Trump’s envoy criticizes Netanyahu’s government… Accusing them of prolonging the war in Gaza

US Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff confirmed on Sunday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is prolonging the war on the Gaza Strip.

Witkoff’s remarks came during a meeting with the families of Israeli prisoners held by Palestinian factions in Gaza, according to Israeli private Channel 12, without specifying the location or date of the meeting.

“We want to get the detainees back, but Israel isn’t ready to end the war,” Witkoff said, according to sources who attended the meeting.

Witkoff sharply criticized the Netanyahu government for its conduct in Gaza, saying it was “prolonging it (the war) even though we don’t see a clear path forward, and an agreement must be reached”.

Hamas has repeatedly affirmed its readiness to begin comprehensive negotiations to release Israeli prisoners in one batch in exchange for an end to the genocide, the withdrawal of the Israeli army, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

But Netanyahu, who is wanted by international justice, is evading the situation by proposing new conditions, the most recent of which is the disarmament of Hamas, a demand the movement rejects as long as Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories continues.

Witkoff’s criticism comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s regional tour, which will include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, from Tuesday to Friday.

However, according to the announcement, he won’t visit Israel.

For days, US and Israeli media have been reporting tensions and a deterioration in the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu, and that the US president has decided to take action regarding the Middle East without waiting for the Israeli prime minister.

According to channel 12, Witkoff’s criticism comes at a sensitive time, as Israel prepares to expand its war of extermination in Gaza, perhaps immediately after Trump’s tour ends.

For its part, the Israeli official Broadcasting Authority reported on Sunday evening that Hamas is considering releasing Israeli-American prisoner Idan Alexander, considering that, if this were to happen, it would be a gesture of goodwill toward Trump at the start of his tour of the region, in exchange for resuming the entry of food aid into the Gaza Strip.

Since March 2, Israel has closed the crossings to humanitarian aid, pushing Gaza’s 2.4 million Palestinians into a state of famine.

From his part, Netanyahu indicated, during a session of the government’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday, that there was a high probability of completing the release of Alexander.

The opposition and the families of the Israeli hostages say that Netanyahu is continuing his war of extermination in Gaza, deferring to the more extreme right-wing faction within his government to further his own political interests, particularly his ability to remain in power.