Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two key special envoys of US President Donald Trump, arrived in Israel on Saturday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
The main topic of conversation was how to continue the US 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza and build a more stable future in the region.
The visit is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to implement the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
This plan includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the complete disarmament of the Hamas group, and the handover of administrative control of the territory to a different administration.
Furthermore, the United States proposes a complete reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, with the creation of a “New Gaza” that would include high-rise residential buildings, modern data centers, and even seaside resorts, transforming the area into a prosperous and peaceful place.
A very sensitive point discussed at the meeting is the recovery of the body of the last Israeli hostage still in Gaza: Sergeant Ran Gvili.
American authorities are working with Israel to bring the body back, but Hamas refuses to comply with this part of the ceasefire agreement.
Gvili’s family made an emotional appeal, saying that pressure should be put on Hamas, not Israel, since the group knows where the body is and is not returning it, even though they signed the agreement.
They asked Netanyahu to convey this clear message to the American envoys: without the return of the body, there is no way to move forward with peace and reconstruction.
Another important topic was the reopening of the Rafah crossing, the main passage between Gaza and Egypt, which serves as an entry and exit point for more than two million Palestinians.
Ali Shaath, head of a US-backed Palestinian transition committee, announced that the crossing will be reopened next week in both directions.
However, Israel is imposing strict conditions: it wants to limit the number of people entering Gaza, ensure that more leave than enter, maintain remote surveillance, pre-approve travelers, and prevent arms smuggling.
The operation will be carried out by observers from the European Union and members of the Palestinian Authority’s intelligence service, without a physical presence of Israeli soldiers on site, although troops will remain nearby for security.
American sources and Arab diplomats revealed that the reopening of Rafah was practically imposed on Israel by the ceasefire mediators (United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey).
Despite the announcement made during a ceremony in Davos, the Israeli government has not yet officially confirmed it and said that the matter will be discussed by the security cabinet in the coming days.
The conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 251 individuals.
Since then, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health-which cannot be independently verified-more than 71,000 people have died in Gaza, with hundreds of deaths even after the ceasefire began in October 2025. Hamas continues to refuse to surrender its weapons, making it difficult to move towards lasting peace.
With this meeting, the United States seeks to accelerate negotiations, pressing for more concrete steps towards a definitive end to the war, the return of hostages, demilitarization, and the safe and sustainable reconstruction of Gaza.
Published in 01/25/2026 02h05
Text adapted by AI (Grok) and translated via Google API in the English version. Images from public image libraries or credits in the caption.
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