The Americans admit that their focus is on freeing the remaining Israeli-American, Edan Alexander, but say they are trying to free Israeli hostages too. Jerusalem is not pleased with the spotty coordination and double-dealing.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday defended his administration’s direct negotiations with Hamas, insisting they were conducted to benefit Israel and secure the release of hostages.

“We are helping Israel in those discussions because we’re talking about Israeli hostages,” Trump told reporters while signing executive orders in the Oval Office.

“We’re not doing anything in terms of Hamas. We’re not giving cash,” he continued. “You have to negotiate. There’s a difference between negotiating and paying. We want to get these people out.”

Trump met with eight released hostages on Wednesday and expressed disbelief at their accounts of mistreatment in captivity. According to Channel 13, he repeatedly asked them whether Israelis supported continuing with the hostage deal beyond its first phase. Polls indicate a majority do, though support among coalition voters is lower.

Speaking Thursday, Trump said the hostages urged him to push forward.

“We have 59 left—of which 24 are living [and] they said they’re in very bad shape… [but the released hostages] want to know if we could just continue” with the release of those still held in Gaza, Trump said.

He also referred to the ultimatum he issued after meeting with the freed captives, warning Hamas to release the remaining hostages immediately or face destruction. “Somebody’s going to have to get a lot rougher than they’re getting. It’s a shame.”

Leak Meant to Derail Talks

Jerusalem is furious over the direct US-Hamas talks, a senior government official told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity. Confirming a Ynet report, the official said Israel deliberately leaked news of the negotiations to sabotage them.

While the White House claimed Israel was consulted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu only learned of the US-Hamas talks after the fact, the official said.

Trump’s hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, met with Hamas to negotiate the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of American-Israelis Omer Neutra, Itay Chen, Gadi Haggai, and Judith Weinstein. The discussions also covered a broader deal for releasing all remaining hostages and ending the war triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 massacre in southern Israel.

Israel, upon discovering the meeting, sought to derail it by leaking its existence to the press. “The leak achieved its purpose,” the official admitted, adding that the talks have since stalled.

Jerusalem fears Washington will lose interest in a broader hostage-ceasefire deal once all American hostages are freed.

Prioritizing Americans

US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff attempted to allay Israeli concerns, insisting Washington is committed to freeing all hostages. However, he acknowledged that Alexander’s release is a priority.

“Edan Alexander is very important to us—as all the hostages are—but Edan Alexander is an American, and he’s injured, so he’s a top priority for us,” Witkoff told reporters outside the White House.

He appeared to confirm Alexander’s case was central to Boehler’s discussions with Hamas but lamented that the talks had yet to yield results.

Trump’s Ultimatum

“Unfortunately, what we learned is that Hamas told us they were going to be thinking about it a certain way… That’s important information for us to have. And so came the tweet from the president,” Witkoff said, referring to Trump’s ultimatum.

“We want to see these hostages come home. We’re not going to sit here and do nothing and tolerate these kinds of inhumane conditions. They’ve lived in a terrible situation. Who keeps dead bodies? Who does that? Who keeps people chained up downstairs? Who murders in front of other hostages? What has happened here is intolerable, and it’s not going to be tolerated by President Trump.”

“We’re prepared to have dialogue. But if the dialogue doesn’t work, then the alternative is not such a good alternative for Hamas,” Witkoff warned.

Despite the impasse, Witkoff expressed hope Hamas would reconsider in the coming days. “The president has issued a statement about what’s acceptable to him and what’s not. Hopefully, we’ll see some good conduct next week, and I’ll be able to go in there and have discussions.”

He added that he plans to visit four regional countries next week.

The Future of the Deal

Beyond Alexander’s release, Witkoff suggested Hamas’s only way forward would be to free all hostages and go into exile—something the group has shown no inclination to do.

Witkoff admitted uncertainty over what will follow Trump’s ultimatum. “It’s unclear exactly what’s going to happen. There’s going to be some action taken. It could be jointly with the Israelis.”

Pressed on whether the US could join Israel in military action against Hamas, Witkoff appeared to walk back the suggestion. “We’re a guarantor of the process. It’s the Israelis who control Gaza today… and the counterparty is Hamas. Any action principally comes from the Israelis. But you heard the president say yesterday, he’s giving the Israelis anything they need. It’s the Israelis [who will act], but with very, very strong physical and emotional support from the United States.”

Asked about the status of phase two of the deal, Witkoff responded, “People define it as an extension of phase one or phase two. For me, I don’t really care what we call it.”

“Hamas has an opportunity to act reasonably, to do what’s right, and then to walk out. They’re not going to be a part of a government there,” Witkoff added. “I wouldn’t test President Trump.”

When asked whether Trump’s ultimatum has a specific deadline, Witkoff replied, “I think there definitely is such a date, but I’m not at liberty to discuss what that is.”

Witkoff defended the direct talks, emphasizing Boehler’s responsibility to explore negotiations. “It was the responsibility of the special envoy to actually have a conversation and see if anything can be achieved,” he said. “I commend him for doing that. Adam cares about lives. The hostage families are grateful for it, and so is President Trump.”

Boehler, addressing the administration’s efforts, stated, “You’ll see some announcements in the coming days.”

“The president will continue to push until all of our Americans, dead or alive, are returned,” Boehler said at a State Department event for hostage families.

“You saw what the president said yesterday to Hamas, where he made it abundantly clear that taking US citizens, or any citizens, wrongfully, is not appropriate and it will be answered in the toughest way possible. This president has no qualms about using action when it’s necessary. And we will all back him up in that.”