Trump adviser tells hostage families president-elect is committed to full Gaza deal
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Hundreds of people gather in Israel demonstrated to demand the immediate return of hostages to their homes after the ceasefire came into effect, on Jan. 18, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo: Nir Keidar/Anadolu via Getty Images
President-elect Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz on Saturday told the families of American Israeli hostages being held by Hamas that the Trump administration is committed to making sure all phases of the hostage-release and ceasefire in Gaza deal are implemented by Israel and Hamas, three sources who attended the meeting told Axios.
Why it matters: The families whose relatives are not expected to be released during the first phase of the deal told Waltz they're concerned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won't move forward to implementing the next two phases of the deal because of domestic political considerations.
- One of the hostages being held by Hamas who would only be released in the second phase of the deal is American citizen Idan Alexander. A few weeks ago, Hamas released a video of Alexander in which he called on Trump to act to secure his release.
Catch up quick: The first phase of the deal includes the release of 33 hostages over a 42-day ceasefire period. According to the agreement, on the 16th day of the ceasefire, when Trump will already be in office, negotiations are supposed to begin on the second phase of the deal.
- That phase will center on the release of the men still held by Hamas, the return of the bodies of dead hostages, a full Israeli Defense Forces withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a permanent ceasefire.
Israel's ultranationalist Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich voted against the deal and threatened that his party will leave the coalition and topple the government if the war doesn't resume after the 42-day ceasefire ends.
- Smotrich said on Saturday that he received guarantees from Netanyahu that the war will resume after the first phase of the hostage deal is implemented.
Behind the scenes: The meeting between Waltz and the families in Washington, DC was organized by Nizar Zaka, CEO of Hostage Aid International, an NGO that assists families of hostages and is working closely with senior Trump administration officials.
- The meeting was also attended by Trump's envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler and Eric Trager, who will serve as senior director for the Middle East at the White House National Security Council under Trump.
- Three sources who participated in the meeting said the families expressed concern about Smotrich's statements and that domestic political considerations will lead to the collapse of the deal after the first phase.
- The families asked that the Trump administration push for the negotiations on the second phase of the deal to begin as soon as possible rather than waiting for the 16th day of the ceasefire, the sources said.
- Waltz told the families the Trump administration would work to advance negotiations on phase two of the deal as soon as possible and that the president-elect is committed to the return of all hostages, including those in the later stages of the agreement.
- A spokesperson for Waltz didn't respond to questions.
What they're saying: Netanyahu said in a speech on Saturday that Trump told him in a phone call last week that the ceasefire during the first phase of the deal is only temporary.
- Netanyahu said both Trump and President Biden told him they would back Israel's right to resume the war if it reaches a conclusion that the negotiations over the second phase of the deal is futile.
- "If we need to go back to fighting we will do it in new ways and with great power," Netanyahu said.
The other side: "It better hold," Trump told NBC News on Saturday when asked about the agreement.
- He also said he told Netanyahu to do what he has to do in Gaza, but stressed that war "has to end."
