U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, held talks with Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ways to transition to the second phase of the Gaza agreement, alongside the reopening and operation of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid.
The meeting addressed complex and overlapping files, including the recovery of the remains of Ran Gvili, the transition to the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, mechanisms for the demilitarization of the Strip, and efforts to transform the current truce into a long-term diplomatic track, according to the Israeli channel i24.
Senior U.S. officials explained that Witkoff and Kushner are working in close coordination with the Israeli PM's Office as part of intensive efforts to return Gvili’s remains, noting that this file represents a priority in the ongoing talks.
The officials added that the meeting also discussed practical arrangements for transferring the remains to Israel for burial, in parallel with exploring future steps regarding the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and ways to extend the ceasefire into a more stable agreement.
The report indicated that the meeting took place amid U.S. pressure to push the parties toward decisions regarding the post-war phase, primarily "the opening and operation of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing."
Washington considers this a fundamental pivot for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid and organizing the movement of civilians.
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