U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to be in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday to advance multilateral negotiations aimed at securing the release of the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
During a press conference on Tuesday at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Witkoff, a Jewish businessman and longtime friend of the president-elect, expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions.
“I believe they’re doing an excellent job in Doha,” Witkoff stated. “I’m hopeful that by the [Jan. 20] inauguration, we’ll have positive news to share on behalf of the president. It’s really the president’s vision, his reputation, and his words that are driving these negotiations,” he added. “So, hopefully, everything will come together, and lives will be saved.”
When asked whether a deal could be reached before his inauguration, Trump said, “There better be.” He reiterated his stark warning about the potential fallout if the hostages are not released.
“All hell will break loose if those hostages aren’t returned. I don’t want to undermine the negotiations, but if they’re not back by the time I take office, the Middle East will face chaos like never before. It won’t be good for Hamas or anyone else,” said Trump. “They should have released them a long time ago. In fact, the Oct. 7 attack should never have happened.”
Praising Witkoff’s efforts, Trump remarked, “Steve has a big job ahead of him. He’s a great negotiator and a respected figure over there. That’s what we needed—someone who understands the complexities of the Middle East and can communicate effectively. Many so-called experts don’t have that ability.”
Hamas still holds 100 hostages in Gaza. Israel believes that more than 60 are alive.
