Israel outraged with Trump envoy Witkoff, accusing him of serving ‘Qatari interests’

Israeli officials say Jerusalem is reeling from surprise announcement on reopening of Rafah crossing, blaming Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, and accusing him of pushing Qatari and Turkish interests.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli government officials blasted President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, over the weekend, accusing the businessman-turned-diplomat of serving the interests of Turkey and Qatar, while blindsiding Israel.

Speaking with the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth, multiple Israeli officials took aim at Trump’s 68-year-old Mideast envoy, who also serves as special envoy for peace missions, after Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday.

The officials fumed that Witkoff is pressuring Israel to open both incoming and outgoing traffic through the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egyptian border, despite Hamas’ failure to return the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili.

Hamas and other Gaza terror groups are obliged under the terms of the October ceasefire deal to return every hostage – living and dead. Israel has insisted that the Rafah crossing remain closed to incoming traffic until Gvili’s body is returned.

“We hope Ran Gvili is returned this week and we can go forward,” one Israeli official told Yedioth Ahronoth.

Officials cited in the report accused Witkoff of adopting Qatar’s policy positions, and slammed his attempts to pressure Israel to accept Turkey’s demand that it be allowed to deploy troops in Gaza as part of the International Stabilization Force.

“Witkoff pushed for placing our big rival Turkey on the border,” the Israeli official said. “The clock is ticking backwards to the confrontation with Turkey, which will be a tangible danger to our security.”

“Witkoff has become a lobbyist for Qatari interests,” he added.

Witkoff and Kushner met with Netanyahu two days after President Trump presided over the inauguration of the new Board of Peace.

During the signing ceremony, Ali Shaath, the head of the Palestinian committee charged with administering the Gaza Strip, appeared in a pre-recorded video address, announcing that the Rafah crossing would be opened in both directions in the next few days.

Israeli outlets report that Jerusalem was caught off guard by the announcement.

The Israeli Security Cabinet is slated to convene on Sunday for deliberations on the possible reopening of the crossing.