Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House, said that any failure to reach a deal to release the detainees in Gaza "could lead to a difficult situation." He said, "It would be bad, that's my opinion. They have to be released."
In response, Trump said that Hamas was "asking for some good things," responding to a question about the demands the movement had made in indirect negotiations with Israel.
The US president confirmed that he had spoken to the families of the Israeli captives in Gaza, adding, "They desperately want them back, and everything that entails, so it's very sad ."
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump called on Hamas to immediately release all of its captives, writing in a post on his Truth Social platform: "Tell Hamas to return all 20 hostages immediately (not 2, 5, or 7!), and things will change quickly. This will end!"
On Thursday, i24NEWS reported that US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is holding unannounced talks with Israel and mediators to revive negotiations for a comprehensive agreement to release Israeli detainees in Gaza.
The Israeli channel quoted unnamed informed sources as saying that the US envoy is "working behind the scenes" to resume talks on a prisoner exchange deal.
An informed source told the channel: "Following Hamas's announcement, in which it detailed its demands for a comprehensive deal, we have reached a situation where Israel and Hamas have made clear their demands for a deal that would release all detainees."
Netanyahu's refusal
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In this context, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday that former Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, during his tenure, proposed an initiative to reach an agreement guaranteeing the release of all detainees in Gaza, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the plan, calling it a "defeat."
The official broadcasting authority quoted informed sources as saying that, prior to the ground assault on Rafah in May 2024, Halevi "asked Netanyahu to formulate a one-stage proposal based on the release of all prisoners and an end to the war."
Sources told the Broadcasting Authority that the plan prepared by the Israeli military in May 2024 was multi-stage, including the release of all detainees and the eventual end of the war. However, Netanyahu's decision prevented the transition to the second stage, which would have entailed the release of all remaining prisoners.
Hamas has repeatedly declared its willingness to conclude a comprehensive deal with Israel to release all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, an end to the war on Gaza, and a withdrawal from the Strip. However, Netanyahu has consistently rejected these offers, insisting on partial proposals that allow him to stall and impose new conditions at each negotiation stage.
Now, despite mediators presenting a partial deal proposal, which Hamas has accepted, Netanyahu has again rejected it, arguing that he wants a comprehensive deal that guarantees the release of all detainees while continuing the war to eliminate Hamas.
What the Broadcasting Authority revealed regarding Halevi's proposal for a comprehensive deal refutes Netanyahu's pretext for completing the exchange deal.
The Israeli opposition and the families of the detainees assert that Netanyahu consistently imposes new demands that obstruct the negotiations, ensuring the continuation of the war to preserve his political future and avoid accountability.
Locally, Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges that warrant imprisonment if convicted. The International Criminal Court also seeks his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in Gaza.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, leaving 64,300 Palestinians dead, 162,005 wounded, most of them children and women, more than 9,000 missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that has killed 376 Palestinians, including 134 children.
