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Thursday, December 5, 2024
Trump envoy held talks with Netanyahu, Qatari PM on getting Gaza deal done by Jan. 20 — sources
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSteve Witkoff, US President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, traveled to Qatar and Israel last month to kick-start a diplomatic push to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal before he takes office on January 20, a source briefed on the talks tells Reuters.
Witkoff met separately in late November with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the source says.
In Israel he also met with families of hostages, an Israeli official tells Reuters.
He “spoke with them about Team Trump’s efforts to try and broker the deal before inauguration,” the official says.
The meetings signal that the Gulf state of Qatar has resumed its role as a key mediator after suspending its role last month, the source says.
The source adds that Hamas negotiators will likely return to the Qatari capital Doha to facilitate a fresh round of talks.
“There are plans for a subsequent round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas to take place potentially in Doha soon, but no specific date has been set,” the source says.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said this week that its moratorium on mediation efforts remained in place.
Trump’s transition team, representatives for Witkoff, Netanyahu’s office and Qatar’s Foreign Ministry do not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Times of Israel Community.