White House envoy Steve Witkoff pushes for all Gaza hostages home this week

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff said he is pushing for all hostages held in the Gaza Strip to be returned this week, though negotiations with Hamas still appear to be at an impasse. 

“We adamantly want, and I’m following the president’s direction here when I say this, all of those hostages home this week,” Witkoff told Fox News’ Bret Baier on “Special Report” Tuesday night. 

“There’s been a deal on the table for the last six or seven weeks that would have released 10 of the hostages out of the 20 who we think are alive,” he said, noting that he believes Hamas is “100%” to blame for the hold-up.

“It was Hamas who slow played that process, and it is Hamas now who is saying we accept that deal,” Witkoff added.

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Witkoff did not go into detail on what specifically is holding up the return of the hostages who have been held captive in the Gaza Strip for nearly two years following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. 

But reports on Tuesday suggested the Israeli security cabinet refused to review a deal that would see the partial release of hostages and Witkoff confirmed the “official position” of Jerusalem is a full return of hostages or no ceasefire deal as it pushes forward with its plans to take Gaza City. 

In a statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group that represents the families of the hostages, said it is “hopeful that with this deal on the table, we will finally see our loved ones return.” 

Special envoy Steve Witkoff greets relatives of hostages held in Gaza at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, on May 13, 2025. ( Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)

“Time is running out, and we know that only by finalizing this deal can we bring all 50 hostages home – those who are alive to begin their healing journey, and those who were tragically lost to receive a dignified burial,” it added.  “We have no time left – let’s make this deal happen now.”

But the forum also issued a public statement on Tuesday after reports said Israel refused to review a partial return deal, and said, “It is deeply disappointing that on the very day…