Archiv: Steve Witkoff


31.01.2025 - 23:38 [ Middle East Eye ]

Exclusive: Palestinian Authority tells US it is ready to ‚clash‘ with Hamas for control of Gaza

Ziad Abu Amr, one of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s longtime advisors, would become the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip, heading the committee. He would be appointed deputy to Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Mustafa but endowed with massive new powers.

Abu Amr was born in the Gaza Strip in 1950. He could be palatable to the Trump administration because he is also a US citizen. He obtained his PhD from Georgetown University and served as deputy Palestinian prime minister from 2013 to 2024.

29.01.2025 - 22:18 [ Reuters ]

Trump‘s envoy meets Netanyahu, visits Gaza

The U.S. official visited Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Netanyahu has long eyed ties with Riyadh and is due to meet Trump in Washington on Feb. 4, when talks for the next phase of the three-stage Gaza ceasefire are meant to formally start.

29.01.2025 - 22:13 [ Middle East Eye ]

US envoy Steve Witkoff meets Netanyahu after visiting Gaza

According to Hebrew media reports, Witkoff reportedly visited the Netzarim Corridor inside the Gaza Strip with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

28.01.2025 - 19:43 [ Axios ]

Scoop: White House envoy met senior Palestinian official in Saudi Arabia

Why it matters: This was the first meeting between a Trump administration official and a Palestinian official since November‘s election.

– The meeting between Witkoff and Hussein al-Sheikh took place amid efforts by the Trump administration to end the war in Gaza and push for a Saudi-Israeli peace deal that includes a path toward a Palestinian state.

28.01.2025 - 13:00 [ LBCI Lebanon ]

Israeli drone drops bomb near Lebanese army and civilians in Yaroun, south Lebanon

The official National News Agency said Tuesday that an Israeli drone dropped a bomb near a gathering of Lebanese army personnel and citizens in the town of Yaroun.

28.01.2025 - 12:55 [ BreakingtheNews.net ]

Israel tells southern Lebanon civilians to await return clearance

This warning comes after South Lebanon residents, accompanied by the army, attempted to return to their villages on Monday, following Israeli fire that killed over 20 people. The ceasefire, extended until February 18, allows Israel more time to withdraw, as confirmed by the White House and Lebanon‘s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

27.01.2025 - 19:10 [ LBCI Lebanon ]

Israel maintains occupation in eastern sector of South Lebanon: Civilians and Lebanese Army clash with Israeli forces

In towns like Bani Haiyyan, Markaba, and the region of Borj El Mlouk heading towards Kfarkela, which remains under Israeli occupation, residents defied military checkpoints and moved towards their towns. The Israeli forces responded by opening fire on the civilians and Lebanese Army positions.

27.01.2025 - 19:06 [ New York Times ]

Israeli Forces Again Open Fire as Lebanese Try to Return Home, Lebanese Officials Say

(Jan. 27, 2025Updated 12:07 p.m. ET)

Israeli forces opened fire toward residents of southern Lebanon for a second consecutive day on Monday as people pressed on with attempts to return to their homes along the border, a day after at least two dozen people were killed and scores injured in Israeli attacks, Lebanese officials said.

The Israeli fire on Sunday was the deadliest bout of violence in Lebanon since the war between Israel and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia, ended with a truce in November. In the renewed violence on Monday, at least two people were killed and 17 others injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

27.01.2025 - 19:02 [ White House ]

White House Statement on Agreement Extension Between Lebanon and Israel

(January 26, 2025)

The arrangement between Lebanon and Israel, monitored by the United States, will continue to be in effect until February 18, 2025.

The Government of Lebanon, the Government of Israel, and the Government of the United States will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023.

27.01.2025 - 16:27 [ Jerusalem Post ]

IDF begins withdrawing from Netzarim Corridor – report

(11 hours ago)

The IDF has begun withdrawing troops from the western part of the Netzarim Corridor that bisects the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported early Monday morning, citing Palestinian reports.

26.01.2025 - 15:15 [ LBCI Lebanon ]

Toll from Israeli attacks rises to 15 in South Lebanon: Health Ministry

A citizen was killed in the town of Odaisseh, while a man and a young woman lost their lives in Meiss El Jabal, and another citizen was killed in Markaba.

These latest casualties bring the total number of fatalities to 15 so far, according to the ministry‘s statement.

26.01.2025 - 15:07 [ LBCI Lebanon ]

Israeli gunfire kills Lebanese soldier, injures another in southern Lebanon

The Lebanese Army announced that one of its soldiers was killed and another wounded in separate incidents of gunfire by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

In a statement, the army reported that the fatal shooting occurred on the Marwahin-Dhayra road in the Tyre District, while the injury took place in the town of Meiss El Jabal, Marjaayoun District.

26.01.2025 - 15:00 [ Middle East Eye ]

Israel blocks over 600,000 Palestinians from reaching northern Gaza

A drone view shows Palestinians waiting to be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza on 26 January 2025

26.01.2025 - 06:18 [ Middle East Eye ]

In photos: Palestinians gather at the Netzarim Corridor to return north

Crowds of Palestinians have gathered near the Netzarim Corridor, a crossing point created by the Israeli army that separates north and south Gaza, in hopes of eventually returning to the north.

Although they are expected to be allowed through on Sunday, the Israeli army has accused Hamas of violating the terms of the ceasefire and said it will not open the corridor.

26.01.2025 - 05:49 [ LBCI Lebanon ]

France‘s Macron informs President Joseph Aoun of ongoing efforts to maintain ceasefire agreement

President Macron explained that he is in contact with various parties to maintain the ceasefire and ensure the full implementation of the agreement.

26.01.2025 - 05:39 [ ClickOrlando.com ]

Israeli military sets up roadblocks in southern Lebanon and announces it won’t withdraw by deadline

While Lebanese army soldiers are dispersed across the south’s western sector, Israeli troops remained in control of most of the southeastern sector.

Members of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said Israeli tanks and bulldozers have unexpectedly moved and set up several roadblocks, apparently in an attempt to prevent displaced Lebanese people trying to return to their villages.

26.01.2025 - 05:34 [ Al Jazeera ]

Uncertainty in Lebanon after Israel delays troop withdrawal

So, this ceasefire agreement is really a test. A test of whether the state can extend its authority across southern Lebanon.

25.01.2025 - 17:17 [ ForeignPolicy.com ]

Israel to Extend Military Presence in Lebanon With Trump Administration’s Blessing

The Israeli security cabinet authorized the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) late Thursday to remain in some areas of southern Lebanon past the 60-day withdrawal deadline set to expire on Sunday. Under the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire agreement approved last November, both sides must fully remove all of their troops from the region by Jan. 26 to reinstate the borders laid out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

25.01.2025 - 17:13 [ Wall Street Journal ]

White House Calls for Israel to Stay in Lebanon Past Truce Deadline

The White House is calling for Israeli troops to be allowed to remain in Lebanon past the expiration date of a cease-fire next week, giving Israel more time to complete its mission but heightening the risks that the truce will unravel altogether.

23.01.2025 - 23:17 [ allIsrael.com ]

US Envoy Witkoff says Saudi-Israeli normalization would bring end of regional war

Witkoff addressed the possibility of Arab nations like Saudi Arabia joining an alliance with Israel: “Normalization is an amazing opportunity for the region. It’s basically the beginning of the end of war.”

He noted that other countries like Qatar could join the Abraham Accords if the Saudis lead the way. “First, we needed the hopeful moment, and I’d like to think that we’ve achieved that, and we’ll build on that. Then on top of that, we needed to show people that we could stop the violence and that we could have conversation and dialogue.”

23.01.2025 - 23:09 [ Fox News ]

Trump envoy says Gaza ceasefire could pave way for Mideast normalization deal: ‚Inflection point‘

(January 22, 2025)

„I think this is an inflection point,“ Witkoff said on „America‘s Newsroom,“ Wednesday.

„I think you could get everybody on board in that region. I think there‘s a new sense of leadership over there. Qatar was enormously helpful in this. Sheikh Mohammed, plenty of his communication skills with Hamas were indispensable here, so I think the UAE is already a part of it. Egypt was very helpful to us in these endeavors.“

„I think we have the opportunity to get everybody bought in to a better future for the region – more opportunity, more hope,“ he added.

22.01.2025 - 23:21 [ Arise.tv ]

US Envoy To Join Inspection Team In Gaza To Monitor Ceasefire

The envoy also discussed the broader implications of peacebuilding efforts in the region, particularly the potential expansion of the Abraham Accords. These agreements, initiated during Trump’s first term, have already seen Israel normalise relations with several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates.