Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism Sunday {that a} deal between Hamas and Israel to finish the warfare 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 carried out deal, saying there are key parts of the peace plan put forth by President Donald Trump that also should be labored out, caveating, “there’s lots of pitfalls alongside the best way.”
“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 lots of pitfalls alongside the best way. There’s some work to be carried out right here.”
Rubio mentioned that “a number of the technical speak” was already ongoing, and harassed that the U.S. believes pace 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 understand, 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 realize momentum,” Rubio mentioned.
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 type of finalizing the logistical piece. We would prefer to see it carried out yesterday.”
Mediators are set to start additional negotiations between Israel and Hamas on Monday in Egypt, the nation’s overseas ministry mentioned. U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, can be a part of the U.S. staff collaborating 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 at all times optimistic, however till all of my 4 buddies that I met in captivity … and all the 48 hostages, till they’re all launched and again dwelling with their households, I nonetheless proceed my mission to advocate for his or her launch,” he mentioned.
“They’re in a life-threatening state of affairs. 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 referred to as the yellow line, roughly the place they had been in August of final 12 months. And that alternate occurs. And that is the primary section of those talks, as a result of you must work by means of 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 come back in and create a governance construction, a global governance construction led by technocrats, Palestinian technocrats, and many others.? That is the half that I feel goes to be a little bit harder to work by means of, however that is what is going on to offer permanency to the top of the battle. So we’re centered on these two phases.
On circumstances wanted to safe hostage launch
Rubio: You may’t have an alternate of hostages, you may’t, you understand, clearly carry them out if bombs are going off and lively fight is going on. And happily, as you noticed, the Israelis have introduced that they’ve now suspended all offensive operations within the area, apart from like, addressing an imminent menace. You already know, somebody’s coming in direction of them with what they assume is perhaps a suicide vest —
Raddatz: There have been bombings final evening.
Rubio: — Tackle that.
Raddatz: There have been bombings final evening in Gaza Metropolis
Rubio: Effectively, then now we have to look into that — yeah — properly, once more, now we have to look [at] precisely what these operations had been. However finally, sure, you can’t have an alternate and if there’s lively fight ongoing, you simply cannot do it. I imply, for the protection of the hostages and for the Pink Cross or whoever it’s that is going to go in there and be part of this alternate. You must set the circumstances. The Israelis have mentioned 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 element. Clearly, now we have to ensure Hamas can also be doing their half on this regard. However, there are lots of alternatives right here for whoever needs to sabotage it to take action. And that features Hamas by the best way.
On Hamas not but agreeing to disarm
Raddatz: President Trump additionally mentioned 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 element of that second section we simply mentioned. So long as — so long as there is a menace emanating from Gaza in opposition to Israel safety, be it Hamas or some successor group, so long as there are individuals, organizations inside Gaza who possess rockets, construct tunnels, need 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 company that we don’t imagine could be part of that due to their historical past — their very objective for existence is to threaten the Israeli state. In order that’ll must be addressed within the second section. And it should be a tricky piece of it, little question about it. But when we actually need enduring peace, anybody who’s in favor of putting up with peace needs to 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 might say all of us must be clear eyed about this, proper? There are circumstances that must be met right here. If two weeks from now, per week from now, no matter, it is clear that the hostages aren’t going to be launched they usually’re enjoying video games, then I feel the president said what our place goes to be. …Nobody right here is claiming that is carried out. What we’re claiming is that now we have moved a — so we’re in a a lot better place as we speak than we had been seven days in the past. Quite a bit may occur fallacious right here, however a lot may occur proper if we will get this carried out and we’re very devoted to creating that occur. … I am optimistic it’s going to occur, but it surely will not be straightforward.
