Hostage deal: US envoy Witkoff wants release of 10 hostages for 60 days ceasefire, seeks deadlines to pressure Hamas

Israel’s negotiating team arrived in the Qatari capital of Doha on Monday and White House envoy Steve Witkoff is slated to arrive on Tuesday for the next phase of negotiations over an extension of the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas.

According to Channel 12, the current basis of discussions is the “Witkoff outline.” This envisions the release of 10 living hostages, including U.S.-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, in exchange for a 60-day extension of the ceasefire.

Before leaving the U.S., Witkoff told Fox News that given the “unacceptable” and “deplorable” conditions in which the hostages are being held, he believed deadlines should be implemented to pressure Hamas into agreeing.

Witkoff is expected to first speak with the Qatari mediators and only reach out directly to Hamas once they've made concessions, an Israeli official told the Axios news outlet.

“Witkoff told us that if things [get] serious he is willing to spend 3 or 4 days and try to reach a deal,” the official added.

Speaking to Fox News, Witkoff said, “A starter is Hamas demilitarizing, not rearming, leaving all their arms on the ground and leaving Gaza. I believe they have no alternative other than to leave. If they leave, everything is on the table.”

An Egyptian diplomatic source told the Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar that the Witkoff outline is being discussed. Under this framework, Hamas would commit to releasing the hostages without humiliating ceremonies this time, he added.

On Monday, the terrorist group claimed that it had shown “flexibility” in the talks with U.S. hostage envoy Adam Boehler, which ultimately ended without success.

“We await the results of the upcoming negotiations and oblige [Israel] to agree and go to the second phase,” Hamas stated.

Informed sources within Hamas told the Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat that a proposal exists for the release of “all for all,” meaning all hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

This would also include the end of the war and a full withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza.

The sources further emphasized that Hamas would not agree to disarmament. “It is possible to agree to disarm only in one case, and that is if a clear political process takes place that allows the establishment of a Palestinian state,” the sources added.

Meanwhile in Israel, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum reiterated its calls to the government to authorize the negotiating team with a "full mandate" to approve far-reaching agreements, particularly, the release of all remaining hostages in one phase.

“An agreement including the return of all hostages is possible and is the duty of the Israeli government to its citizens that remain in Hamas tunnels,” the forum said.