Kirby to Stephanopoulos: 'Hamas Needs to Take That Deal'

As one might expect, the Sunday Shows are chock full of Iran-Israel coverage in the wake of Iran's unprecedented Saturday attack. White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby joined George Stephanopoulos on ABC News' "This Week" to discuss the attacks, the response to them, and the current status of the Israel-Hamas War.

Regarding Hamas and efforts to effect a cease-fire:

“Hamas needs to take that deal.”

White House’s John Kirby tells @GStephanopoulos that Hamas needs to accept the current proposal to release Israeli hostages and grant a “six-week ceasefire to allow for an increase in humanitarian assistance.” https://t.co/h7VBBYZNMq pic.twitter.com/zcgEczyHh2
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 14, 2024

STEPHANOPOULOS: And what's the latest on the negotiations for a hostage release and possible cease-fire?
KIRBY: Still ongoing — well, actually, the negotiations, they wrapped up a week or so ago in Cairo. When I meant "ongoing," what I meant is the exchange of information is still ongoing. There is a proposal on the table that was arrived at with very careful diplomacy, with our Israeli counterparts, led by the CIA Director Bill Burns — it's on the table; Hamas needs to take that deal. It's a good deal. It will get those hostages out, at least the first tranche: elderly, sick, women. And it will give us what will be about a six-week cease-fire to allow for an increase in humanitarian assistance. It's time now to move that forward. It's up to Hamas. We want them to take that deal.

Kirby also praised the Israeli defense systems, calling their thwarting of the Iranian attack an "extraordinary success."

White House's John Kirby praises the "extraordinary success" of Israel's defense against a massive drone and missile attack unleashed by Iran but says that the U.S. does not want to see further escalation or a broadening battle in the Middle East. https://t.co/NN10Z5Ff2w pic.twitter.com/QlwFXMMfCE
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 14, 2024

Additionally, he reiterated the Biden administration's message of solidarity with Israel while addressing the arguable undercutting of that message conveyed via President Joe Biden's rumored cautions to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding escalation.

White House spokesperson John Kirby tells @GStephanopoulos that Pres. Biden’s message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu after Iran's attack was “we’re with you.”

“The United States is going to continue to help Israel defend itself." https://t.co/EppIZaezE4 pic.twitter.com/7MRe9WW7uU
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 14, 2024

STEPHANOPOULOS: But walk us through the president's conversations with Netanyahu — is he still warning him against escalation in Gaza? And what was his direct message on this proposed retaliation from Iran?
KIRBY: The main message was, "We're with you." You know, he congratulated the prime minister on an extraordinary achievement and success last night but also to reiterate that the United States is going to continue to help Israel defend itself — that's a commitment going back many, many administrations, and the president believes wholeheartedly in it. And obviously, the president was interested in getting the prime minister's perspectives on what happened. I won't get ahead of what the prime minister and the war cabinet will or won't do, but the president and the prime minister had a good discussion, largely about the extraordinary success of last night. Again, look, as I said earlier, the president has been very clear — publicly so: We don't seek a war with Iran; we don't seek an escalated tensions in the region; we don't seek a wider conflict. And everything he's been doing, literally since the 7th of October, has been designed to that outcome.

White House Declares ‘Ironclad’ Support for Israel Amid Iranian Drone Attacks