Trump Says U.S. Knows Where Israeli Captive Is as he Pushes Toward Phase Two of Gaza Ceasefire

As momentum builds toward Phase Two of the Gaza ceasefire framework led by U.S. President Donald Trump, senior Israeli officials say advancing the agreement is squarely in Israel’s interest, warning that the current stalemate primarily benefits Hamas.

In a speech on Tuesday marking his first year in office, Trump briefly addressed the hostage issue, saying, “It seems we know where Ran Guili is.” The remark surprised some in Jerusalem, where officials say Israel does not know Guili’s precise location, only the general area.

“We returned all 20 of the hostages alive to their families, including the remains—they all came out,” Trump said. “They have one left that we think we know where he is. Amazing—we thought we wouldn’t get to him and now we’ve almost succeeded.”

Family Calls for Pressure on Hamas

Guili’s parents, Itzik and Talic, said Trump’s comments reinforce their claim that Hamas knows their son’s whereabouts and is deliberately violating the ceasefire framework and commitments to return all captives.

“It is now the responsibility of the Israeli government and the American administration to use their full weight to ensure Hamas fulfills its obligations—or sanctions should be imposed,” they said in a statement. The family added that Trump personally promised to bring their son home and urged Israel not to advance Phase Two until Guili is returned.

Israel’s coordinator for POWs and Missing Persons, Gal Hirsch, said the family is being kept informed and that efforts to recover Guili “are continuing continuously and in various ways.”

Israel: Phase Two Means Disarmament

Senior Israeli officials said Phase Two would require Hamas to disarm and demilitarize—terms they expect the group to reject. “Hamas will not agree,” one official said, predicting an ultimatum followed by renewed fighting if talks fail.

“Hamas benefits from the current situation,” officials said, citing the flow of aid and funds, the ceasefire, and the group’s ability to rebuild capabilities. “Each day that passes, Hamas consolidates control over the population and prepares the ground with explosives. This interim period is good for Hamas and bad for us.”

According to the officials, the proposed deadline for Hamas to disarm has not been finalized but is expected to be about two months. They said Trump favors a shorter timeline, while advisers have argued for a slightly longer window.

Rafah Crossing and U.S.-Led Oversight

After Israel’s security cabinet decided not to open the Rafah crossing for now—despite U.S. pressure—officials outlined conditions for a future opening following Guili’s return. These include ensuring more people exit Gaza than enter and establishing an Israeli-controlled screening corridor on Israel’s side of the border so all crossings pass through Israeli inspection.

Officials also said a U.S. decision to form an advisory council—including Turkey’s foreign minister and a senior Qatari official—was not coordinated with Israel. “It’s unclear what this body’s role is or how it relates to the ‘Peace Council,’” one official said, adding that Turkey and Qatar would not deploy personnel to Gaza.

Reports of Hamas Leaders Preparing to Leave

Separately, the Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that senior Hamas commanders are preparing to leave Gaza as Phase Two approaches, pending arrangements for the territory’s future. Palestinian sources said the plan would pair the entry of a technocratic government with the departure of certain Hamas figures, potentially including Izz ad-Din Haddad, a senior military commander.

According to the report, Turkey is among the potential destinations. Several of the officials expected to leave were recently appointed to leadership roles within Hamas’s political bureau in Gaza as part of a reorganization led by Ali al-Amoudi, an associate of former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was killed by Israel in October 2024.

Sources said the departures would be “irreversible, at least for several years,” with senior figures resettling in multiple countries.