Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday that he spoke in the evening with Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, and that the two agreed to begin negotiating the second stage of the hostage deal in Washington next week.
Netanyahu’s office said that discussions would take place on Feb. 3, on the 16th day of the agreement, “within the framework of which they will discuss the Israeli positions.”
“Later in the week, Witkoff will speak with the prime minister of Qatar and senior Egyptian representatives,” per Netanyahu’s office. “He will then discuss with the prime minister steps to advance the negotiations, including dates for the departure of delegations to the talks.”
Neither the White House nor Witkoff read out Saturday’s call, nor did U.S. President Donald Trump or the special envoy make a public statement about the second phase of the deal.
Also on Saturday, Trump spoke on the phone with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the Egyptian president, and thanked him “for his friendship,” per a White House readout.
“The two leaders also discussed Egypt’s important role in the release of hostages from Gaza and President el-Sisi expressed his confidence that President Trump’s leadership could usher in a golden age of Middle East peace,” the White House said.
