Blinken names Trump's associate important for involvement in Gaza negotiations
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (photo: Getty Images)
The last round of negotiations regarding Gaza was crucial for involving Donald Trump's Middle East Special Representative, Steve Witkoff. If a ceasefire is reached, the team of the incoming US president will play a key role in determining whether it will be held after Inauguration Day, states US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"I think Steve Witkoff has been a terrific partner in this, and also President-elect Trump in making clear that he wants to see this deal go forward, and go forward before January 20th," Blinken said in an interview with MSNBC.
He emphasized that the negotiators want to be sure that the proposed agreement will be supported by the new US administration.
"Everyone wants to know – and it’s very useful as well to have Steve a part of this – they want to make sure that the deal that the president’s put on the table and that we’ve negotiated, the Trump administration will continue to back. So creating that confidence by having Steve Witkoff’s participation, I think, has been critical," he added.
The Times of Israel reports that according to the terms of the discussed agreement, the US is one of several guarantors and will play a key role in ensuring the implementation of its first phase. This phase involves a cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Following that, the second phase is planned, focusing on preparing for Gaza's future post-conflict, including security, reconstruction, and governance issues.
Sources from CNN yesterday reported that there were clear signs of progress in peace talks between Israel and Hamas. Specifically, members of the Israeli delegation at the talks in Doha expressed cautious optimism about reaching an agreement. However, some differences between the sides remain.
