US Presses Israel on Next Phase of Gaza Peace Deal

Top US officials met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to advance the second phase of the Trump administration's peace plan for Gaza. The discussions come amid ongoing tensions and a fragile ceasefire that has failed to stop the bloodshed.

The American delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Senior Advisor Jared Kushner, and White House advisor Josh Gruenbaum. Their primary goal is to implement the next stage of a 20-point peace plan, which involves a series of critical steps designed to stabilize the region.

Key components of this second phase include the reopening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a further withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the transfer of the enclave's administration from Hamas to a committee of Palestinian technocrats. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, and several other nations.

US Delegation Pushes for Progress

Following the meeting, Witkoff stated that the US and Israel are "advancing together in close partnership" on the peace process. In an online post, he described the relationship as "strong and longstanding" and called the discussions with Netanyahu "constructive and positive."

Witkoff confirmed that both sides are aligned on the next steps and underscored "the importance of continued cooperation on all matters critical to the region."

According to a report from Israeli news site Ynet, which cited an unnamed Israeli official, Witkoff specifically pressed Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing, a central and contentious element of the plan.

The Rafah Crossing: A Diplomatic Flashpoint

The Rafah crossing is a critical lifeline for the more than 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza, which has been devastated by two years of war. Israel's control of the crossing, which it seized in May 2024, created a major diplomatic rift with neighboring Egypt. After a brief withdrawal in January 2025, the IDF reoccupied it in March of the same year.

The issue remains a high priority for Egypt. On Sunday, the country's Foreign Ministry announced that top diplomat Badr Abdelatty had raised the need to reopen the crossing with US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

There are signs of potential movement. Ali Shaath, who is slated to chair the 15-member committee of Palestinian technocrats intended to govern Gaza, said on Thursday that he expects the crossing to reopen next week.

Israel's Stance: Hostage Return a Prerequisite

Despite US pressure, Netanyahu's government maintains a firm precondition for entering the second phase of the deal: the return of all hostages from Gaza.

The issue is focused on the remains of Ran Gvili, the last of the 251 Israelis taken hostage during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Gvili's family has been actively pressuring the administration to secure the return of his body before any further peace steps are taken.

On Wednesday, Hamas claimed it had provided ceasefire mediators with "all information" it possessed regarding Gvili's remains. The group also accused Israel of obstructing search efforts in areas it controls within Gaza. According to an anonymous US official cited by the AP, the visiting American delegation has been working closely with Netanyahu on this specific issue.

Fragile Ceasefire Overshadowed by Violence

The first phase of the peace plan established a ceasefire that took effect on October 10 of last year. This initial stage also involved the withdrawal of Israeli forces to a designated "yellow line" inside Gaza and the return of all living Israeli hostages.

However, the truce has not ended the violence. According to health authorities in Gaza, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations, at least 480 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began. In the same period, Israel has reported that four of its soldiers have been killed by militants.

Israeli forces often state they open fire on individuals approaching or trying to cross the "yellow line," or during operations targeting militants. In contrast, local civil and health authorities frequently report that the majority of those killed are civilians.