From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Israeli envoy to US says ‘temporary deal’ under consideration
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Israel’s ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter says Jerusalem is examining options for a ceasefire deal with Hamas, including the possibility of a partial agreement, but will not end the war in Gaza until Hamas surrenders or is destroyed.
“This is under discussion,” Leiter tells CNN’s Jake Tapper. “We’re looking at what the possibilities are for a ceasefire and a temporary deal, but at the same time it has to be very clear — it ends when Hamas ends.”
Israeli leaders have taken the position over the last several weeks that a partial deal is no longer an option, insisting that it will only agree to a ceasefire that frees all hostages.
Leiter says that Israel is wary of a partial hostage release because it could mean abandoning the captives left behind. “If we are not careful, what’s going to happen is we are going to get a few hostages out now, and we’re never going to see the rest of the hostages again.”
Hamas has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire during which 10 living and 18 slain hostages would be freed. Hostages’ families have said Israel should take the deal and use the time to negotiate an end to the war and the release of the rest.
The envoy charges that Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar “haven’t applied the necessary pressure, if they could” on Hamas.
“Hamas leadership is sitting in Istanbul,” Leiter continues. “Where the hell is [Turkish President Recep Tayyip]… Erdogan? Why are Hamas leadership sitting in Qatar right now? Why is the international community not saying, the leadership of Hamas is being closed down, period?”
Hamas reconstituted during the ceasefire earlier this year, building up a force of 25-30,00 fighters, he claims.
“We can’t guarantee that the 23 hostages will come back soon, they’re being held by Hamas,” says Leiter, apparently misstating the number of living hostages, which Israel says is 20, along with two whose fate is unclear. Another 28 are thought to be dead.
“We can guarantee that we’re going to do everything in our power to get them out,” he says.
The Times of Israel Community.