President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy was in Israel on Wednesday to meet with senior officials and tour Israeli military installations in and around the Gaza Strip, making his second trip to the region this month to advance a shaky ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

As both United States President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump try to take credit for Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a relatively unknown political newcomer in Trump’s incoming team has emerged as a key figure in sealing the deal.

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