U.S. Envoys Address Gaza Ceasefire Phase 2 in Meeting with Netanyahu
Witkoff revealed via X, the US social media platform, that the delegation included Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, senior adviser Aryeh Lightstone, and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum.
Saturday's negotiations centered on "continued progress and implementation planning for Phase 2 of President Donald Trump's 20-Point Plan for Gaza," the statement said, emphasizing that the United States and Israel are advancing the plan together "in close partnership."
Officials characterized the discussions as "constructive and positive," with both parties in agreement on subsequent actions while stressing "the importance of continued cooperation on all matters critical to the region."
Earlier Sunday, Israeli Army Radio disclosed that the US had secured an understanding with Netanyahu's office concerning the Rafah crossing reopening between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid what it described as a "sharp dispute within Israel's political and security establishment."
The Rafah border point, connecting Gaza and Egypt, was scheduled to resume operations in October during the ceasefire agreement's initial phase that commenced Oct. 10, yet Israel failed to honor that commitment.
Ali Shaath, head of a technocratic committee tasked with running Gaza, declared during a televised address following the "Board of Peace" charter signing in Davos that the Rafah crossing would reopen next week. However, the Israeli side has not confirmed this.
An Israeli official linked the reopening of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing to the recovery of the remains of the last captive from Gaza, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
The agreement's second phase mandates the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, further withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Gaza, and the initiation of reconstruction initiatives, which the United Nations projects will require approximately $70 billion.
The initial phase encompassed a ceasefire and prisoner swap involving the release of Israeli captives in return for Palestinian prisoners. However, Tel Aviv has continued to violate the agreement on a daily basis.
The Israeli army has killed more than 71,600 victims, most of them women and children, and injured over 171,300 in a brutal offensive since October 2023 that left Gaza in ruins.
Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued to carry out attacks, killing 484 Palestinians and wounding 1,321, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
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