Trump Envoy Meets With Netanyahu To Talk About Ceasefire Efforts And Gaza Aid
Trump’s envoy meets with Netanyahu to discuss promoting humanitarian relief and advocating for a truce in Gaza.
In an attempt to restart the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza and address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the enclave, where international observers fear that starvation is spreading, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
Shortly after Witkoff’s arrival, President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform: “Hamas surrendering and releasing the hostages is the quickest way to end the humanitarian crises in Gaza!”
Israeli-Hamas indirect ceasefire negotiations in Doha last week came to a standstill as both parties blamed one another and continued to argue on important matters, such as the extent of an Israeli military departure.
Witkoff’s visit coincides with mounting international pressure on Israel due to the extensive damage and limits on humanitarian distribution in Gaza. The most recent Western nation to declare support for a Palestinian state was Canada.
A source with knowledge of the negotiations claims that Israel responded on Wednesday to recent changes made by Hamas to a US ceasefire plan. In return for Palestinian captives, certain hostages will be released and a 60-day ceasefire would be implemented.
Hamas has not yet responded to this. Israeli authorities have hinted that Israel may announce plans to annex portions of Gaza if the impasse persists.
At least 23 individuals have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, according to medical sources, with 12 of those slain being among aid-seeking crowds near the Netzarim corridor, an area controlled by Israeli forces in central Gaza. There were no known Israeli injuries, but the military said its forces used warning shots to scatter potentially dangerous groups.
The health ministry in Gaza reports that 156 people have died from malnutrition and starvation since the conflict started, with at least 90 of those deaths being in recent weeks.
Witkoff is also anticipated to visit a Gaza aid distribution center, according to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
