Trump’s envoy: Fighting in Gaza could end “immediately” if Hamas frees captives

US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler has stated that Israeli military operations in Gaza would cease “immediately” if Hamas were to release all remaining captives.

Speaking to Al Jazeera on April 16, Boehler emphasised that the onus was now on Hamas to act, according to Caliber,Az,

“I can tell you that the fighting would end immediately, immediately if hostages are released,” Boehler said, standing on the White House lawn. “The day that those hostages are released, the fighting will end.”

His remarks came as the death toll from Israel’s military campaign in Gaza rose sharply. According to health authorities in Gaza, at least 51,025 people have been killed since the conflict began, including 1,652 Palestinians since Israel resumed airstrikes in March following the collapse of a ceasefire brokered by the Trump administration.

Boehler reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s position that no further progress can be made until Hamas complies with hostage release demands. “Step one is all hostages released,” he said. “Step two is, let’s figure out this day after.”

However, Boehler declined to detail what the “day after” would entail, only referencing Trump’s controversial proposal to relocate Gaza’s population to neighboring countries—an idea that has drawn widespread condemnation from humanitarian organizations and several governments.

Hamas, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization, has maintained that it will only free additional captives if a new ceasefire agreement is reached. That would require conditions Israel has consistently rejected, including a full withdrawal of its forces from Gaza.

Under a previous six-week truce facilitated by Washington, Hamas released 33 captives in exchange for increased humanitarian aid and the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. A second phase, never implemented, was supposed to include the release of all remaining captives in return for a permanent cessation of hostilities. A third phase was to cover the return of deceased captives and the launch of a reconstruction plan for Gaza.

However, the ceasefire unraveled after the first phase, with Israel renewing its offensive. Since then, the United Nations estimates that more than 500,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the latest escalation.

Despite the mounting humanitarian toll, Boehler insisted, “Hamas can end this.”

By Khagan Isayev