Witkoff Hosts Gaza Ceasefire Talks Amid Stalemate/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff will host key regional players in Miami to revive stalled Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations. The second phase of the U.S.-brokered truce remains unfulfilled, as both sides trade accusations of violations. Mediators aim to establish a governing body for Gaza and deploy an international peacekeeping force.
Gaza Ceasefire Talks + Quick Looks
- Envoy Steve Witkoff to host Gaza peace talks in Miami
- Officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to participate
- Discussions focus on implementing Phase 2 of the ceasefire
- Second phase includes international force and Gaza governance
- Trump to chair oversight “Board of Peace” if assembled
- Israel opposes Turkey’s role in peacekeeping force
- Hamas, Israel accuse each other of violating truce
- Humanitarian crisis worsens amid stalled aid and security
- Over 70,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, says local authority
- Mediators push for renewed cooperation and political progress
Witkoff Hosts Gaza Ceasefire Talks Amid Stalemate
Deep Look
JERUSALEM — As the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire remains stalled, the Trump administration is preparing a new round of diplomatic talks to push forward the next phase of the Gaza truce. Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, will host senior officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in Miami on Friday in a high-stakes attempt to restart momentum toward peace, according to a senior State Department official.
The meeting, not yet publicly announced, is intended to evaluate progress on Phase 2 of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire that began on October 10. That agreement paused more than two years of warfare between Israel and Hamas and resulted in a major hostage-prisoner exchange. However, the truce has since stagnated, with both parties accusing each other of repeated violations.
Phase 1 of the agreement led to Hamas returning the majority of hostages taken during its deadly October 2023 assault on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people. In exchange, Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees and allowed more humanitarian aid into Gaza. Yet progress on Phase 2—a far more complex initiative—has not materialized.
This second stage involves the creation of an internationally monitored technocratic government for Gaza, the deployment of a neutral international security force, the disarmament of Hamas, and further withdrawal of Israeli troops. Oversight is supposed to be managed by a yet-to-be-formed “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump.
Despite the ambitious framework, several key pieces of the plan remain missing. The international force has not been assembled, and the board overseeing the transition has yet to convene. Israel has pushed back on the involvement of some proposed peacekeeping contributors, particularly objecting to Turkey’s participation.
Nonetheless, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed he will attend Friday’s talks. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, said in an Al Jazeera interview that he too would take part. He emphasized the urgency of advancing toward political stability in Gaza.
“There’s an urgent need to move into the second phase and form a Palestinian civil administration,” Sheikh Mohammed said, warning that the international force must remain neutral. He also accused Israel of repeated breaches of the ceasefire terms, stating these violations risk undermining the credibility of the mediators.
From the Palestinian side, Hamas continues to demand more international pressure on Israel to meet its obligations—reopening key border crossings, halting strikes, and expanding aid access. Israel, meanwhile, insists that the remains of one final hostage, Ran Gvili, must be returned before moving forward.
Meanwhile, conditions inside Gaza remain dire. Although famine has reportedly been averted, humanitarian organizations report persistent food shortages and inconsistent aid deliveries. Displaced Palestinians continue to live in overcrowded shelters, facing limited access to clean water, medicine, and fuel.
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by two years of relentless warfare. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 70,660 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign. Roughly half of the reported dead are women and children. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.
The Trump administration views the talks as a critical chance to reboot the stalled ceasefire and stabilize Gaza. For Witkoff, a former real estate executive turned diplomat, the success of these negotiations could define the Trump administration’s foreign policy legacy in the Middle East.
Yet the challenges are considerable. Deep mistrust between Israel and Hamas, coupled with regional rivalries and diverging interests among mediating nations, make consensus elusive. While there is agreement on the urgency of stabilizing Gaza, differences remain about who should govern, how peacekeepers will operate, and what post-war reconstruction will look like.
Despite these hurdles, U.S. officials remain cautiously optimistic. “We believe this meeting is an important opportunity to get all stakeholders aligned on a path forward,” the State Department official said.
As the Miami meeting approaches, the world watches closely. Whether the second phase of the ceasefire proceeds or collapses could determine not just the future of Gaza but the broader trajectory of regional stability.
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