Steve Witkoff dismisses claims he is leaving US government

The US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has denied claims that he plans to step down from President Donald Trump’s administration following the successful Gaza ceasefire mediation, as reported by the Middle East Eye staff and agencies on October 15th.

The claim that Witkoff was preparing to step down was originally reported by the Middle East Eye on October 14th, after two sources familiar with Witkoff alleged that he would leave the Trump administration after the “gruelling” diplomacy of negotiating the ceasefire. The sources claimed that Witkoff planned to refocus on his multi-billion-dollar real estate business after leaving his government role.

It was reported on July 25th that the US halted ceasefire negotiations in Qatar as Witkoff accused Hamas of demonstrating a “lack of desire” to reach a ceasefire deal.

Witkoff expressed frustration over what he believed was a refusal by Hamas to negotiate with the US, saying, “Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith. We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”

In response to these claims, Witkoff released a statement on X, calling the rumour “100 per cent Fake News.” He added that he is “more engaged on the peace process than ever, and I am continuing to proudly serve the President of the United States!”

On October 13th, Witkoff praised the UK’s “vital role” in securing a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, contradicting the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee’s, dismissal of the UK’s involvement in peace negotiations.

Witkoff has played a key role in developing a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, including discussions on post-war Gaza plans on August 27th, alongside former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Jared Kushner, a fellow real estate billionaire, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior adviser.

An initial ceasefire proposal, modelled on Wikoff’s earlier 60-point plan, stipulated a 60-day pause in fighting to facilitate a prisoner swap; Hamas accepted this proposal on August 18th, although it was rejected by Israel.

Despite having no official title, Kushner has been heavily involved in ceasefire negotiations alongside Witkoff. According to Rob Geist Pinfold, an international security expert at King’s College London, “Kushner and Witkoff have a larger-than-life role in the administration. Their arrival signals Trump is serious about a ceasefire.”

This is despite Kushner calling for Israel to ethnically cleanse Gaza on February 15th, 2024. In an interview at Harvard University, Kushner, a close friend of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Gaza’s “waterfront property could be very valuable.”

Both Witkoff and Kushner have previously expressed a desire for other Middle Eastern countries to join the Abraham Accords, which aim to normalise ties with Israel.

Middle East Eye staff and agencies, Maghrebi.org