Trump Mideast Envoy Witkoff visits Netanyahu ahead of hostage release

The timing of announcing the identities of the three hostages slated to be released coinciding with Netanyahu hosting Witkoff indicates they discussed details of the upcoming hostage exchange deal.

 Benjamin Netanyahu (R) greets US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L) in Jerusalem, January 29, 2025. (photo credit: MAAYAN TOAF/GPO)
Benjamin Netanyahu (R) greets US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L) in Jerusalem, January 29, 2025.
(photo credit: MAAYAN TOAF/GPO)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, in his office on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.

Witkoff was set to discuss the next phase of the hostage exchange deal with Netanyahu, which will include the release of all the remaining 64 hostages from Hamas captivity, some of whom are confirmed to be dead, according to reports from Tuesday.

It was announced on Wednesday that Arbel Yehoud, Agam Berger, and Gadi Moses are to be released from Gaza on Thursday.

The announcement of the identities of the three hostages slated to be released coinciding with Netanyahu hosting Witkoff corroborates the previous report.

Witkoff, accompanied by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, visited the Netzarim Corridor earlier in the day.

Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L) in Jerusalem, January 29, 2025. (credit: MAAYAN TOAF/GPO)Enlrage image
Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff (L) in Jerusalem, January 29, 2025. (credit: MAAYAN TOAF/GPO)

Normalization efforts might be affected

While unconfirmed, it was believed that another issue raised in the meeting between Witkoff and Netanyahu was Trump’s recent statements regarding a proposal to move Gazans to Egypt and Jordan.

Three sources told The Jerusalem Post that Egypt and Jordan conveyed a message to people close to Trump that if he presses on with his plan, it might hurt normalization efforts. The sources added that they feared the move might impact the stability of the two countries.

Egypt and Jordan have already opposed the idea publicly, but the new warning by other Arab countries is likely to downgrade the chance of it gaining any traction.