Top U.S. envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, pushing for an advancement into the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. The discussion included President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and Middle East adviser, though detailed content of their talks was not disclosed. A White House official confirmed that the meeting took place.
The U.S. is eager to maintain the momentum of the Trump-brokered ceasefire agreement; however, Netanyahu is facing internal pressure to delay further actions until Hamas returns the remains of the last hostage, Ran Gvili, who is still in Gaza. The second phase is expected to substantially signal its progression through the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Ali Shaath, leader of the impending technocratic government in Gaza, mentioned on Thursday that the border crossing is anticipated to open in both directions in the upcoming week. Nonetheless, there has been no official confirmation from Israel regarding this.
The family of Ran Gvili has called for intensified pressure on Hamas, pointing out that President Trump recently stated in Davos that Hamas is fully aware of their son’s whereabouts. They asserted that Hamas is misleading the international community and failing to return Gvili's remains, in violation of the agreement signed. In response, Hamas claimed to have shared all available information concerning Gvili’s remains with ceasefire mediators and accused Israel of impeding search efforts within areas it controls in Gaza. The ceasefire itself commenced on October 10, 2023.
On another front, Egypt's top diplomat has advocated for the immediate opening of the Rafah crossing. Egyptian Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty discussed this with Nickolay Mladenov, the high representative for Gaza, emphasizing the importance of allowing Palestinians to move in and out of the territory. They addressed the implementation of the ceasefire’s second phase, which includes deploying an international monitoring force, reopening the Rafah crossing, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Notably, the minister indicated that executing the second phase would be crucial for initiating Gaza's reconstruction, though no specific timeline was provided for the crossing’s opening for travelers or the evacuation of the sick and injured.
In parallel, an Israeli strike on Saturday resulted in the deaths of two Palestinian teenagers in Gaza, according to hospital authorities. The boys, cousins aged 13 and 15, were reportedly searching for firewood when they were killed in an area deemed safe by the Israeli military, located about 500 meters from the Yellow Line, which delineates Israeli-controlled regions in eastern Gaza. A relative stated that they were targeted directly, while Israel’s military contended that the attack aimed at militants who were posing a threat to troops.
A devastated father, Yusuf Zawara, pleaded for his son Mohammad to awaken, expressing disbelief over the loss. The desperate search for firewood has compelled many Palestinians to venture near the Yellow Line, seeking any material to burn for cooking and heating as a result of severe shortages. The absence of central electricity in Gaza since the initial days of the conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, has exacerbated living conditions. Hundreds of thousands of people are surviving in makeshift tent camps and damaged buildings, with nighttime temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least nine children have died from exposure to the cold in recent weeks.
Since the onset of the ceasefire, it's noted that more than 480 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is managed by the Hamas-led government. This Ministry maintains that its casualty figures are reliable, a claim generally accepted by U.N. agencies and independent experts, while Israel has disputed these numbers without providing its own.
