Jared Kushner, acting as a US intermediary, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem as Washington works to stabilise the fragile Gaza ceasefire that began on October 10. The first phase has produced a series of hostage and prisoner exchanges: Hamas returned 20 living hostages and remains of 24 captives, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 prisoners and returned 315 bodies. The proposed second phase would address Hamas disarmament, Gaza reconstruction and Israeli force withdrawal and contemplates an international stabilisation force — a plan the UAE says it probably will not join without a clear mandate. Civilians in Gaza nevertheless report continued fear, shortages and ongoing ceasefire violations.
Kushner in Jerusalem to Shore Up Fragile Gaza Ceasefire and Plan Next Phase
Jared Kushner, acting as a US intermediary, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem as Washington works to stabilise the fragile Gaza ceasefire that began on October 10. The first phase has produced a series of hostage and prisoner exchanges: Hamas returned 20 living hostages and remains of 24 captives, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 prisoners and returned 315 bodies. The proposed second phase would address Hamas disarmament, Gaza reconstruction and Israeli force withdrawal and contemplates an international stabilisation force — a plan the UAE says it probably will not join without a clear mandate. Civilians in Gaza nevertheless report continued fear, shortages and ongoing ceasefire violations.
10:14 PM, 11/10/2025Conflict
Kushner in Jerusalem to shore up fragile Gaza ceasefire and plan next phase
Jared Kushner, a former senior White House adviser now acting as a US intermediary, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday as Washington stepped up efforts to stabilise the fragile ceasefire in Gaza that came into effect on October 10.
The truce has largely paused the large-scale hostilities that followed Hamas's surprise assault on October 7, 2023. Its first phase has focused on a series of prisoner and hostage exchanges that both sides say are helping to reduce immediate tensions.
Hostage and prisoner exchanges
According to officials, Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and the remains of 24 captives, including 21 Israelis; four bodies of hostages killed in the October 2023 attack remain in Gaza. In return, Israel has freed nearly 2,000 prisoners and handed back 315 bodies of Palestinian detainees. The most recent exchange saw Israel transfer the remains of 15 Palestinians after Hamas handed over the remains of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, who was killed in the 2014 Gaza war and had been missing for 11 years.
"Time has stood still. It still feels like he just left and is already coming back," said Goldin's sister, Ayelet, speaking about her brother's return.
Next phase: disarmament, reconstruction, withdrawal
Diplomats say the second phase of the truce aims to tackle some of the most contentious issues: disarming Hamas, rebuilding Gaza's devastated infrastructure, and the withdrawal or repositioning of Israeli forces. Plans discussed include deploying an "international stabilisation force" overseen or coordinated by US troops to help maintain security across the territory.
Potential participants mentioned include Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. The United Arab Emirates has signalled it is unlikely to join without a clear operational mandate: "Under such circumstances, the UAE will probably not participate in such a force," Emirati presidential adviser Anwar Gargash told the Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate Forum.
Civilians remain anxious
Despite the exchanges, many Gazans report continued fear and hardship. "We still do not feel safe. Shooting continues ... we try to protect our children from psychological trauma and to help them forget the war and its effects," said Salma Abu Shawish, 40, from Al-Bureij refugee camp. She added that food shortages and homelessness persist for many families.
Both Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of ceasefire violations. On Monday the Israeli military said it had killed two militants who approached the so-called "Yellow Line," the informal boundary marking the positions held by Israeli forces inside Gaza.
The discussions in Jerusalem reflect US attempts to lock in the gains of the truce and lay groundwork for a more durable settlement — but key political and security obstacles remain, and any move toward a long-term arrangement will depend on difficult compromises by all parties and clear international roles.