Bloomberg Talks - Special Coverage: Hamas Agrees To Release Israeli Hostages

Date: October 4, 2025
Host: Joe (Bloomberg)
Guests: Congressman Gregory Meeks, Eric Martin (Bloomberg Correspondent), Wendy Sherman (Former Deputy Secretary of State)

Episode Overview

This special episode covers breaking news: Hamas has agreed to release Israeli hostages, responding to President Trump's 20-point peace plan. The episode features instant analysis from U.S. lawmakers, foreign policy experts, and Bloomberg correspondents, focusing on the diplomatic breakthrough, regional ramifications, skepticism about implementation, and what this means for peace prospects in the Middle East.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News: Hostage Release and Trump's Peace Plan

• Announcement ([01:42])
  • Hamas states it agrees to "parts, at least, of President Trump's peace plan" and to "release all of the Israeli hostages".
  • President Trump responds by urging Israel to immediately stop its bombing of Gaza, expressing belief in Hamas's readiness for peace.

2. Diplomatic Context and Regional Involvement

• Congressman Gregory Meeks’s Perspective ([02:11], [02:55])
  • Thanks to regional contributors: Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan.
  • Affirms support for Trump’s 20-point proposal: "I agreed with [the proposal] as well as the regional partners... This is diplomacy. This is the way that I think that we ultimately will solve what's happening in the Middle East..." ([02:55])
  • Emphasizes the importance of negotiations, regional and international involvement (including Europeans and Pakistan), and support for the Abraham Accords.
  • “We’ve got to give diplomacy an opportunity to work... Israel should not continue bombing Gaza. I agree with the president on that.” ([02:55])

3. Scepticism and Details Needed

• On Ceasefire & Credibility ([04:00])
  • Host Joe raises concern about ceasefire failures on both sides.
  • Meeks: "Diplomacy needs more time than just to Sunday, that's for sure. I would think a week, a couple of weeks should be able to hash this thing out.” ([04:20])
  • Stresses need to get every detail right: "The devil is always in the details..." ([04:20])

4. Diplomacy versus Military Strength

• Strength vs. Diplomacy ([05:09])
  • Joe asks if this vindicates the use of strength for peace.
  • Meeks: "We know that just bombing your way out of this will not create a peaceful situation... Diplomacy is always much harder and takes generally longer than just bombing." ([05:30])

5. Practical Steps and Hard Work Ahead

• Goals Beyond Hostage Release ([06:20])
  • Meeks: "Hostages being released and humanitarian aid getting in. This is what we want... Trying to stabilize the region, rebuilding Gaza without Hamas being in control of anything." ([06:20])
  • Acknowledges "very good, but hard work" ahead; underscores ongoing need for diplomatic persistence.

6. Analysis from the Field: Eric Martin

• On the Ground Observations ([07:27])
  • Eric Martin notes the historical weight of the moment, near the two-year anniversary of the October 2023 attacks.
  • Describes recent conversations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Prime Minister Netanyahu, both previously skeptical but preferring a diplomatic resolution if hostages could be released.
  • Highlights the significance of Trump's call for Israel to halt bombing.
  • "This is really a monumental moment... this initial response from President Trump I think is quite important." ([07:27])

7. Feasibility of Hostage Release

• Operational Realities ([08:41])
  • Open question if Hamas actually knows the location of all hostages.
  • Notes potential shift in Hamas's willingness to relinquish control of Gaza to technocratic governance, aligning with points in Trump’s plan.
  • "From the Israeli side ... to make sure that Hamas cannot be a threat, does not have the weaponry to pose a threat..." ([08:55])

8. Senior Analysis: Wendy Sherman

• State of the Deal ([10:07])
  • Sherman: "Positive response from the White House... diplomacy is hard work. It all comes down to the details... we don't know the answer to a number of questions, including whether really Hamas can produce all the hostages and bodies...” ([10:07])
  • Applauds the U.S. for “taking a yes, even a yes, but for an answer and getting diplomacy underway.”

9. Role of Pressure, Timing, and Qatar

• External Pressure on Hamas ([11:23])
  • Sherman's view: Alignment of U.S.-backed regional partners' pressure (Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia) likely influential; Qatar’s role pivotal.
  • Notes U.S. giving Qatar an Article 5-style security guarantee, a historic move to solidify negotiations.
  • Suggests progress bolsters the President’s position at the upcoming APEC meeting.
  • "If he really can be the driving force to bring peace... there is a lot of work to be done here. But as I said, we are in a better place today than we were yesterday." ([11:23])

10. Rebuilding Gaza: Serious Challenges

• Reconstruction Realities ([13:14])
  • Sherman skeptical of Gaza’s quick transformation: "The Riviera concept is a long way off. Gaza has been destroyed..." ([13:14])
  • Points to humanitarian crises: “They don’t have homes to go to. There is little health care left. Doctors Without Borders has left because it was such a dangerous situation.” ([13:14])
  • Uncertain if Hamas will disarm or accept new governance structures.

11. Regional Geopolitics: Iran and Proxies

• On Iran’s Response and Future Stability ([14:36], [16:14])
  • Sherman: For peace, curbing Iran’s destabilizing activities is critical. Fresh UN sanctions adding pressure.
  • Raises risk of Iran’s potential nuclear program escalation.
  • "[Iran's] hardliners... probably pressing to make that decision to go for a nuclear weapon. So I hope there are some back channel discussions going on with Iran because we cannot really get to peace... unless we can also deal with Iran." ([14:36])
  • Highlights Iranian-backed provocations in Yemen and continued support for proxies.

12. What Comes Next: Process and Ceremonies

• On Implementation and Ceremony ([17:14])
  • Unlikely to see a traditional signing ceremony.
  • Sherman envisions "collective action in the Middle east if in fact all these details can be worked out."
  • Asserts major details of the 20-point plan remain unaddressed and require clarification.
  • "This is a good day, but there is still a lot of detailed work ahead." ([17:21])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Congressman Gregory Meeks:

  • "This is a big day. We'll see how it all turns out. We have to get the final word down and concrete." ([02:11])
  • "Diplomacy is always much harder and takes generally longer than just simply bombing the military strikes." ([05:30])
  • "Trying to stabilize the region, rebuilding Gaza for the Palestinians without Hamas being in control of anything. So this is a very good, but hard work and I think there's still hard work to be done, but that's the way diplomacy works." ([06:20])

• Eric Martin:

  • “[This is a] historic day, potentially, what we're seeing here... seeing this message from Hamas in response to the President's 20 point plan.” ([07:27])
  • “Prime Minister Netanyahu told me... that if they could find a way to get the hostages out, to get Hamas to give up the hostages without escalating the war, that was of course preferred.” ([07:27])

• Wendy Sherman:

  • “This is a positive moment, but a heck of a lot more work to be done here and we don't know the answer to a number of questions, including whether really Hamas can produce all the hostages and bodies...” ([10:07])
  • "I think the riviera concept is a long way off. Gaza has been destroyed. The President has suggested that." ([13:14])
  • "I know the President... is desperate for a Nobel Peace Prize. I don't think he's going to get one in 2025... But maybe he's trying to get to 2026." ([13:14])
  • "We cannot really get to peace in the Middle east unless we can also deal with Iran." ([14:36])
  • “This is an issue that really shouldn't be sidelined. The administration should continue, even if it's through quiet back channels, to make sure that people don't take their attention away...” ([16:30])
  • "This is a good day, but there is still a lot of detailed work ahead." ([17:21])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:42] - Breaking News Update, announcement on Hamas's agreement to Trump's plan.
• [02:11] - Congressman Gregory Meeks’ initial reaction and gratitude to regional partners.
• [02:55] - Meeks discusses his support for Trump's plan and the importance of diplomacy.
• [04:00] - Doubts about the credibility of ceasefire deals.
• [05:09] - Examining the role of strength versus diplomacy.
• [06:20] - The future of Gaza and regional involvement.
• [07:27] - Eric Martin’s reporting from Israel and update on negotiations.
• [08:55] - Feasibility of hostage release and Hamas’s control over Gaza.
• [10:07] - Wendy Sherman provides her diplomatic analysis.
• [11:23] - Role of external and regional pressure and the importance of timing.
• [13:14] - Challenges in rebuilding Gaza.
• [14:36] - Implications for Iran and regional stability.
• [17:21] - Prospects for official ceremonies and unresolved details.

Tone and Language

The conversation throughout is urgent, reflective, and nuanced, balancing hope with skepticism. Speakers are candid about the historic nature of the moment but repeatedly underscore the fragility of the process and the magnitude of unresolved issues.

Summary Conclusion

This episode synthesizes a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough in the Middle East: the conditional agreement by Hamas to release Israeli hostages per President Trump’s 20-point peace plan. Congressional, journalistic, and expert voices debate the credibility of the agreement, potential pitfalls, required next steps, and the broader regional consequences, especially regarding Iran. While all agree it's a major step forward, the consensus is clear: the hardest and most crucial work lies ahead.