Israel demands hostages first, borders later, as US pressure risks empowering rivals and rewarding Hamas obstruction.
Senior officials in Jerusalem are expressing sharp anger toward US special envoy Steve Witkoff, accusing him of pressuring Israel to open the Rafah crossing before the return of the final Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili.
An Israeli official warned that Witkoff’s push to involve Turkey at the border risks accelerating a dangerous confrontation. “The clock is ticking backward toward a clash with Turkey,” the official said, calling the move a direct threat to Israel’s security.
According to Israeli reports, officials were blindsided by the announcement that Rafah would open and plan to demand explanations from Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Israel’s Security Cabinet is set to convene Sunday to approve the opening while also reviewing developments related to Iran.
The unplanned visit by Witkoff and Kushner—who arrived Saturday—was arranged after Benjamin Netanyahu requested urgent talks following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of the Gaza Board of Peace initiative, which included Rafah as a headline component.
As negotiations continue, the Gvili family issued a pointed appeal, noting Trump’s public statement that Hamas knows precisely where their son is held. They urged that pressure be placed where it belongs—on Hamas—to honor its commitments and return the last remaining hostage, accusing the group of deceiving the international community.
Their message to Jerusalem and Washington was unequivocal: anyone serious about Gaza’s rehabilitation and regional stability must first bring Rani home.
