Witkoff: Only One Obstacle Remains in Hamas Deal; Netanyahu, Trump Signal Ceasefire and Hostage Agreement Within Reach
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, announced on Tuesday that negotiations toward a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas are nearing a breakthrough, with only one issue still unresolved. Expressing guarded optimism, Witkoff remarked, “We had four disagreements, and now only one remains. I hope we will be able to reach an agreement by the end of the week.”
The sticking point centers on the deployment and location of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops during the proposed 60-day ceasefire period. Under the terms currently being discussed, Hamas would release ten living hostages and the remains of nine deceased individuals in exchange for a suspension of hostilities.
This latest development follows high-level meetings in Washington between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump. According to an Israeli official who attended the Monday night discussion at the White House, “The president wants to see the war come to an end.”
As momentum builds, Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to reconvene with President Trump later tonight to finalize remaining details. Following his meeting with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier in the day, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel has accepted the mediation framework advanced by Witkoff.
“We’ve come closer to the terms of the proposal and I hope we will cross the line to an agreement,” said Netanyahu. “President Trump and I are focused on results. We’ve learned that when Israel and the United States stand together, historic outcomes follow. There has never been such trust and cooperation in our 77 years of diplomatic relations as there is today.”
He emphasized that the emerging deal, while centered on a temporary ceasefire, does not mean abandoning Israel’s strategic objectives. “We are ready to end the war under conditions that will prevent Hamas from continuing its operations and ensure Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israeli citizens. There is a detailed plan for how to accomplish this.”
Netanyahu praised the strategic coordination with the U.S., noting, “The president and I share a belief in peace through strength. American B-2 bombers, Israeli pilots, and the spirit of our alliance have sent a message that continues to reverberate across the region.”
He concluded with a forward-looking message: “We see new opportunities for regional peace that we intend to seize—together.”
As negotiations edge closer to a possible resolution, the final details of IDF deployment and Hamas compliance will likely determine whether a landmark agreement—one that could reshape the next phase of the Gaza conflict—comes to fruition in the coming days.
