Ansari, an adviser to Qatari Prime Minister Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry. He discussed the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas on January 15.

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, said on Wednesday that he welcomed the potential for “a dialogue” with Hamas and heaped praise on Qatar for helping facilitate the cease-fire deal between Israel and Gaza, despite facing scrutiny for previous ties to the Gulf nation.

Trump sent Witkoff to ensure the ceasefire agreement advances to the second phase, which will require hashing out more thorny questions about Gaza’s future.

The developer, who is president-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, worked with the main negotiator in the deal.

Trump's Middle East envoy epitomises the president-elect's disdain for policy wonks and international relations experts

Steve Witkoff helped negotiate the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. His visit to Gaza pn Wednesday was the first by a senior U.S. official in more than a decade.

We had a great team, but it doesn't happen without Donald Trump…The president was responsible for this release, and we all owe him a debt of gratitude, as to all the families,” he said.Witkoff was tapped back in mid-November by Trump.

U.S. and Israeli officials say Trump and Biden coordinated their strategies before Trump envoy Steve Witkoff dispatched to the region.

(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File) Steve Witkoff arrives at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at the Butler Farm Show, Oct. 5, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File) Qatar’s Prime Minister ...

After 14 months of talks, Trump’s threats and his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, played a major role in helping Biden officials reach the finish line.

Rarely have representatives of current and new presidents of different parties worked together at such a high-stakes moment. But the president and the president-elect didn’t quite share credit.

As the U.S. enters a new administration under President Trump, Qatar’s role as a trusted security partner remains as strong as ever.