January 16, 2025 3 min read

likes:

Fact-checked by Velimir Velichkov

Las Vegas Casino Mogul Aids Gaza Hostage Release, Ceasefire

President-elect Donald Trump's Special Middle eastern Envoy led by Steve Witkoff, the former owner of the building that is now Fontainebleau Las Vegas, played a key role in the Israel-Hamas negotiations that resulted in a ceasefire agreement

On Wednesday this week, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced that a ceasefire agreement was reached between Hamas and Israel, putting a stop to a bitter war that has been ongoing for the last 15 months.

The agreement was reportedly reached with the help of US, Egypt and Qatar negotiators and if approved, may put an end to the war that have cost the lives of thousands. A key role in the negotiations was played by the former owner of a building on the Las Vegas Strip that is now the home of Sin City’s newest casino resort, Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

Negotiations Result in Ceasefire Agreement

That is the case with Steve Witkoff, who formerly owned the property together with Carl Icahn. In 2021, the building that is now Fontainebleau Las Vegas was acquired by Koch Real Estate Investments which helped bring Sin City’s newest hotel and casino resort to life.

Per President Biden’s recent announcement, the ceasefire for Gaza was accomplished thanks to extensive negotiations. Witkoff participated in those discussions as a part of Donald Trump’s Special Middle Eastern Envoy. He joined Brett McGurk, who is President Biden’s Middle East advisor and played a key role in the negotiations with Hamas that took place in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Using Trump Social, president-elect Trump deemed the ceasefire agreement as an “epic” achievement. He explained that this agreement couldn’t have happened if he hadn’t won the presidential elections in November. Trump said that the win also “signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.”

Trump pointed to the important contribution of Witkoff who helped lead his Special Envoy to the Middle East. The president-elect added that Witkoff and other negotiators will continue their work in the region and collaborate with Israel to “make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.”

Trump wrote that is thrilling to see Israeli and American hostages return home safely to their families. “We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States,” wrote Trump.

Trump Was Reportedly Persuaded to Help Resolve the Conflict

During Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, he received strong support from recognizable entrepreneurs and businesses. Notably, Dr. Miriam Adelson, who inherited a casino empire from Sheldon Adelson, the recognizable casino mogul, also contributed to Trump’s campaign. Overall, she has donated more than $100 million in support of the Republican Party’s presidential candidate ultimately resulting in his win against rival Democrat Kamala Harris.

As suggested in a recent report from Maariv by Ben Caspit, an Israeli journalist, Adelson played a key role in persuading Trump to help resolve the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Adelson, who also has a majority stake in Las Vegas Sands, “lobbied Trump to take bold action, utilizing her close relationship with the president-elect,” the Jerusalem Post wrote earlier this week.

Journalist

Jerome brings a wealth of journalistic experience within the iGaming sector. His interest in the industry began after graduating from college, where he regularly participated in local poker tournaments. This exposure led him to the growing popularity of online poker and casino rooms. Jerome now channels all the knowledge he's accrued to fuel his passion for journalism, providing our team with the latest scoops online.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *