Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump�s special envoy to the Middle East and point man in the Gaza ceasefire talks, is preparing to leave his post at the end of the year, according to a U.S. official familiar with the matter.

Witkoff, a longtime Trump ally and real estate executive, has served as a Special Government Employee � a temporary designation typically capped at 130 days but subject to renewals. While his role has already stretched past that window, officials say he is planning an exit, particularly with a potential breakthrough on Gaza now in sight.

Trump announced Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted the latest U.S. proposal for a ceasefire, with mediators now awaiting Hamas�s official response. If a deal is sealed, Witkoff would likely �bow out gracefully,� the official said.

People inside Witkoff�s office are already preparing for the transition, scoping out �the next thing� as the envoy eyes the door, the official added.

Witkoff�s pending departure would mark the latest shift in Trump�s foreign policy team, which has seen a string of unconventional envoys tapped for high-stakes roles. His appointment raised eyebrows at the outset � a real estate mogul navigating one of the world�s most combustible conflicts � but Trump has leaned on personal loyalists rather than career diplomats in much of his Middle East strategy.

Whether Witkoff leaves on a high note hinges on the Gaza talks, which remain fragile. But if the ceasefire sticks, he could walk away with something rare in this conflict: a diplomatic win.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)