Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, said on Wednesday that he welcomed the potential for “a dialogue” with Hamas and heaped praise on Qatar for helping facilitate the cease-fire deal between Israel and Gaza, despite facing scrutiny for previous ties to the Gulf nation.

We have people that know everything about the Middle East, but they can’t speak properly. He is a great negotiator,’ Trump said on Witkoff's appointment.

The president, after signing a series of executive orders, said he hopes to avoid military action against Iran

President Trump’s special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff appeared on Fox News Wednesday, where the host, Dana Perino, read him a quote from a senior Hamas official who told the NY Times, “We are prepared for a dialogue with America in achieving understandings on everything.”

"It is striking that Israel was not mentioned in the president's inauguration speech," a senior Hamas official told Newsweek.

Trump Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff said he believes the administration has the opportunity to bring "everyone" in the Middle East on board with the idea of normalization.

( JTA) — Family members of Israelis held hostage in Gaza appeared onstage with President Donald Trump during a post-inauguration rally in Washington, D.C., on Monday. They were joined by Noa Argamani, a former hostage who was freed by the Israeli army in June.

Appointment signals turn away from 'maximum pressure' policy, as new US president slashes security detail for Iran hawks from his first term despite threats against them

President to take initial stab at diplomatic efforts with Tehran before seeking to escalate pressure, anonymous source tells Financial Times - Anadolu Ajansı

The battlefield in Gaza also is changing. The first phase of the ceasefire allows Gaza’s nearly 2 million displaced people to leave crowded tent camps and return to what remains of their homes. This will allow Hamas to regroup in the midst of masses of civilians.

Described by The Economist as ‘the world’s most important prisoner’; by The Guardian as ‘the most popular Palestinian leader alive; and by multiple news organisations as the ‘Palestinian Mandela’, Marwan Barghouti appears to be favoured by the majority of Palestinians as the man they want as their elected leader.