US envoys press Netanyahu to advance Gaza ceasefire into a second phase, with Rafah crossing in focus

Top US envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to urge movement into the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, as pressure mounts to sustain a fragile truce and begin tackling issues that go beyond initial hostage and prisoner exchanges. The talks, reported by Israeli and US officials, came amid intensifying regional diplomacy and continued violence around the enclave despite the ceasefire framework.

The US push reflects concern that the agreement could stall before it reaches the phase meant to address Gaza’s longer-term security and governance. Netanyahu faces competing pressures at home and from allies, including demands to wait for the return of the remains of an Israeli hostage still held by Hamas before making major steps toward the next stage.

A major indicator of the second phase, officials said, would be the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Egyptian officials have argued that reopening Rafah is urgent for humanitarian logistics and movement, while discussions have also included how border operations would be monitored and under what security arrangements. A Gaza official associated with a proposed future technocratic administration said the crossing would open soon, but Israel had not confirmed a reopening timetable and said the issue would be reviewed by the cabinet.

Diplomatic conversations have also touched on a potential international monitoring force, an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, and the mechanics of administering the territory day to day. Egypt has publicly backed immediate steps tied to Rafah, and the idea of international involvement is being explored as a way to reassure parties about compliance and security while limiting the risk of renewed large-scale fighting.

Even with the ceasefire in place, the situation on the ground remains volatile. The report described an Israeli strike that killed two Palestinian teenagers who were collecting firewood near an area described as a designated safe zone, and it noted disputes around the incident and the victims’ identities. Separately, Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 480 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began, while Israel disputes the ministry’s figures and has not released its own accounting.

The second phase, if it proceeds, would test whether diplomatic momentum can translate into operational changes such as border movement, monitoring, and troop redeployments. It would also open larger political questions about Gaza’s governance, reconstruction, and security architecture—issues that remain contentious inside Israel, among Palestinians, and across the region.