Steve Witkoff, who serves as President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, announced that major strides have been made in the ongoing discussions with Hamas, with just one major hurdle left to overcome. He conveyed a hopeful outlook that the matter could be resolved soon.
“We had four disagreements, and now only one remains. I hope we will be able to reach an agreement by the end of the week,” Witkoff shared.
The primary obstacle still under negotiation relates to the positioning of Israeli Defense Forces during the proposed ceasefire. As per Witkoff, the deal on the table includes a two-month truce, during which Hamas would release ten living hostages as well as the remains of nine others.
An Israeli source who was present during a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump last night commented, “The president wants to see the war come to an end.”
At the same time, diplomatic efforts are continuing, with another high-level meeting between Netanyahu and President Trump scheduled for tonight.
After holding talks with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson at the Capitol, Netanyahu told reporters: “We have accepted Witkoff’s proposal, we’ve come closer to it, and I hope we will cross the line to an agreement. I am focused on the result, and so is President Trump. We’ve learned that when Israel and the U.S. stand together, great things happen, and it’s never been like this. In 77 years, there has never been such trust and cooperation as there is today.”
He added, “We agreed to the proposal that came from the mediators. It’s a good proposal. It aligns with Witkoff’s original proposal, and I hope we can cross the line to a deal. The less I speak about it publicly, the better. We are talking about a ceasefire, and we are also ready to end the war on terms that will prevent Hamas from operating further and ensure that Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel. There is a plan on how to do this.”
Netanyahu also emphasized the shared philosophy that underpins the U.S.-Israel relationship. “The president and I believe in the doctrine of peace through strength,” he said. “His support for us has caused an extraordinary change in the Middle East. The B-2 pilots showed power, Israeli fighters fought like lions, and our alliance reverberated like thunder. There are opportunities for peace that we intend to seize. We are working together.”
{Matzav.com}