After the meeting, Netanyahu sent the head of Mossad and others to Qatar to "advance" talks to return hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Steve Witkoff is meeting the Israeli prime minister on Saturday following a visit to Doha amid efforts to secure a hostage deal and Gaza ceasefire.

President-elect Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Saturday to push for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Israeli officials said. Why it matters: Witkoff's traveled to Israel from Qatar as part of a last-minute effort by Trump to press all parties involved in the negotiations to conclude the deal before Jan.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Saturday afternoon with President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, in what was described as a “surprise visit” to discuss the multilateral negotiations with Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

President-elect Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Israel on Saturday after talks in Qatar regarding the hostage deal. A senior Israeli official also stated on Saturday that progress has been made in negotiations over the hostage deal in Qatar.