Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism Sunday {that a} deal between Hamas and Israel to finish the struggle in Gaza may lastly be reached, saying it’s “the closest we’ve come to getting all the hostages launched.”
However the high U.S. diplomat additionally cautioned that nothing is a executed deal, saying there are key parts of the peace plan put forth by President Donald Trump that also have to be labored out, caveating, “there’s a number of pitfalls alongside the way in which.”
“That is the closest we have come to getting all the hostages launched, each single one, all 48 together with the 28 who’re deceased,” Rubio informed ABC Information’ “This Week” co-anchor Martha Raddatz. “However there’s a number of pitfalls alongside the way in which. There’s some work to be executed right here.”
Rubio stated that “a number of the technical discuss” was already ongoing, and careworn that the U.S. believes velocity is paramount, particularly for what he described as the primary section of this deal: returning the hostages to Israel.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio seems on ABC Information’ “This Week” on Oct. 5, 2025.
ABC Information
“[President Trump] needs to see it occur rapidly. This isn’t one thing that may drag out. We can’t be right here three weeks from now, nonetheless discussing, you realize, the logistics of how hostages are going to be launched. That has to occur in a short time to ensure that the remainder of this deal to achieve momentum,” Rubio stated.
He continued, “Our hope is that by the point our staff will get to Cairo, 90% of this has been labored out, and we’re simply kind of finalizing the logistical piece. We might prefer to see it executed yesterday.”
Mediators are set to start additional negotiations between Israel and Hamas on Monday in Egypt, the nation’s overseas ministry stated. U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, shall be a part of the U.S. staff taking part within the talks.
Keith Siegel, an American-Israeli who was held hostage by Hamas for 484 days and launched Feb. 1, informed Raddatz in a separate interview on “This Week” that he’s additionally optimistic.
“I am all the time optimistic, however till all of my 4 pals that I met in captivity … and all the 48 hostages, till they’re all launched and again residence with their households, I nonetheless proceed my mission to advocate for his or her launch,” he stated.
“They’re in a life-threatening scenario. They’re struggling for nearly two years, and we should carry them again,” Siegel added.
Listed below are extra highlights from Rubio’s interview:
Rubio outlines two “phases” of hostage, peace deal
Section primary, which Hamas has accepted, is the president’s framework for launch. The hostages are launched and Israel pulls again to what’s been known as the yellow line, roughly the place they had been in August of final yr. And that alternate occurs. And that is the primary section of those talks, as a result of it’s a must to work via the logistics of that. …
The second section of this dialog, and they are often occurring concurrently, is what occurs after that. What occurs after Israel pulls again to this line? What occurs with this worldwide group that is going to return in and create a governance construction, a global governance construction led by technocrats, Palestinian technocrats, and many others.? That is the half that I believe goes to be a little bit more durable to work via, however that is what is going on to offer permanency to the tip of the battle. So we’re centered on these two phases.
On circumstances wanted to safe hostage launch
Rubio: You’ll be able to’t have an alternate of hostages, you’ll be able to’t, you realize, clearly carry them out if bombs are going off and energetic fight is going on. And happily, as you noticed, the Israelis have introduced that they’ve now suspended all offensive operations within the area, aside from like, addressing an imminent menace. You understand, somebody’s coming in the direction of them with what they assume is perhaps a suicide vest —
Raddatz: There have been bombings final evening.
Rubio: — Deal with that.
Raddatz: There have been bombings final evening in Gaza Metropolis
Rubio: Effectively, then now we have to look into that — yeah — nicely, once more, now we have to look [at] precisely what these operations had been. However in the end, sure, you can’t have an alternate and if there’s energetic fight ongoing, you simply cannot do it. I imply, for the protection of the hostages and for the Crimson Cross or whoever it’s that is going to go in there and be part of this alternate. It’s a must to set the circumstances. The Israelis have stated that they’d solely cope with imminent threats. So we’ll look into any of that as a result of that is going to be a key part. Clearly, now we have to ensure Hamas can be doing their half on this regard. However, there are a number of alternatives right here for whoever needs to sabotage it to take action. And that features Hamas by the way in which.
On Hamas not but agreeing to disarm
Raddatz: President Trump additionally stated that Hamas can’t pose a menace once more. They haven’t talked about a part of this deal, which is disarming.
Rubio: Yeah. Look, that is going to be a key part of that second section we simply mentioned. So long as — so long as there is a menace emanating from Gaza towards Israel safety, be it Hamas or some successor group, so long as there are folks, organizations within Gaza who possess rockets, construct tunnels, wish to kidnap, homicide and rape, Israeli residents and assault Israel, there is not going to be peace. …
If there’s a menace emanating from Gaza, you are not going to have peace right here that is sustainable. In order that has to occur, that demobilization has to occur. And clearly, Hamas is a corporation that we don’t consider will be part of that due to their historical past — their very function for existence is to threaten the Israeli state. In order that’ll need to be addressed within the second section. And it’ll be a tricky piece of it, little doubt about it. But when we actually need enduring peace, anybody who’s in favor of putting up with peace must be in favor of demobilization of Hamas or any different armed terrorist group that seeks to function from Gaza.
On any potential stalling by Hamas
I’d say all of us need to be clear eyed about this, proper? There are circumstances that need to be met right here. If two weeks from now, every week from now, no matter, it is clear that the hostages aren’t going to be launched and so they’re taking part in video games, then I believe the president acknowledged what our place goes to be. …Nobody right here is claiming that is executed. What we’re claiming is that now we have moved a — so we’re in a a lot better place at the moment than we had been seven days in the past. Lots may occur flawed right here, however a lot may occur proper if we are able to get this executed and we’re very devoted to creating that occur. … I am optimistic it can occur, nevertheless it will not be simple.
