Israeli Claims: Witkoff Assured Families of the Kidnapped that Hamas Agreed to Disarm and Abandon Power

Translation by SadaNews - Journalists working for Hebrew newspapers claimed today, Saturday, that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff informed the families of the Israeli captives that Hamas is ready to hand over its weapons and relinquish control of the Palestinian Authority.

Correspondents from Yedioth Ahronoth and Haaretz reported that some families of the Israeli captives who met with Witkoff stated that Hamas had agreed to disarm and would also abandon power, noting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is committed to ending the war.

Those correspondents believed this could indicate that there might be a comprehensive deal rather than a partial one, and that there is no longer justification to continue the war.

The statements attributed to Witkoff had not been confirmed through the official websites of the newspapers at the time of preparing this news. SadaNews continued to follow up.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth's website, the meeting between Witkoff and the families of the kidnapped was tense, while the U.S. envoy asserted that he is aware of their children's situation and that the war must end with a comprehensive deal for their return, as translated by SadaNews.

Witkoff claimed that there is no famine in Gaza but rather it is propaganda from Hamas that must be refuted to proceed with negotiations, noting that there is a majority in Israel supporting the return of the captives and the end of the war, which is what the Trump administration is striving for.