Trump's special envoy to Middle East expresses his emotional reaction to release of abductees
Date
1/29/2025 7:06:16 AM
(MENAFN) Steve Whitkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, expressed his emotional reaction to the release of abductees, sharing his hope for more positive developments. Whitkoff’s role goes beyond observing the prisoner release deal; he intends to ensure that all parties stick to the agreement, supervising its implementation on the ground to secure further progress. During his previous visit to Israel, Whitkoff played a key role in facilitating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's agreement to the first stage of the deal. The "yes" Netanyahu gave after a tense conversation cleared the way for the release of the first three abductees, which was a major goal for Trump before his inauguration.
The current priority for Trump is ensuring that the fragile agreement reaches its conclusion, which would further demonstrate his influence in the Middle East. Whitkoff’s visit also serves as preparation for Netanyahu’s upcoming trip to Washington. Netanyahu’s goal is for Whitkoff to return to the U.S. satisfied, setting a positive tone ahead of his meeting with Trump at the White House. Netanyahu's visit to Washington is expected to take place in early February, though the exact date has yet to be finalized. This visit could coincide with the beginning of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas regarding the second phase of the agreement, focused on prisoner exchanges and a sustainable ceasefire. However, the prevailing sentiment in Israel is that the chances for successful negotiations in the second phase are slim, with many in the political arena expecting little progress.
Israel's approach to the second phase includes offering Hamas two options: agree to a military withdrawal from Gaza, or face a renewed, intense conflict under a new military leadership. Trump’s team is aware of Israel’s position and is already working on potential solutions. While Trump supports Israel’s desire to expel Hamas from Gaza, he also wants to see the second phase of the deal successfully completed, ensuring the return of all abductees and a complete resolution of the Gaza conflict. As Netanyahu prepares for his visit, it’s expected that the U.S. will offer Israel a "compensation package" or a "temptation package" to incentivize continued negotiations. With the possibility of returning to military action, this package may be essential to moving forward with the deal.
MENAFN29012025000045015687ID1109143042
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.