Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy for the Trump administration, is reportedly en route to Egypt to participate in ongoing discussions aimed at resolving the conflict in Gaza. This move comes amid optimistic signals from the White House regarding a potential agreement.
On Monday, President Trump shared his positive outlook from Washington, stating, “I think we’re doing very well.” He further suggested that Hamas was “agreeing to things that are very important,” though he did not provide specific details.
Adding to the momentum, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed on Tuesday that Mr. Witkoff was expected to arrive in Egypt within hours to join the pivotal talks.
Sources close to the negotiations, who preferred to remain anonymous given the sensitive nature of the discussions, indicated that Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and former Middle East adviser, is also slated to join Mr. Witkoff. Both men were instrumental in crafting Mr. Trump’s 20-point framework for peace, and their involvement is seen as a strong indicator of progress.
Neither Mr. Witkoff nor Mr. Kushner’s representatives immediately responded to requests for comment. Their participation, however, underscores the perceived advancement in the peace process.
The latest round of negotiations commenced in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, following President Trump’s introduction of his Gaza peace initiative just a week prior.
Last Friday, Hamas released a statement expressing its readiness to engage with Mr. Trump’s proposal, particularly concerning the exchange of all remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed preparations for such a release.
Hamas’s statement, however, included a condition: unspecified “field conditions” would need to be established in Gaza to facilitate the hostage exchange.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated the administration’s commitment on Monday, emphasizing efforts to “move the ball forward as quickly as we can” in the negotiations.
“The president wants to see a cease-fire. He wants to see the hostages released,” Ms. Leavitt affirmed.
President Trump initially unveiled his plan on September 29 during a White House meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, who at the time voiced his support, stating it “achieves our war aims.”
Despite Hamas’s willingness to release hostages, their statement notably omitted support for other critical aspects of Mr. Trump’s plan, such as the demilitarization of Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently maintained that he will not agree to an end to hostilities unless Hamas disarms.
The ongoing discussions also coincide with the solemn two-year anniversary, marked on Tuesday by both Israelis and Palestinians, of the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which initiated the devastating war in Gaza.
The October 2023 attack resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals, according to Israeli authorities. The Gaza health ministry reports that over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, a figure that does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
(Image: Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are seen together, with a presidential lectern and flags of the U.S. and Israel in the background.)