Trump made the conflict a major priority in his administration, but negotiations have waned.
Surveillance: UN holds two-state solution meeting without US Israel
The UN held a summit to promote the Palestinian state as the Gaza War intensifies and global pressures are on its way.
Jerusalem, August 2 – President Donald Trump’s Middle Eastern envoy told the families of hostages detained by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas on August 2 that he is working with the Israeli government in a plan to effectively end the war in Gaza.
Trump made the conflict a major priority in his administration, but negotiations have waned. Steve Witkov is visiting Israel as the government faces pressure on the worsening humanitarian situation of the enclave.
In a recording of the meeting reviewed by Reuters, Witkov hears:
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding his remarks.
Witkov also said Hamas was ready to disarm to end the war, but the group repeatedly said they would not abandon their weapons.
In response, Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 but has been militarily abused by Israel in the war, said he would not abandon “armed resistance” unless a “independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
The indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed to ensure a 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza War, aiming for a contract for half-release hostages that ended in deadlock last week.
On August 2, Hamas released his second video in two days of Israeli hostage Ivaiatar David. Among them, David is skeletally thin and is shown by digging holes.
“They are on the brink of absolute death,” David’s brother Elay said at a rally supporting hostages in Tel Aviv.
“In the current unimaginable state, they may only have days left to live.”
“The world cannot remain silent in the face of difficult images, which are the result of intentional sadistic abuse of hostages, including starvation,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
Witkov met the prime minister on Thursday as Benjamin Netanyahu’s government arrived in Israel in the face of global protests against the devastation in Gaza and the growing starvation among 2.2 million people.
Later, Israeli officials said the understanding between Israel and Washington has made it clear that all hostages should be released from plans to free some of the hostages, disarm Hamas and denounce the Gaza Strip.
Gaza’s hunger during ceasefire
On Tuesday, Qatar and Egypt, which are mediating ceasefire efforts, approved a declaration by France and Saudi Arabia, excluding measures aimed at a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestine conflict. As part of this, they said Hamas must hand over that arm to the Palestinian authority supporting the West.
The Gaza crisis has also urged a series of Western countries that announce that they may recognize the Palestinian state.
On Friday, Witkov visited the US aid mission in southern Gaza. The United Nations partially condemned the fatal situation in the enclave, saying it had tried to get food and other assistance from people there.
Dozens of people have died of malnutrition since Israel cut off all supplies to the enclave for about three months from March to May, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. On Saturday, he said he recorded seven more deaths from Friday, including children.
Israel has condemned Hamas for its suffering in Gaza and says it is taking measures to help reach its population, including suspending daytime fighting in some regions and announcing protection routes for aid convoys.
The UN agency says food air withdrawal is insufficient and Israel must provide far more assistance on the land and make access to it quick and easy.
Israeli figures show that the Gaza War began when Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 251 hostages on October 7, 2023 in an attack on southern Israel. Israeli attacks have killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza.
Israeli officials say 50 hostages are currently surviving in Gaza, with only 20 of them being believed to be alive.
