Adam Boehler tells Al Jazeera ‘nothing goes forward’ on ceasefire deal until release, as Israel’s assault continues.Washington, DC – Israeli attacks on Gaza will end if Hamas releases all remaining captives, US President Donald Trump’s top hostage envoy said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
“I can tell you that the fighting would end immediately, immediately if hostages are released,” said Adam Boehler, US special envoy for hostage response. “The day that those hostages are released, the fighting will end.”
Boehler’s comments on Wednesday came as the death toll from Israel’s offensive in Gaza reached 51,025, with at least 1,652 Palestinians killed since Israel’s attacks resumed after an earlier ceasefire brokered by Trump’s administration ended in March.
Despite Israel’s ongoing assault on the enclave, Boehler said the ball was in Hamas’s court.
“They can reach out any time,” he said from the White House lawn. “Hamas can end this.”
Boehler added that Trump has been clear that “nothing goes forward until all hostages are released”.
“Step one is all hostages released,” Boehler said. “Step two is, let’s figure out this day after.” Advertisement
He did not elaborate on what that “day after” would look like, only referring briefly to Trump’s suggestion of mass displacing Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries.
Hamas has said it will only release more captives if a new agreement to end the fighting is reached first. Such an agreement would need to include guarantees that have so far proven non-starters, including a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Under the previous six-week ceasefire agreement, Hamas released a total of 33 captives held in Gaza in exchange …
