Witkoff
© Shmulik Almani)US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff• Israeli Embassy • Washington DC • May 6, 2025
The Trump administration's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, criticized Israel in a meeting with hostage families, according to a Sunday evening report by Channel 12:
"We want to bring the hostages home, but Israel is not willing to end the war. Israel is prolonging it despite the fact that we don't see where else we can go and that an agreement must be reached."
However, he added an optimistic message:
"There is currently an opportunity window that we hope Israel and all the mediators will take advantage of. We are putting pressure on all the mediators and doing everything we can to bring the hostages home."
The relationship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump "has become strained," according to sources who spoke to NBC News on Sunday.

The relationship started off strong when Trump returned to the presidency in January, with both closely aligned on how to approach the Israel-Hamas War and Iranian aggression in the Middle East.
Wit and Neti
© Lior Segev/Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters/Nathan HowardUS Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Hamas expected to announce release of Israeli-American hostage

Hamas will release Israeli-American hostage soldier Edan Alexander, sources involved in hostage negotiations told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday.

Estimates say the release could take place in the coming 48 hours, sources told the Post.

Alexander's parents confirmed the development to Channel 12, stating: "We are waiting for Hamas's announcement, and Witkoff updated us that this is expected to happen." Witkoff is expected to visit Israel on Monday.