM ALSO SAID THAT THE TURKISH PRESIDENT THREATENED TO WITHDRAW FROM IT IF HE SHOWED UP , WE DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNCOMFORTABLE FOR HIM TO BE THERE AND IT WAS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY, HAD BENJAMIN NETANYAHU BEEN READY TO CROSS THE BRIDGE AND RECOGNIZING THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A TWO STATE SOLUTION.

THAT MESSAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY STRONG BECAUSE EVERY LEADER WHO WAS THERE TODAY, I'M SURE, IS TELLING PRESIDENT TRUMP HE CAN'T TALK ABOUT PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND GAZA, YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE, WE'VE RECOGNIZE THE STATE OF PALESTINE, IT'S TIME FOR AMERICANS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TWO STATE SOLUTION IS WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS NOT GOING IS GOING TO DO THAT.

AND EVERYONE KNOWS THAT, UNLESS A MIRACLE HAPPENS AND TRUMP'S PRESSURE ON BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS PUSHING HIM IN THAT DIRECTION BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM VERY LIKELY AT THIS POINT.

>> IN THAT CASE, THERE'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF HOPE BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO HAS THE ONLY MAJOR LEVERAGE OVER ISRAEL INCLUDING THEIR PRIME MINISTER, SO SOME ARE CONCERNED -- >> NO, I DON'T AGREE , I THINK THERE IS REASON FOR HOPE BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S REASON FOR HOPE, FIRST OF ALL, THIS WAR IS OVER AND IT'S REALLY OVER, IT'S NOT GOING TO RENEW, AND HAMAS IS NOT GOING TO BE PLAYING THE MAJOR ROLE THAT PLAYED IN GAZA ANYMORE.

THEY WILL NOT BE THE GOVERNMENT AND THE QUESTION OF WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR ARMS WILL BE DEALT WITH BUT HAMAS DOESN'T REALLY HAVE AN EFFECTIVE ARMY ANYMORE, THEY CAN'T THREATEN ISRAEL ANYMORE, IF THERE ARE NO ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN GAZA, THE SHOOT AT.

AND THERE WILL BE THE OPTION OF SOME OF THE HAMAS COMMANDERS LEAVING GAZA WITH THE PROMISE OF AMNESTY THAT THE AMERICANS ARE PROVIDING, THE WIDER PICTURE OF DEALING WITH THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN QUESTION IS THERE AND IT'S IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE ISOLATION THAT ISRAEL HAS BEEN FEELING AS A RESULT OF THE WAR CRIMES WILL NOT DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT.

IF THERE IS A REFUSAL OF THE ISRAELIS TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARD SOME KIND OF REASONABLE PEACE PROCESS, ISRAEL WILL FEEL THAT ISOLATION MORE AND MORE AND THAT WILL IMPACT OUR ELECTIONS.

AND IF THE PALESTINIANS HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE, AND IF, BY SOME MIRACLE, THEY ELECT A LEADERSHIP WHICH REACHES OUT TO THE ISRAELI PEOPLE AND SAY, WE DON'T WANT TO FIGHT YOU ANYMORE, WE WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE, WE WILL HAVE A DYNAMIC CHANGE OF THE ELECTRIC -- ELECTORATE.

>> WHO DO YOU IDENTIFY AS THE LEADER ON THE PALESTINIAN SIDE HAVING WORKED SO HARD ON ALL OF THIS?

AND DO YOU THINK , WHO IS JAILED AND WASN'T ONE OF THOSE WHO WAS RELEASE, DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN, IS HE THE KIND OF POLITICAL LEADER YOU WOULD THINK AS AN ISRAELI, DESPITE WHAT HE WAS CONVICTED FOR, WOULD SERVE THIS PURPOSE AT THE MOMENT?

>> YEAH, I KNOW HIM VERY WELL, I KNOW HIM FROM 1996, I WORKED WITH HIM INTENSIVELY OVER A PERIOD OF YEARS IN BACK CHANNEL NEGOTIATIONS, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM TO HIS FAMILY AND HIS LAWYER, AND FOR A YEAR AND HALF BEFORE THE WAR, I CONDUCTED CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN HIM AND ONE OF THE HEADS, THEY EXCHANGED LETTERS FIVE TIMES BEFORE THE WAR BEGAN.

HIS LAST LETTER WAS A FOUR-PAGE LETTER, DETAILING HOW HE VIEWED THE ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN PEACE WITH A FRAMEWORK, TO PROVIDE ISRAEL AND PALESTINE WITH THE ECONOMIC AND SECURITY NEEDS THEY HAVE BUT HE'S BEEN IN PRISON FOR A LONG TIME OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, HE'S BEEN TORTURED, HE'S BEEN ABUSED, HE'S BEEN IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, HE'S BEEN STARVED AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT I WROTE TO WITKOFF DETAILING WHO HE IS AND THE BACKGROUND ABOUT HIS TRIAL, ABOUT WHAT MOST PALESTINIANS THINK ABOUT HIM.

I BROUGHT THE OPINION OF ABOUT 20 SENIOR ISRAELI OFFICIALS, NOT EVERYONE AGREED BUT THE MAJORITY WAS -- >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

>> I THINK THE ISRAELIS NEED TO ENGAGE HIM IN A POLITICAL DISCUSSION.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE ARE INTO PHASE 2, SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH .

>>> FINALLY, AS THE WORLD WATCHES THE EMOTIONAL REUNIONS OF ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN FAMILIES, MANY ARE PRAYING FOR A LASTING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST INCLUDING POPE LEO HIMSELF.

IN THIS ADDRESS IN ST.

PETER'S SQUARE OVER THE WEEKEND, THIS IS WHAT HE SAID.

>> IN RECENT DAYS, THE AGREEMENT TO BEGIN THE PEACE PROCESS HAS GIVEN A SPARK OF HOPE TO THE HOLY LAND.

I ENCOURAGE THE PARTIES INVOLVED TO CONTINUE COURAGEOUSLY ON A PATH TOWARDS A JUST AND LASTING PEACE.

RESPECTFUL OF THE LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS OF THE ISRAELI PEOPLE AND THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, TWO YEARS OF CONFLICT HAS LEFT DEATH AND DESTRUCTION EVERYWHERE ESPECIALLY IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO LOST THEIR CHILDREN, PARENTS, FRIENDS, EVERYTHING .

>> THE PONTIFF EXPRESSED HIS SORROW FOR RUSSIA'S CONTINUED AND STEPPED UP ATTACKS ON UKRAINE.

THAT'S IT FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

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THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOODBYE FROM LONDON.