In an interview with online news anchor Tucker Carlson published on X, Witkoff described Israel’s recent military action in Gaza as "unfortunate" in some aspects but, in part, a necessary response to Hamas's "unreasonable" reactions, echoing recent Israeli and American claims.
Witkoff pointed out that he had presented a proposal at the Arab Summit, advocating for a "bridge to get to a peace deal," which included Hamas demilitarization and discussions for an "enduring truce."
He also called for "real elections in Gaza," adding that the only way to end the war is to ensure "we’re never going to have an October 7th ever again."
Witkoff’s proposal contrasts with what had been agreed upon as part of the three-phase ceasefire reached in January.
By the end of the first phase of the ceasefire in early March, Israel was supposed to engage in negotiations regarding the second phase, which, according to the January deal, would entail a permanent end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces in exchange for the release of the remaining captives from Gaza.
However, Israel violated the ceasefire and renewed its deadly attacks on Gaza on Tuesday, killing over 500 Palestinians, mostly children and women.
This followed the suspension of the entry of all goods and supplies to Gaza, renewed its deadly blockade on the strip, and halted Gaza’s electricity supply to pressure Hamas into accepting new conditions in the ongoing talks to prolong the ceasefire.
Addressing concerns about the Gaza war causing regional instability, including in neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan, Witkoff acknowledged the "huge factor" of public anger in these nations, fuelled by graphic images of the killing of Palestinians streamed on social media.
“I think King Abdullah in Jordan has done an amazing job of figuring out how to deal with that instability, but in some respects, he’s been lucky,” he said.
“The stats in Egypt are huge — unemployment among those under 25 is around 45 percent. They need a lot of help. If we have a bad event in Egypt, it could set us back significantly,” he said.
Witkoff’s statement has caused controversy in Egypt, as the country’s economy is progressing steadily, and the number of unemployed people has decreased in recent months.
According to data released by the official statistics agency CAPMAS in February, Egypt's unemployment rate fell to 6.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2024, down from 6.7 percent in the third quarter.
Additionally, CAPMAS reported that the country's labour force increased by 2.8 percent to 33.124 million individuals in Q4, up from 32.218 million in Q3.
Trump’s approach to Gaza
Meanwhile, Witkoff asserted that Trump's approach to Gaza has initiated a wave of new proposals, citing the Egyptian plan adopted by an Arab Summit held in Cairo on 4 March as an example.
He predicted a clearer vision for Gaza's future would emerge within six to twelve months. “I think what we’re going to do with Gaza is going to become much more apparent over the next six to twelve months,” he told Carlson.
The Arab-Islamic plan for Gaza reconstruction was developed in response to Trump’s proposal to take over the strip and displace its population to build a “Riviera of the Middle East” — an idea that sparked global outcry.
Witkoff noted that Trump’s approach “has engendered a lot of lively discussion about different ways to deal with Gaza,” emphasizing that Gaza remains a “flashpoint” requiring immediate attention.
He echoed Trump’s sentiment that past policies had failed, characterizing the cycle as "war, rebuild, more war, more rebuilding."
Witkoff argued that this pattern is unsustainable, supporting Trump's call for a "new way of thinking."
"The old plans don't work," he reiterated, acknowledging the criticism against Trump for challenging established norms.
He implied that such criticism is to be expected when attempting to introduce “innovative solutions.”
Two-state solution
Witkoff stressed the need for a comprehensive development plan in Gaza, focusing on economic opportunity and improved living standards.
He stressed the importance of providing Gazans with "pathways to pursue opportunities," similar to those desired for American children, including education and self-sufficiency.
"We have to get to a place where people can live a better life in Gaza," Witkoff stated, highlighting that the plan must address "housing, but it also involves these people's aspirations."
He suggested exploring diverse economic avenues, including AI, hyperscale data centres, robotics, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, to create jobs and foster economic independence.
"We can't rebuild Gaza and it is based on a welfare system. We have to give people prospects, economic and financial prospects."
When questioned about American officials overlooking the two-state solution term, Witkoff said, “Because when you use those words, it’s like a flashpoint, right? I could be attacked for it.”
He downplayed the term's significance, saying, “To me, it's just a word, right? What two-state to me means is how do we have a better living prescription for Palestinians who are living in Gaza? Let's get to that place.”
He indicated that conversations surrounding Gaza's future could "involve the word two-state, could not involve the word two-state,” arguing that the immediate need is an economic development plan that elevates the population.
Bibi concerned more about fight
Witkoff said Netanyahu faces mounting criticism regarding his approach to the captives’ crisis. "The rap he gets is that he’s more concerned about the fight than he is about the hostages," Witkoff acknowledged.
While he expressed his understanding of the basis of this critique, he said he does not entirely agree with it, claiming that Netanyahu prioritizes pressuring Hamas as the primary means of securing the captives’ release.
Public opinion in Israel heavily favours the swift return of the captives, creating significant pressure on Netanyahu.
"I think he goes up against public opinion mostly because public opinion there wants those hostages home," Witkoff added.
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