Trump Envoy Pushes Netanyahu for Gaza Ceasefire During Shabbat
Steven Witkoff, Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, used unorthodox tactics to secure a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas before the U.S. presidential inauguration.
- Steven Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet during Shabbat to expedite a Gaza ceasefire agreement.
- The meeting, held on Saturday afternoon in Jerusalem, was described as tense but resulted in a ceasefire deal announced on January 15, 2025.
- Witkoff, a businessman without formal diplomatic experience, was described as aggressive and dismissive of traditional diplomatic protocols by Israeli officials.
- The ceasefire agreement aimed to halt hostilities and secure the release of remaining hostages but has already shown signs of fragility.
- Donald Trump praised Witkoff's efforts, claiming the agreement was a direct result of his recent electoral victory, while some credit the groundwork laid by the Biden administration.
L'Express 
Le Figaro 