The US Supreme Envoy to the Middle East was scheduled to meet on Wednesday with the Israeli Prime Minister, and he may visit the Gaza Strip to strengthen the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, if always, thousands of Palestinians displaced to return to their homes.
The envoy, Stephen Whitkov, was expected to examine the Netzarim Corridor, a four -miles strip that displaced Gaza, where American security contractors were recruited to help deal with the return of the displaced Palestinians. He will be the highest US official to visit Gaza in years, due to security concerns and the official US non -contact policy with Hamas.
An Israeli official, who was not permitted to comment publicly and spoke on the condition that his identity is not disclosed, said that Mr. Witkev arrived in Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many of his senior aides after Tuesday discussions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the widest peace plan in the Middle East. Israel Katz, Israeli defense minister, will also attend the meeting between Mr. Witkeov and Mr. Netanyahu on Wednesday, according to another Israeli official, who occurs provided that his identity is not disclosed to discuss the minister’s schedule.
David Menker, a government spokesman, said that the Israeli authorities will not confirm any meetings on Wednesday with Mr. Witkeov, including a possible visit to Netzarim, even after its completion.
Mr. Witkev He said in an interview with Fox News last week He intends to visit the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, and in the far south, the Philadelphi Corridor on the border with Egypt during the trip, but the timing was not clear because the travel schedules are usually held to ensure security. The American embassy in Jerusalem and Mr. Netanyahu’s office did not respond to the requests for comment on Wednesday.
In the first days of the 15 -month war, the Israeli army ordered the mass evacuation in northern Gaza, forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee to the south. For several months, Israeli soldiers patrolled in the Netzarim Pass in part to prevent the Palestinians from returning to the north.
But under the terms of the ceasefire agreement for 42 days reached last week, the Israeli forces withdrew on Monday from the two main roads along the Netzarim corridor to allow Gazans to go north. By Tuesday, more than 376,000 people arrived in northern Gaza, according to Latest data From the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
American Safe Rach Solutions is expected to oversee the operational management of the corridor, according to a person familiar with the plan, while two other companies – one American, one Egyptian – will deal with the actual inspections of those who are heading north.
The Philadelphi Corridor, as is known in Israel, is a border strip of about eight miles between Egypt and Gaza. Israeli forces are currently maintaining control of the area, but it is expected to withdraw during the second stage of the ceasefire, Its details are still negotiated. Mr. Netanyahu described the corridor as the “lifeline” for Hamas smuggling.
Mr. Witkoff played an important role in mediation in the initial ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, as a team with officials from the Biden, Qatar and Egypt administration in the days before the opening of Trump.
The visit of Mr. Witkoff comes before the third round of hostage and traditions of prisoners between Israel and Hamas expected on Thursday. Omar Duvry, a spokesman for the Prime Minister, said that the Israeli soldier, Ajam Berger and two Israeli civilians – Erbl Jews and Jadi Musa – will be released on Thursday with five Thai citizens.
Mr. Menker said that three other hostages will be released on Saturday. Under the ceasefire deal, 33 Israeli hostages were released in the first stage compared to hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Seven have already returned home, and eight of the remaining hostages are no longer alive, according to Israeli officials.
Mr. Netanyahu was invited to meet President Trump on February 4 at the White House. The Trump administration is trying to mediate a broader peace agreement in the Middle East, which will include diplomatic normalization between Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a deal that Mr. Trump sought during his first term. But this agreement depends largely on plans for the future of Gaza.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Marco Rubio spoke with foreign ministers in Egypt and Qatar to discuss continuous cooperation in Gaza. This would include “planning after the conflict to ensure that Hamas can never rule Gaza or threaten Israel again,” according to Readings of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Invitation to Mr. Rubio with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdi. Despite the weakening of Hamas, the militant group escaped the war in Gaza and is still the strongest Palestinian party in the region.
He told reporters at the end of last week that Mr. Trump also called on Egypt and Jordan to the Palestinians from Gaza, and “cleaning” the region. This was rejected by both countries, and on Wednesday, the Secretary -General of the Palestine Liberation Organization spoke with Mr. Abdati to reaffirm Egypt’s rejection of Mr. Trump.
“Ways to unify the ceasefire and provide humanitarian aid have been discussed, the Palestinian people support to stay on their soil, and the absolute rejection of their displacement has been emphasized,” it was emphasized. He said on social media. Mr. Sheikh Khalifa is a potential for the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr. Witkev also met Mr. Al -Sheikh, in his head, the Saudi capital, before traveling to Israel, according to Palestinian officials who asked not to be identified to discuss a closed meeting. The officials said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was also at the meeting.
Rasgon man The reports contributed.