US President-elect Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East has visited Qatar, one of the countries involved in mediating between Israel and Hamas.

The trip comes amid talks in Qatar on the possible release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Qatari government said on Friday the envoy met Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and exchanged opinions about the ceasefire discussions.

Trump has demanded that Hamas release hostages before he takes office on January 20.

The US president-elect warned that those involved in capturing the hostages will pay a heavy price unless they are freed before January 20.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said “if the hostage deal is not realized by the time President Trump takes office, Hamas in Gaza must be completely defeated.”

Meanwhile, broadcaster Aljazeera, quoted a member of Hamas’ military division as saying, “Most of the enemy’s prisoners in the northern Gaza Brigade are now missing due to the Zionist aggressions.”

More than 46,000 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed in the battle between Israeli forces and the Islamic group Hamas. The fighting has continued for more than 15 months.