Media: US envoy expected to join Gaza ceasefire talks amid optimism

A breakthrough in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations could be on the horizon, as U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Doha by the end of the week to help finalise a long-awaited agreement between Israel and Hamas, a source involved in the mediation effort told The Times of Israel on July 22.

The development follows remarks by U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, who said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had informed her Witkoff was already en route to the region and that Washington had “high hopes” for the deal.

Witkoff "is heading to the region now — to the Gaza area,” Bruce told reporters in a briefing. However, she noted that Rubio had not disclosed specific destinations.

Contrary to Bruce’s comments, the source close to the mediation effort clarified that Witkoff was still in the United States as of late July 22, with plans to depart on July 23 for meetings in Europe, not Doha — where the core of the proximity negotiations has been taking place since July 6.

Witkoff’s anticipated arrival in Qatar has been framed as a possible signal that the talks are entering their final phase. U.S. and regional officials have previously stated that he intends to personally join the negotiations only once an agreement is ready to be finalised.

Israeli officials appear to be preparing for that moment. On July 22, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a situational assessment with the Israeli negotiating team stationed in Doha, according to a government source.

Meanwhile, in Washington, a delegation of former hostages is scheduled to meet with senior Trump administration officials on July 23, underscoring the domestic pressure on the U.S. to secure the release of the remaining captives.

The current proposal under discussion includes a 60-day ceasefire, during which 10 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 18 slain hostages would be exchanged for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. If implemented, the truce would pave the way for follow-up talks on a permanent ceasefire and the release of the final 22 hostages, around 10 of whom are believed to be alive.

Mediators had expressed cautious optimism last week after Israel reportedly eased its position on the scope of its military presence in Gaza during the truce period. However, momentum has stalled somewhat in recent days. As of late July 22, Hamas had yet to respond to Israel’s latest concessions, the source said, raising questions about whether the deal will materialise in the coming days.

By Vugar Khalilov