White House special envoy Steve Witkoff stated his urgent push for all hostages held in the to be brought back this week, despite negotiations with Hamas remaining at an impasse.
“We adamantly seek, and I am following the president’s directive in stating this, the return of all those hostages home this week,” Witkoff conveyed to ’ Bret Baier on “Special Report” Tuesday evening.
He mentioned that “a proposal has been available for the past six or seven weeks that would have secured the release of 10 of the 20 hostages believed to be alive,” adding his conviction that Hamas bears “100%” responsibility for the delay.
Witkoff further stated, “Hamas deliberately stalled that process, and it is now Hamas asserting their acceptance of that agreement.”
Witkoff did not specify the exact reasons hindering the return of the hostages, who have been held in the Gaza Strip for almost two years since the October 7, 2023, attack on .
However, Tuesday’s reports indicated that the Israeli security cabinet declined to examine a deal for a partial hostage release, and Witkoff affirmed that Jerusalem’s “official position” is for a full return of hostages or no ceasefire, as it advances its plans to take .
In a statement issued to Digital on Wednesday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an organization representing the hostages’ families, expressed being “hopeful that with this deal on the table, we will finally see our loved ones return.”
The forum further added, “Time is critically short, and we understand that only by concluding this deal can we bring all 50 hostages back – both those who are living, to start their recovery, and those who tragically perished, to receive a respectful burial. We have no more time; let’s ensure this deal is completed immediately.”
Nevertheless, the forum also released a public statement on Tuesday following reports of Israel’s refusal to consider a partial return deal, asserting, “It is profoundly disheartening that on the very day vast numbers of Israelis are protesting for the return of all hostages and a cessation of the conflict, the government persists in hindering progress on the agreement, against the public’s desire.”
According to the Forum, a demonstration involving approximately 350,000 individuals occurred in Israel’s Hostage Square in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night, merely days after another significant protest in Tel Aviv where hostage families and their supporters once more urged Israeli Prime Minister to finalize an agreement with Hamas.
Witkoff contended that negotiations could follow after the regarding “what the next day… looks like in Gaza after this is all done and what the definition of Hamas is” – implying these issues persist as significant hurdles, as Israel has consistently pledged the complete destruction of Hamas.
The special envoy stated it was not his prerogative to determine if the militant group should be entirely dismantled, but he did point out that opportunities for negotiation existed concerning the hostages’ return, as it would involve an exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas continues to hold fifty hostages, with only twenty of them estimated to still be living.
President on Monday forecasted a “conclusive” end to the conflict in Gaza within the next “two to three weeks,” though he did not elaborate on how this would be achieved.
The Forum reacted to this declaration by stating, “We hope this proves true and that you have set a deadline to alleviate our anguish. You have personally pledged to released hostages that you would ensure the return of all hostages – the moment has come to fulfill that promise.”
Witkoff additionally mentioned that former President Donald Trump would be convening a meeting at the White House on Wednesday to deliberate on a “day after” strategy for Gaza, though the participants in this meeting remain undisclosed.
When asked for specifics about the meeting, a White House official informed Digital, “President Trump has made it clear that he desires the war to cease and for peace and prosperity to prevail for all in the region. The White House currently has no further details to provide regarding the meeting.”