In a rare public break with Israel’s wartime policy, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff reportedly told families of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza that he believes a new ceasefire agreement — not continued military pressure — is the correct next step in resolving the conflict.
According to Israel’s Channel 12, Witkoff told the families during a closed-door meeting that “Israel is prolonging the war, even though we do not see where further progress can be made,” adding that while the U.S. seeks to return the hostages, “Israel is not ready to end the war.”
Witkoff’s remarks, described as unusually blunt, come amid a stalled negotiation process and increasing international pressure for a deal. He was quoted as saying there is currently “a window of opportunity” that the U.S. hopes Israel and mediators “will take advantage of,” noting that Washington is “putting pressure on all the mediators and doing everything to return the hostages.”
The reported comments drew sharp contrast to Israel’s current stance. Senior Israeli officials, speaking anonymously to Channel 12, said that if no agreement is reached by the end of President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the region, Israel will launch a new ground operation in Gaza that “will not end quickly.”
“We won’t agree to quickly halt once we begin the intensified operation,” one Israeli official said. “Hamas will not determine the timeline.”
While Israel is reportedly open to various proposals, including what is being called a “Witkoff proposal-minus” — a plan that would see roughly half of the remaining living hostages released in exchange for a sustained truce — officials say Hamas continues to reject key conditions.
Witkoff is said to be actively engaging multiple sides in the region this week in an effort to shape a workable framework.
This is the first time families of the hostages have heard direct criticism of Israeli policy from Witkoff, who was appointed to the envoy role with strong backing from pro-Israel voices in Washington. His comments may reflect growing U.S. impatience with the war’s pace and outcome, just as political pressure mounts ahead of the 2026 midterms and Trump’s highly anticipated visit.
