Steve Witkoff
The terrorist group must demilitarize, disarm and depart, the U.S. envoy said.
“We estimate 22, maybe 24 live bodies,” the U.S. Middle East envoy said. “We want them all back.”
The European Union and mediators Qatar and Egypt condemned the move.
The finance minister called it “an important step in the right direction.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that no goods or supplies would enter the enclave until further notice, reaffirming that Jerusalem will not agree to a ceasefire without the release of its hostages.
According to the framework put forward by Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, half of the remaining hostages in Gaza, both living and deceased, would be freed on the first day.
Phase 1 of the ceasefire is set to expire this weekend.
The decision comes ahead of next week’s visit to the region by Trump Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.
“Lebanon could actually normalize and come into the Abraham peace accords, as could even potentially Syria,” Steve Witkoff told attendees at an AJC event.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy had planned to return to the region this week for talks on extending the Israel-Hamas truce deal.
“We have to get an extension of phase one, and so I’ll be going into the region this week, probably Wednesday,” Trump’s Mideast envoy told “CNN.”
Israel’s Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing has reportedly raised objections with mediators regarding the poor physical condition of released hostages.
