WASHINGTON—Special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff is heading to Qatar to negotiate a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, a White House official told The Epoch Times.
This development comes as the fate of negotiations to achieve the second phase of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas hangs in the balance.
A temporary cease-fire was reached shortly before President Donald Trump entered office on Jan. 20.
It resulted in 33 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza being released in exchange for thousands of Palestinians who were imprisoned in Israel.
Both sides expressed optimism over the upcoming talks.
“Israel has accepted the invitation of the mediators backed by the United States and will send a delegation to Doha on Monday in an effort to advance the negotiations,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on March 8….