Trump's hostage pointman joins crowds at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to watch chaotic release of three Israelis, five Thais The post Witkoff meets freed soldiers, ex-hostages, officials, stresses commitment to full deal appeared first on The Times of Israel.

U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff met in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, aiming to reinforce Israel’s fragile ceasefire with Hamas militants in Gaza after more than 15 months of warfare.

Follow NBC News live updates for the latest coverage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

After 14 months of talks, Trump’s threats and his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, played a major role in helping Biden officials reach the finish line.

Israel and Hamas are set to carry out their third exchange of hostages and prisoners on Thursday as part of a ceasefire agreement that has halted fighting in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is due to release three Israelis and five Thai citizens. Israel is releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners.

Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff becomes the first U.S. official to visit Gaza in more than a decade, ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Trump sent Witkoff to ensure the ceasefire agreement advances to the second phase, which will require hashing out more thorny questions about Gaza’s future.

The real estate magnate-turned-diplomat reflects on his son's death as he travels to Israel to oversee implementation of Gaza ceasefire.

President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday made a rare visit by a U.S. official to the Gaza Strip to oversee the implementation of the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that he helped broker,

I've been under fire, including battling terrorists on October 7 to rescue my family -- my advice to you is don't fear the attacks

Witkoff is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials in Jerusalem.