CAIRO (AP) – In a significant diplomatic effort, top U.S. envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, urging his government to enter the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. The meeting included U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and Middle East adviser. The discussions were focused on critical issues, such as recovering the remains of the last hostage in Gaza and the next steps towards demilitarizing the region.
The United States is eager to see the Trump-brokered deal progress, although Netanyahu is under considerable pressure to wait until Hamas returns the remains of the hostage, Ran Gvili. The opening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would be a significant indicator of movement into the second phase of the ceasefire. Ali Shaath, head of an anticipated technocratic government in Gaza, announced that the crossing is set to open in both directions this coming week, although Israel has yet to confirm this and is expected to discuss the matter during a Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Gvili's family has been vocal in urging the international community to put pressure on Hamas. They stated, “President Trump himself stated this week in Davos that Hamas knows exactly where our son is being held.” They accused Hamas of deceiving the international community by failing to return Gvili’s remains, which they claim violates the agreement previously signed by Hamas. In response, Hamas asserted that they have provided all relevant information about Gvili’s remains to ceasefire mediators and accused Israel of obstructing search efforts within areas under its control.
In related discussions, Egypt's top foreign diplomat urged the immediate opening of the Rafah crossing. Egyptian Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty communicated with Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov regarding the ceasefire's second phase. The ministers discussed the deployment of an international monitoring force, the opening of the Rafah crossing, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Abdelatty emphasized that implementing the second phase is a crucial step for initiating the reconstruction of Gaza.
Meanwhile, violence continues in the region despite the ceasefire. An Israeli airstrike on Saturday killed two Palestinian teenagers in Gaza, identified as cousins aged 13 and 15, who were reportedly searching for firewood at the time of the attack. The boys were killed approximately 500 meters from the Yellow Line, which delineates Israeli-controlled areas. Israeli military spokespersons stated that the strikes targeted militants who posed a threat by planting explosives near the border, although they denied that the victims were children.
In the aftermath of the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported over 480 Palestinian fatalities due to Israeli fire, figures that Israel disputes but has not officially challenged with its own statistics. The ongoing violence raises concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza as discussions about reconstruction and ceasefire implementation are underway.
Comprehensive coverage and updates on this evolving situation are available through various news outlets.
