Trump's Middle East envoy in ceasefire push - as head of Israeli intelligence agency sent to Qatar for talks
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Donald Trump's Middle East envoy has met Israel's prime minister in an effort to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza before the president-elect takes office on 20 January. Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed details of the meeting with Steve Witkoff on Saturday, adding that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has been deployed to Qatar in order to "advance" talks.
It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Doha for the latest round of indirect discussions between Israel and Hamas. Earlier on Saturday, an Israeli official said some progress had been made, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, to reach a deal in Gaza.
The mediators are making renewed efforts to halt fighting in Gaza and free the remaining Israeli hostages held there before Mr Trump takes office. A deal would also involve the release of some Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Families of Israeli hostages welcomed Mr Netanyahu's decision to dispatch the officials, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters describing it as a "historic opportunity".
Mr Witkoff arrived in Doha on Friday and met the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's foreign ministry said. Egyptian and Qatari mediators received reassurances from Mr Witkoff that the US would continue to work towards a fair deal to end the war soon, Egyptian security sources said, though no further details were released.
