U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff engaged in a nearly two-hour meeting in Tel Aviv on Tuesday with the families of hostages.
Boehler shared a cautiously optimistic view regarding the timeline for a hostage agreement, stating, “I feel we’re approaching a point where a deal can be made. If Hamas steps forward with a genuine proposal and agrees to release hostages, we are open to negotiations.”
He credited recent Israeli ground operations for applying pressure on Hamas, noting that, “I do believe we are closer than ever before. This progress is partly due to the actions of Israel and the IDF on the ground.”
Finally, addressing the recent joint statement from the leaders of the United Kingdom, France and Canada, which condemned Israel’s military operations in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire, Boehler responded firmly. “The United States has always been a fervent supporter of Israel. If I were a European country, I’d be particularly sensitive in how I criticize Israel.”
