In his second interview on Sunday morning talks shows, US special envoy Steve Witkoff tells CBS’s Face the Nation that he will arrive in the Middle East on Wednesday for a five-day visit to discuss the Gaza hostage release deal and to prepare a summit on the Russia-Ukraine war.
He says the trip will take him to Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Witkoff promises that phase two of the deal will be reached, and says that Edan Alexander — the remaining living American hostage still being held in Gaza — is a top priority for US President Donald Trump.
“We will get to stage two or phase two. I’m very focused on that and I think it’s going to happen,” he says. “The way you square that circle is that Hamas has to go. They’ve got to leave… The negotiation will be around that.”
Asked if he means Hamas has to physically leave Gaza, he confirms: “Physically.”
Asked who would take in Hamas, he says: “The devil is in the details. We’ve got some ideas and that will be part of the negotiation.”
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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, February 23, 2025
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