Trump aide’s veiled message for Hamas for January 20, 2025
President-elect Trump’s Middle East envoy has warned it would “not be a pretty day” if the prisoners held in Gaza were not released before his inauguration.
Steve Witkoff, who will formally take up the position when Trump’s administration starts on Jan 20, said he hoped and prayed there would be ceasefire in Gaza before Trump takes office.
“You heard what the president said, they better be released,” he said, referring to Trump. “Listen to what the president has got to say. It’s not a pretty day if they’re not released,” Witkoff added on the sidelines of a conference in Abu Dhabi.
Trump said on social media last week there would be “hell to pay” if the prisoners were not released before his inauguration.
Meanwhile US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel on Thursday to discuss efforts to broker a Gaza prisoner swap and ceasefire deal, besides the situation in Syria following the regime change, according to the White House.
Sullivan will meet Israeli officials to discuss efforts to reach a prisoner release and ceasefire deal in Gaza, the latest developments in Syria, and for discussions about Lebanon and Iran, National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said.
The statement comes after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had become “more optimistic about a possible” deal in Gaza, amid reports that Hamas had asked for lists of Israeli prisoners the Palestinian enclave.
He said indirect negotiations were under way about the return of about 100 prisoners and that, while it was still too early to be sure, prospects had improved.
