Witkoff reportedly plans to be a “near-constant presence” in the region over the coming weeks [GETTY]
Steve Witkoff, President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, is reportedly considering visiting the Gaza Strip to keep the ceasefire deal on track.
A transition official with direct knowledge of the ceasefire process told NBC the envoy “plans to be a near-constant presence in the region over the coming weeks and months to troubleshoot flare-ups on the ground” he believes could “unravel” the deal and halt the release of captives “at any moment”.
“You have to be right on top of it, ready to snuff out a problem if it happens,” the official told NBC.
The official also said Witkoff visiting the region would allow the envoy to see the dynamics.
“Remember, there’s a lot of people, radicals, fanatics, not just from the Hamas side, from the right wing of the Israeli side, who are absolutely incentivised to blow this whole deal up,” the official said.
Witkoff is reportedly working on long-term stability through the three phases of the ceasefire deal.
“If we don’t help the Gazans, if we don’t make their life better, if we don’t give them a sense of hope, there’s going to be a rebellion,” the official said.
The NBC source said that the envoy received a singular directive from Trump during his time working alongside current Preisdent Joe Biden’s mediation team: “Get the hostages home, and if you don’t, come back and explain why.”
The newly-elected president had given a deadline of 20 January, the day of his inauguration. The US, along with Qatar and Egypt, mediated the long-running efforts to stop Israel’s war.
He reportedly used Trump’s history with Israel and dynamic with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court in connection to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza, to pressure Israel.
With Hamas, the envoy delivered a message through the Qataris: “Unless you’re prepared to die, tell me why you don’t see this as the deal that could ultimately lead to the end of the war?”
The Gaza ceasefire came into effect on 19 January at 11.15 am local time.
Out of the 33 captives set to be released over the next six weeks, as per the first phase, three Israeli captives have been released by Hamas and have crossed into Israel with its army.
