Trump envoy credited with breakthrough in hostage negotiations

by Natalie Tomiello

Steve Witkoff, who has been appointed by President-elect Trump as Middle East envoy for the incoming administration, played a key role in the successful hostage negotiations between Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According the The Times of Israel, two Arab officials have credited Witkoff with achieving more in one sit down meeting with Netanyahu than the Biden administration achieved in the entire previous year.

Witkoff met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday. The agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced on Monday night with further details set to be finalized later in the week.

President-elect Trump shared the story in a Truth Social post amid news reports of the Biden administration trying to claim its share of credit for the achievement of a deal.

On Wednesday, reporters at a press conference asked Biden who should get credit for the successful negotiations.

“Is that a joke?” President Biden responded before walking away from the podium.

Witkoff has been working for the past week to achieve a deal before Trump is inaugurated on January 20. Sources have said Witkoff was instrumental in persuading Netanyahu to accept key terms necessary for the agreement.

The sources who spoke to The Times of Israel regarding Witkoff’s influence speculated that the US, Qatar, and Egypt would release a joint statement at some point with further details regarding the deal between Israel and Hamas.

Trump has praised Witkoff for his diplomacy saying he has been “working endlessly for months,” and is doing a “fantastic job.”

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