U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge his government to transition into the second phase of a fragile ceasefire in Gaza. While the Trump administration seeks to keep the peace deal moving, the meeting occurred as Israel continued military strikes in Gaza, including a fatal strike on two Palestinian teenagers. A key component of the next phase would be the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, though Israel remains hesitant as it pressures Hamas for the return of the last hostage’s remains.
Date: January 25, 2026. Source: aljazeera.com