Top Qatari official says Trump and his envoy pushed Hamas ceasefire deal 'over the line'

A top Qatari official told Just the News on Thursday night that Donald Trump's pressure and the negotiating work of the President-elect's envoy Steve Witkoff helped push a long stalled ceasefire and hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel "over the line."

"There truly is no better way for an incoming administration to handle this situation," said Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, the Minister of State at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Al-Khulaifi acknowledged his statement to Just the News the rarity of having a deal first negotiated by incumbent President Joe Biden pushed to fruition by his successor even before Trump takes office on Monday.

U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed to Just the News that Trump and Biden coordinated their strategies before Witkoff dispatched to the region a few weeks ago, creating a diplomatic dynamic that helped restart a deal reached last spring but soon faltered and stagnated for months.

Witkoff and Biden administration officials met in Doha with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister, before Witkoff dispatched separately to Jerusalem to negotiate outstanding issues with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to officials from all three countries. 

The diplomacy coupled with a statement Trump issued warning there would be "hell to pay" that upped the ante on Hamas and Israel set the stage for the deal announced by Biden, Trump and Qatar on Wednesday, al-Khulaifi told Just the News.

"Securing a ceasefire and hostage deal has been a priority for the incoming administration," the minister said. "President-elect Trump has been clear in his public statements that he wants to see an end to the war as soon as possible. These messages supported our efforts as we continued mediating between the parties to try to finalize an agreement.

"Steve Witkoff in particular has been actively engaged in the discussions to get a deal over the line," he added. "He has been in Doha, working closely with our team to close the gaps between the two sides in the final few days. There truly is no better way for an incoming administration to handle this situation."