US envoy says Israel heading to Gaza talks after hostage exchange deal
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Fire burning among damaged houses, amid a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, on Feb 24.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - Israeli representatives were en route on Feb 25 to talks on the next phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal
Mr Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s point person on the Middle East, repeated that he was also ready to head back to the region to boost diplomacy.
“We’re making a lot of progress. Israel is sending a team right now as we speak,” Mr Witkoff told an event in Washington for the American Jewish Committee.
“It’s either going to be in Doha or in Cairo, where negotiations will begin again with the Egyptians and the Qataris,” he said.
Egypt, Qatar and the United States – in an unusual joint effort between Mr Trump’s diplomatic team and the administration of former president Joe Biden – sealed an agreement in January after months of diplomacy to pause more than a year of bloodshed in Gaza.
Mediators said on Feb 25 that they restored a swop that was part of the first phase of the deal, which is set to end on March 1.
Israel agreed to release 600 Palestinian prisoners, who had been due to be freed last week, in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier held off on the deal due to what he described as “humiliating ceremonies” to free the hostages
Mr Witkoff said the focus of the new talks will be to “put phase two on track and have some additional hostage release – and we think that’s a real possibility”.
He added that “maybe” he will join the negotiations on March 2 “if it goes well”. He earlier spoke of travelling to the region this week. AFP
