According to Times of Israel, The Trump administration is intensifying pressure on Israel to finalize a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Hamas before President Donald Trump’s upcoming Middle East visit, according to a report by Haaretz. Citing an unnamed source, the outlet claims the U.S. has warned Israel that failure to align with American efforts could leave Jerusalem diplomatically isolated.
The push comes as Trump seeks to secure a major diplomatic achievement in the region, with tensions rising over Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Haaretz reports that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, is the senior US. official quoted by Israel’s Channel 12 criticizing Israel’s handling of the situation during a meeting with families of hostages.
“If until today, the hostages paid the price for not ending the war, then today the price will be much heavier for Israel, and not only the hostages,” the official was quoted as saying.
Witkoff allegedly warned that Israel’s refusal to end the war has already cost the hostages dearly, and continued intransigence could exact an even heavier toll on the nation. He reportedly highlighted Israel’s missed opportunity to leverage a potential U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement, which Trump is no longer tying to Saudi normalization with Israel. “If Israel doesn’t come to its senses, the price of missing out will be higher than ever before,” Witkoff is quoted as saying.
In a surprising twist, Haaretz claims Witkoff deliberately requested that his critical remarks about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government be leaked to the media, a move that underscores the administration’s urgency to push Israel toward a deal. However, Witkoff’s office has denied allegations that the U.S. is applying pressure, contradicting the narrative of coercion. The office of Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer declined to comment on the report, leaving the claims unaddressed by Israeli officials.
The reported pressure coincides with stalled ceasefire negotiations, mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, aimed at freeing hostages held by Hamas and halting hostilities in Gaza. The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack, has killed thousands and displaced millions.
As Trump prepares for his regional visit, the U.S. appears eager to broker a resolution, potentially reshaping Middle East dynamics. Yet, Netanyahu faces domestic resistance from hardline coalition members, complicating Israel’s response to U.S. demands. The outcome of this diplomatic push could redefine U.S.-Israel relations and the trajectory of the Gaza conflict.
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