President-elect Donald Trump's incoming special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is pushing for Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza before Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.
Witkoff, a prominent Jewish American real estate developer and close associate of Trump, traveled to Israel and Qatar in November to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The outgoing administration of President Joe Biden noted that, as part of the transition of power, Witkoff has been supporting ongoing efforts to broker peace to give way to the envoys and diplomats of the incoming Trump administration. (Related: White House staffers call out Biden administration over FAILURE to make Israel accountable for worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.)
Trump has made it clear that ending wars in the Middle East is a top priority for his administration, having repeatedly emphasized it during his presidential campaign. His administration is now working toward securing a ceasefire deal and making progress in freeing hostages still held in Gaza. Around 100 of the approximately 250 citizens and residents of Israel taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023 are believed to be still alive.
Trump has directly weighed in on the situation, taking to social media to issue a warning to Hamas.
In a post on Truth Social, he stated that if hostages were not released before his inauguration on January 20, 2025, there would be "ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East," threatening major repercussions for those responsible for the attacks on Israel and the hostage-taking.
Qatar's role in the mediation efforts is especially noteworthy. The Gulf state had previously suspended its mediator role due to a lack of progress in the talks. Still, sources suggest that Hamas negotiators could return to Doha for a fresh round of discussions aimed at a ceasefire. Despite this, Qatar's involvement remains pivotal in brokering any potential deal, with the Gulf nation continuing to express support for a Gaza ceasefire. A Reuters report indicated that Hamas negotiators could return to Qatar "soon" for renewed talks, underscoring Qatar's continued engagement.
The Biden administration, meanwhile, has faced challenges in its attempts to broker a ceasefire. While it successfully brokered a temporary 60-day ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in November, that agreement has been fragile, with Israel launching attacks on Lebanon in the days following the deal.
Biden officials have repeatedly blamed Hamas, particularly its leader Yehya Sinwar, for obstructing a ceasefire. However, Sinwar's death in October has not led to significant progress. Analysts argue that the primary roadblock to a ceasefire has been Netanyahu, who is facing grave domestic political challenges, including massive nonstop protests by Israelis against his government, a domestic corruption trial and the possibility of an international investigation into Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza, all of which may be influencing his decision to intentionally prolong the fighting.
Incoming Trump administration beginning to take charge of Middle East peace negotiations
Witkoff's visit highlights the shift in diplomatic focus as Trump’s team begins to take charge of Middle East negotiations. Witkoff, who has business dealings in the Gulf, including a $623 million sale of New York's Park Lane Hotel to Qatar’s investment fund, is also a key figure in Trump’s transition, having co-chaired Trump’s inaugural committee.
Trump's transition team has been closely monitoring ongoing ceasefire negotiations, and Witkoff is expected to play a central role once he assumes his position as the Middle East peace envoy.
In coordination with Biden's team, Witkoff has kept in touch with the outgoing administration’s foreign policy officials, particularly regarding efforts to free hostages from Gaza.
However, while some coordination has occurred, reports indicate no immediate plans for Biden's senior adviser, Brett McGurk, to return to the region. McGurk had been leading Biden's efforts on the ceasefire, but his presence is not currently anticipated with Trump's team taking a more prominent role.
As Witkoff continues his work, he is expected to operate from the White House once the new administration begins, much like Jared Kushner did during Trump's first term. The coordination between Biden's team and Trump's transition officials reflects the urgency of resolving the Gaza crisis and freeing the hostages. However, given the deepening geopolitical complexities, both administrations face significant hurdles in reaching a lasting ceasefire agreement.
Watch this video with UNRWA Chief Emergency Officer Louise Wateridge discussing the grave negative effects of the war on the children of Gaza.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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Nearly 130,000 children under 10 are trapped in northern Gaza without access to food and medicine.
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