U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Adam Boehler met Tuesday with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. In a meeting that lasted nearly two hours, both men emphasized their personal commitment to securing the return of the 58 remaining hostages.
Witkoff assured the families of the administration’s unwavering resolve:
“We are committed to bringing everyone home — the living and the fallen. That is the mission President Trump has given us.”
He continued:
“Most of those who survived were freed through diplomatic means. If Adam [Boehler] and I didn’t believe there was a real chance of progress, we wouldn’t have gone to Doha.”
In an additional statement, he stressed: “We will accept nothing less than the return of all hostages. That’s non-negotiable for us.”
He added: “The remains of those killed must be returned as well. Their families deserve the dignity of a proper burial.”
Unilateral Actions Against Israel Will Prompt an Israeli Response
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo. The two discussed developments in the Middle East—including Gaza, the Witkoff Framework and the hostage negotiations—as well as Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and bilateral relations between the two nations.
Commenting on the negotiating delegation’s departure for Qatar, Sa’ar said efforts are being made in the coming days to reach an agreement for the hostages’ release based on the Witkoff Framework.
“We want to bring our hostages home and ensure that Gaza can never again pose a threat to Israel and its citizens. They continue to hold our hostages in order to dictate terms that would allow them to prolong their war against Israel.”
Regarding the possibility of unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, the minister warned that such moves against Israel would compel an Israeli response.
“This would push Israel into a corner. I call on Japan to reject such proposals, which only drive us further away from peace.”
“No Intelligence Needed—Just Follow Khamenei’s Twitter”
On Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Sa’ar said the regime is closer than ever to obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“You don’t need intelligence to see that. Just follow Khamenei’s X (formerly Twitter) account. Like Hamas, they follow a fanatical religious ideology that claims we have no right to hold any territory in our historic homeland, as it is supposedly ‘Islamic Waqf land.’”
