Witkoff Concedes He Was ‘Duped’ by Hamas Following Comment on Their Political Role in Gaza

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff made a stunning admission this weekend, conceding he was "duped" by Hamas terrorists after previously suggesting they could remain politically in control of Gaza if they agreed to demilitarize.

In an interview on Fox News, Witkoff admitted defeat after weeks of fruitless negotiations with Hamas, the Iranian-backed terrorist group responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre that left 1,200 innocent civilians dead and hundreds taken hostage.

“I thought we had a deal, an acceptable deal,” Witkoff said, referencing negotiations held with Arab leaders in Qatar. “Maybe that’s just me getting duped, but I thought we were there, and evidently we weren’t.”

Witkoff made it clear “This is on Hamas. The United States stands with the State of Israel. That’s a 100% commitment.”

His comments come after he sparked outrage last week in an interview with Tucker Carlson, where he shockingly entertained the idea that Hamas could stay politically active in Gaza so long as they demilitarized.

“What’s acceptable to us is they need to demilitarize,” Witkoff stated at the time. “Then maybe they could stay there a little bit. Be involved politically.”

Such remarks drew heavy backlash from both American conservatives and Israel’s supporters worldwide, who recognize the reality: Hamas is not a group interested in peace or politics. It is a designated terrorist organization, backed by Iran, committed to Israel's destruction and willing to sacrifice civilians to prolong conflict.

Even more concerning, Witkoff argued that Hamas wasn’t “ideologically locked in,” contradicting all evidence on the ground where thousands of Hamas fighters have chosen death over surrender, and where hostage negotiations have consistently been stonewalled.

Key facts to remember:

• Hamas is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization responsible for decades of violence, including the October 7 attack.

• Hamas has repeatedly rejected ceasefire agreements and diplomatic overtures.

• Negotiating with terrorists has failed for over 18 months, costing innocent lives and prolonging suffering.

While Tucker Carlson praised Witkoff’s negotiation strategy as "smart," Witkoff’s own admission reveals the dangerous naïveté of trying to placate violent extremists.

President Trump and his administration have rightly reaffirmed unwavering support for Israel. The U.S. must reject any proposals that allow terrorist groups like Hamas to retain any foothold in Gaza or elsewhere.

Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on Middle East policy and U.S. foreign strategy.