on the hostage situation would be struck. com plete complete elimination of hamas and ensure a new threat to the state of israel from gaza, and again we heard from the israeli prime minister earlier. translation: prime minister earlier. tuna/mom- prime minister earlier. translation: ., ., ., ., translation: we are at war and we will continue _ translation: we are at war and we will continue the _ translation: we are at war and we will continue the war. - translation: we are at war and we will continue the war. we will continue the war until we have achieved all of our goals, to destroy hamas, to bring back the hostages and the missing and to ensure that gaza poses no threat to israel. our senior international correspondent orla guerin has more on the hostages who may be released and their families who hope the deal means their return. after six long weeks, there is hope. here are some of those who could soon be coming home. oriya is four and loves football and ice cream. and kfir is just ten months old and recently started crawling. he is always smiling, relatives say. in tel aviv tonight, campaigners standing together as israel's government debated the deal. # just come home... many here would pay any price. the fear is some hostages are already dead. it has been a very long wait, but there is a sense of hope here now. hostages are expected to be released in phases over a number of days, but the families and supporters gathered here know that most of those being held in gaza will not be included in this deal. chen almog is being held with three of her children, including her two young sons. her husband and eldest daughter were killed by hamas. her brother, omri, hopes to get his relatives back soon. he's been counting the dark days. the bad and the pain is behind. we are going to live with this pain forever but the good things in front of us and they will come. what is the first thing you would like to do when you are all together? first to tell them i'm sorry because it's sad and it's a shame what happened. then that i love them. you can imagine hugs for so many days so now, when the time comes, we are going to do it. in return, gaza will get a respite from israel's assault, at least for a few days. israeli troops were still advancing today. food and fuel will be allowed in to the rubble and some palestinian women and children will be released from israeli jails. israel's prime minister got a warm reception from these troops today. benjamin netanyahu said releasing the hostages was a sacred duty but the war wouldn't stop after they were freed. tonight, there's an empty place at this table for every one that is being held in gaza. the deal looks set to be approved. if so, the first hostages could be released on thursday or friday. we are speaking about the current situation with my guests and great to see you both. lauren, just starting with you, if there are any further details, let us know, and what the white house reaction has been? throughout the da , reaction has been? throughout the day. us — reaction has been? throughout the day, us officials _ reaction has been? throughout the day, us officials have - reaction has been? throughout the day, us officials have been j the day, us officials have been speaking particularly with reporters behind—the—scenes and obviously this deal is incredibly welcomed in terms of incredibly welcomed in terms of in the us but also in israel and gaza as well and us officials have been emphasising how much the us played a part in the deal. we do know they were negotiating as well with qatar in trying to make this deal happen and community internally talking to the israelis about what they wanted as part of the deal. we do know that president biden was also incredibly involved personally incredibly involved personally in talking to the qatar officials in trying to make this deal happen for weeks now. as we know, there had been hope and then the hope was lost and then finally the deal was announced tonight by hamas and israel. ., ., , ., announced tonight by hamas and israel. ., ., , , israel. coming to you, because ou israel. coming to you, because you study _ israel. coming to you, because you study race. _ israel. coming to you, because you study race, ethnicity, - you study race, ethnicity, gender, and socialjustice and we know the hostages release will include children, mothers, how welcome is this news for those hostages?— those hostages? absolutely, this is great _ those hostages? absolutely, this is great news _ those hostages? absolutely, this is great news for - this is great news for everybody. we can see that in exchange _ everybody. we can see that in exchange for the women and children. _ exchange for the women and children, it is interesting because _ children, it is interesting because there is a huge emphasis on women and children in this_ emphasis on women and children in this case — emphasis on women and children in this case because they are usually— in this case because they are usually the vulnerable and the ones _ usually the vulnerable and the ones who— usually the vulnerable and the ones who are not, especially in the case — ones who are not, especially in the case of— ones who are not, especially in the case of palestinian women, they— the case of palestinian women, they are — the case of palestinian women, they are not involved in combat many _ they are not involved in combat many times. on the israeli side we know— many times. on the israeli side we know that women get drafted to the _ we know that women get drafted to the military but we can see that— to the military but we can see that hamas and active military people — that hamas and active military people will not be part of the deat — people will not be part of the deal. they will not be released.— deal. they will not be released. ., ., ., released. laura, coming back to ou, we released. laura, coming back to you. we spoke _ released. laura, coming back to you. we spoke to _ released. laura, coming back to you, we spoke to an _ released. laura, coming back to you, we spoke to an analyst - you, we spoke to an analyst earlier saying the release of women and children being held hostage may have been the easier negotiation. what you think this means for the remaining hostages who are still gaza? i remaining hostages who are still gaza?— remaining hostages who are still gaza? i think we have to see at first — still gaza? i think we have to see at first how _ still gaza? i think we have to see at first how it _ still gaza? i think we have to see at first how it plays - still gaza? i think we have to see at first how it plays out l see at first how it plays out after the four—day pause. we know that as part of the deal that israel has agreed to extend the pause for each ten hostages released. we have to keepin hostages released. we have to keep in mind that hamas is not the only group holding hostages in gaza at the moment. we know there are several with palestinian islamichhad and perhaps otherfactions palestinian islamichhad and perhaps other factions or groups within gaza and for those individuals, we have to see how it plays out and we do know that these groups have been talking at least a little bit about the deal as it continued to move forward. i do think there is a fear, particularly in israel among families, we have seen expressed today among some families that once this pause is over, and the number of hostages are released, there is a fear that perhaps it will not be another deal of this kind. i think that is something we will continue to watch. how many more then the at least 50 that was agreed upon in the deal will be released and also how long the pause will extend and then we will continue to see negotiations, i am sure, or a push for negotiations to continue over the remaining hostages because we do know that israel's stated goal is not a need to destroy hamas but to bring all of the hostages home. �* ., ., home. and other part of the agreement _ home. and other part of the agreement is _ home. and other part of the agreement is getting - home. and other part of the agreement is getting critical aid into the gaza strip. how important would that be over the next four days? that important would that be over the next four days?— the next four days? that is auoin the next four days? that is going to — the next four days? that is going to be _ the next four days? that is going to be very _ the next four days? that is going to be very important| the next four days? that is i going to be very important as we have — going to be very important as we have seen the un has called gaza _ we have seen the un has called gaza a — we have seen the un has called gaza a graveyard for children. especially referring to al schiffer hospital. i think we will see _ schiffer hospital. i think we will see a truck coming in and fuel_ will see a truck coming in and fuel coming in as well in that 4- five — fuel coming in as well in that 4— five days and that will not solve — 4— five days and that will not solve the _ 4— five days and that will not solve the humanitarian catastrophe — — al—shifa hospital, or help rebuild gaza but it— hospital, or help rebuild gaza but it may give some relief in hopes— but it may give some relief in hopes of— but it may give some relief in hopes of reaching a longer agreement, a longer and hopes of reaching a longer agreement, a longerand more permanent ceasefire. even though _ permanent ceasefire. even though we know that inside of israel. — though we know that inside of israel, there is some where they— israel, there is some where they do— israel, there is some where they do not want a permanent ceasefire. _ they do not want a permanent ceasefire, and we saw in the cabinet _ ceasefire, and we saw in the cabinet vote, that some parts of the — cabinet vote, that some parts of the cabinet of benjamin netanyahu voted against the agreement. that is an interesting thing to pay attention to, the internal dynamics within the government and israeli society and keep in mind — and israeli society and keep in mind the _ and israeli society and keep in mind the pressure was mounting on benjamin netanyahu to actually pause the bombings because families of the hostages were really worried about — hostages were really worried about their loved one being affected. there was also a debate _ affected. there was also a debate in government where one of the _ debate in government where one of the families of the hostages said stop killing arabs and protect— said stop killing arabs and protectjewish people! in that sense, — protectjewish people! in that sense, they are saying get the hostages — sense, they are saying get the hostages out in protect them and stop— hostages out in protect them and stop responding to the extremist element. they are worried _ extremist element. they are worried that first of all the ceasefire be permanent, so no getting — ceasefire be permanent, so no getting rid of hamas, or there is going — getting rid of hamas, or there is going to be some sort of negotiations where the gaza strip— negotiations where the gaza strip is— negotiations where the gaza strip is going to still remain under— strip is going to still remain under the palestinian authority control— under the palestinian authority control and we have not even talked — control and we have not even talked about what will happen after — talked about what will happen after this. ., ,., ., after this. lauren, i said over the next _ after this. lauren, i said over the next four— after this. lauren, i said over the next four days _ after this. lauren, i said over the next four days but - after this. lauren, i said over the next four days but of - the next four days but of course the four days will start once the agreement starts. just what was being described there, the pressure, that has been pressure on the biden administration and his government as well, to call for a lasting ceasefire? absolutely. and we have seen that pressure and sentiment even after the deal was announced and throughout the day, knowing that a deal was more or less imminent. i think a statement was released saying a statement was released saying a partial ceasefire was not enough but a full ceasefire is what a lot of folks want. and will continue to press the biden administration to press israel to ultimately enter the war. and make the ceasefire a permanent one. i don't necessarily think that pressure will let up the longer the war will let up the longer the war will go on because of the fighting does continue, it will be a lot more of what we have seen, which is thousands of deaths and pressure, and a humanitarian crisis that is really unprecedented in this part of the world, especially. lauren, following up on that, we have seen the us officials speaking about the hostages being released has also said the way the deal is structured is very much incentivising the release of everybody. that is something they told reporters on thursday. do you have an idea of what that means? i think this official is alluding to the fact that this pause can be extended, again, as israel has said in its own statement about the pauses, for every ten additional hostages that hamas releases, will be another day of pause. i think that is really what this us officials speaking to, that this deal is notjust speaking to, that this deal is not just a four—day speaking to, that this deal is notjust a four—day deal, it can be a much longer deal, depending on how many hostages are released. like i said earlier, it is notjust hamas who are holding a number of these hostages. we know dozens are also with other factions as well. we will have to see how that plays out as well. it would also see the release of a number of palestinian prisoners, as we heard. where do you think or what will you be looking for at what happens next over the coming days? i also, if you don't mind, i want to add — also, if you don't mind, i want to add a — also, if you don't mind, i want to add a bit— also, if you don't mind, i want to add a bit about the bite and pressure — to add a bit about the bite and pressure because what is important — — biden administration, i'm not sure if you saw— administration, i'm not sure if you saw the nbc poll with joe biden's— you saw the nbc poll with joe biden's saying he is, popularity, many disapprove of his response in gaza and we know— his response in gaza and we know there is domestic pressure to at— know there is domestic pressure to at least— know there is domestic pressure to at least have a humanitarian pause — to at least have a humanitarian pause. that is an important element _ pause. that is an important element we need to pay attention to. we are coming up, next _ attention to. we are coming up, next year— attention to. we are coming up, next year there are elections that— next year there are elections that that _ next year there are elections that that is important for the biden— that that is important for the biden administration. now we see his — biden administration. now we see his article in the 'washington post' talking about the two — 'washington post' talking about the two state solution. as for the two state solution. as for the release of hostages, i'm curious— the release of hostages, i'm curious where they will be released, who are they, i read that— released, who are they, i read that as — released, who are they, i read that as things are developing, they— that as things are developing, they will— that as things are developing, they will not release anybody who killed an israeli. there are many— who killed an israeli. there are many palestinians in administrative detention including children, meaning they— including children, meaning they could be imprisoned for no charge — they could be imprisoned for no charge. they can extend that every — charge. they can extend that every six _ charge. they can extend that every six months. i would look at who— every six months. i would look at who the _ every six months. i would look at who the people are that they are releasing and where they will he — are releasing and where they will be released to, and then what — will be released to, and then what happens next because we know _ what happens next because we know that in 2011 when they had a prisoner— know that in 2011 when they had a prisoner exchange to get the soldier— a prisoner exchange to get the soldier that hamas held in captivity for a while, the leader— captivity for a while, the leader of the operations was released then, so israel is also — released then, so israel is also worried about who they are releasing. — also worried about who they are releasing, so that is why this is only— releasing, so that is why this is only women and children because _ is only women and children because that contains fewer combatants. really interesting. thank _ combatants. really interesting. thank you forjoining us. i spoke earlier with retired lieutenant general mark schwarzer served as us security coordinator for israel and the palestinian authority and asked him about the complex logistics of this kind of agreement. i think the idf will set the security conditions for that to occur inside of gaza, from what i understand the international red cross will play a very important role, in terms of the transfer from all the hostages in the hands of hamas, the security forces inside gaza. so there is lots of opportunity for things to go amiss during the course of the transfers. maybe not specifically harm to the hostages butjust things to potentially unravel, and that is probably a concern being shared by the israeli officials and discussions in the knesset this evening, but i think overall it is certainly doable, but i think cautious optimism is the right approach at this point, given what has unravelled since the conflict started, and what we thought were agreements that were going to occur earlier on that didn't come to fruition.— to occur earlier on that didn't come to fruition. right, we saw the israeli _ come to fruition. right, we saw the israeli prime _ come to fruition. right, we saw the israeli prime ministers - the israeli prime ministers also say, make no mistake. as soon as this agreement ends, the fighting will start again, knowing that there are remaining hostages in gaza, is that the right approach? you know, that the right approach? you know. the — that the right approach? you know, the prime _ that the right approach? gm. know, the prime minister has said the only thing that hamas understands is the pressure that has put on them through combat operations. so they cannot negotiate from a position of strength but a position of strength but a position of strength but a position of weakness. i am not surprised if that is his intent, it has been the intent all along, and it has been pretty consistent at least with what our government has set too, that they don't believe in a ceasefire set —— passe. we are now seeing two senators in the us calling for a ceasefire including the release of all hostages, getting a massive influx of humanitarian aid in. also hamas laying down arms. do you think the us should be pushing israel for a cessation of facilities? i don't believe so. i think, again, the strategic objective israel has laid out is pragmatic, extremely difficult but pragmatic. hamas cannot be allowed to continue to dominating the palestinian people inside gaza. they cannot be seen as the governing body of gaza beyond its current conflict. if i could jump in, you said that you think israel's operation is pragmatic, its goal. at the same time, it isn't clear what the strategic objective is here other than eradicating hamas? we know there has been a massi