Biden and Trump teams hold joint briefing to pursue Gaza cease-fire and hostage release

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and senior Biden Middle-East negotiator Brett McGurk met with their designated Trump-team successors on Nov. 20, 2024, in a Capitol briefing room to discuss a possible Gaza cease-fire and hostage-release agreement. The meeting, arranged after the November election, aimed to present a united front to both Israel and Hamas, emphasizing that any deal would be implemented by the incoming administration.

Sullivan briefed the incoming team, including Congressman Mike Waltz and real-estate developer Steve Witkoff, on recent developments: the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the elimination of Hezbollah’s senior command, and Israel’s limited strikes on Iran’s air-defense systems. These events, officials said, created a window for renewed negotiations.

"The only reason I’m here is to save lives," Witkoff told the group, stressing his personal commitment to the effort.

McGurk explained that Hamas had yet to agree on a list of hostages for an initial release, a prerequisite for any cease-fire. He also outlined U.S. contingency plans for a possible strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities should Tehran accelerate its enrichment program.

The briefing concluded with an agreement that Witkoff could travel to the region for informal contacts, while remaining coordinated with Sullivan and McGurk, and that both sides would continue to exchange information throughout the transition period.