U.S. Envoys Urge israelโค to Exercise Restraint as Gaza Ceasefire Remains Fragile
GAZA/WASHINGTON – U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,โค Presidentโ Trump’s son-in-law, have cautioned Israeliโ Prime Minister Benjaminโ netanyahu against actions that could jeopardize the current ceasefire with Hamas, according to reports from the Times ofโข Israel. The โขenvoys, during a meeting with Netanyahu and senior Israeli military officials, reportedly stated โขthat “self-defense”โ is permissibleโข but warned against attempts to “adventurize โthe truce.” They alsoโฃ expressedโค aโ desire โ”to do everything to reach the second phase” of the โTrump administration’s peace plan.
The discussions come amid ongoing efforts toโข solidify the fragile truce and lay the groundwork for a potential long-term solution. Vice President JD โVance is expectedโค to arrive in โIsrael on Tuesday, addingโ further high-level U.S. engagement.
Vance, speaking Sunday evening,โข acknowledged the volatile nature of the peace process, describing it as having “highs โand lows.” He highlighted the fragmented nature of Hamas, stating,โค “When weโ talk about Hamas,โ we are talking โaboutโค 40 different cellsโฆ Some of thes cells will โคprobably respect the ceasefire. Manny โขof them, as weโ saw some signs of today, will not.” The Guardian reported that Vance’s โcomments wereโ perceived by some as downplaying the severity of the situation.
Parallel to the diplomatic efforts, a Palestinian โคdelegation is currently in cairo to discuss the implementation ofโฃ the second phase ofโ the Trump peace plan. Reuters reports that โHamas chief โnegotiator Khalil al-Hayya isโ exploring โคthe possibility of an international technocratic body – โขa “peace council”โ – governing Gaza โwithout direct hamas involvement.
However, Hamas maintains its insistence on Palestinian leadership in Gaza and opposes demands โขfor disarmament, according to The Guardian.โค The future of Gaza remains uncertain as negotiations continue and the โceasefire’s durability โฃis tested.
