From: The Times of Israel March 22, 2025
Witkoff: Hamas isn’t ideologically intractable, Gaza conflict can end through dialogue

In candid podcast interview, top Trump aide indicates renewed IDF strikes may be necessary after Hamas intransigence, says PM ‘going up against Israeli public opinion that wants hostages back’

Witkoff held the conversation with Tucker Carlson, a right-wing talk show host who has come under fire in American Jewish circles for hosting guests who have pushed antisemitic claims and Holocaust revisionism. He is also known to enjoy a very large fan base, particularly among Trump supporters.

The filmed podcast interview began with Trump’s Mideast envoy explaining that his job requires him to understand the motivations of the various players with whom he engages.

“What does Hamas want? I think:
1. they want to stay there till the end of time.
2. They want to rule Gaza, and that’s unacceptable.
3. We had to know that… What they want is unacceptable,”
4. “What’s acceptable to us is [that] they need to demilitarize.
5. Then maybe they could stay there a little bit… be involved politically,”
6. “But… we can’t have a terrorist organization running Gaza because that won’t be acceptable to Israel.
7. Then we’ll just have the same exact experiences, that every five, 10, 15 years we’re going to have another October 7”