US envoy Witkoff confident of ‘some sort of breakthrough’ on Gaza in the coming days
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Displaced Palestinians move with their belongings southwards along Al-Rashid Road, west of the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, on Sept 24.
PHOTO: EPA
Follow topic:
NEW YORK - US President Donald Trump has presented leaders from several Muslim-majority countries with a 21-point plan peace plan for the Middle East and Gaza, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sept 24, adding that he is confident of “some sort of breakthrough” in the coming days.
On Sept 23, Mr Trump met leaders and officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan to discuss the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas. The meeting was held at the United Nations on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly.
“We had a very productive session. We presented what we call the Trump 21-point plan for peace in the Mideast and Gaza. I think it addresses Israeli concerns and, as well, the concerns of all the neighbours in the region,” Mr Witkoff told the Concordia summit in New York.
“We’re hopeful, and I might say, even confident that in the coming days we'll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough,” he said.
Trump promises Arab leaders he won’t let Israel annex West Bank: Politico
Mr Trump has also promised Arab leaders he would not let Israel annex the occupied West Bank, Politico reported on Sept 24, citing six people familiar with the matter.
Two people described the US leader as being firm on the topic during their meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
The US team’s white paper outlining the Trump administration’s plan to end the Gaza war
Mr Trump is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Sept 29.
Netanyahu rejects Western recognitions of Palestinian state
The recent recognitions by some Western nations of a Palestinian state will not “bind Israel in any way,” Mr Netanyahu said on Sept 24.
“A Palestinian state will not arise,” the prime minister’s office posted on X.
However, he told the family of Alon Ohel, a hostage still held in Gaza, that there was a combined military-diplomatic effort that was being continuously pursued to defeat Hamas and bring back all hostages, his office said in a statement.
Mr Kobi Ohel, the hostage’s father, said in a statement that he and his wife expect Mr Netanyahu will return from his trip to the United States with “news that all the people of Israel are waiting for”.
Mr Netanyahu is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Sept 26.
“His trip is a moment for all the cabinet ministers to give (Netanyahu) the backing and the strength so that he will act to secure the release of Alon and all the hostages,” added Mr Ohel in a statement released by the Hostages Families Forum, which represents the families of most Israeli captives held in Gaza. Hamas attack on Israel triggered the war in Gaza.
The Oct 7, 2023,
