Chicago Thursday, May 29, 2025
US Envoy’s Optimism on Israel-Hamas Ceasefire
Steve Witkoff, US President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, is hopeful about reaching a deal to stop the Israel-Hamas war. He believes a long-term resolution is possible, which would include a temporary ceasefire and a peaceful solution to the conflict. Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss negotiations with Hamas for releasing Israeli hostages and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.
Disagreement on Agreement Terms
However, there’s disagreement on what the agreement should entail. Hamas says it has agreed with Witkoff on a general framework for a deal that includes:
- A lasting ceasefire: stopping the fighting between Israel and Hamas
- Full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza: Israel would remove its military presence from Gaza
- Influx of aid: providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza
- Transfer of power: handing over control from Hamas to a politically independent committee of Palestinians
But Israel has ruled out such an agreement, saying it will only agree to temporary pauses in fighting to release hostages.
Ongoing Negotiations
Despite the disagreements, negotiations are ongoing. Witkoff has been working with Qatari officials, and additional progress has been made in the talks. However, the main hurdle remains transitioning from a humanitarian phase to a more permanent agreement. Trump has expressed his desire to finalize a deal before his inauguration on January 20.
