US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Phase 2 of President Trump’s 20-Point Plan for Gaza and broader regional issues. Despite a US-brokered October 10 ceasefire, strikes in Gaza have continued, with medical sources reporting new casualties and reporters describing near-constant shelling. Gaza officials say the Rafah crossing with Egypt may reopen soon — a move tied to the US plan — but Palestinians remain skeptical and Israel conditions a full reopening on the return of a deceased captive and Hamas disarmament.
US Envoys Hold 'Constructive' Talks With Netanyahu as Israeli Strikes on Gaza Continue; Rafah Reopening Tied to US Plan
INTERACTIVE-GAZA CEASEFIRE-jan 25, 2026_Death toll tracker-1765554400
United States envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held what Witkoff described as a "constructive" meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel continued its bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
Focus of the Visit
In a brief statement, Witkoff said the talks centered on "the continued progress and implementation planning for Phase 2 of President Trump’s 20-Point Plan for Gaza," a joint US-Israel initiative. He added that "broader regional issues" were discussed, a likely reference to rising tensions with Iran and speculation about possible future strikes in the region.
Violence in Gaza
Despite an October 10 ceasefire agreement brokered with US involvement, Israeli strikes have continued across Gaza. Medical sources reported at least three Palestinians killed and several others wounded on Sunday. Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud described near-constant gunfire and shelling from the eastern Gaza Strip.
Local sources in the Jabalia refugee camp reported a drone strike on a medical facility near the so-called "yellow line" separating Israeli- and Palestinian-controlled areas. Witnesses also reported heavy machine-gun fire east of Jabalia and artillery strikes across the town. Rescue teams said it was unsafe for paramedics and civil defence crews to reach some strike sites, hindering casualty recovery and medical assistance.
Casualty Figures and Reporting Note
Gaza health authorities reported more than 480 Palestinians killed and 1,321 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 11. The Palestinian Health Ministry also provided much larger cumulative figures — 71,657 killed and 171,399 wounded since October 7, 2023 — which appear inconsistent with widely reported international tallies and may reflect reporting or transcription errors. These larger figures should be treated with caution until independently verified.
Rafah Crossing and Human Impact
Amid the ongoing assault, Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt is expected to reopen in both directions in the coming days, Ali Shaath, head of Gaza’s technocratic committee, told the World Economic Forum in Davos. "Opening Rafah signals that Gaza is no longer closed to the future and to the war," Shaath said.
Ahmed al-Jojo, a Gaza resident separated from his fiancée after she crossed into Egypt days before the checkpoint closed, said the crossing's reopening would be a partial relief: "It’s separated us. The first step is for me to leave through the crossing." Many Palestinians remain skeptical after past promised reopenings failed to materialize, and there are widespread fears that Rafah could be used as a one-way exit that facilitates forced displacement.
Israeli Conditions
Israeli officials have said a full reopening of Rafah would be conditioned on the return of the one remaining deceased captive and on the disarmament of Hamas.
Reporting: Al Jazeera; Statements quoted from Steve Witkoff and Ali Shaath. Some casualty figures reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry may require independent verification.
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