US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Israel as part of efforts by the Trump administration to bolster the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. His visit aims to prompt Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin negotiations on long-term resolutions for a permanent end to the conflict with Hamas. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who played roles in negotiating the ceasefire, also met with Netanyahu recently.
These developments follow a surge of violence that occurred over the weekend, during which a Hamas attack reportedly claimed the lives of two Israeli soldiers. In response, Israeli airstrikes targeted Gaza, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties. President Donald Trump emphasized that the ceasefire remains intact, yet issued a warning to Hamas, stating that any violations would result in severe consequences.
Trump’s administration is seeking to maintain momentum for discussions around the second phase of a 20-point Gaza peace plan. This next phase includes establishing an interim Palestinian government, deploying an international stabilization force, withdrawing Israeli troops, and disarming Hamas. Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner are focused on ensuring that the current ceasefire does not collapse. Concerns have been raised regarding Netanyahu’s commitment to the ceasefire, with reports indicating he might consider resuming military actions against Hamas.
Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya claimed the group is committed to the ceasefire and is working to deliver the bodies of deceased hostages still in Gaza. Israeli authorities confirmed receipt of another deceased hostage’s remains, bringing the total of returned bodies since the ceasefire began to 13 out of 28. Alongside this, 20 living Israeli hostages were released in an earlier exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel’s military operations in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas have reportedly resulted in significant casualties in Gaza, raising questions about the path to a long-lasting peace.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9k2dj37wqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss