On Thursday evening, it was reported that U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, informed hostage families that a very serious deal is in the works and it was only a matter of days before it would materialize.
On the table: Ceasefire, regional agreement with Saudi Arabia, and a diplomatic solution in Iran
Witkoff made the comments during a meeting with the hostages’ families. His remarks come in the wake of an earlier Ynet report stating that the Trump administration is promoting a broad diplomatic initiative centered on securing the hostages’ release and ending the war in Gaza.
According to the report, Israeli officials understood that Trump has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only a few more weeks to continue military operations, after which American pressure would mount to stop the fighting and move to negotiations. Sources say the demand for the release of all hostages is expected to be a central pillar of the deal, as part of a broader initiative that includes a regional agreement with Saudi Arabia and a political resolution to the Iranian issue.
U.S. to Hostage Families: “They Were the Top Priority in the Meeting”
In meetings held this week between American officials and hostage families, the U.S. representatives said the issue of the hostages was a central topic in the recent Trump–Netanyahu White House meeting. According to the families, the Trump administration is not satisfied with gradual solutions to the crisis and is instead pushing for a comprehensive deal that would also serve as the basis for a ceasefire and regional stability. Officials say President Trump is determined to see an end to the war soon and will not allow Israel to prolong the fighting indefinitely.
At the same time, in internal discussions between Israeli and American officials, it has emerged that the Trump administration is expected to wait another two to three weeks before formally calling for an end to the fighting.
Israel: War Cannot End Without Hostage Deal
Amid these developments, Israeli officials emphasize that the war cannot be concluded without a comprehensive solution to the hostage issue, and that any future diplomatic process must include their release as an essential component.
