Jerusalem/Cairo/Washington — U.S. envoys met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in an urgent push to steady a fragile ceasefire in Gaza after an outbreak of violence over the weekend threatened to unravel a week-old truce brokered under U.S. auspices.
The visit by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — who arrived in Israel to press both sides to stick to the deal — came after a Palestinian attack on Sunday killed two Israeli soldiers and prompted Israeli strikes in Gaza that Palestinian medics said killed at least 28 people. Both Israel and Hamas publicly recommitted to the 20-step ceasefire plan championed by U.S. President Donald Trump, but repeated incidents of violence, including exchanges on Monday, left the agreement’s future uncertain.
Trump, speaking at the White House, said the United States was taking “many steps” to preserve the truce while warning that the “Hamas situation” must be addressed quickly. He suggested Hamas’ leadership was not directly responsible for the recent breach, describing it instead as “some rebellion” within the group’s ranks, and added that if Hamas leaders did not regain control the U.S. might act to “eradicate them if we have to.” He also emphasized that any such measures would not involve U.S. ground forces.
Witkoff and Kushner’s trip — scheduled before the flare-up — aims first to shore up the ceasefire and then begin negotiations on the next, more contentious phase of the plan, which includes disarmament of Hamas, further Israeli troop withdrawals and a new governance arrangement for Gaza. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is also due to visit Israel this week; Netanyahu said the visits would cover regional challenges and opportunities.
High-level U.S. diplomacy in Cairo and Jerusalem underscores Washington’s priority of cementing what the White House has called “the historic dawn of a new Middle East.” Egypt hosted talks on Monday with Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas figure abroad, to discuss implementation. Palestinian sources said the delegation would consider formation of a technocratic body to administer Gaza without direct Hamas representation — an idea firmly rejected by Hamas and allied factions, who oppose any foreign administration and remain resistant to disarming.
On the ground, confusion persisted over the ceasefire’s deployment line. Israeli forces have begun marking a “yellow line” to delineate the initial pullback from populated areas, but Gaza City residents reported uncertainty about its exact location because of the lack of a clear, visible boundary. The Israeli military said it fired on militants who crossed that line; Palestinian medics said three people were killed by Israeli tank fire near the markers.
Israel confirmed it launched strikes in response to the attack in Rafah that killed two soldiers operating inside the agreed deployment line. Hamas’ armed wing denied knowledge of clashes in Rafah and said it had not been in contact with groups there since March. Hamas has accused Israel of multiple breaches, saying recent actions have killed 46 people and impeded delivery of essential supplies into the enclave.
Netanyahu’s office said the Red Cross handed over the body of another hostage recovered from Gaza on Monday; Israel expects Hamas could transfer up to five more bodies immediately. Officials warn additional remains — among 15 still believed to be in Gaza — may be difficult or impossible to recover due to the heavy destruction in parts of the territory.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, warned that any militants remaining in areas still under Israeli control must leave immediately, and said those beyond the yellow line would be targeted without warning. That hardline stance highlights a core impasse in negotiations: Israel’s demand for a demilitarized Gaza run in part by non-Hamas authorities, versus Hamas’ rejection of outside administration and refusal to lay down arms.
Diplomats admit the week-old truce is on fragile footing. While both sides have publicly reaffirmed the agreement since Sunday’s violence, maintaining momentum will depend on curbing local flare-ups, securing safe returns or recoveries of hostages, and making progress on thorny political questions that remain unresolved.
U.S. envoys planned further talks in the region, including discussions with Hamas representatives in Egypt. For now, officials said, the immediate goal is to prevent a return to full-scale hostilities while diplomats try to convert a ceasefire into a durable, enforceable agreement — a task made more difficult by continuing violence, disputed lines on the ground, and deep disagreements over Gaza’s future governance.
About The Author
