Steve Witkoff, an investor and real estate mogul, has been highlighted as a key figure in securing a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Witkoff, who is Jewish and who has been friends with Trump since the 1980s when he bought Trump a sandwich after they worked on a real estate transaction, has no Middle East diplomatic experience.

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.

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.

The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.

President Donald Trump is expected to give Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy, the responsibility of addressing American concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, per a report in the Financial Times. Witkoff has served as the Trump administration’s Middle East envoy and played a major role in negotiating the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Hamas just released three of the 33 hostages, with the remaining 30 also expected to be released in the coming weeks.

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.

After four years out of office, he vows to quickly undo many of the policies of his departing predecessor, Joe Biden.

Watch live coverage of the 2025 Donald Trump presidential inauguration. The schedule of events include a visit to Capitol Hill, the swearing-in ceremony and inaugural address, the signing ceremony in the Oval Office,

Reports say US security contractors, Egyptian firm to be tasked with monitoring Netzarim corridor to ensure Palestinians traveling between southern and northern Gaza aren't armed The post Trump’s Mideast envoy to reportedly stop in Israel after visiting Saudi Arabia appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Amazon has acquired a trio of environmental docs, Groundswell, Common Ground and Kiss the Ground. All titles come from directors Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell, who head the Big Picture Ranch banner.