Witkoff denied a Reuters report that Hamas agreed to a hostage release proposal and said, “What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable.”
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at an announcement about the 58 hostages remaining in Gaza “today or tomorrow.”
“The liberation of our hostages is our top priority. I hope we can announce something regarding this today – and if not today, then tomorrow. We are not giving up,” Netanyahu stated.
He explained, “There is an intensive IDF operation in the Gaza Strip while we are faced with baseless allegations from the international community.”
“We are doing our utmost to defeat Hamas and free our hostages,” he concluded.
Netanyahu’s statements follow conflicting reports about hostage release negotiations.
Reuters reported that Hamas accepted a proposal put forward by US special envoy Steve Witkoff that would free 10 hostages in two groups coinciding with a 70-day ceasefire.
However, Axios journalist Barak Ravid said that Witkoff denied this report that Hamas agreed to the proposal and said, “What I have seen from Hamas is disappointing and completely unacceptable.”
Contrary to earlier reports, Witkoff indicated that Israel has agreed to a temporary pause in fighting that would correspond to the release of half of the living hostages and half of the deceased captives.
The truce would be the first step that would “lead to substantive negotiations to find a path to a permanent ceasefire, which I agreed to preside over,” said Witkoff.
He added, “That deal is on the table. Hamas should take it.”
Sky News Arabia reported Monday that US President Donald Trump will announce a ceasefire corresponding to a hostage release deal within the coming days.
It is believed that 20 of the hostages held in Gaza are still alive.
Following the release of the final American living hostage, Edan Alexander, officials from the Trump administration expressed guarded optimism regarding the prospects for a comprehensive hostage deal between Israel and Hamas.
Witkoff emphasized that the United States “will accept nothing less than the return of everyone, as this is the president’s mission.”
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