The White House gears up for a pivotal Gaza summit as President Donald Trump seeks to outline a path beyond the conflict – with Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff emphasizing Hamas accountability and full hostage freedom.
Witkoff revealed in an interview with Fox on Tuesday that a "large meeting" will take place tomorrow at the White House under the president's leadership to discuss the "day after" in the Gaza Strip. He said it involves a "very comprehensive plan" that will be presented, that "people are going to see how robust it is and how well-meaning it is," and that it reflects "the president's humanitarian motives."
Steve Witkoff, who leads the American effort to end the Israel-Hamas war, made it clear that the terror organization bears responsibility for the war's continuation. "Hamas, 100 percent," he emphasized. "There has been a deal on the table for the last 6 or 7 weeks that would have released 10 of the hostages out of the 20 that we think that are alive, and it was Hamas who slow-played that process, and it is Hamas now who is saying we accept that deal. And I think in large part they are saying that and changing their mind because the Israelis are putting some very intense pressure on them," he said.
WATCH IN FULL: U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions)'s must-watch interview with @BretBaier on @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/66oejQ8P7r
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 26, 2025
Regarding his position on destroying Hamas, he said, "That's not my call. I think there needs to be a deal. There needs to be hostages sent home. There would be a commensurate amount of Palestinian prisoners that would be sent home too. Every time there is a release, we see jubilation on both sides, and Hamas understands that they can have nothing to do with the government going forward. Those are terms of the Israelis, and they are terms of President Trump as well."
Witkoff added the US believes "that we're going to settle this one way or another, certainly before the end of this year," and noted that Israel announced alongside the Gaza City operation the funding of aid worth $600 million that will flow into Gaza, which indicates in his view that "it's not a maximalist approach on the Israelis' part, but they're indicating they have accommodations to make if Hamas decides to make them." He even called on the terror organization to start with basic humanitarian steps. "Hamas can begin by feeding the hostages. By giving them medical attention. By letting the Red Cross in. By doing the humane thing. The president is a humanitarian. That's what he wants to see."
On the Israeli strike at Nasser Hospital, where Hamas operatives died alongside civilians, he said, "Anytime you have civilian deaths, it's a tragedy. The president feels that... But it's a war, and we're trying to shut that war down." He added, "Hamas has held this region hostage for much too long, and it's time for it to end." He made it clear that "many of the Arab governments are in that camp as well."
