المبعوث الأمريكي: «حماس» منفتحة على التخلي عن سلاحها

The American envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, revealed that Hamas is open to giving up its weapons, and announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to ending the war. The Israeli newspaper "Haaretz" quoted Witkoff as saying: "The plan is to end the war, and the course of negotiations must change to the principle of all or nothing."

He added: "Our goal is to recover the hostages in one deal and end the war, not to conclude partial agreements," emphasizing that there can be no talk of victory unless all the hostages are freed.

He mentioned that there is a joint effort from Israel and the United States to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine to Gaza. The American envoy acknowledged that there are difficulties and shortages.

Witkoff visited a food aid distribution center in Rafah in southern Gaza amid tight security measures. He observed the humanitarian situation and the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday in an attempt to save the ceasefire talks in Gaza and address the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, as a global hunger monitoring observatory warned of a famine.

The American envoy reported that the majority of Gaza's residents want the return of the Israeli prisoners. He confirmed during a meeting with representatives of the families of Israeli prisoners in Tel Aviv today (Saturday) that there is no victory without the recovery of all hostages. He claimed that there is no famine in the besieged territory despite all the assurances from international and humanitarian organizations. He stressed that no one wants to expand the war in Gaza, and that everyone wants an end.

The American envoy arrived at "Hostages Square" in central Tel Aviv today, where families welcomed him with chants calling for the immediate return of the prisoners, according to Channel 13 Israel.

Families of Israeli prisoners demanded Netanyahu's government to conclude a comprehensive agreement to return all 50 detainees in exchange for ending the war. They called during a vigil in Tel Aviv for Prime Minister Netanyahu to rise above political considerations and conclude a deal to return the hostages.

Hamas released a video on Friday titled "They Eat What We Eat," showing the captive Avitar David looking thin and tired inside a tunnel.

The total number of hostages held by Hamas is about 50 individuals, both alive and deceased.

For its part, an Israeli source reported that there are 20 people alive among the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as there is no confirmed information about their deaths.

He told the TASS agency: "Their number does not exceed 20, and there is no data regarding their deaths."