01-14-25 YMSIt looks like Hamas may be very close to an agreement with Israel for a ceasefire AND an exchange of hostages. White House Correspondent JON DECKER is following the story and has the latest.

It looks like Hamas may be very close to an agreement with Israel for a ceasefire AND an exchange of hostages. White House Correspondent JON DECKER is following the story and has the latest. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on your morning show with Michael del Choono.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Let me introduce you to a Supreme Court bar attorney
in a white house. Correspond to John Decker. John, one
of the big stories waking up this morning looks like
Commas maybe close to an agreement with Israel for a
ceasefire and with it about three dozen hostages. How close
is this to being a reality?

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Well, it sounds like it's the closest that we've been
to this some kind of deal taking place in maybe
a year and a half. Remember it's October seventh of
twenty twenty three that those hostages were first taken by
the terrorist group Commas. They've been held in Gaza since
that time, and there have been talks that have really

(00:42):
stepped up over the past few weeks in Doha. Those
talks have involved both officials from the Biden administration as
well as the lead Middle East coordinator for the incoming
Trump administration, and there's an indication that perhaps by the
end of the week we could see the first stage

(01:03):
of that deal taking place.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
This is so reminiscent for people our age because of
the original Iranian hostage crisis, and we've all been thinking
about Jimmy Carter with his passing and funeral, and of
course his history played out n their their anticipation of
a very strong presidency in Ronald Reagan. The hostage is
released spitefully as soon as he took the oath of office.

(01:28):
Some of that kind of revisited in this although I'm
one of the first people to say, you know, while
that is of a political significance, not nearly a significance
as seeing a ceasefire and seeing these innocent people released,
the question is how many are still alive? And is
there is there a very dozen question.

Speaker 1 (01:48):
Yeah, that's a very good question. I think that's been
a difficulty. Uh, every time there has been there have
been efforts to release hostages. Having a deal is just
determining how many of the hostages are are still a lot,
including American hostages. There are seven Americans who are taken
hostage back on October the seventh of twenty twenty three.

(02:09):
How many of those individuals are still living? And you know,
as part of the negotiation, I would imagine you need
to have proof of life, you know, to know what
you're dealing with, to know what you're getting. If you
are the Israelis if you are the Americans, and then
you could have the first stage of a deal, and
that is the cessation of hostilities in Gaza at least

(02:31):
for a period of time so that the rest of
the deal can be worked out the release of the
remaining hostages. So pretty remarkable. I think you're right there.
There are some reminders of what happened back in nineteen
eighty one when there was the release of fifty two
American hostages. In that particular instance, Michael, as you know,

(02:54):
all fifty two Americans were alive when they were ultimately
handed over to the American side and then released.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
I'm not making light of it, but this is just
the dance that radical Islamic groups carry out these kinds
of terrorist attacks. They always take hostages. After a while,
they get pounded, they release, they use the hostages, and
they release the hostage to end it, and then they
they're dampened down for a decade or so and then
they come back. This time it kind of lingered, which
made me think they didn't have the hostages to give

(03:23):
back for their exit play. Yeah, that's my greatest dealer.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
You know, I agree with you, Michael. You know, I'm
skeptical I'm cynical. I agree with you one hundred percent,
and we'll see you know. I feel so terribly for
any family that has been dealing with this for you know,
almost a full year and a half and having to
go through hopes, hopes being dashed, and hopefully that's not

(03:50):
another insulsive hopes being dashed once again.

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Here's praying we're wrong and they will be released and
we will have peace. John Decker, White House Correspondent. Great
reporting as always, little miss a lot, miss a lot,
and we'll miss you.

Speaker 1 (04:02):
It's your morning show with Michael del Churno