Washington, Dec 18 (NationPress) The United States is set to engage in renewed discussions with vital partners in the Middle East this week as Washington amplifies its diplomatic efforts concerning the future of Gaza amidst ongoing regional instability.

According to a senior official from the State Department, Special Envoy Witkoff is scheduled to meet on Friday in Miami with high-ranking officials from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to deliberate over the subsequent phase regarding Gaza.

The Miami gathering will convene three nations that have been pivotal in regional diplomacy since the onset of the Gaza conflict. The agenda for the meeting has not been disclosed publicly.

Nevertheless, the mention of the “next phase” suggests discussions that extend beyond immediate hostilities, focusing on security measures, humanitarian access, and longer-term political arrangements, as indicated by officials.

Qatar and Egypt have historically acted as key intermediaries in past negotiations concerning Gaza, including attempts to establish ceasefires and facilitate humanitarian access.

Conversely, Turkey has sought a proactive diplomatic role since the conflict's inception, involving regional and international stakeholders.

The Gaza conflict erupted following the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, leading to a significant military response from Israel and a lingering humanitarian crisis in the region. The ongoing civilian casualties and extensive destruction have sparked sustained global concern.

President Donald Trump has frequently referenced Gaza and broader developments in the Middle East in his recent statements.

During a White House Hanukkah reception, Trump remarked, “We reached our ceasefire agreement to halt the war in Gaza, which many said was impossible,” asserting that the United States had “ushered in a new era of peace in a region where peace was once thought unattainable, the Middle East.”

In his national address on Wednesday, Trump claimed his administration had “brought an end to the war in Gaza, achieving peace in the Middle East for the first time in 3,000 years and ensured the release of hostages, both living and deceased.”