U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Europe this week to advance negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire amid escalating humanitarian concerns, according to a U.S. official. Witkoff is scheduled to meet Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Qatari representatives in Rome starting Thursday, with potential follow-up talks in Doha if progress is achieved.
The discussions aim to revive a proposed 60-day pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt with U.S. support. This comes as Gaza's humanitarian crisis intensifies following Israel's military campaign, which resumed after a two-month ceasefire collapsed on March 18 when strikes killed over 400 Palestinians.
While Washington reaffirms its commitment to de-escalation, challenges persist in bridging gaps between stakeholders. The Rome meetings mark the latest effort to stabilize the region, with analysts noting Qatar's growing role as a diplomatic intermediary.
