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A US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem on Sunday to discuss implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to a statement posted Sunday on the social media platform X.
The delegation included Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, along with senior adviser Aryeh Lightstone and White House adviser Josh Gruenbaum, Witkoff said. The talks centered on advancing what the statement called "President Donald Trump's 20-Point Plan for Gaza," with both countries working "in close partnership."
Witkoff characterized the discussions as "constructive and positive," noting alignment on next steps and emphasizing the importance of continued regional cooperation.
The meeting comes amid reported tensions within Israel's government over the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Israeli Army Radio reported Sunday that the US had reached an understanding with Netanyahu's office regarding the crossing's reopening, despite what it described as a "sharp dispute within Israel's political and security establishment."
Under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement that took effect Oct. 10, the Rafah crossing was scheduled to reopen in October, but Israel did not comply. Ali Shaath, head of a technocratic committee managing Gaza affairs, announced during a televised speech following the signing of the "Board of Peace" charter in Davos that the crossing would reopen next week. Israeli officials have not confirmed this timeline.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli official linked the crossing's reopening to the recovery of remains of the last captive from Gaza.
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The second phase of the ceasefire framework calls for the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, additional withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the beginning of reconstruction efforts. The United Nations has estimated reconstruction costs at approximately $70 billion.
The first phase involved a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, with Israeli captives released in return for Palestinian prisoners.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued attacks that have killed 484 Palestinians and wounded 1,321. The broader conflict, which began in October 2023, has resulted in more than 71,600 deaths and over 171,300 injuries, according to Palestinian health authorities, with the majority of casualties being women and children
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