This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special Middle East envoy, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials in Jerusalem to discuss the implementation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Witkoff landed in Tel Aviv on a direct private flight from Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, according to reports in Israeli media.
Witkoff has also requested to meet with the seven Israeli hostages who have been released by Hamas since the ceasefire went into effect on Jan. 19, the Jewish News Syndicate reported.
Following his arrival in Israel, the U.S. envoy first traveled to the Netzarim Corridor, which divides northern Gaza from the south, together with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Israeli officials told the Axios and Kan News outlets Witkoff and Dermer reviewed the implementation of the truce deal and inspected Palestinian vehicles driving northward on the Netzarim Corridor.
Israel pauses Palestinian security prisoner release after chaotic Gaza scenes at earlier hostage repatriation
Israel has halted the release of Palestinian security prisoners set to be freed after the return on Israeli hostages in protests against the scenes of chaos surrounding the release of Arbel Yehoud, Gadi Mozes, and five Thai nationals Channel 12 reported, according to the Times of Israel.
The report said the prisoners were on the buses ready to be released when they ordered off.
Red Cross says it has no control over Hamas conduct at hostage handover
The International Committee of the Red Cross says it does not have any control over how Hamas conducts itself during the handover process, in light of Hamas' questionable conduct during previous releases, reported the Times of Israel.
"The ICRC is in contact with all sides regarding the terms of the release of hostages and detainees," organization spokesman Gilad Grossman said in response to a query from ToI. "While we bring up our concerns, we are not the ones who determine these terms."
During the release on January 19 of Doron Steinbrecher, Romi Gonen, and Emily Damari, the hostages were surrounded by an unruly crowd. When IDF soldiers Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, and Karina Ariev were freed on Saturday, they were paraded on a stage in fake military uniforms while holding Hamas documentation. A Red Cross official also signed documents while sitting on the Hamas stage.
Al-Jazeera journalist reportedly produced Hamas' propaganda videos documenting terrorist group's release of Israeli hostages
A journalist with the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera news network reportedly produced videos for Hamas documenting its recent release of Israeli hostages. The reporter, Tamer Almisshal, is said to have orchestrated elaborate propaganda ceremonies on the terror group's behalf, according to Israel's i24 News.
