US Envoys Press Netanyahu to Advance Gaza Ceasefire Second Phase

CAIRO (AP) – Senior United States envoys met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend to press for progress on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, a stage seen as critical to stabilizing the fragile truce and easing restrictions on the besieged territory. The discussions come amid mounting diplomatic pressure, unresolved disputes over hostages and remains, and continued violence despite the ceasefire.

While Washington is seeking to keep momentum behind the Trump-brokered agreement, Israeli leaders face competing domestic and security considerations, particularly around the return of the final hostage’s remains and the future governance and demilitarization of Gaza. Regional actors, including Egypt and Turkey, are also stepping up engagement as the next phase approaches.

The ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10, has reduced large-scale fighting but has not halted deadly incidents on the ground, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding its durability.

US engagement with Israeli leadership

According to Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister met on Saturday with Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and Middle East adviser. The Israeli statement offered no details of the talks.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the discussions, said the envoys focused on two core issues: recovering the remains of the last Israeli hostage believed to be held in Gaza and outlining next steps toward demilitarizing the territory under the ceasefire framework.

US officials are keen to prevent the agreement from stalling at a sensitive juncture. However, Netanyahu faces pressure from within his coalition to delay moving into the second phase until Hamas returns the hostage’s remains, a condition that has become a central point of contention.

Rafah crossing seen as key signal

One of the clearest indicators that the second phase is underway would be the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The crossing has been largely closed since Israeli forces took control of the Gaza-side access during the war, severely limiting movement of people and goods.

Ali Shaath, who has been named head of a proposed technocratic administration expected to manage Gaza’s day-to-day affairs, said on Thursday that the crossing would reopen in both directions in the coming week. Israel has not confirmed that timeline, saying only that the issue would be reviewed.

At present, the Gaza side of Rafah remains under Israeli military control. Any reopening would require coordination among Israel, Egypt, and international monitors, making it both a logistical and political test of the ceasefire’s credibility.

Hostage dispute intensifies pressure

The family of Ran Gvili, whose body is believed to be the last remaining hostage in Gaza, appealed publicly on Saturday for stronger international pressure on Hamas.

“President Trump himself stated this week in Davos that Hamas knows exactly where our son is being held,” the family said in a statement. They accused Hamas of deceiving the international community and violating the ceasefire agreement by failing to return Gvili’s remains.

Hamas, for its part, said earlier this week that it had provided all information in its possession regarding Gvili to ceasefire mediators. The group accused Israel of obstructing search efforts in areas of Gaza under Israeli control.

The dispute highlights the fragility of the agreement, where implementation of each phase is closely tied to compliance on highly sensitive issues.

Egypt steps up diplomatic push

Egypt, a central mediator in the Gaza conflict, has intensified calls for immediate implementation of the second phase, particularly the reopening of Rafah.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Bader Abdelatty held a phone call on Saturday with Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat serving as the high representative for Gaza under Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace in Gaza, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

The two discussed deploying an international monitoring force, reopening Rafah in both directions, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the ministry said. Abdelatty described the second phase as a “key entry point” for launching Gaza’s reconstruction, which would require sustained access for materials, aid, and personnel.

No timetable was given for when travel through Rafah, including medical evacuations of the sick and wounded, might resume.

Israel is expected to discuss the issue during a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, though officials have offered no public indication of a final decision.

Regional actors remain engaged

Hamas said in a statement on Saturday that a delegation met in Istanbul with the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization to discuss the second phase of the ceasefire and what it called the “fulfillment of the requirements of the first phase.”

Turkey has maintained ties with Hamas while also engaging Western and regional governments, positioning itself as a potential intermediary as negotiations move forward.

The involvement of multiple regional and international actors reflects the complexity of the next stage, which goes beyond halting fighting to address governance, security arrangements, and reconstruction.

Deadly incident underscores ceasefire risks

Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued. On Saturday, an Israeli strike killed two Palestinian teenagers in Gaza, according to hospital officials.

The victims, cousins aged 13 and 15, were searching for firewood when they were killed, according to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which received their bodies. A relative, Arafat al-Zawara, said the incident occurred about 500 meters from the Yellow Line, the boundary separating Israeli-controlled areas in eastern Gaza from the rest of the territory.

The Israeli military said it had targeted militants who crossed the Yellow Line and planted explosives posing a threat to Israeli troops. It denied that those killed were children.

Since the ceasefire took effect, more than 480 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While Israel disputes the ministry’s figures, it has not released alternative casualty data. The ministry’s records are generally considered credible by United Nations agencies and independent experts.

A fragile path forward

As negotiations over the second phase continue, the ceasefire remains vulnerable to collapse under the weight of unresolved disputes, sporadic violence, and political pressures on all sides. US officials see forward movement as essential to preventing a return to large-scale hostilities, while regional partners stress that reconstruction and humanitarian access depend on concrete steps, particularly at Rafah.

Whether the parties can bridge gaps over hostages, security, and border control in the coming days may determine whether the ceasefire evolves into a more durable arrangement or remains a temporary pause in a protracted conflict.