The real estate magnate-turned-diplomat reflects on his son's death as he travels to Israel to oversee implementation of Gaza ceasefire.

This trip comes as negotiations for the second phase of the truce between Israel and Hamas are set to begin, with the US envoy to the Middle East expressing optimism going forward

I've been under fire, including battling terrorists on October 7 to rescue my family -- my advice to you is don't fear the attacks

Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff becomes the first U.S. official to visit Gaza in more than a decade, ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, said on Wednesday that he welcomed the potential for “a dialogue” with Hamas and heaped praise on Qatar for helping facilitate the cease-fire deal between Israel and Gaza, despite facing scrutiny for previous ties to the Gulf nation.

Follow NBC News live updates for the latest coverage of the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

Israel and Hamas are set to carry out their third exchange of hostages and prisoners on Thursday as part of a ceasefire agreement that has halted fighting in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is due to release three Israelis and five Thai citizens. Israel is releasing 110 Palestinian prisoners.

Steve Witkoff, a member of the Donald Trump administration’s transition team, in an interview with NBC News regarding the recent conditions in Gaza, mentioned Indonesia as one of the countries being considered by the Donald Trump administration to accept the relocation of Gazans during the reconstruction period.

After 14 months of talks, Trump’s threats and his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, played a major role in helping Biden officials reach the finish line.

This despicable practice rewarded body snatchers and enabled Hamas to kill hostages and still cash out. It meant that Israeli soldiers risked their lives to retrieve bodies, including bodies that had been held by the Jihadist ghouls for over a decade, to reduce the number of terrorists they would have to release under the Biden-Witkoff deal.

Witkoff is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials in Jerusalem.