We had a great team, but it doesn't happen without Donald Trump…The president was responsible for this release, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude, as to all the families,” Witkoff said.

As both United States President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump try to take credit for Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a relatively unknown political newcomer in Trump’s incoming team has emerged as a key figure in sealing the deal.

Gaza Steve Witkoff, US president-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, has been credited with helping to deliver the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release agreement announced on Wednesday. The New York-born billionaire,

The developer, who is president-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, worked with the main negotiator in the deal.

While Witkoff says progress made in Doha, Hamas stands by demand for permanent end to war, which Israel rejects; president-elect: 'It won't be good for anyone' if no deal by Jan. 20

Biden officials involved in the effort acknowledged that President-elect Donald Trump’s threats and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff’s participation during the final week of negotiations played a major role in bringing across the finish line a deal they had struggled to reach for more than a year.

Steve Witkoff, an investor and real estate mogul, has been highlighted as a key figure in securing a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Sensing a breakthrough, the Egyptian mediator urgently dispatched Major General Ahmed Abdel Khaleq - who oversees the Palestinian portfolio in Egyptian intelligence - to Doha. After meeting with Hamas representatives, he secured confirmation the group would make what a senior Hamas official described as "painful concessions."

Rarely have representatives of current and new presidents of different parties worked together at such a high-stakes moment. But the president and the president-elect didn’t quite share credit.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu met with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s point person ... Getty Images In briefings in Doha, Witkoff reportedly said that Trump wants to see a deal “within days.”

It was Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, when Steve Witkoff, President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver a stark message from his boss: It was time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday he hopes to have good things to say about hostages held by Hamas in Gaza by Inauguration Day.