US President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in ongoing attempts to secure a Gaza ceasefire. Netanyahu sent his most senior delegates, including Israel’s head of Mossad spy agency, from there to Doha, where they will attend further talks geared towards the negotiations that will allegedly secure the free release of captured hostages in Gaza that are held by Hamas.
Israeli officials have reported some success in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas, led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. The goal of these talks is to put an end to the violence raging in Gaza and to free the Israeli hostages before January 20, when Trump will be inaugurated. As part of this deal, a few Palestinian prisoners held by Israel may also be freed.
The families of Israeli hostages welcomed the decision by the Israeli government to send senior officials to advance these discussions, calling it a “historic opportunity.” Witkoff, who arrived in Doha on Friday, met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. During his visit, Witkoff reassured Egyptian and Qatari mediators that the US would continue working toward a fair and swift resolution to end the conflict.
Gaza conflict started in October 2023 after Hamas militants attacked Israeli territory, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Since then, over 46,000 people in Gaza have died as the region faces widespread destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis. The situation remains dire, with many people displaced and basic needs unmet.
Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes continue: one of them hit a school sheltering displaced families in Jabalia, killing at least eight. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas militants operating at the school while trying to minimize civilian casualties.
