US envoy predicts breakthrough in Israel-Hamas conflict Following Trump’s UN meetings

US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism about a potential breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict in the coming days, following a presentation by President Donald Trump of a 21-point plan to regional leaders in New York this week.

Witkoff did not provide details of the plan but said it “addresses Israeli concerns as well as the concerns of all the neighbours in the region”, according to Bloomberg.

On September 23, Trump met with officials from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“We’re hopeful, and I might say even confident, that in the coming days, we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough,” Witkoff said on September 24 at the Concordia Summit in New York.

The White House has not disclosed the specifics of the meeting. Trump has repeatedly emphasised the need for the release of all hostages captured by Hamas during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. Of those, 48 remain in captivity, with Israel believing 20 are still alive.

Politico reported that Trump assured Arab leaders that he would not permit Israel to annex the West Bank, a move that would anger Arab states and likely undermine efforts to normalise relations between Israel and additional Middle Eastern nations.

The conflict in Gaza has claimed over 65,000 lives, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and last month a UN-backed monitor declared famine in parts of the territory amid Israel’s months-long blockade of aid and food. A recent UN-commissioned report concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim Israel denies.

Trump’s talks occurred shortly after France, the UK, Canada, and other nations recognised Palestine as an independent state at a UN conference, urging Israel to immediately end hostilities. Despite this, Israel has signalled that a new ground offensive on Gaza City could continue for months, while Hamas remains unwilling to surrender.

Trump described the September 23 discussions with Arab and Muslim leaders as his “most important meeting,” adding, “we’re going to end something that should have probably never started.”

Separately, Witkoff confirmed that Washington continues diplomatic engagement with Iran amid the possibility of renewed sanctions. “As for Iran, we are negotiating with them. We are talking to everyone, as we should. That is our job — to resolve issues through diplomacy,” he said.

He added that the US aims to “find a permanent solution and agree on the restoration of sanctions, and if we cannot, the sanctions will be what they need to be,” describing this as “the right remedy for what is happening.”

Witkoff emphasised that the US does not seek to harm Iran but noted that Tehran “is in a difficult position” because the Eurotroika — the United Kingdom, France, and Germany — initiated the mechanism to renew sanctions under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program.

By Tamilla Hasanova