Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, is delivering an opening speech at the Jerusalem Parliament on the 20th (local time). On the 20th (local time), foreign media such as AP News and the Jerusalem Post reported that White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss strengthening the ceasefire agreement. Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel and Hamas recently clashed again, prompting the White House to redeploy the envoys.
Witkoff, who contributed to the ceasefire and hostage release plans, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, visited Israel again less than two weeks after the ceasefire agreement was signed on the 9th. Over the weekend, when two Israeli soldiers were killed, Israel accused Hamas and threatened to block the delivery of relief supplies, resuming airstrikes and shelling on Gaza but later halting them.
During the meeting with the envoys, Prime Minister Netanyahu targeted Hamas, stating, “There will be a heavy price to pay for any attacks on the Israeli military.” The Israeli Prime Minister’s office spokesperson did not disclose specific details but stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu and the U.S. envoys discussed progress on regional development issues and that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and his entourage would visit Israel within days. The Israeli daily Times of Israel reported that Vice President Vance would arrive on the 21st to join Witkoff and Kushner.
AP predicted that the next phase of ceasefire discussions would focus on the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza, and governance issues in the devastated Gaza. In an interview on CBS News’ current affairs magazine “60 Minutes,” aired on the 19th, Kushner commented that the success of the ceasefire depends on how Hamas is replaced, stating, “If successful, Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel in the future.”