US Envoy Witkoff Felt 'Betrayed' by Israeli Attack on Hamas in Qatar

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as he attends a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ahead of a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a US-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Reuters)
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as he attends a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ahead of a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a US-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Reuters)
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US Envoy Witkoff Felt 'Betrayed' by Israeli Attack on Hamas in Qatar

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as he attends a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ahead of a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a US-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Reuters)
US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff looks on as he attends a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ahead of a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, amid a US-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, October 13, 2025. (Reuters)

US envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's chief negotiator on the Middle East, has said that he felt "betrayed" when Israel launched a strike targeting Hamas negotiators in Qatar last month.

In a CBS interview alongside Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law who worked with Witkoff on the brokering of a Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the presidential envoy said he learned of the September 9 attack in Doha the morning after it happened.

Qatar is a key US ally and acted as mediator in the push to end the Gaza war.

"I think both Jared and I felt, I just feel we felt a little bit betrayed," Witkoff told the CBS news program "60 Minutes" in excerpts released Friday. The full interview is scheduled to air on Sunday.

At the time, the strike halted the indirect negotiating process to end the fighting in the devastated Gaza Strip, triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

"It had a metastasizing effect because the Qataris were critical to the negotiation, as were the Egyptians and the Turks," Witkoff said.

"We had lost the confidence of the Qataris. And so Hamas went underground, and it was very, very difficult to get to them."

Trump wrote on social media at the time that the decision to conduct the Doha air raid came from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel and Hamas ultimately accepted a 20-point peace plan presented by Trump that called for hostage and prisoner releases and a ceasefire after two years of deadly conflict.

Under pressure from Trump during a White House visit this month, Netanyahu called Qatar's prime minister to apologize for the Doha strike.



Saudi Foreign Minister, French Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah photo on the right, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot photo on the left. 
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah photo on the right, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot photo on the left. 
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Saudi Foreign Minister, French Counterpart Discuss Regional Developments

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah photo on the right, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot photo on the left. 
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah photo on the right, and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot photo on the left. 

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah held a phone call on Thursday with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.

They discussed recent regional developments and their impact on the region’s security and stability.


MWL Welcomes US Designation of 3 Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Groups

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
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MWL Welcomes US Designation of 3 Muslim Brotherhood Branches as Terrorist Groups

The Muslim World League (MWL) logo
The Muslim World League (MWL) logo

The Muslim World League (MWL) welcomed the US designation of the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon as terrorist organizations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a statement issued by its General Secretariat, MWL Secretary-General and Organization of Muslim Scholars Chairman Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, emphasized that “Islam is not represented by those who deviate from its principles and values, nor by those who distort the meanings of its texts to justify extremism and violence, or exploit them to stir discord, divide the Islamic community, and destabilize societies in pursuit of narrow political and factional interests.”

He reaffirmed the stance of the MWL alongside that of the global Islamic community in categorically rejecting and condemning violence and terrorism in all forms, irrespective of their origin or pretext.

He also denounced the religious and ideological extremism that fuels such acts, which continue to threaten global security and undermine the stability and prosperity of societies worldwide.


Saudi Arabia Launches $1.9 Bln Development Projects in Yemen

A photo posted by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman of his meeting with Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi.
A photo posted by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman of his meeting with Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi.
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Saudi Arabia Launches $1.9 Bln Development Projects in Yemen

A photo posted by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman of his meeting with Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi.
A photo posted by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman of his meeting with Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi.

Saudi Arabia unveiled a comprehensive package of development projects across Yemen on Wednesday, announcing 28 projects and initiatives worth 1.9 billion riyals aimed at supporting stability and economic recovery nationwide.

The projects extend Saudi support for Yemen under directives from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, with follow-up by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.

In a post on the X platform, Prince Khalid stated that the support delivered through the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen (SDRPY) reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening security and stability and contributing to a better future for Yemen and its people.

Prince Khalid met on Wednesday with Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Chairman Dr. Rashad al-Alimi, members of the council, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of State and Governor of Aden, for talks on fraternal ties between their countries.

The meeting discussed developments in Yemen and efforts aimed at ending the crisis through a comprehensive political settlement to achieve security and stability. It underscored the importance of continuing work on the future of the southern issue through the upcoming Riyadh conference to reach an inclusive vision for fair solutions.

Al-Alimi described the meeting with Prince Khalid as productive, saying it addressed national developments and Saudi Arabia’s promising support within a strategic partnership that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people to restore state institutions, security, stability, and peace.

In a post on X, al-Alimi stated that the development projects represent a cornerstone for recovery and reconstruction, and a prelude to broader programs aimed at improving services and livelihoods, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to supporting the Yemeni state at all levels.

He expressed deep gratitude and appreciation to Saudi Arabia’s leadership for its steadfast positions alongside the Yemeni people and their political leadership at all stages.

The new package includes petroleum derivatives to operate power plants across Yemen, which is expected to improve the reliability of electricity supply to hospitals, medical centers, roads, schools, airports, ports, and other facilities, as well as support industrial activity and boost trade.

The SDRPY will begin operating the King Salman Medical and Educational City in Al-Mahra after completion of all construction works and full equipment installation, strengthening Yemen’s health sector.

The interim capital Aden will also receive development projects and initiatives, including the continued operation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital for the next three years.

The program will establish Yemen’s first desalination plant to help achieve water security and improve access to fresh water.

It will launch the second and third phases of the Aden airport rehabilitation project, including the rebuilding of the runway and the provision of navigation and communications systems, to enhance passenger services, enable international and domestic airlines to operate flights, and support economic and commercial activity.

Among the key projects is the completion of the final section of the expansion and rehabilitation of the Al Abr road, covering the Ghuwayrban to Al Makhtham stretch, following the completion of the first and second phases, totaling 90 km in Marib.

Work will also begin to rehabilitate the Al Abr to Seiyun road in Hadhramaut to boost safe mobility and support trade and economic activity.

The package also includes boosting electricity capacity through the construction of a 30 megawatt power plant in Taiz, supporting service continuity, operating Al-Mokha Hospital to ensure the continued delivery of medical services, and a project to build, expand, and upgrade the coastal road and its related intersections to promote economic and social development.