US envoy Witkoff praises leaders for creating a 'sense of hope' in Gaza

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday thanked world leaders and officials for their contributions in reaching a peace agreement in Gaza, as he addressed the signing ceremony of the charter of the Board of Peace, a body for resolving international conflicts, in Davos.

Witkoff, one of the Executive Board members of the initiative, said he was proud to speak after accomplishing a mission the world had described as "impossible" and "unattainable."

"We have achieved a peace deal in Gaza," he said, adding that "we have created a sense of hope for what the future can bring, to Gaza, and all other places where the Board of Peace will operate."

Witkoff thanked President Donald Trump for giving him the opportunity to take part in the mission.

He expressed gratitude to those present at the ceremony for their contributions to the Oct. 10 ceasefire, specifically thanking Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and chief of Turkish intelligence Ibrahim Kalin.

Witkoff also thanked Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, among others.

He expressed appreciation for members of the Board of Peace for their months-long work, and acknowledged the contributions of other officials from the US government to the ceasefire efforts.