Israeli envoy to US: It’s in Israel’s interest to reach hostage deal, unclear if Hamas wants one

Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog says Washington shares Jerusalem’s goal of defeating Hamas, and that while Israel is interested in a deal to release more hostages, it is unclear if the terror group will agree.

“The American government shares the goal of fighting to defeat Hamas. They have questions and concerns, but they are not trying to stop the fighting, just checking what the next steps are,” Herzog tells Army Radio. “They know that part of the activity is to try to bring about a deal. The Americans are in contact with Egypt and Qatar, they are completely in the picture”

When asked if the holiday period will delay any potential deal for the release of hostages held in Gaza, Herzog demurs.

“It doesn’t delay, even during the holidays, work is being done,” he says. “It is in Israel’s interest to reach a deal, the question is whether there is willingness on the other side, and I’m not sure about that at all.”

It is believed that 129 hostages abducted by Hamas during the October 7 onslaught remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during a weeklong truce in late November. Four hostages were released prior to that, and one was rescued by troops. The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three hostages were mistakenly killed by the military. The Israel Defense Forces has confirmed the deaths of 22 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.

Hamas is also holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are both thought to be alive after entering the Strip of their own accord in 2014 and 2015 respectively.