US envoy Witkoff to visit Israel ‘within days’ for talks on Iran, Gaza: Israeli media

The public broadcaster KAN said Witkoff will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials to discuss US negotiations with Iran and the second phase of Trump’s Gaza plan.

Army Radio, citing senior Israeli officials, said Witkoff is set to arrive on Tuesday.

The outlet said the US envoy will meet with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and senior military officials, including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, according to a senior security source.

Neither Netanyahu’s office nor the US administration has confirmed the visit or announced a specific date for the trip.

The anticipated visit comes as the US increases its military presence in the Middle East and as Trump has threatened military action against Iran. The developments unfold amid Arab and regional efforts, led by Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, to push for negotiations between Washington and Tehran and prevent a wider regional confrontation.

Signs of concern have grown in Israel in recent days following indications that Washington may favor a political solution with Iran rather than a military option. Israeli analysts have said Israel pushes for military action and that any US-Iran agreement should address not only Tehran’s nuclear program but also its missile capabilities.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, Tel Aviv has warned Washington against what it described as Iranian “deception.”

The report said Israel outlined three conditions for what it considers an acceptable deal: “no nuclear weapons, no missiles and no support for Iran’s regional allies, including Yemen’s Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed factions elsewhere in the region.”

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed confidence that an agreement with the United States over Iran’s nuclear program is possible. He said Washington, in coordination with regional countries, is seeking a path to resume negotiations.

The developments come against the backdrop of Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed more than 71,000 people and injured over 171,000 others since October 2023. During the same period, Israel has launched separate military operations in Lebanon, Syria, Iran and Yemen as well as an airstrike in Qatar.