Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, made a significant visit to Gaza on Tuesday, marking the first time an American official has visited the enclave in well over a decade. The last known visit was by then-Sen. John Kerry in 2009 as part of a congressional delegation.
During his visit, Witkoff, accompanied by Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, traveled to the Netzarim Corridor. This strategic strip of land bisects Gaza and is of crucial importance in the region.
A notable presence of American military contractors was observed in the Netzarim Corridor. These contractors are stationed at a key checkpoint responsible for screening Palestinian vehicles returning to northern Gaza, underscoring the security cooperation between the U.S. and Israel in the area.
Witkoff's itinerary also includes a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scheduled for late Wednesday. This meeting comes ahead of the anticipated release of three Israeli hostages currently held in Gaza, set to take place on Thursday.
