President-elect Donald Trump's newly appointed Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff "arrived in Doha on Friday and met the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to a statement released by Qatar’s foreign ministry. Egyptian and Qatari mediators received reassurances from Witkoff that the U.S. would continue to work towards a fair deal to end the war soon, Egyptian security sources said, though he did not give any details" as reported by NBC.
In a dramatic development today (shabbat), Witkoff landed in Israel for an unannounced visit and held urgent talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The high-stakes meeting prompted immediate action from Netanyahu, who gathered his top security officials for an emergency consultation. In a significant move, the Prime Minister then ordered the heads of Israel's premier intelligence agencies - Mossad and Shin Bet - to fly to Qatar, where delicate hostage negotiations have been ongoing.
The delegation to Doha includes Israel's most seasoned negotiators: the chiefs of both intelligence agencies, alongside retired Major General Nitzan Alon and political advisor Ophir Falk. Their mission: to push forward with negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages.
This flurry of diplomatic activity follows an intense meeting held just before Shabbat yesterday, where Netanyahu conducted a security assessment with defense officials. Sources close to the negotiations indicate that talks in Doha are proceeding with heightened intensity, though details remain strictly confidential.
The timing and nature of Witkoff's surprise visit suggest significant movement in the behind-the-scenes efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages. Israeli officials maintain complete secrecy around the specific details of the ongoing negotiations in Qatar's capital.
UPDATE:
Saudi news channel Al-Arabiya reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to advance hostage deal negotiations following meetings with both Biden and Trump envoys. Trump's representative, Steven Witkoff, reportedly delivered a clear message during today's talks: the president-elect wants to see a successful Gaza hostage deal completed before his January 20th inauguration.
"Witkoff is playing a critical role in negotiations right now as he applies pressure from Trump's side," a senior Israeli official told reporter Barak Ravid.
In a related development, Israel's Yesha Council, representing settlements in Judea and Samaria, has received an invitation to attend Trump's inauguration ceremony, further highlighting the complex diplomatic dynamics at play.
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