Special envoy Steve Witkoff from the White House said that he insists on all hostages that are still being held in the Gaza Strip to be returned this week, although the negotiations with Hamas still have an impasse.
“There has been a deal on the table for the last six or seven weeks that 10 of the hostages from the 20 would have released that we think they are living,” he said and noted that he believes that Hamas is “100%” to blame the hold-up.
“It was Hamas who slowly played that process, and it is now Hamas who says we accept that deal,” Witkoff added.
Protesters hold photos of hostages while marching during a rally in which the Israeli government is called to sign a deal to release the hostages in the Gaza Strip, on 26 August 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Amir Levy/Getty images)
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Witkoff did not go into detail about what specifically holds the return of the hostages who were imprisoned in the Gaza Strip for almost two years after the attack of 7 October 2023 on Israel.
But reports on Tuesday suggested that the Israeli security cabinet refused to revise a deal in which the partial release of hostages and Witkoff confirmed that the “official position” of Jerusalem is a complete return of hostoles or not a cessation -to take a city.
American special envoy for the Midden -East Steve Witkoff greeted relatives of hostages, held in Gaza since October 2023, on the hostages in Tel Aviv, on 13 May 2025. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty images)
“Time is running out and we know that by completing this deal, all 50 hostages can bring home – those who live to start their healing trip, and those who were tragically lost to receive a worthy funeral,” it added. “We don’t have time anymore – let’s let this deal happen now.”
But the forum also issued a public statement on Tuesday after reports said that Israel refused to revise a partial return agreement and said: “It is deeply disappointing that on the day the mass of Israelis rise to the streets that postpone the return of all hostages, the opposition to the agreement remains.
An aerial photo of the area as demonstrators gather in ‘Gijzelaars Square’ in Tel Aviv, Israel, in which the attacks on Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages are gathered, on 24 August 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israël. (Yair Palti/Anadolu via Getty images)
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A demonstration of about 350,000 people took place on Tuesday evening at the hostage of Israel in Tel Aviv, according to the forum, only a few days after another massive protest went into the streets of Tel Aviv, in which the families of the hostages and supporters once again called to reach the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Witkoff argued that there may be negotiations after the hostages have been sent back for “how the next day … looks in Gaza after all this has been done and what the definition of Hamas is” – which suggests that these problems remain major obstacles because Israel has repeatedly promised the full destruction of Hamas.
The special envoy said that it was not his “call” to say whether the terrorist network should be completely destroyed, but noted that there was room for negotiations when returning the hostages, because Palestinian prisoners would also be changed in exchange.
Fifty yellow seats, which symbolized the 50 prisoners hostages, were placed on August 24, 2025 on the hostage of Tel Aviv. (Yair Palti/Anadolu via Getty images)
50 hostages are still held by Hamas, of whom only 20 are assessed as being alive.
President Donald Trump predicted Monday that there would be a “convincing” end to the war in Gaza in the next “two to three weeks”, although he did not say how this would be achieved.
The forum responded to the statement and said: “We pray that this is true and that you have given a deadline to end our suffering. You have directly dedicated to released hostages that you will bring all hostages home – now it is time to make that happen.”
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Witkoff also said that Trump would organize a meeting in the White House on Wednesday to discuss a “day after” plan for Gaza, although it is unclear who will participate in this meeting.
