Overview

• A U.S. official says Steve Witkoff is preparing to leave his post as President Trump’s Middle East envoy by the end of the year.
• His departure is expected to follow if a Gaza ceasefire is finalized, with staff already mapping a transition.
• Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted the latest U.S. proposal, and mediators are awaiting Hamas’s formal reply.
• Speaking to reporters, Witkoff voiced confidence in the push for a deal as Trump set a three‑to‑four‑day window for Hamas to respond and warned of consequences if it refuses.
• Witkoff has been serving as a Special Government Employee, a temporary designation that has drawn scrutiny alongside his unconventional path from real estate to high-stakes diplomacy.