**U.S. Envoys Visit Israel to Support Fragile Gaza Ceasefire Amid Flareups**
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Special envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner arrived in Israel on Monday to bolster the fragile ceasefire holding in Gaza. Their visit comes a day after the tentative truce faced its first major challenge, with Israel threatening to halt aid transfers following claims that Hamas militants killed two Israeli soldiers.
The U.S. Embassy confirmed that the envoys had landed in Tel Aviv. Later, the Israeli military announced it had resumed enforcing the ceasefire, and officials confirmed that aid deliveries would continue on Monday. However, by early afternoon, it was unclear if the flow of humanitarian aid had effectively restarted.
More than a week has passed since the U.S.-proposed truce aimed at ending two years of conflict. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump described Hamas as “quite rambunctious” and said they “have been doing some shooting.” He also suggested the violence might be caused by “rebels” within Hamas rather than its top leadership.
Since the ceasefire began, Hamas security forces have returned to Gaza’s streets, engaging armed groups in clashes and targeting alleged gangsters. The militant group says these actions aim to restore law and order in areas from which Israeli troops have withdrawn.
On Sunday, Israel’s military reported that militants fired at troops in parts of Rafah city under Israeli control according to the ceasefire lines. Hamas, meanwhile, accused Israel of multiple ceasefire violations and stated that communication with its units in Rafah had been cut off for months. “We are not responsible for any incidents occurring in those areas,” Hamas said.
Looking ahead, the next phases of the ceasefire negotiations are expected to focus on disarming Hamas, further Israeli troop withdrawals in Gaza, and determining future governance of the war-torn territory. The U.S. plan proposes establishing an internationally backed authority to oversee these developments.
“If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will not be a threat to Israel in the future,” a senior official noted.
Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya was in Cairo on Monday to follow up on ceasefire implementation talks with mediators and other Palestinian factions.
Palestinians in Gaza remain wary about the ceasefire’s durability following Sunday’s flareup. Funeral services were held Monday for some of the dozens killed earlier by Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip. Associated Press footage showed mourners lining up for funeral prayers behind bodies draped in white sheets.
“There should be concerns as long as the matters have yet to be settled,” said Hossam Ahmed, a displaced resident of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Concerns also persist regarding the amount of aid Israel permits into Gaza, which is a key part of the ceasefire agreement. An Israeli security official told reporters that aid shipments would continue entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom and other crossings after thorough inspections, in accordance with the agreement. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to military regulations.
The conflict began with a devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—were killed and 251 were abducted as hostages.
Since then, the Israel-Hamas war has claimed over 68,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties in its counts, but its detailed records are regarded as generally reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. Israel disputes these figures and has not released its own casualty reports. Additionally, thousands remain missing, according to the Red Cross.
https://whdh.com/news/us-envoys-arrive-in-israel-to-shore-up-the-gaza-ceasefire-after-a-major-flareup/
