Steve Witkoff, the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East, recently revealed that he felt misled by Hamas during negotiations aimed at easing tensions in the region. In an interview on Fox News, he reflected on his attempts to broker a deal following the October 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of hundreds hostage.
Witkoff shared his disappointment after meeting with Arab leaders in Qatar, where he believed he had reached an agreement with Hamas. “I thought we had a deal, an acceptable deal,” he said. However, he soon realized that the group had no intention of following through. “Maybe that’s just me getting duped,” he admitted.
He emphasized that the U.S. remains firmly committed to supporting Israel, stating, “This is on Hamas.” He criticized the group for missing opportunities to demilitarize and accept a proposed ceasefire that could have lasted 40 to 50 days, allowing for discussions on a potential truce.
Witkoff’s comments come after he faced backlash for suggesting that Hamas could remain in power in Gaza if they agreed to demilitarization. He argued that the group could still play a political role without military involvement. “What’s acceptable to us is they need to demilitarize,” he explained.
In a surprising take, Witkoff claimed that Hamas was not as ideologically rigid as often portrayed. He suggested that their fighters might not be wholly committed to their beliefs and could be open to negotiation. “I believe they strap on the suicide vests onto young kids who don’t know what they’re doing,” he said, indicating that understanding their motivations could lead to more effective discussions.
Despite the ongoing conflict, Witkoff expressed hope that dialogue could eventually bring an end to the violence, even though previous efforts over the last 18 months have not yielded results. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but maintained a belief in the power of conversation to resolve deep-rooted issues.