Trump's Middle East envoy Witkoff says Hamas ‘impractical’ in Gaza ceasefire talks

U.S. President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, stated that Hamas is showing "flexibility" in public but making completely different demands in private. Discussions are ongoing regarding the next steps for the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. These negotiations are crucial for maintaining stability and addressing humanitarian needs.

Last Friday, Hamas announced that it had agreed to release the remains of U.S.-Israeli soldier, Itan Alexander, as well as four other U.S.-Israeli citizens, but did not set a clear timetable. Hamas stated that they "confirm their full readiness to begin negotiations and reach a comprehensive agreement on the second phase issues, while calling on the occupation to fully fulfill its obligations." The organization also announced on its Telegram channel that a delegation would travel to Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials. This move signals a potential willingness to engage in further dialogue and de-escalation efforts.

However, Witkoff, who spent most of this week in Doha meeting with Arab and Israeli mediators, insisted that there would be no "second phase" of a ceasefire, only an extension of the first phase. "Under the ‘bridge’ proposal, Hamas will release living hostages according to the previous model in exchange for prisoners; the first phase ceasefire will be extended to allow for the resumption of critical humanitarian assistance; and the United States will work during the extended ceasefire to seek a lasting solution to this intractable conflict," Witkoff's office said in a statement last Friday. This phased approach aims to address immediate needs while working towards a long-term resolution.

The statement continued: "Through our Qatari and Egyptian partners, Hamas has been made explicitly aware that this ‘bridge’ must be implemented as soon as possible – and that U.S.-Israeli dual national Itan Alexander must be released immediately." "Hamas's chosen response has been to publicly claim flexibility while privately making completely unrealistic demands that are not conditioned on a permanent ceasefire." This discrepancy between public statements and private demands highlights the complexities of the negotiation process.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in Quebec, Canada, slammed the prisoner exchange, where Hamas releases fewer than a handful of Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails. "We’re acting as if this is some normal exchange; it’s outrageous, frankly. All (Israelis) should be released. I’m not going to comment on what we will accept, not accept." Rubio's strong stance underscores the U.S. commitment to securing the release of all hostages.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that he had accepted Witkoff's proposal, but "Hamas is still holding firm and is not yielding." The statement accused Hamas of engaging in "manipulation and psychological warfare." The Times of Israel described the impasse as "an attempt to divide the US and Israel by goading (Israel) into rejecting the opportunity to free Americans." This political maneuvering adds another layer of complexity to the already delicate situation.

Previously, Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Bohler, held an unprecedented meeting with Hamas officials. Washington notoriously does not negotiate with terrorists, and Hamas has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States since 1997. The talks, though reportedly directly approved by Trump, angered Israelis, who leaked the news to the media and have since hoped to have Bohler removed from the file. As of last Friday, The Times of Israel quoted a U.S. official as saying that Bohler was still working to free all captured Americans around the world. Despite the controversy, efforts to secure the release of American hostages remain a priority.

Netanyahu is scheduled to convene members of the Israeli negotiating team on Saturday night, with Witkoff reiterating the warning: "President Trump has made clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately, or pay a very heavy price." The urgency of the situation and the potential consequences are emphasized by this final statement.