Two of U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys arrived in Israel on Monday to reinforce the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, just one day after renewed violence tested the agreement for the first time.
The truce appeared to hold as Israel received the remains of another hostage from Gaza and allowed humanitarian aid deliveries to resume to the war-torn territory. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the aid’s resumption but did not specify the quantity entering Gaza.
A day earlier, Israel had threatened to block humanitarian shipments following the deaths of two Israeli soldiers in clashes with Hamas militants. After a series of airstrikes that killed dozens of Palestinians, Israel announced it would resume adherence to the ceasefire.
High-Level US Involvement
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation. Netanyahu confirmed that U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance are expected to visit Tuesday for further talks.
“Any attacks against Israeli forces will be met with a very heavy price,” Netanyahu warned Hamas during a televised address.
President Donald Trump, asked about the future of the truce, said Washington would “give the situation a little chance,” stressing that Hamas must stop hostilities or face eradication.
“They have to be good, and if they’re not good, they’ll be eradicated,” Trump said.
Ceasefire Under Strain
The U.S.-brokered truce, designed to end two years of devastating war, began on October 10. Despite continued skirmishes, it remains largely intact.
Over the weekend, Israeli forces retaliated after militants allegedly fired from Rafah, killing 45 Palestinians in strikes, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which reports 80 total deaths since the truce began.
Israel’s military has started using concrete barriers and marked poles to better define the “yellow line,” separating areas under Israeli withdrawal from those under Hamas control.
Hamas continues to accuse Israel of ceasefire violations, claiming that communication with its remaining units in Rafah has been lost for months.
So far, Hamas has returned 13 of 15 hostages’ remains required under the agreement.
Next Stage of the Truce
The upcoming phase of the deal focuses on disarming Hamas, withdrawing Israeli troops from remaining occupied areas, and establishing a new international governance authority in Gaza.
In an interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, Jared Kushner said success would depend on whether Israel and the international coalition can create a viable alternative to Hamas.
“If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will no longer be a threat to Israel,” he said.
A Hamas delegation, led by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, met with Egyptian mediators in Cairo to review implementation of the truce.
Tense Calm in Gaza
Despite the ceasefire, Palestinians in Gaza fear the deal could collapse.
Funeral processions were held Monday for victims of recent Israeli airstrikes, as residents voiced skepticism about the truce’s durability.
“There should be concerns as long as matters remain unsettled,” said Hossam Ahmed from Khan Younis.
The flow of humanitarian aid remains a major point of contention and a critical measure of the ceasefire’s success.
Since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 hostages being taken, the war has claimed more than 68,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Thousands remain missing, the Red Cross reports.
