Trump's Middle East Envoy to Oversee Gaza Ceasefire

(Patria) - Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's envoy for the Middle East, said he will be part of a team of external monitors deployed in and along the Gaza Strip to guarantee security following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Witkoff's statement to Fox News is the first public confirmation of the planned deployment of external monitors in Gaza, including the presence of US officials.

Israel and Hamas agreed last week to a multi-phase ceasefire and hostage release deal after months of mediation by the US, Qatar, and Egypt.

Trump had demanded that a deal be reached before his inauguration on January 20. The deal went into effect on January 19.

Witkoff told Fox in an interview that he is focused on ensuring the initial six-month agreement moves into a second phase.

Mediators say the second phase should include the release of all remaining hostages and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.

"I am actually going to Israel. I will be part of the inspection team on the Netzarim corridor, as well as the Philadelphi corridor," Witkoff said.

Netzarim is a strip that Israel controlled during the war, preventing free movement of Palestinians between northern and southern Gaza. Philadelphi is a narrow border strip between Gaza and Egypt.

"In places like that, you have external monitors who are in a way ensuring that people are safe and that people who are coming in are not armed and that nobody has bad intentions," Witkoff added.

However, he did not reveal who else might be part of the inspection team.

The Israeli military and Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A source familiar with the ceasefire agreement said Witkoff is expected to spend considerable time in Israel.

"He intends to be here and monitor, especially closer to the second phase of the agreement," the source said.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel must withdraw its forces from central Gaza and allow Palestinians to return to the north during an initial six-week phase, during which some hostages will be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Trump stated on Monday that he was not convinced by the ceasefire deal, describing Gaza as a "mass rubble area" after months of Israeli bombardment.

After the ceasefire was agreed upon, Trump said he would seek to expand the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements reached during his first term that normalized relations between Israel and Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates.

Witkoff was asked in the interview which countries in the region might join the agreement.

"I think you could bring everybody in that region. I really do. I think there's a new sense of leadership there," Witkoff said.

When asked to name a specific country, Witkoff replied, "Well, I think, Qatar."

"Qatar has been of tremendous help in this. Qatar's (Prime Minister) Sheikh Mohammed, (his) communication skills with Hamas have been indispensable here," Witkoff added.