Report: Witkoff traveling to Qatar for ‘final push’ in truce talks

The U.S. is optimistic as talks progress toward a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

By World Israel News Staff

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff will travel to the region in the coming days in an effort to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as a senior Israeli official says the negotiations are in their “final stretch.”

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce confirmed during a Tuesday briefing that Witkoff will soon depart for the Middle East.

She noted that Jerusalem and the terror group have “agreed on a ceasefire framework that includes establishing a humanitarian corridor in the Gaza Strip.”

While Bruce did not say that a deal was imminent, she stressed that the Trump administration might “have some good news” in the near future.

She added that the negotiation are subject to a “constantly changing dynamic,” and that she had “strong hope” for the talks to succeed.

Witkoff is first scheduled to fly to Rome, where he will meet with senior Israeli and Qatari officials to discuss the ceasefire terms.

If talks continue to progress, Witkoff will then travel to Qatar to help finalize the agreement, Axios reported.

“We are in the final stretch of negotiations,” a senior Israeli official told the Hebrew-language outlet Walla.

The U.S.-brokered proposal currently on the table calls for a 60-day truce. During this pause in fighting, Hamas would release some of the Israeli hostages it is holding, while Israel would free Palestinian prisoners and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The two sides would also use the 60-day period to begin negotiations toward a permanent end to the war.

Last week, a senior Israeli official said on Wednesday that an announcement about a ceasefire and hostage agreement was imminent.

The official, speaking anonymously, told the Times of Israel that he believes “a deal is attainable.”