NEWNow you can take heed to Fox Information articles!
President Donald Trump mentioned Monday that the remaining Israeli hostages will solely be returned as soon as Hamas is “confronted and destroyed,” because the Gaza-based terrorist group cited alleged progress in ongoing ceasefire talks.
The U.S. and Israel pulled their negotiators from Qatar final month, with Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff saying on the time that Hamas demonstrated a “lack of want to succeed in a ceasefire in Gaza” and have been probably not negotiating in good religion.
“We are going to solely see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!” Trump wrote on TRUTH Social on Monday morning.
“The earlier this takes place, the higher the possibilities of success might be,” Trump wrote. “Keep in mind, I used to be the one who negotiated and acquired lots of of hostages freed and launched into Israel (and America!). I used to be the one who ended 6 wars, in simply 6 months. I used to be the one who OBLITERATED Iran’s Nuclear amenities. Play to WIN, or don’t play in any respect! Thanks to your consideration to this matter!”
President Donald Trump speaks throughout an occasion on the Kennedy Middle on Aug. 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures)
The message got here forward of Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders on the White Home on Monday as they attempt to iron out a separate peace cope with Russia.
In the meantime, within the Center East, the Iran-backed Hamas mentioned Monday it has accepted a brand new proposal from Arab mediators for a ceasefire within the Gaza Strip that will nonetheless want Israel’s approval.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in response that Hamas is under “huge strain” after Israel introduced plans to reoccupy Gaza Metropolis and different closely populated areas after ceasefire negotiations once more stalled in Qatar final month.
“I hear the media reviews – and from them, you may draw one conclusion: Hamas is underneath huge strain,” Netanyahu mentioned in a Hebrew video assertion translated by Fox Information.
Netanyahu additionally mentioned on Monday he visited the Gaza Division, the place he met with the senior Israeli Protection Forces command employees, and expressed “super appreciation for the nice achievements of the IDF within the Battle of Rebirth – the warfare on seven fronts.” The prime minister mentioned he was “deeply impressed by the combating spirit and willpower to finish the defeat of Hamas and to carry concerning the launch of all our hostages.”
He mentioned he additionally spoke to the protection minister and chief of employees “about our plans concerning Gaza Metropolis and the completion of our missions.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Aug. 13, 2025. (RONEN ZVULUN/POOL/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
US ENVOY NEARS LEBANON-ISRAEL CEASEFIRE THAT WOULD DISARM HEZBOLLAH TERROR GROUP
A diplomat briefed on the negotiations with Hamas informed Fox Information that “by way of strain on Hamas to simply accept, Qatari and Egyptian mediators secured a breakthrough that preserves 98% of the Witkoff proposal, which the Israeli facet had beforehand agreed to.”
“The mediators have been in a position to safe this final result regardless of current occasions and developments shifting towards additional escalation,” the diplomat mentioned. “This step marks the start of the street to a complete answer.”
Egyptian International Minister Badr Abdelatty mentioned mediators are “exerting intensive efforts” to revive a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, throughout which some hostages can be launched and the perimeters would negotiate a long-lasting ceasefire and the return of the remainder. He spoke throughout a go to to Egypt’s Rafah crossing with Gaza, which has not functioned since Israel seized the Palestinian facet in Might 2024. He was accompanied by Mohammad Mustafa, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority.
Abdelatty mentioned Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had joined the talks, which embody senior Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya, who arrived in Cairo final week. He mentioned they’re open to different concepts, together with a complete deal that will launch all of the hostages without delay.
Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, later informed the Related Press that the terrorist group had accepted the proposal launched by the mediators, with out elaborating.
Tel Aviv protesters on Aug. 17, 2025, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu safe a cope with Hamas to launch the remaining hostages. (Chen Junqing/Xinhua by way of Getty Pictures)
An Egyptian official, chatting with the AP on situation of anonymity to debate the delicate talks, mentioned the proposal contains modifications to Israel’s pullback of its forces and ensures for negotiations on a long-lasting ceasefire in the course of the preliminary truce. The official mentioned it’s nearly equivalent to an earlier proposal accepted by Israel, which has not but joined the most recent talks.
Netanyahu has vowed to proceed the warfare till all of the hostages are returned and Hamas has been disarmed, and to keep up lasting safety management over Gaza.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Hamas has mentioned it would solely launch the remaining hostages in change for a long-lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal.
Fox Information’ Yonat Friling and the Related Press contributed to this report.
