Sunday shows preview: Time ticks on short-term truce in Israel-Hamas war

The release of hostages in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza will likely take the focus of this week’s Sunday news shows.

Israel and Hamas struck a long-negotiated short-term truce deal late Wednesday, leading to the first multi-day pause in the war since fighting began early last month. The deal is set to release 50 Israeli hostages over four days, starting Friday.

The deal was reached after weeks of negotiations by the U.S., Qatar, Israel and Hamas. The first 13 Israelis were freed on Friday, all women and children, alongside 12 Thai hostages.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will headline four of the weekend’s shows — ABC’s “This Week,” NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CBS’ “Face the Nation,” and CNN’s “State of the Union” — to discuss the conflict.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will also feature on “Face the Nation.” Qatar has emerged as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, leveraging good relations with both sides in an effort to make inroads toward diplomacy.

President Biden celebrated the deal Friday as a key step in the conflict and said the four-day military pause will allow critical humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. Gaza has been under a near-total blockade by the Israeli military since early last month, with the United Nations saying the humanitarian aid allowed into the enclave is not enough.

“Today has been a product of a lot of hard work and weeks of personal engagement,” Biden said Friday. “The moment Hamas kidnapped these people, I along with my team, have worked around the clock to secure their release.”

“Note, this extended pause in the fighting brings a critical opportunity to deliver much-needed food, medicine, water and fuel to the civilians in Gaza,” he continued. “And we are not wasting one single minute.”

Fuel is the key resource entering Gaza during the short-term cease-fire, alongside food and medical supplies, as it is needed to run water pumps, and desalination plants and to keep hospitals running.

U.N. Palestinian refugee chief Philippe Lazzarini and World Food Program director Cindy McCain will both feature on “Face the Nation.”

The Israeli government has faced immense pressure domestically and from the U.S. to prioritize the release of hostages as it conducts a ground invasion of Gaza. 

Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog will feature on “State of the Union.”

Meanwhile, the 2024 presidential campaign chugs along with a thinned-out candidate pool, with just seven Republicans left vying for a chance to face President Biden at the ballot box.

Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) will feature on both “This Week” and “State of the Union.”

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

ABC’s “This Week” — National security adviser Jake Sullivan; former Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.); Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sullivan; Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio).

CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Sullivan; Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.); Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.); Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the U.N. Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees; Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program.

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Sullivan; Christie; Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.); Michael Herzog, Israel’s ambassador to the United States.

“Fox News Sunday” — Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.); Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.); Jared Bernstein, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Reps. Josh Smith (R-Mo.), Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).