Trump says US in 'very deep' talks with Hamas after saying some hostages 'recently died’

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that the U.S. is engaged in “very deep negotiation with Hamas” over the remaining hostages, claiming, “we said, ‘Let them all out,” while also stating that some of the living hostages may have recently died. 

Trump also said that if Hamas does not release the hostages, “it’s going to be a tough situation, it’s going to be nasty.” 

טראמפ על עסקה מול חמאס:
חמאס צריכה לשחרר את כל החטופים בפעם אחת, אחרת המצב ייעשה קשה ומגעיל.

ייתכן שחלק מבין 20 החטופים החיים מתו לאחרונה. כך אני שומע. אני מקווה שזה לא נכון. pic.twitter.com/qN6fzle7dA

— מה חדש. What's new❓ (@Gloz111) September 6, 2025

President Trump also affirmed that the decision of what to do will be “Israel’s choice.” 

Trump also shocked hostage families in Israel, when he said that he believes some of the hostages may have died recently. 

“It's 20 people,” Trump said in reference to the living hostages, “but I think of the 20 there could be some that have recently died is what I'm hearing. I hope that's wrong.” 

"We know that at least 30 people are dead, and we are negotiating to get them out,” he continued. "When you get down to the final 10 or 20, you're not gonna get them out unless you're gonna do a lot and doing a lot means capitulation.” 

President Trump did not reveal the source of the information, which caused shock and grief among the hostage families in Israel. The Israeli government, meanwhile, maintains that 20 hostages remain alive, although it recognizes that the condition of several is not good. 

Trump’s comments regarding the hostages came as Hamas released a video of two hostages. 

Trump’s comments on the hostage situation came as he signed an executive order allowing Washington to designate certain countries as state sponsors of wrongful detention, imposing punitive measures on countries holding American citizens. 

At the same time, public broadcaster Kan News reported on Sunday that the U.S. has conveyed principles of a proposal for a comprehensive agreement to Hamas through Gershon Baskin, an Israeli activist who was involved in the Gilad Shalit negotiations. 

🚨 White House envoy Steve Witkoff conveyed messages to Hamas through Israeli peace activist Gershon Baskin regarding a comprehensive deal to release all the 48 remaining hostages in exchange for ending the war, according to a source familiar with the details
🚨Baskin is in…

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) September 7, 2025

Meanwhile, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is expected to arrive in Washington this week in order to speak with U.S. officials regarding the hostage negotiations, Kan reported. 

Saudi Arabia's Al-Hadath TV reported on Sunday morning that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently  held meetings with officials in Qatar and Egypt aimed at renewing hostage-ceasefire negotiations. On Thursday of last week, U.S.-Palestinian mediator Bishara Bahbah told Al-Arabiya that he had conveyed a message to Hamas before President Trump released his statement on social media in which he called for the hostages to be released “immediately.”