Jordana Miller, ABC News Correspondent Interview

There's a movement to revive the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas. Five journalists lost their lives due to an Israeli air strike in Gaza. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now let's get to Jordanah Miller, ABC News correspondent. She
is in Jerusalem, and let's start with I think it's
big news. Jordana can tell us there seems to be
some movement in possible ceasefire talks.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Is that right? Well, I think what's happening behind the
scenes is that the United States cutter in Egypt. Right,
the mediators for these ceasefire deals are back at it
and trying to get Israel and Hamas to return to
the negotiating table. So today, for example, the Egyptians are

(00:34):
hosting a high level delegation of Hamas to discuss getting
back to a deal. We're not sure if it's a
partial deal or a comprehensive deal. We know that the
US and Israel said that it's time to pivot to
a comprehensive deal. But again, you know, time is of

(00:56):
the essence, and a comprehensive deal will probably take longer
to negotiate at this point. But you know, the good news,
I think, Larry, is that there seems to be an
effort to get again Israel and Hamas back to the table.
Trump's President Trump's envoy Steve Whitcoff, met with the head

(01:19):
of Katar over the weekend. That's another good sign. And
you know, President Trump and Natanielle had a phone conversation
that's you know, about what's happening. So you know, I
think we're gonna have to wait and see. But this
is often the first step of a long process rate

(01:42):
until we get to a deal. Having said that, it's
better that this is actually going on rather than just
a focus on extending the military operation.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
Right, because it surprised me when I heard about it,
because the way that Benjamin n Yahoo is talking, it
seemed like the ceasefires were never going to happen and
he was going to move forward. He wanted to do
this all along, and he's finally going to just get
rid of a mas. There would have to be a
lot of pressure on him. Would there not be for

(02:13):
him to change his mind on that at this point?

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Well, you know, the Israeli Prime Minister is a master
at communicating and being very persuasive with his words. He's
an amazing or aetician if you will, or you know,
and I think he's wisely kind of and if you

(02:38):
look at go back and listen to him, he's left
the door open to return to ceasefire negotiations. Right, he
is saying, you know, he has a carrot and a stick,
and the carrot, I'm sorry. The stick is we're going
to take over the entire Gaza strip and then his
messages hamas feel really regretted. You'll lose the entire strip

(03:02):
and it's going to be devastating for you, right, And
the carrot is, come negotiate now, and you know, maybe
you know it won't be such a disaster for you
in the bigger picture. You know, let's kind of deal.
So you know, that's not what Nataniel's far right base
like to hear, or the far right ministers in his government,

(03:24):
but he has I think wisely left the option open
for a deal. And I think if that were not
the case, we wouldn't, you know, we wouldn't see President
Trump's envoy Wikoff, who was critical to the last deal,
back back at it. You know, I think there's going
to be a pause now while everyone you know, turns

(03:46):
to focus on Russia and Ukraine. But these this attempt
to move the ball forward, you know, in negotiations, I
think is going to continue.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
Well, maybe I haven't given Benjamin Ntyeho enough credit, so
you're saying that this entire talk about taking all of
Gaza and going after Hamas was a head fake just
to get Hamasa flachs.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
I think it's right. So I think it's it's you know,
in Hebrew we say gumziv is it? I think it's
both right. He's going to move the military operation forward gradually,
and because it's gradual, that will also give him the
opportunity to look again at a ceasefire deal. Right, So

(04:32):
it's both things are happening at the same time. And
the threat to take over all of Gaza and green
lighting the Gaza City Park I think was always meant
to be also a you know, a threat and leverage
and an attempt to bring Hamas back to the table.
You know, whether or not it will work is another question.

(04:52):
Will Natagniel find himself in two months in a major
escalation with you know, calling up tens of thousands of
true to move on Gaza City because Hamas has just
weighted out the clock and they haven't really moved.

Speaker 1 (05:08):
Al Jazeera, the International Arab News service, says that Israel
purposely killed five journalists from Al Jazeera, and I guess
Israel's not denying that.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
Well. Israel says that they targeted one of those Al
Jazeera journalists. They accuse Anas al Shariff of being a
member of Hamas, not just a member, but leading one
of the cells that was responsible for firing rockets on
Israeli civilians and also attacks on soldiers. They put out

(05:48):
several documents purporting to show al Sharif's membership in Hamas.
He's on the pay roll right, And we also saw
the Israeli army put out several pictures of al Sharif
with Hamas leaders, including you know, getting a big bear
hug from jaj Sinoir that's the leader right of Hamas,

(06:12):
who masterminded the October seventh attack. So these Reeli say
he was a member of Hamas and that's why they
took him out the others that died with him. You know.
That of course, is like we've seen throughout this war.
There's always been you know, heavy collateral damage in some
of these Israeli strikes, and you know, the Israelis didn't

(06:36):
comment on the other journalists killed that were near him.

Speaker 1 (06:39):
Jordana Miller, ABC News correspondent in Jerusalem. Thanks so much, Jordana,
talk to you soon.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
Thanks