Waltz hails ‘night-and-day’ Middle East shift as Trump’s Gaza plan reshapes region

By Fox News · Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: United States Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz recently returned from a Middle East swing, touting the "amazing progress" in the implementation of President Donald Trump’s Israel–Gaza peace deal, and telling Fox News Digital that the situation abroad is "night and day to where we were a year ago." Fox News Digital spoke exclusively with Waltz Thursday evening, just hours after he returned to the United States from the Middle East. MIKE WALTZ SEES TRUMP'S GAZA PLAN AS 'ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE' Waltz traveled from the Lebanese border to the Syrian border, the Egyptian border, Jordan to Israel and beyond. "The purpose of the trip was to get on the ground and see the implementation," Waltz said. "We met with the Jordanians, the king, the prime minister and president of Israel — we met with our troops." Waltz explained that there is a "small contingent" of approximately 100 U.S. troops in Israel — not in Gaza — to help to pull together humanitarian aid and military coordination. "We have had air defense assets in Israel for quite some time to deal with attacks from Iran," Waltz said. "This is now a small headquarters element to provide a coordination — no one was talking to each other, and the U.S. military is doing what it does best." Waltz said the U.S. troops in Israel are working with the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, the Israelis, Egyptians and Arab countries, while having contact with Palestinians and ensuring that humanitarian aid is being delivered. "From an ‘America First’ standpoint, the United States shouldn’t be doing this alone," Waltz said. "Burden-sharing is a key component and dozens are helping under President Trump’s leadership." UN AMBASSADOR WALTZ REVEALS TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN IS ‘THE ONLY WAY FORWARD’ Waltz led the charge at the United Nations, implementing the now-adopted resolution that endorses the Board of Peace, sets parameters for Gaza’s transitional governance and launches…