Gaza was visited Tuesday by Donald Trump‘s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Whitcoff, according to a source familiar with the situation told CNN.
This was the first time a U.S. official had visited the enclave in more than a decade. Then-Senator John Kerry had traveled to Gaza with a congressional delegation in 2009.
Whitcoff traveled to the Netzarim corridor, a strategic strip of land that bisects Gaza, accompanied by Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer. US military officials are also at the site, participating in the process of screening Palestinian vehicles returning to northern Gaza.
Whitcoff is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Wednesday, ahead of the scheduled release of three more Israeli hostages held in Gaza a day later.
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