Trump’s envoy warns of ‘not a pretty day’ if Gaza hostages not released before inauguration
Steve Witkoff said he hoped and prayed there would be a ceasefire in Gaza before Trump takes office on January 20, or it could lead to severe consequences
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy warned on Monday during a visit to the region, it would “not be a pretty day” if the hostages held in Gaza were not released before the US president-elect’s inauguration.
Steve Witkoff, who will formally take up the position when Trump’s administration starts, said he hoped and prayed there would be a ceasefire in Gaza between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel before Trump takes office on January 20.
“You heard what the president said, they better be released,” he said, referring to Trump.
“Listen to what the president has got to say. It’s not a pretty day if they’re not released,” Witkoff added, in response to questions on the sidelines of a bitcoin conference in UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
President-elect Trump said on social media last week there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not released before his inauguration.
Israel is now more optimistic about a possible hostage deal in Gaza, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday, amid reports that Hamas had asked for lists of all hostages still held by militant groups in the Palestinian enclave.
