Fox News reported on Sunday that Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, said that negotiations with Hamas, which had stalled, are getting back on track.
The network also quoted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying that significant progress had been made in the Gaza negotiations.
"We hope to reach a ceasefire in which half the hostages will be released, and then the rest will be released at the end of the 60 days," Rubio said, adding, "The solution to what's happening in Gaza is very simple: Release the hostages, lay down your weapons, and the war will end."
Last Thursday, the Israeli delegation left Doha after receiving a response from Hamas regarding the proposal for a prisoner exchange deal and ceasefire.
Official sources in Tel Aviv claimed that Hamas' response was "negative," and said that "negotiations are ongoing, but the gaps are large and require difficult decisions."
On Friday, six members of the US Congress, in a joint statement, called on the Trump administration to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and return the prisoners as soon as possible, describing the humanitarian conditions in Gaza as "horrific and unacceptable."
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a genocidal war in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
Other international negotiations
In a related context, Witkoff said that the Abraham Accords will expand, and it would not be surprising if approximately 10 countries join by the end of the year.
He added that negotiations with Iran will also return to track, as will negotiations regarding Russia and Ukraine.
He also indicated that the recent tension in Syria is on its way to being resolved.
"President Donald Trump is the world's policeman right now, and that's important because he brings order and stability," Witkoff said.
Source: Al Jazeera
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Witkoff: Negotiations with Hamas are back on track.