If Hamas does not act toward a ceasefire and return the hostages, “Israel is going to have to take some kinetic action,” US Special Envoy for Hostage Response Adam Boehler said on CNN’s State of the Union.
Kinetic action is a euphemistic phrase used to describe active warfare, including lethal force.
Israel has “a new sense of ability to get something done,” following the successful airstrike campaign against Iran, Boehler told Jake Tapper.
Tapper asked him how close a deal with Hamas is and what the remaining sticking points are to get hostages home.
Boehler noted that he is optimistic, as US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has been “leaning in really closely on a deal, and he’s done it on Israel... the Israelis want something done.”
'Hamas is very hard-headed'
However, Boehler also stated, “Hamas is very hard-headed,” confirming his personal experience negotiating with the terror group.
“They have been offered many things that they should take, and it is time for Hamas to release the hostages,” he noted.
Israel is “bending over backwards” to get Hamas to agree, the envoy added.
Boehler also highlighted that two murdered hostages, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, are US nationals, stating, “We need to get those Americans out; we need to get the other hostages out.”
We have told Hamas that there is a “firm pathway to negotiate peace, and that’s the best they are going to get,” Boehler said.
Hamas should take the deal, and every time that they have not, the offer goes down, he added.