Wed Jan 22 19:30:36 UTC 2025: ## US Envoy to Monitor Gaza Ceasefire Amid Trump’s Doubts

**Washington, DC** – Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, will lead an inspection team to Gaza to monitor the recently implemented ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Witkoff’s visit, his first to the region since the January 15th agreement, will focus on ensuring the first phase of the three-phase deal proceeds smoothly. This comes despite President Trump expressing skepticism about the agreement’s longevity.

Witkoff confirmed he will visit the Netzarim and Philadelphia Corridors in Gaza, areas under Israeli control, to oversee the ceasefire’s implementation. He emphasized the importance of a successful first phase to facilitate the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza, a key component of the second phase. The first phase, lasting six weeks, involves a pause in fighting, a partial Israeli troop withdrawal, and increased aid to Gaza. Already, 33 Israeli captives and 90 Palestinian prisoners have been released.

The ceasefire follows fifteen months of intense conflict, resulting in at least 47,107 Palestinian deaths and 1,139 Israeli deaths. The UN has warned of a looming famine in northern Gaza. While the second and third phases of the ceasefire – encompassing further troop withdrawals, reconstruction, and the return of bodies – are agreed upon in principle, details remain to be negotiated. This presents a challenge, given Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s previous statements regarding indefinite control over Gaza’s security, and the opposition of some far-right members of his government.

President Trump, who has voiced concerns about the ceasefire’s viability, calling Gaza a “massive demolition site,” nevertheless claims credit for brokering the deal. His administration, known for its pro-Israel stance, has already reversed some Biden-era sanctions on Israeli settler groups. Witkoff, however, attributed the ceasefire to Trump’s “peace through strength” approach. He also hopes to revive Israeli-Arab normalization efforts, potentially including a deal with Saudi Arabia, believing a ceasefire was a precondition for such progress.

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