Israel’s ultimatum issued to Hamas regarding its agreement to the Gaza hostage deal framework remains valid until the end of US President Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East, Israeli sources clarified in conversation with The Jerusalem Post on Monday, following a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.
The meeting between the three also included a phone call between Netanyahu and the US president. “The deadline for Hamas to accept the Witkoff framework, which includes the release of 10 hostages in exchange for several weeks of a ceasefire, remains valid until the end of Trump’s visit to the region,” an Israeli source told the Post.
The source added that the Trump administration is also committed to the Witkoff framework and is pursuing it with full force. “The Americans see eye-to-eye with us. They understand that Hamas must be destroyed,” the source said. Huckabee tweeted after the meeting: “Forget rumors. We’re all on the same page”.
The Israeli source noted that Jerusalem is making every effort to explore possibilities for a deal, which is why a delegation led by “M,” a former deputy head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), will be sent to Qatar for talks.
“The prime minister made it clear that negotiations will only take place under fire,” a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday read.
In their phone call, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his assistance in securing the release of IDF soldier Edan Alexander. The US president, in turn, reaffirmed his commitment to Israel and his desire to continue close cooperation with the prime minister.
Only fear of IDF led to Hamas releasing Edan Alexander
Israeli officials emphasized on Monday that it was solely Hamas’s fear of an Israeli military operation that led to Alexander’s release.
“We hope that this release, combined with the ‘herd of elephants’ heading toward Gaza,” referring to a planned widened operation, “and the fact that Trump is in the region, will lead to additional deals,” the Israeli source told the Post.
The source added, “Hamas will not stall us. Negotiations will proceed under fire, and if Hamas does not agree to the Witkoff framework, the ‘Gideon’s Chariots’ operation will not be delayed.”