U.S. envoys press Netanyahu to advance Gaza ceasefire’s next phase, with Rafah crossing in focus
U.S. officials met Israel’s prime minister urging movement into the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire, while discussions centered on reopening Rafah and recovering the remains of a final hostage.
High-level talks push for next steps
Top U.S. envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge progress into the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire, according to an Associated Press report dated January 24, 2026. The report says Netanyahu met with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with a U.S. official describing efforts tied to the recovery of the remains of the last hostage still in Gaza and to planning steps connected to the territory’s demilitarization.
The diplomatic push comes as the ceasefire is under strain amid continuing violence and disputes over civilian casualties. The report also notes that Gaza’s future governance and reconstruction remain intertwined with security demands and border-control arrangements.
Rafah crossing seen as the key signal
The AP story describes the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt as the clearest sign that the ceasefire is moving to a second phase. Ali Shaath, presented as the head of a future technocratic administration expected to manage day-to-day affairs in Gaza, said the crossing would open in both directions in the coming week, though Israel had not confirmed the plan at the time of publication.
Israel was expected to consider the issue in an upcoming Cabinet meeting, the report said. The crossing’s Gaza side is described as being under Israeli military control, which makes the decision politically sensitive and operationally complex.
Monitoring proposals and troop withdrawal
The report also points to discussions involving Egyptian officials on implementing the second phase, including ideas for an international monitoring force, the opening of Rafah, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Such measures, if agreed, could reshape the security environment and create a pathway for sustained humanitarian movement and reconstruction planning.
Egyptian officials framed the second phase as a gateway to rebuilding Gaza, while details about timelines for travel, evacuation of sick and wounded, and verification mechanisms remained unclear in the reporting.
On-the-ground violence raises stakes
As diplomacy continues, the AP account highlights the killing of two Palestinian teens, described as cousins aged 13 and 15, who were reportedly searching for firewood when they were struck. The report says hospital authorities received their bodies, and it cites Gaza’s Health Ministry figures on deaths since the ceasefire began, while noting Israel disputes those numbers but has not provided its own.