Opinion: Witkoff and Trump’s Gaza dream has one thing missing: Palestinians

US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff laid out a vision for the Middle East of Israeli hegemony funded by cash from the oil-rich Gulf, that risks destabilising the entire Middle East in a recent interview. 

In his discussion with conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson, Witkoff, tellingly suggested that Gaza was the only stumbling block to peace in the Middle East and did not mention the occupied West Bank at all. 

Middle East Eye's Editor-in-Chief David Hearst pointed out the chasm between Witkoff's world view and that offerd by the chief imam and president of Mecca’s Grand Mosque, Abdul Rahman al-Sudais. Notably, Saudi Arabia is a key US ally in the region. 

During Thursday prayers last week, Sudais said, “Oh Almighty, bring justice upon the oppressive Zionist occupiers. Oh God, strike them down, for they are not beyond your power.”

As Hearst writes, words like these channel the anger in every Arab's heart. If Witkoff thinks that calming, or rather suppressing, the people of Gaza will quench this degree of hatred in Arab hearts, he is living in a fantasy.

Read More: Witkoff and Trump’s Gaza dream has one thing missing: Palestinians