Witkoff: There’s more value in freeing hostages, solving disputes diplomatically than resuming war

Pressed to respond to criticism of the hostage deal, US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff suggests that the sacrifices it requires of Israel are warranted in order to allow hostage families to reunite with their loved ones.

“These families deserved to get these hostages home alive. Hopefully, we prove today that there’s more value in getting those hostages home alive and being able to continue to talk to solve things than there is in continuing the war,” he says in the interview with Channel 12 news.

Asked about his January 11 meeting with Netanyahu, which Arab officials familiar told The Times of Israel was critical in bringing the deal over the finish line because of the pressure that Witkoff placed on the premier, the Mideast envoy declines to disclose too many details.

“We had a discussion with the prime minister about how we needed to get focused in a short period of time and get organized so that we could get to the finish line. He convened what looked to me like maybe nine, 10, 11 of the top commanders in the Israeli armed forces. He gave direction to his team to be very proactive, and that was the difference maker,” Witkoff says.

“President Trump gave me the directive… to push forward a deal if a deal was attainable. We needed to create the incentives for both parties to push forward and get that deal done,” he continues.

Netanyahu has reportedly told coalition partners that those incentives came in the form of US assurances that Israel can resume fighting after the first phase of the deal, which would appear to be a violation of its terms.

But asked to elaborate on the US incentives provided to Israel, Witkoff suffices with, “The incentives were to get these people home.”

“I don’t want to discuss promises that were made. The agreement speaks for itself, but I think that everyone is well motivated to negotiate in a good faith way and to see if we can resolve all of this amicably and in a peaceful way and in a diplomatic way,” Witkoff says.

Asked whether he believes Israel will withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor border stretch between Gaza and Egypt, Witkoff avoids answering directly.

“That’s ultimately up to Israel,” he says.

“The Philadelphi Corridor obviously has commercial significance to Egypt — as a trading partner — and also to the people who are living in Gaza. They’ve got to get materials in, but there are security issues around it, so we have to solve that,” Witkoff adds.