United States special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is expected to step down at the end of the year, a US official with knowledge of the matter tells The Times of Israel.
Witkoff — who has acted as Trump’s point man in Gaza ceasefire talks since his term began — has been serving as a Special Government Employee, a designation that limits appointments to about 130 days, though renewals are possible based on projected future service.
Nonetheless, Witkoff is preparing to depart his role by year’s end, the official says, particularly with a breakthrough on the Gaza war appearing to be within reach, after Trump announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted the latest American proposal and mediators await Hamas’s response.
The official adds that “people in [Witkoff’s] office are already looking for the next thing,” and that especially if the Gaza deal goes through, the envoy will “bow out gracefully.”
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Monday, September 29, 2025
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