U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff Heads to Israel for High-Stakes Talks on Iran, Gaza
JERUSALEM, Feb 2 – U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Israel this week for high-level consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top defense officials, two senior Israeli government sources confirmed on Monday. The visit underscores Washington’s intensified diplomatic push to address twin crises: a volatile standoff with Iran and the protracted war in Gaza.
According to the officials, Witkoff is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. His meetings are seen as a critical preparatory step ahead of a potential revival of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, which both sides have recently signaled willingness to restart. The trip follows a weekend meeting in Washington between Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and U.S. General Dan Caine, suggesting closely coordinated allied positioning.
The envoy’s arrival comes amid a pronounced U.S. military buildup near Iran, triggered in part by Tehran’s violent suppression of anti-government protests last month—the deadliest domestic unrest since the 1979 revolution. Regional anxieties have been further inflamed by repeated exchanges of fire along the Israel-Gaza border and stalled ceasefire efforts.
“Witkoff’s agenda is twofold,” noted a third Israeli official familiar with the planning. “First, to align with Israel on red lines should nuclear talks with Iran resume, and second, to press forward with the administration’s Gaza disengagement plan, which has faced political and logistical hurdles.”
Analysts suggest the visit highlights the Trump administration’s last-minute effort to solidify its Middle East legacy, balancing between de-escalation with Iran and supporting Israel’s security demands. “The timing is delicate,” said regional expert Dr. Layla Hassan. “Any misstep could either collapse the fragile diplomatic window with Tehran or reignite full-scale conflict in Gaza.”
Voices & Reactions
David Chen, former State Department adviser: “This is a necessary, if overdue, diplomatic circuit-breaker. Coordinating with Israel before engaging Iran is prudent, but the administration must ensure it doesn’t simply echo Netanyahu’s maximalist positions.”
Rebecca Stern, security analyst at the Atlantic Council: “Witkoff’s mission is essentially damage control. The military buildup sends one signal; diplomacy sends another. This dual track risks confusing allies and adversaries alike.”
Marcus Holt, activist with Peace First Initiative: “It’s outrageous. This administration is tightening military pressure while pretending to pursue talks. This isn’t diplomacy—it’s coercion, and it’s putting the entire region on the brink of another disastrous war.”
Aaron Feldman, political science professor at Hebrew University: “The sequencing here is key. If Witkoff can secure Israeli buy-in on a renewed nuclear framework, it could temporarily lower temperatures. But Gaza remains the more immediate tinderbox.”
Reporting by Maayan Lubell; edited by Rami Ayyub and news desk.