1 00:00:01,133 --> 00:00:03,166 GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "NewsHour." 2 00:00:03,166 --> 00:00:06,700 After more than six weeks of heavy fighting, a pause in the battle between Israel and Hamas 3 00:00:08,100 --> 00:00:10,800 in Gaza will have to wait at least one more day. 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:15,666 Israeli officials tell "PBS NewsHour" there will be no hostages released or pause in its 5 00:00:15,666 --> 00:00:18,666 military campaign until at least Friday. 6 00:00:18,666 --> 00:00:23,500 The deal would lead to the release of at least 50 women and children held hostage by Hamas 7 00:00:23,500 --> 00:00:26,900 and 150 Palestinians detained by Israel. 8 00:00:26,900 --> 00:00:28,900 Nick Schifrin has the latest. 9 00:00:28,900 --> 00:00:33,900 NICK SCHIFRIN: In the hours leading up to temporary peace, there's intensified war. 10 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:41,300 Israeli jets bombed several targets across Gaza today, including Khan Yunis in the south, 11 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:44,933 where many from Northern Gaza had fled for safety. 12 00:00:44,933 --> 00:00:48,733 When the bombing began, some were praying in a mosque, including Abu Ahmed Al-Agha. 13 00:00:48,733 --> 00:00:52,900 ABU AHMED AL-AGHA, Gaza (through translator): This is an entirely residential area. 14 00:00:52,900 --> 00:00:54,933 They bombed it completely. 15 00:00:54,933 --> 00:00:59,233 The ones who were in these homes were children, women and young people and those that came 16 00:00:59,233 --> 00:01:01,333 here to find safety. 17 00:01:01,333 --> 00:01:05,600 NICK SCHIFRIN: In Northern Gaza, Israeli soldiers fought in alleyways and inside buildings. 18 00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:14,333 This is fighting on Hamas' home turf inside the residential neighborhoods they use as 19 00:01:14,333 --> 00:01:16,366 bases. 20 00:01:16,366 --> 00:01:20,333 The army released video of what it called an operation on a Hamas outpost in a school 21 00:01:21,900 --> 00:01:25,200 filled with rocket launchers, tunnel shafts and hundreds of rockets. 22 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,400 MAN: Now we are in the tunnel just below the... 23 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,733 NICK SCHIFRIN: And the IDF escorted journalists through what Israel calls extensive tunnels 24 00:01:33,733 --> 00:01:38,733 underneath Gaza's Shifa Hospital that Hamas used to move and fight. 25 00:01:40,733 --> 00:01:44,000 All of this fighting will pause no earlier than Friday for carefully choreographed hostage 26 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:46,300 and prisoner releases. 27 00:01:46,300 --> 00:01:50,800 Hamas promises to release a dozen women and children every day for four to five days for 28 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:52,833 a total of 50. 29 00:01:52,833 --> 00:01:56,800 And for each additional 10 women and children that Hamas releases, Israel would hold fire 30 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,400 for an additional day. 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,866 Israel promises to release about 35 Palestinians currently in detention every day for 150 total. 32 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:09,266 A senior administration official said this round was supposed to include all 90 kidnapped 33 00:02:11,266 --> 00:02:15,366 children and women, but Hamas could only deliver 50, in part because it's not holding all of 34 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,633 them, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told CBS Mornings today. 35 00:02:19,633 --> 00:02:23,000 JAKE SULLIVAN, U.S. National Security Adviser: We do assess that other militant groups, even 36 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,500 potentially criminal organizations, are holding some of the hostages and that Hamas is working 37 00:02:27,500 --> 00:02:30,433 to try to ensure that it can deliver on its side of the bargain. 38 00:02:30,433 --> 00:02:35,000 NICK SCHIFRIN: In Israel, there remains a tension, the desire to see through the military 39 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:40,000 operation and its goal of Hamas' complete destruction and fulfilling the Jewish saying, 40 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,366 saving one life is like saving an entire world. 41 00:02:44,366 --> 00:02:49,366 RUEBENA GREENBLAT, Israel: Whatever deal they will come to, whatever number of people will 42 00:02:51,900 --> 00:02:55,633 come back, we are agreeing to everything. 43 00:02:55,633 --> 00:03:00,633 Just, we need all the people back, children, mothers, elder, soldiers, everybody, everybody. 44 00:03:02,566 --> 00:03:07,566 NICK SCHIFRIN: But some politicians opposed holding fire at all, and some Israelis who've 45 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:12,533 lost family in previous terrorist attacks consider released Palestinian prisoners a 46 00:03:12,533 --> 00:03:14,566 threat. 47 00:03:14,566 --> 00:03:16,466 MEIR SCHIJVESCHUURDER, Lost Family Members in Bus Bombing (through translator): What 48 00:03:16,466 --> 00:03:19,733 comes up in today's apparent deal is that about 200 terrorists will be released back 49 00:03:19,733 --> 00:03:21,766 to Jerusalem. 50 00:03:21,766 --> 00:03:24,866 This means that they will roam the streets and intensify the terror to levels that I 51 00:03:24,866 --> 00:03:26,466 don't know we can tolerate. 52 00:03:26,466 --> 00:03:29,766 NICK SCHIFRIN: Today, the Israeli war cabinet defended the deal. 53 00:03:29,766 --> 00:03:33,566 BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Israeli Prime Minister (through translator): I want to be clear. 54 00:03:33,566 --> 00:03:37,200 The war is continuing. 55 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,033 We will continue until we achieve all our goals. 56 00:03:40,033 --> 00:03:45,033 NICK SCHIFRIN: In the occupied West Bank, the Abu Maria family is hoping their teenage 57 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:48,566 son, Ube (ph), is on the list of released Palestinian prisoners. 58 00:03:48,566 --> 00:03:52,800 FIDA ABU MARIA, Mother of Prisoner (through translator): I wish all the prisoners would 59 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:57,233 be released, like those sentenced for high crimes and women and children. 60 00:03:57,233 --> 00:04:02,200 NICK SCHIFRIN: The deal will also allow 300 humanitarian aid trucks to enter Gaza each 61 00:04:03,333 --> 00:04:06,666 day, more than three times the current limit. 62 00:04:06,666 --> 00:04:11,433 Inside Gaza, for the displaced packed into overwhelmed shelters, that assistance and 63 00:04:11,433 --> 00:04:14,033 a pause in the fighting cannot come soon enough. 64 00:04:14,033 --> 00:04:17,433 SAMEEH AL KAFARNA, Displaced From Beit Hanoun (through translator): We want many humanitarian 65 00:04:17,433 --> 00:04:18,466 cease-fires. 66 00:04:18,466 --> 00:04:20,500 We want a full cease-fire. 67 00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:24,766 NICK SCHIFRIN: For both sides, this was a day of aspiration, after 47 days of brutal 68 00:04:25,666 --> 00:04:29,066 war, 47 days of waiting. 69 00:04:29,066 --> 00:04:32,166 For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Nick Schifrin. 70 00:04:32,166 --> 00:04:37,033 GEOFF BENNETT: The Biden White House played a key role in negotiating the hostage deal. 71 00:04:37,033 --> 00:04:42,033 I spoke with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby a short time ago. 72 00:04:43,433 --> 00:04:45,500 Admiral John Kirby, welcome back to the "NewsHour." 73 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:46,300 JOHN KIRBY, NSC Coordinator For Strategic Communications: Thank you so much for having 74 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:48,433 me. 75 00:04:48,433 --> 00:04:51,100 GEOFF BENNETT: What more can you tell us about who will be included in this hostage release? 76 00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:54,000 And how many Americans are expected to be in this group? 77 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:58,633 JOHN KIRBY: We don't know exactly who's going to be in this first increment that will come 78 00:04:58,633 --> 00:05:00,666 out. 79 00:05:00,666 --> 00:05:02,200 And it's important for people to remember that not all 50 will come out together. 80 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:05,366 They will come back in smaller groups over the next few days. 81 00:05:05,366 --> 00:05:10,366 We know that there are three Americans that we expect to be in this installment of 50, 82 00:05:12,700 --> 00:05:13,966 the whole group of 50. 83 00:05:13,966 --> 00:05:16,766 We just don't know when they will be coming out. 84 00:05:16,766 --> 00:05:20,100 And we certainly hope that they will be in at least one increment. 85 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:25,100 There are two American women and then there's young 4-year-old Abigail Mor Idan, who actually 86 00:05:26,566 --> 00:05:29,833 - - actually, she turns 4 on Friday, as a matter of fact. 87 00:05:29,833 --> 00:05:31,833 That's her birthday. 88 00:05:31,833 --> 00:05:35,900 So we have every expectation that, because they certainly qualify, this group of hostages 89 00:05:37,966 --> 00:05:41,600 are women and children, that those two American women and young Abigail will be among them. 90 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:43,633 That's our hope. 91 00:05:43,633 --> 00:05:46,800 GEOFF BENNETT: There are nine American citizens and one green card holder whom are said to 92 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,066 be missing. 93 00:05:48,066 --> 00:05:50,200 What more does the U.S. know about their status? 94 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:52,666 JOHN KIRBY: We don't know a whole heck of a lot. 95 00:05:52,666 --> 00:05:57,033 There are 10 total that we are tracking U.S. citizens. 96 00:05:57,033 --> 00:06:02,033 And we don't know for sure how many are all in that hostage pool, but we believe there 97 00:06:03,933 --> 00:06:08,000 are more Americans that are being held hostage, somewhere up to about 10 total. 98 00:06:09,433 --> 00:06:11,466 And, again, we just don't know exactly where they are. 99 00:06:11,466 --> 00:06:14,600 We don't have information about what condition they're in. 100 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,666 We're doing the best we can to get as much information as possible. 101 00:06:17,666 --> 00:06:22,266 But, again, the focus on this first negotiation will be on women and children. 102 00:06:22,266 --> 00:06:25,966 GEOFF BENNETT: Well, as you mentioned, the hostages are expected to be released over 103 00:06:25,966 --> 00:06:27,933 a period of four days. 104 00:06:27,933 --> 00:06:31,566 Take us through the choreography, the logistics of how that will play out. 105 00:06:31,566 --> 00:06:36,566 JOHN KIRBY: So, sometime over the next 24 hours or so, hopefully sooner than that, we 106 00:06:37,733 --> 00:06:40,200 will start to see the first hostages move. 107 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:45,200 And that will be commensurate with a humanitarian pause, a pause in the fighting by both sides, 108 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,600 to allow for the safe passage of those hostages. 109 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:54,800 And when that safe passage -- it'll be announced by Qatar. 110 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,900 When that safe passage -- or -- I'm sorry - - when that humanitarian pause starts, then 111 00:06:58,900 --> 00:07:03,266 we can expect the hostages will start to move and we will be able to start moving more trucks 112 00:07:03,266 --> 00:07:06,833 of aid in over the course of those four days. 113 00:07:06,833 --> 00:07:11,833 We're looking at hopefully several hundred trucks of food, water, medicine and fuel to 114 00:07:13,300 --> 00:07:15,833 be included in the humanitarian assistance over those four days. 115 00:07:15,833 --> 00:07:20,833 GEOFF BENNETT: Israel has said that, for every 10 additional hostages that are released, 116 00:07:22,166 --> 00:07:25,233 Israel would pause the fighting for another 24 hours. 117 00:07:25,233 --> 00:07:28,000 Could this pause then be extended indefinitely? 118 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,133 Is that something that the U.S. wants? 119 00:07:30,133 --> 00:07:34,933 JOHN KIRBY: Well, the pause could be extended in accordance with those parameters that Israel 120 00:07:37,700 --> 00:07:39,833 laid out. 121 00:07:39,833 --> 00:07:43,833 I don't know that we could say indefinitely, but, certainly, if Hamas is willing to release 122 00:07:45,833 --> 00:07:49,033 more hostages, it certainly would appear that Israel would be willing to keep the pause 123 00:07:49,033 --> 00:07:50,966 in place. 124 00:07:50,966 --> 00:07:54,733 That would be a good thing if we could get even more hostages out than these 50-plus 125 00:07:54,733 --> 00:07:56,766 women and children. 126 00:07:56,766 --> 00:07:59,100 We want to get all those hostages released to their families, where they belong. 127 00:07:59,100 --> 00:08:01,200 They shouldn't have been held hostages in the first place. 128 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:03,233 But we have to see. 129 00:08:03,233 --> 00:08:05,800 I got to tell you, right now, the focus is on implementing the deal before us, which 130 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:10,800 is for the four days, the 50-plus women and children, and getting that additional humanitarian 131 00:08:11,733 --> 00:08:13,200 assistance in. 132 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:15,800 GEOFF BENNETT: Well, let's talk more about that. 133 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:18,933 What is the plan to surge badly needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and into the hands of innocent 134 00:08:20,100 --> 00:08:22,200 civilians, the folks who need it the most? 135 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:26,600 JOHN KIRBY: We're working with the U.N., we're working with relief agencies, we're working 136 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,600 with the government of Egypt and, of course, Israel to stack up as many trucks loaded as 137 00:08:33,966 --> 00:08:37,066 heavily as they can be with food, water, medicine, and now again fuel, which the Israelis have 138 00:08:37,066 --> 00:08:42,066 committed to, allowing to go in tens of thousands of gallons per day over the course of this 139 00:08:42,533 --> 00:08:44,533 pause. 140 00:08:44,533 --> 00:08:47,100 And we're getting them racked and stacked so that, if in fact we can get this pause 141 00:08:47,100 --> 00:08:51,300 in place -- and we're all obviously waiting with bated breath to see if it will get implemented 142 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:55,233 - - those trucks can be ready to roll through that Rafah Crossing. 143 00:08:55,233 --> 00:08:59,800 Before the war started, about 500 trucks a day were going into Gaza, not all through 144 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,966 Rafah, but about 500 trucks. 145 00:09:01,966 --> 00:09:06,966 And now it's a combat zone, so it's a little bit more difficult to get that level up there. 146 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:10,733 But we have thus far been able to get roughly about 100 a day. 147 00:09:10,733 --> 00:09:11,733 We fell short a few days. 148 00:09:11,733 --> 00:09:13,800 We have exceeded it a few days. 149 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:18,466 We think that this deal, if it's implemented by all sides, we could get several hundred 150 00:09:18,466 --> 00:09:20,600 trucks in over the course of the next few days. 151 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:25,600 GEOFF BENNETT: Are there concerns that Hamas will use this pause in fighting Gaza to regroup 152 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,900 and to reorient for the potential fight to come? 153 00:09:28,900 --> 00:09:30,933 JOHN KIRBY: That's always a concern. 154 00:09:30,933 --> 00:09:34,666 When you're dealing with a terrorist group like this, any pause in the fighting could 155 00:09:34,666 --> 00:09:39,300 allow them to regroup, refit, retrain, resource their troops. 156 00:09:39,300 --> 00:09:40,533 That's always going to be a concern. 157 00:09:40,533 --> 00:09:42,100 I know the Israelis are concerned about that. 158 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:44,100 They will certainly be watching for that. 159 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:48,233 And that's why this negotiation doesn't come without risk to the Israeli Defense Forces. 160 00:09:48,233 --> 00:09:53,033 There was certainly an aspect here of some moral courage by the war cabinet and President 161 00:09:53,033 --> 00:09:57,733 - - I'm sorry -- Prime Minister Netanyahu to allow for this pause, because that could be 162 00:09:57,733 --> 00:10:00,766 a concern there, that Hamas might use that time. 163 00:10:00,766 --> 00:10:04,533 That's one of the reasons why, quite frankly, we're not in favor of a permanent cease-fire, 164 00:10:04,533 --> 00:10:09,533 because that does benefit Hamas to a fare-thee-well, to allow them additional time and breathing 165 00:10:10,700 --> 00:10:13,066 space to prepare and plan for other attacks. 166 00:10:13,066 --> 00:10:18,033 GEOFF BENNETT: Admiral, does this deal, once it's implemented, does it provide a framework 167 00:10:18,033 --> 00:10:20,000 for future agreements, potentially? 168 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:21,900 JOHN KIRBY: It could. 169 00:10:21,900 --> 00:10:23,966 It certainly could. 170 00:10:23,966 --> 00:10:26,900 Again, we're focused on the deal in front of us, the one that we worked so hard. 171 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:30,433 The president was personally engaged in helping broker this deal. 172 00:10:30,433 --> 00:10:32,200 We want to see it implemented. 173 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:34,733 And now we're at that moment. 174 00:10:34,733 --> 00:10:39,333 So our focus is on the next few days and making sure that all sides meet their commitments. 175 00:10:39,333 --> 00:10:42,000 But could it open up other opportunities? 176 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,100 We certainly hope so, in terms of getting other hostages out and getting more humanitarian 177 00:10:46,100 --> 00:10:48,200 assistance in. 178 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,833 GEOFF BENNETT: Understanding that your focus is on the here and now, what's the plan for 179 00:10:51,833 --> 00:10:54,733 the day after, on day five, when this pause lifts? 180 00:10:54,733 --> 00:10:57,133 JOHN KIRBY: Well, again, we will have to see where we are. 181 00:10:57,133 --> 00:10:59,233 I wish I could answer that question. 182 00:10:59,233 --> 00:11:03,800 It's difficult for us to put ourselves five days into the future right now. 183 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,933 We want to see more hostages come out. 184 00:11:05,933 --> 00:11:10,933 And if, at the end of the four days, there's an opportunity and a willingness on both sides 185 00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:16,233 to extend the pause, to extend the agreement, to allow more hostages to get out, that would 186 00:11:17,066 --> 00:11:18,500 be a great thing. 187 00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:20,166 And we certainly would be in favor of that. 188 00:11:20,166 --> 00:11:23,200 But, again, I don't want to get ahead of where we are. 189 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,900 We really are in the very early stages here of implementation on this deal. 190 00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:30,866 And it's really important to all of us and I know it's important to all the families 191 00:11:30,866 --> 00:11:35,866 out there, the families of these hostages, that this deal get implemented, and get implemented well. 192 00:11:37,900 --> 00:11:40,066 GEOFF BENNETT: National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, thanks for your time, Admiral. 193 00:11:40,066 --> 00:11:41,366 We appreciate it. 194 00:11:41,366 --> 00:11:41,833 JOHN KIRBY: You bet. Good to be with you.