From the Liveblog of
Saturday, August 2, 2025
Witkoff said to tell families no progress in ‘complicated’ hostage talks but that ‘Hamas said it is ready to demilitarize’
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US special envoy Steve Witkoff told hostages’ families that he has no news of progress in talks with Hamas over the release of captives, Hebrew media quotes him as saying at a meeting earlier today in Tel Aviv.
“I hear your frustration. I understand that you want them home; part of the reason I am in this work is because I lost a child. I know what it is to lose a child. I wish that I had news for you. But the situation is complicated. There are many reasons [for this] that I cannot detail. Hamas is a terrorist organization,” he says, according to the reports.
Witkoff also reportedly says that part of ending the ongoing war requires the demilitarization of Hamas, and that “Hamas said that it is ready to demilitarize.”
“Beyond this, some Arab countries are demanding that Hamas disarm,” he is quoted as saying.
Witkoff emphasizes that US President Donald Trump cares a lot about the hostages and that his mission is to bring everyone home.
“Hamas looks as if it is not standing by its word. The negotiations with it were frustrating, and now we think we should do all or nothing,” he says.
The Times of Israel Community.