The U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism about the ongoing efforts to persuade Saudi Arabia to join the normalisation agreements with the Israeli occupation. He also hinted at the possibility of Syria and Lebanon following the same path.
During an event held for the Jewish community in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Witkoff stated, “Lebanon may soon move towards joining the peace agreements, and Syria could also be on the same track, indicating profound changes taking place in the region.”
This comes after significant developments in both countries over the past months. The Syrian opposition successfully overthrew the ousted president Bashar al-Assad’s regime, while Hezbollah in Lebanon suffered multiple blows, including the assassination of its former Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
In recent years, discussions around the normalisation of relations between the Israeli occupation and Saudi Arabia have intensified. This follows the signing of the so-called “Abraham Accords”, through which the occupation established diplomatic ties with Morocco, the UAE, Sudan, and Bahrain.
Saudi officials, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have consistently reaffirmed that normalisation with the Israeli occupation is contingent upon the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of a “comprehensive and just” solution to the Palestinian cause.
U.S. Envoy Comments on Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations
On a separate note, the U.S. envoy also addressed the departure of an Israeli delegation to participate in the second phase of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. He emphasised his willingness to personally engage in these talks if necessary.
Speaking at the same event, Witkoff stated, “We are making significant progress. Israel is sending a team as we speak,” according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
He further added: “They will either go to Doha or Cairo, where the negotiations will commence once again, alongside the Egyptians and Qataris, who are mediating between the Israeli occupation and the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas.”
Gaza Ceasefire Agreement: Phased Implementation
On January 19, a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and the Israeli occupation officially came into effect, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S.
The agreement, which was reached after 15 months of relentless Israeli aggression, is structured into three phases, each lasting 42 days. Throughout these stages, negotiations will take place to transition to the second and third phases, ultimately leading to an end to the genocidal war.
The Israeli occupation launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, resulting in 160,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, the majority of whom were children and women. Additionally, over 14,000 individuals remain buried under the rubble.
