Trump’s envoy says will push for Gaza truce extension in Middle East this week

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President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to the Middle East this week, he has said, to push for the extension of a fragile Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Reuters reports.

The three-stage ceasefire which came into effect on January 19 is now nearing the end of its first phase. It has largely held despite accusations of violations by both sides and a series of setbacks, the latest of which came over the weekend.

“We have to get an extension of phase one. I’ll be going to the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that and we are hopeful that we have the proper time to begin phase two and finish it off and get more hostages released,” Witkoff told CNN’s State of the Union.

The first phase of the ceasefire includes a deal to exchange 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners held by Israel. The second phase would include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of around 60 remaining hostages.

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