US envoys tell hostages families of ‘genuine chance for progress’ in Doha

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler told the families of hostages still in Gaza that they think there is a chance to make progress on freeing their loved ones as they head to Qatar for indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum says.

Witkoff “assured the families that if he and Boehler didn’t believe there was a genuine chance for progress in negotiations, they wouldn’t be making the trip to Doha,” the Forum says, noting that the meeting lasted nearly two hours.

“Both officials emphasized their personal commitment to bringing back all 58 remaining hostages – both the living and the deceased,” the statement says. “Witkoff emphasized that they will accept nothing less than the return of everyone, as this is the President’s mission.

Witkoff also told the families that “everyone would prefer to see a diplomatic solution,” the Forum says.