The US special envoy to the Middle East has told the families of Israeli captives that he believed there was a real possibility of making progress in Qatar’s capital during indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, Al Jazeera reports.

Speaking alongside US envoy Adam Boehler, he said if they didn’t believe in that possibility, “they wouldn’t be making the trip to Doha,” local media quoted the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as saying.

“Witkoff emphasised that they will accept nothing less than the return of everyone,” the group said.