U.S. Envoys Push Netanyahu to Advance Gaza Ceasefire as Pressure Mounts/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. envoys urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to advance into phase two of the Gaza ceasefire. Tensions remain over Hamas’s refusal to return the body of the final hostage, stalling progress. Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions worsen in Gaza, with two children killed in an Israeli strike.
Gaza Ceasefire Talks: Quick Look
- U.S. Pushes for Progress: Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Netanyahu urging next phase.
- Rafah Crossing Uncertainty: Gaza leaders say it will reopen; Israel has not confirmed.
- Hostage Remains a Sticking Point: Israel hesitant to proceed until body of Ran Gvili is returned.
- Egypt Steps In: Cairo urges Rafah reopening and international monitors for reconstruction.
- Board of Peace Update: U.S.-backed body “hopeful” ceasefire can move forward soon.
- Tragedy in Gaza: Two boys killed while gathering firewood near Israeli-controlled zone.
- Harsh Conditions: No electricity, fuel shortages, and cold temperatures worsen crisis.
- Ongoing Violence: Over 480 Palestinians reported killed since the Oct. ceasefire.
U.S. Envoys Push Netanyahu to Advance Gaza Ceasefire as Pressure Mounts
Deep Look
CAIRO (AP) — U.S. officials met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to urge progress into the second phase of the ceasefire agreement that halted the Gaza war. Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner led the meeting, signaling the White House’s urgency to see movement in the fragile peace process.
While the Trump-brokered deal remains in place, Netanyahu faces growing pressure from within Israel to hold off until Hamas returns the remains of Ran Gvili, the final hostage confirmed to be held in Gaza. The opening of the Rafah border crossing, a key signal of the second phase, hangs in the balance.
Rafah Border Crossing in Focus
Ali Shaath, head of Gaza’s transitional technocratic government, announced the Rafah crossing would open in both directions in the coming week. However, Israel has yet to confirm the move. The crossing, connecting Gaza with Egypt, is currently under Israeli military control. The Israeli cabinet is expected to address the issue on Sunday.
Egypt’s foreign ministry stated that Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty held talks with Nickolay Mladenov, the Trump-appointed Gaza peace envoy, emphasizing the urgency of opening Rafah and deploying international monitors to support reconstruction and humanitarian access. Abdelatty called implementation of the next phase a “key entry point” to Gaza’s recovery.
A Board of Peace official, speaking anonymously, said he was “hopeful” that remaining issues could be resolved “in the coming days,” allowing the ceasefire’s next phase to begin.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. On Saturday, two Palestinian boys, ages 13 and 15, were killed in an Israeli airstrike while searching for firewood near the Yellow Line — the boundary dividing Israeli-controlled areas from the rest of Gaza.
Family members said the boys were collecting fuel for cooking and warmth, like thousands of others in the territory. Their deaths occurred in an area the Israeli military had declared safe. The IDF claimed they were targeting militants who planted explosives and denied that children were killed.
At Shifa Hospital, relatives grieved as the boys’ bloodied bodies were brought in.
Arafat al-Zawara, uncle to both, said, “They were targeted directly, not through any fault of their own.” One father, Yusuf Zawara, wept over his son Mohamed’s body, pleading with him to wake up.
Power Outages and Freezing Temperatures
Gaza remains without electricity since the early days of the war. With temperatures dipping below 10°C (50°F) and cold Mediterranean storms sweeping in, thousands are scavenging for anything combustible — wood, trash, plastic — to survive. Fuel is scarce, and winter conditions have already claimed the lives of at least nine children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Approximately 480 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the October ceasefire, the ministry reports. Though Israeli officials dispute the numbers, U.N. agencies and independent groups regard the ministry’s data as generally reliable.
Ongoing Political Struggles
The push for progress on the ceasefire comes amid heightened political strain. Netanyahu is under increasing domestic pressure not to concede on Hamas until all hostages are accounted for. Trump, meanwhile, has remained vocal on the issue. Speaking in Davos, the president said Hamas “knows exactly” where Ran Gvili’s body is and accused them of violating the ceasefire agreement by withholding it.
Gvili’s family released a statement echoing Trump’s frustration: “Hamas is deceiving the international community and refusing to return our son… a clear violation of the agreement it signed.”
Looking Ahead
As the Trump administration continues to champion its peace framework through the Board of Peace, the success of the second phase will hinge on Israeli cooperation, Egyptian mediation, and Hamas compliance. International monitors, border logistics, and the return of hostages all remain on the table.
For Gaza’s 2.2 million residents, the ceasefire’s implementation may mean the difference between continued crisis and the beginning of recovery — but only if all parties move forward.
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