Steve Witkoff travelling to Israel to discuss negotiations with Hamas that would lead to release of some hostages

The US Middle East envoy chosen by the president-elect, Donald Trump, will meet the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Saturday amid efforts to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza, an Israeli official said.

On Friday, Steve Witkoff met the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss “the latest developments in the region, especially the efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”, the Qatari foreign ministry said.