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US President-elect Donald Trump's special envoy for the Middle East, Stephen Witkoff, may visit the Gaza Strip, NBC News reports, citing its sources.
According to one official, in order to secure the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, Witkoff aims to be in the Middle East “almost constantly” in the coming months to address problems on the ground that could, in his view, derail the agreement at any moment, as well as to stop the release of hostages held by Hamas.
“You have to be aware of developments and be ready to resolve a problem if it arises,” the official added.
Witkoff is also working to achieve long-term stability for Israeli citizens and 2 million displaced Palestinians, the path to which lies through the three-phase agreement reached last week.
“The first phase, which begins on Sunday, will last about six weeks and involves the release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians held by Israel. The second phase will be discussed during the first and is expected to lead to the release of additional hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The goal of the final phase, which also remains to be agreed, is to end the war and begin rebuilding Gaza,” NBC News recalled.
According to the publication's interlocutor, the main problem for Trump's envoy at the moment is the daily clashes between Israel and Hamas in and near Gaza, even despite the fact that a ceasefire agreement has been signed.
“Remember that there are many people, radicals, fanatics, not only on the Hamas side, but also on the right wing of the Israeli side, who are absolutely interested in disrupting this whole deal,” the transition official noted.
The situation in the Middle East - the latest news
As reported by , on January 18, the Israeli government approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The agreement was ratified after more than six hours of deliberation. Out of 33 ministers, 24 voted in favor, 8 voted against. It is noted that the ceasefire was to take effect at 06:30 GMT on January 19.
At the same time, The Times of Israel reported that Israel is considering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. According to media reports, the Israeli Air Force continues to increase its readiness and preparation for such potential strikes on Iran.
