American diplomat holds discussions with relatives of kidnapped Israelis
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has taken an active role in the ongoing efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for nearly two years. In a recent meeting in Tel Aviv, Witkoff met with families of the approximately 20 Israeli hostages still believed alive in Gaza, offering personal assurances that he and former President Trump are committed to bringing the hostages home and holding Hamas accountable for their treatment [1][3].
The meeting, confirmed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, took place amidst growing domestic and international pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of the hostages. Witkoff's diplomatic outreach was marked by direct communication with the families and public support for their plight [1].
As part of his efforts, Witkoff is reportedly collaborating closely with Israeli officials on a broader plan to end the Gaza conflict, which is seen as crucial to securing the hostages’ release and improving humanitarian conditions. He has visited aid distribution sites in Gaza, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis amidst Israeli military actions and blockades, with significant civilian casualties and a threat of famine [3].
The situation in Gaza has been volatile, with the Gaza civil defence agency reporting that Israeli strikes killed 21 people and injured 26 in the territory on Saturday. The strikes mostly targeted areas near Khan Yunis and Gaza City [4]. The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, had been mediating ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, but these talks broke down last month due to Hamas's refusal to cooperate [5].
The crisis deepened further when Palestinian armed groups released two videos showing emaciated hostages, causing fear and frustration among the hostage families [1][2]. In response, Witkoff has pledged to find alternate avenues for hostage release and improved safety in Gaza [1][3].
The Israeli military has reported that of the 251 people who were kidnapped from Israel during Hamas's attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, with 27 of them dead [6]. Israel's top general, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, warned that there would be no respite in fighting in Gaza if the hostages were not released [7].
Zamir also blamed Hamas for the killing and suffering of residents in Gaza, stating that the accusations of widespread starvation in Gaza were a deliberate attempt to accuse the Israeli military of war crimes [8]. According to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, the Israeli campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,332 people, mostly civilians [9].
The UN human rights office in the Palestinian territories reported that at least 1,373 Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza had been killed since May 27, most of them by the Israeli military [10]. Yotam Cohen, brother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, expressed a desire for the war to end and for the Israeli government to take action to secure the hostages' release [11].
Witkoff visited a US-backed aid station in Gaza the day before the meeting, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian aid and the need to address the root causes of the crisis [12]. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Adnan Abu Hasna, stated that there are 6,000 trucks ready for the Gaza Strip, but the crossings are closed by political decision [13].
After the meeting, the Forum released a statement saying that Witkoff had given them a personal commitment that he and US President Donald Trump would work to return the remaining hostages [1]. The details of the plan to secure the hostages’ release and end the Gaza conflict are yet to be disclosed, but Witkoff's commitment to the cause offers a glimmer of hope for the families of the hostages and the people of Gaza.
Pickup trucks laden with political banners and general news topics barrel down the streets of Gaza, their loudspeakers blaring updates on the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Israel and Hamas. Amidst the cacophony of non-stop political discussions and crime-and-justice debates, the families of the Israeli hostages held for nearly two years cling to hope, their hearts lightened temporarily by the recent promise of Steve Witkoff and former President Trump to secure their loved ones' release and hold Hamas accountable for their treatment.
