CNN’s Abby Phillip Stunned When Biden Rival Says He Would NOT Make This Hostage Deal If He Were President

CNN anchor Abby Phillip had to double-check after Congressman and longshot Biden presidential rival Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) said he would not have accepted the hostage deal that was brokered by President Joe Biden’s team and other international partners.

After a lot of anticipation, news broke Tuesday night that a deal between Israel and Hamas — negotiated by international partners including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States — to release 50 hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for a four-day humanitarian “pause” in the fighting and the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners.

Shortly after the news broke, Phillips was a guest on Tuesday night’s edition of CNN NewsNight, during which he caught Phillip off guard by telling her he wouldn’t accept such a deal because it leaves hundreds of hostages still in terrorist hands.

Phillip also repeatedly pressed Rep. Phillips to explain exactly how he would get Hamas to accept his demands as president, to which Phillips appeared to respond that he would simply present those demands:

PHILLIP: This deal that we’ve been discussing, the reporting is that Hamas would release kidnapped Israeli hostages in exchange for a three to one ratio of Palestinian prisoners, women and minors, children who are in Israeli prison. If you were president of the United States, would you accept that deal?

PHILLIPS: No, because we have nine Americans held hostage right now by Hamas, had been there for six weeks, including at least one child. And by now I would have expected American Special Forces to perhaps play a hand in extracting them. I think it’s absurd, shocking, and dismaying that six weeks later we still have American hostages held by a terror organization in Gaza.

I’m happy for the Israelis. Don’t get me wrong. Hamas should release all hostages. But the fact that we have Americans sitting in Gaza right now held hostage is appalling and should be addressed immediately.

PHILLIP: So, to be clear, you would turn down even this opportunity to free 50 hostages? And I want to just clarify for the audience, these are Israelis, but some of them are dual citizens. They hold dual passports, including some Americans.

PHILLIPS: If all Americans are included that are held hostage right now, of course I would approve it.

If there’s a single American that is still held hostage after this deal, no. I think it’s that important, Abby. I think the American president has an obligation to extract Americans. It’s been six weeks, and I’m happy that some are being released, but every single American citizen should be part of that group. And if I were the American president, I would not agree to anything until every single one of them is released. I would demand it. And if it wasn’t done, we have to use every lever available to us to ensure it.

PHILLIP: You have said that the war has taken an unacceptable toll on Palestinian citizens and civilians.

PHILLIPS: And Israelis.

PHILLIP: And, of course, on Israelis. But in terms of the toll on Palestinians in Gaza, you’re saying a ceasefire only in exchange for the hostages. It seems pretty clear at this point. Those are not terms that Hamas will accept. So, how will you get them to agree to release all of the hostages, which they’ve refused to do up until this point, simply by putting a ceasefire on the table?

PHILLIPS: First of all, Hamas should have been eliminated years ago, years ago. The fact that a terror organization will not release 200 humans in exchange for the preservation of life of the people they ostensibly represent is appalling.

PHILLIP: But what will you —

PHILLIPS: This is a failure, Abby of the past.

PHILLIP: But what will you do about it is my question. What would you do if you were president? What would you do to change that?

PHILLIPS: Just like I proposed, release the 200 hostages. They will be immediate.

PHILLIP: Hamas has to do that. So, how do you get Hamas to do it?

PHILLIPS: Hamas has to do it. Because — how do you get Hamas to do it? You make the — this is exactly the presentation, release 200 hostages, an immediate ceasefire, a multi-national security force to maintain security for all Palestinians in Gaza that eliminates Israel’s responsibility.

Watch above via CNN NewsNight.