US Envoys Meet Netanyahu to Save Gaza Ceasefire After Deadly Attacks

CAIRO/JERUSALEM – U.S. efforts to salvage the week-old Gaza ceasefire intensified on Monday as envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a deadly eruption of violence over the weekend that threatened to derail the fragile truce.

The U.S. diplomatic push, led by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, comes after a Palestinian attack killed two Israeli soldiers on Sunday, prompting an Israeli bombardment that killed at least 28 people in Gaza. Both Israel and Hamas have verbally recommitted to the ceasefire, brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, but repeated security flashes underscore the major unresolved stumbling blocks. U.S. President Donald Trump placed pressure on the militant group, stating on Monday that while Hamas was in violation of the agreement, he believed the violence came from a “rebellion” in its ranks, not its leadership.

“If Hamas leaders do not straighten it out, ‘we’re going to eradicate them if we have to,'” Trump said, though he insisted this would not involve U.S. troops. The high-stakes diplomacy, which includes a planned visit by U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday and talks with Hamas in Egypt later Monday, highlights the priority Trump has placed on cementing the deal he hailed last week as the “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”

The U.S. envoys’ visit, planned before the latest flare-up, aims to shore up the truce and initiate the more difficult next phase of the 20-step peace plan. Unresolved issues include Hamas disarming, further Israeli troop pullbacks, and the future governance of the Palestinian enclave.

Confusion persisted on the ground Monday over the location of the “yellow line,” which demarcates Israel’s initial military pullback from main populated areas in Gaza. Palestinian medics reported three more people were killed by Israeli tank fire near this line, with the Israeli military saying forces fired at militants who crossed it. Despite the renewed violence, progress was made on the hostage front. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Red Cross received the body of another hostage from Hamas and transferred it to the Israeli military on Monday. Israel believes Hamas could hand over up to five more bodies immediately, though recovery of other remains is complicated by the extensive destruction in the enclave.

Hamas officials are due to discuss the truce implementation in Cairo on Monday, including the formation of a technocratic body to run Gaza without Hamas representation. However, the group has so far rejected any foreign administration of Gaza and resisted calls to lay down arms, raising questions about the deal’s long-term viability.