He stressed the need for continued implementation beyond the first phase of the agreement. According to Witkoff, the Trump administration expects progress in the next phase to ensure the release of all hostages. This was reported yesterday (Thursday) by Walla News.
Deal Progressing, but Continued Implementation Needed
According to Walla News, Witkoff noted that after discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials, he believes the agreement has been functioning well so far and must be properly implemented. “Bibi is committed to the process,” Witkoff stated, adding that the first phase of the deal had been successfully completed with the establishment of a ceasefire.
Negotiations for the second phase of the hostage deal are expected to begin this coming Monday. The key challenge remains the full release of all hostages. The Trump administration believes further negotiations are necessary to ensure that every remaining hostage is brought home. Witkoff met with the families of the hostages, as well as those recently released, reaffirming President Trump’s commitment to securing the return of all captives.
Visit to Gaza and Situation Assessment
White House envoy Witkoff spent most of his visit in Gaza, where he assessed conditions on the ground. He described the destruction in the enclave as severe. “What is impossible to ignore is that there is almost nothing left of Gaza. People are moving north, hoping to return home, only to see what has happened and turn back. There is no water, no electricity,” he said.
Additionally, he estimated that rebuilding Gaza will take approximately 10 to 15 years. The process of assessing the extent of Hamas’ tunnel infrastructure beneath the territory could take even longer. “There was a belief that we could have a clear reconstruction plan for Gaza within five years. But that is simply impossible,” he stated.
The Issue of Palestinian Relocation and Gaza Reconstruction
Regarding President Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, Witkoff said he had not discussed the matter directly with Trump but noted that Gaza is currently “uninhabitable.” He emphasized that reconstruction efforts would be an extremely difficult challenge.
