US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)
President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff tells relatives of hostages that the US is pushing for a single, comprehensive hostage deal securing the release of every remaining captive held in Gaza – not additional piecemeal agreements.
By World Israel News Staff
The Trump administration is pushing for a single comprehensive ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in place of additional piecemeal agreements similar to those reached in November 2023 and January 2025, a top administration official said.
Earlier this week, audio recordings of White House special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff speaking with relatives of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip were leaked, revealing details of Witkoff’s conversation over the weekend with hostage families.
In the audio recordings, published by Israel’s Yedioth Ahoronoth, Witkoff can be heard saying that the White House wants an “all or nothing” deal in Gaza, ending the war and securing the release of all 50 hostages in a single agreement.
“No piecemeal deals. That doesn’t work,” Witkoff added. “Now, we think that we have to shift this negotiation to all or nothing. Everybody comes home.”
“We have a plan around it,” Witkoff said, without providing details.
According to a report by The New York Times, Israel has also shifted its position, moving from backing an additional interim deal to supporting a broader agreement.
Previous proposals taken up for consideration in talks at Doha, Qatar focused on a two-month truce, during which 10 living hostages and a number of dead captives would be released in four to five stages.
Of the 50 total remaining hostages held in Gaza, 20 are thought to still be alive, while Israeli intelligence believes 30 have died or been killed in captivity.
Israel’s security cabinet is slated to meet on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday, to deliberate on plans to expand the ground campaign in Gaza, amid reports the government is poised to green light the complete military occupation of the coastal enclave.
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