McGurk recalls hostage deals And assesses Iran leverage

Jan 15, 2025

Baier opens with Waltz's anniversary claim that all living hostages and remains are home, then interviews Brett McGurk about Brink. McGurk describes late-2024 conditions and a Biden–Trump team partnership through Kushner, Waltz and Witkoff, culminating in the January 2025 Gaza agreement. Baier reads the book's attributed Witkoff commitment; McGurk recounts the final Doha/Jerusalem coordination. McGurk separately recalls the November 2023 truce, describing an eight-day pause and about 100 releases, and says Hamas wanted to skip missing younger women in favor of older men. He attributes the breakdown to Hamas and recalls Romi, Doron and Emily returning the day before the inauguration after another 14 months. In the final, distinct Iran answer, he says the current blockade supplies unusual economic leverage but turning it into a deal will be difficult and he hopes it succeeds. These retrospective explanations and present assessments remain attributed.

In his October 2026 retrospective, Brett McGurk describes late-2024 openings and cooperation between Biden's outgoing team and Trump's incoming team culminating in the January 2025 Gaza ceasefire and hostage agreement. He recalls outreach through Kushner, regular work with Waltz and Witkoff and coordinated final talks in Doha and Jerusalem to bridge two remaining issues. His explanation of the partnership's importance is attributed.