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U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff visited Gaza on Wednesday before meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as efforts to solidify a ceasefire and advance regional diplomacy continue. His visit, confirmed by a White House official, is part of overseeing the ceasefire implementation, with the broader goal of securing a regional agreement, including diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Witkoff met Netanyahu privately for over two hours before other ministers joined. Netanyahu, aiming to strengthen ties with Riyadh, is set to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Feb. 4 for talks on the next phase of the ceasefire.
Israel has begun withdrawing from the Netzarim corridor, allowing thousands of displaced Palestinians to return home as part of the initial six-week ceasefire phase. The agreement includes the release of 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. So far, seven hostages have been freed, with three more, including an elderly man, a female civilian, and a soldier, set for release on Thursday. Additionally, 110 Palestinian detainees will be freed, including minors and prisoners serving life sentences. Five Thai hostages may also be released, while around 90 remain captive in Gaza.
The second phase of the deal, if agreed upon, would see the release of all remaining hostages and Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza. Saudi Arabia, which conditions formal ties with Israel on Palestinian statehood, remains cautious as war resumption could stall diplomatic progress.
During his visit to Riyadh, Witkoff also met with senior Palestinian official Hussein Al-Sheikh. The visit aligns with ongoing efforts to expand the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain.
