Secretary of State Antony Blinken should first work on getting American hostages freed before having any discussion about a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel, said Ric Grenell, former acting Director of National Intelligence.
"Let's start from the premise that Hamas is still holding hostages, innocent people that they grabbed. Many of them are Americans, and I think that our secretary of state should be solely focused on this issue," Grenell said on Newsmax's "Newsline" on Wednesday when asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting the latest offer from Hamas for a cease-fire to ensure the return of hostages still held in the besieged enclave.
"We should first get the hostages freed. Hamas should give up the hostages before you're going to have any discussion of a deal," Grenell said.
"What Hamas is trying to do right now is say, 'We'll give up some of the hostages if you give us Palestinian prisoners.' These individuals who the Palestinian Authority and Hamas is asking for are convicted criminals who went through a judicial process, a free and fair judicial process in Israel, to be convicted of a crime.
"And so, the two cannot be equal, and for anyone, including Anthony Blinken, to somehow assume that this deal is a good deal because the two sides are morally equal is really troublesome. What our secretary of state needs to do is park himself in Doha and go to the countries and say I'm not leaving on my plane; I'm sitting here until I bring the American hostages home."
Netanyahu on Wednesday renewed a pledge to destroy the Palestinian Islamist movement, saying there was no alternative for Israel but bringing about the collapse of Hamas.
"The day after is the day after Hamas. All of Hamas," he said a press conference, insisting that total victory against Hamas was the only solution to the Gaza war.
"Continued military pressure is a necessary condition for the release of the hostages."
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
About NEWSMAX TV:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America!
- Find Newsmax channel in your home via cable and satellite systems – More Info Here
- Watch Newsmax+ on your home TV app or smartphone and watch it anywhere! Try it for FREE -- See More Here: NewsmaxPlus.com
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.