US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, walked from his Jerusalem hotel to the Western Wall Plaza on Thursday, pausing to offer a personal prayer “for the hostages and for the end of the war.”
Witkoff was greeted at the site by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and holy sites, who briefly outlined the Wall’s spiritual and historical centrality to the Jewish people.
Rabinowitz thanked Witkoff for Washington’s efforts to help secure the hostages’ release, calling the mission “one of Judaism’s greatest commandments.”
Dozens of worshipers in the plaza shook Witkoff’s hand and thanked him for his steadfast support for Israel.
The envoy also toured the "Gateway to Heaven," a recently opened multimedia exhibit that guides visitors through Jerusalem’s story across the generations.
Before departing, Witkoff slipped a note into the ancient stones, signed the site’s guest book, and repeated his prayer: “I pray for the hostages and for the end of the war.”
Witkoff's Middle East Visit
Witkoff's visit to Israel also included a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as a visit to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in the Gaza Strip.
"At President Trump's direction, Ambassador Mike Huckabee and I met yesterday with Israeli officials to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza," Witkoff said after visiting Gaza on Friday.
"Today, we spent over five hours inside Gaza — level setting the facts on the ground, assessing conditions, and meeting with the GHF and other agencies. The purpose of the visit was to give Trump a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza."