Tel Aviv, Oct 20: US special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner arrived in Israel on Monday to reinforce a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, following a major flare-up that threatened the US-brokered truce. The visit comes after Israel accused Hamas militants of killing two Israeli soldiers in Rafah, prompting threats to halt humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The US Embassy confirmed the envoys’ arrival in Tel Aviv. Shortly after, the Israeli military stated it would resume enforcing the ceasefire, and an official indicated that aid deliveries would continue as planned. However, by early afternoon, it remained unclear if aid shipments had resumed.
The ceasefire, in place for just over a week, is part of a broader US plan to end two years of devastating war between Israel and Hamas.
President Donald Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, acknowledged ongoing violence but suggested that internal Hamas factions, rather than its leadership, might be responsible.
He described the group as “quite rambunctious” and pointed to the complexity of maintaining the ceasefire.
Since the ceasefire began, Hamas has deployed security forces across Gaza, claiming to be restoring order in areas vacated by Israeli troops. Reports indicate the group has clashed with armed factions and killed alleged criminals.
Israel has accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by attacking Israeli forces in Rafah, while Hamas claims it has lost contact with its fighters in the area and denies responsibility for the incidents.
The next phase of the ceasefire aims to include disarming Hamas, further Israeli troop withdrawals, and the establishment of an internationally supported governing authority in Gaza.
Kushner, in a recent interview, stated the success of the plan depends on whether a viable alternative to Hamas governance can be established. “If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya is in Cairo for discussions with Egyptian mediators and other Palestinian factions about implementing the truce.
Despite diplomatic efforts, many Gazans remain skeptical. In Khan Younis, displaced resident Hossam Ahmed voiced doubt about the deal’s durability following the recent violence. Funerals were held Monday for Palestinians killed in earlier Israeli airstrikes.
Concerns also persist over aid access. An Israeli security official said Monday that humanitarian aid will continue to enter Gaza through crossings like Kerem Shalom, subject to inspection, as agreed in the ceasefire.
The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Since then, over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While Israel disputes those figures, it has not released its own toll. Thousands remain missing, says the Red Cross. (AP)
