Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Mideast, stated on Friday that he doesn’t believe Hamas is “ideologically intractable” and argued that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is “well-motivated” but working against the wishes of the Israeli public, which prioritizes the release of hostages from Gaza over the eradication of Hamas.
In a detailed 90-minute interview, Witkoff elaborated on the perspectives of Israel, Hamas, and Qatar in the ongoing Gaza conflict. He also defended Doha from critics questioning its stance, voiced concerns over the war’s destabilizing effects on countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and suggested that Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa may have changed since his association with Al-Qaeda. He also shared insights about his successful involvement in the January ceasefire negotiations and argued that the Iranian nuclear crisis could be addressed through diplomacy.
The discussion took place with Tucker Carlson, a right-wing host who has faced backlash in American Jewish circles for hosting individuals with controversial views, including those who have promoted antisemitic or Holocaust-denying rhetoric. Carlson is widely followed, especially among Trump supporters.
Witkoff began the conversation by explaining that his role requires him to understand the motivations of the various parties involved. “What does Hamas want? I think they want to stay there till the end of time. They want to rule Gaza, and that’s unacceptable. We had to know that… What they want is unacceptable,” he said.
He continued, “What’s acceptable to us is [that] they need to demilitarize. Then maybe they could stay there a little bit… be involved politically.” Witkoff also emphasized that it’s unacceptable for Hamas to control Gaza, as this would perpetuate cycles of violence. “But… we can’t have a terrorist organization running Gaza because that won’t be acceptable to Israel. Then we’ll just have the same exact experiences, that every five, 10, 15 years we’re going to have another October 7.”
Witkoff acknowledged that while he has worked to understand Hamas’s position, he does not engage with the terror group directly. Instead, Qatar serves as a mediator. Although Witkoff authorized US hostage envoy Adam Boehler to hold secret talks with Hamas earlier this year, these discussions were discontinued after Israel discovered them and expressed displeasure.
Reflecting on the footage he was shown by Israeli authorities during his first visit to Israel, Witkoff recalled, “It was horrific. It is about mass rapes. There were pictures of Hamas people cutting the head off of an Israeli soldier… It’s beyond what I’ve ever seen.” He added, “It can taint the way you’re going to feel about [Hamas]. Sometimes as a negotiator, you have to be dispassionate. It’s not easy to make decisions if you’re going to [watch the film], but I had to see [it]… We can’t ignore the reality of what happened on October 7. They would tell you that they’ve got justification, but there’s no justification… for what happened that day.”
Despite the horrifying images, Witkoff emphasized the importance of understanding Hamas’s objectives. “You have to know what Hamas wants… and then you’ve got to figure out what you can give them that allows them to walk out because that’s what’s needed here,” he said.
Witkoff also addressed the narrative that Hamas is ideologically rigid, asserting, “What we heard in the beginning of this conflict is Hamas is ideological, that they’re prepared to die for a whole variety of reasons. I personally — and I talk to the president about this… I said to him, ‘I don’t think that they are as ideologically locked in’. They’re not ideologically intractable. I never believed that.” He further explained, “They strap the suicide vest onto young kids who don’t know what they’re doing… They tell them a story. Once you understand that [Hamas] wanted to live, then you were able to talk to them in a more effective way.”
Witkoff reached this conclusion after reviewing US intelligence reports and observing the dynamics of the negotiations. “That’s when I came to the conclusion that they wanted alternatives,” he said.
Despite Witkoff’s belief that Hamas could be more flexible, the terror group has not shifted its position in negotiations. Recently, Hamas rejected a ceasefire extension proposal that Witkoff had put forward, which would have extended the first phase of the ceasefire through Passover and included the release of five hostages along with Palestinian prisoners. Hamas insisted on adhering to the original ceasefire terms, which would have led to discussions about a second phase, but Israel refused, as that would require a full IDF withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent end to hostilities.
Although Netanyahu agreed to the original terms, he has made it clear that he will not accept a peace deal until Hamas’s military and political power is dismantled. The US backed Israel’s position, choosing to extend the first phase rather than proceed with the second phase.
Hamas, however, proposed releasing several American-Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but the US had already distanced itself from those talks, with Witkoff dismissing the proposal as a “non-starter.” Two days later, Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza after Hamas repeatedly refused to release hostages.
Witkoff remains optimistic about the potential for a ceasefire to be reinstated, stating, “There have been signs.” He also noted that Israel’s re-entry into Gaza was “unfortunate” but seemed inevitable given Hamas’s rejection of the ceasefire extension. “I did not know before the Israelis went in,” he clarified, suggesting a disconnect with the White House’s position, which had claimed that Israel consulted the US before resuming the airstrikes.
Still, Witkoff expressed hope that the renewed military actions could lead to more productive negotiations. “We may be able to use this to get Hamas to be a whole lot more reasonable,” he said, adding that discussions were ongoing in an effort to halt the airstrikes and resolve the conflict through dialogue.
Carlson pressed Witkoff on Israel’s long-term strategy for Gaza, to which Witkoff responded, “Well, I think that’s complicated.” He then praised Netanyahu’s success in addressing threats from Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran, stating, “That Iranian crescent… that everybody thought was going to be effective, it’s been largely eliminated.” Witkoff explained, “Netanyahu has ‘done an exceptional job with that. But the rap he gets is that he’s more concerned about the fight than he is about the hostages.”
Witkoff noted that public opinion in Israel overwhelmingly supports securing the release of the hostages, which he said places Netanyahu in a difficult position. “He does want to get hostages home — if he can — but he believes that pressuring Hamas is the only way to do it.”
Reflecting on his visit to Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, Witkoff shared that the experience was “spiritual.” He spoke about how the loss of his own son to a drug overdose has given him a unique understanding of what hostage families are going through. “That’s been a big help for them, but interestingly enough, it’s been a big help for me,” he said, describing how the hostage crisis has deeply affected Israel, calling it a fracture “cutting right through the soul of the country.”
When asked again about Israel’s post-war plan for Gaza, Witkoff diverted from a direct answer, instead focusing on regional stability. He mentioned potential solutions for Gaza, including development plans and opportunities for regional cooperation. “We need real elections in Gaza… We need a real security force there… If Israel thinks they’re going to have a problem in Gaza because Hamas is going to be there long-term, this is never going to end,” Witkoff concluded.
He also warned that the ongoing war could destabilize other countries in the region, such as Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. “A country can’t exist like that. They’re largely broke. They need a lot of help,” he said, referring to Egypt’s financial struggles. Witkoff expressed concern that the Gaza conflict could further destabilize these nations.
Witkoff also alluded to potential shifts in Syria and Turkey’s internal affairs, offering hope that diplomatic shifts could lead to positive outcomes. “People do change. You at 55 are completely different than how you were at 35,” he said, referring to Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.
Finally, Witkoff addressed the delicate balance in US relations with Qatar, acknowledging the criticism of the Gulf state’s ties to Hamas. “The Qataris… are criticized for not being well motivated. It’s preposterous. They are well motivated,” Witkoff said. He defended Qatar’s role as a mediator, comparing them to countries like Switzerland and Norway, which have also played roles in diplomatic mediation.
In the closing part of the interview, Witkoff reflected on his role in the January ceasefire negotiations, crediting Trump’s leadership style with securing success. “It was the president’s overarching personality, and letting everybody know that success was not an option. It had to be.”
He also expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a peaceful resolution with Iran, revealing that Trump’s message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been focused on diplomacy. “The president… doesn’t want to go to war, and he’ll use military action to stop a war,” Witkoff concluded.
{Matzav.com}

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