US envoy Kushner meets Netanyahu to advance Gaza ceasefire plan

US President Donald Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner has held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem to advance the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The meeting, held at Netanyahu's office on Monday, centered on executing the second phase of the truce that took effect on October 10, according to Israeli media reports.

Ceasefire Implementation

Kushner, who arrived in Israel late Sunday accompanied by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, played a instrumental role in brokering the initial ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The first phase of the arrangement included prisoner exchanges, with Hamas releasing 20 living Israeli captives and returning the remains of 26 individuals, though Israeli authorities contested the identity of one set of remains as not matching their captive records.

Post-Conflict Planning

The second phase of the agreement outlines comprehensive plans for Gaza's reconstruction and the establishment of a new administrative framework that would exclude Hamas from governance. This component represents a key US and Israeli objective following the prolonged conflict that has devastated the coastal territory's infrastructure and created a severe humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza's 2.3 million residents.

Conflict Background

The diplomatic discussions occur against the backdrop of Israel's military offensive that Gaza health authorities report has killed more than 69,000 Palestinians and injured over 170,600 others since hostilities escalated in October 2023. The ceasefire, while fragile, represents the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in the conflict, though long-term resolution remains contingent on successful implementation of the agreement's subsequent phases.