WASHINGTON — The incoming envoy for the Middle East appointed by President-elect Donald Trump has recently engaged in discussions in Israel and Qatar focused on securing a ceasefire and negotiating the release of hostages in Gaza, according to a U.S. official.
Steve Witkoff, designated by Trump as the special envoy for the region, held separate talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, indicated that Witkoff has been in ongoing communication with the foreign policy team of President Biden, as both administrations work together to facilitate the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
There are indications that discussions regarding a ceasefire to conclude the ongoing conflict have made headway recently; however, no plans have been made for Biden to send senior adviser Brett McGurk back to the region. McGurk has been the primary liaison for the administration during earlier negotiations.
In related developments, Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political faction, stated in a Thursday interview from Turkey that international mediators have re-engaged in negotiations concerning a ceasefire with Israel and expressed optimism that an agreement to end the conflict, which has lasted 14 months, might be achievable.
Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts come on the heels of Trump’s assertion that he expects the release of hostages held by Hamas before he takes office in January. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that failure to release the hostages by January 20, 2025, would result in severe repercussions in the Middle East for those responsible for the violence.
The conflict in Gaza erupted when militants from Hamas breached southern Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of approximately 250 people. Israeli authorities estimate that about two-thirds of the captured hostages remain alive.
There has been no official comment from the Trump transition team regarding Witkoff’s recent visits to the Middle East, nor has the State Department provided insights into his travels.
Once Witkoff begins his tenure as the Middle East peace envoy, it is anticipated that he will operate from the White House, similarly to Jared Kushner during Trump’s first term. Efforts for collaboration regarding the Middle East situation have been acknowledged by both Biden’s and Trump’s teams.
Last month, officials from the Biden administration stated they had kept Trump’s upcoming administration updated about their negotiations for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah concerning the Israel-Lebanon border. In contrast, Trump’s team was quick to assert credit for the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Florida Representative Mike Waltz, chosen by Trump as national security adviser, claimed in a post on X that international dialogue was occurring due to Trump’s leadership, which he views as having curtailed chaos in the region.
Conversely, Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, downplayed the notion that Trump deserved recognition for the negotiations’ outcomes. Sullivan remarked that significant initiatives often attract credit from unexpected sources.
Witkoff, who is heavily involved in real estate investments in Florida, is also a co-chairman of Trump’s inaugural committee. Just prior to his appointment, he was reportedly with Trump during a golfing venture in West Palm Beach, Florida, at the time of a second assassination attempt on Trump’s life this year.