US envoy says Israel prolonging Gaza war

Tensions appear to be rising between the US and Israel over the direction of the war in Gaza. According to Israel’s Channel 12, Steve Witkoff, the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, told families of Israeli captives that Israel is prolonging the conflict.

“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,” Witkoff reportedly said during the meeting, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Sunday.

Still, he struck a hopeful tone: “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.”

NBC News, meanwhile, reported that the relationship between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump “has become strained,” citing sources familiar with US-Israel discussions.