Steve Witkoff

This comes as the 42-day hostage-ceasefire deal expired on March 1, with Israel saying it is ready implement US envoy Steve Witkoff's proposal.

Source: 'When Steve Witkoff arrives, things may happen' • Netanyahu-led discussion on hostage deal talks concluded after approximately four hours

DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS: “Lebanon, by the way, could actually mobilize and come into the Abraham Peace Accords, as could potentially Syria," said Witkoff, but is this possible?

Sources estimate that, despite the lack of agreement and cohesion on the next steps, the ceasefire will continue, not collapse.

Witkoff acknowledged that, at this point, he is unsure how the negotiations will achieve the Israeli and US redline of Hamas having no role in Gaza's governing structure.

Regarding the release of additional hostages, in recent days, inquiries and ideas have been raised, but there was no real negotiation, two sources involved in the negotiations told the Post.

'We have to get an extension of phase one,' Witkoff said. 'I'll be going to the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that.'

"It's hard to square the circle," Witkoff said of Hamas' demand to stop the war and Israel's demand that Hamas not be part of the government in the Gaza Strip.

Fatah spokesperson Maher al-Namoura says the Palestinian Authority is ready to govern and rebuild Gaza as ceasefire talks and discussions on the strip’s future continue.

US envoy Steve Witkoff pledged to bring Hamas-held hostages home at a Miami memorial marking 500 days since the October 7 massacre.