Weitkoff and Kushner in Israel to Discuss the Second Phase of the Gaza Agreement

SadaNews - American envoy Steve Weitkoff and Gaza Executive Council member Jared Kushner arrived in Israel today, Saturday, to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for discussions on the Gaza Strip, for which Washington has announced plans for reconstruction.

Reuters reported that the visit primarily aims to discuss the future of Gaza.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the meeting will address the opening of the Rafah crossing and the commencement of Gaza's reconstruction. The newspaper added that the Americans are demanding that Israel open the crossing before the return of the body of soldier Ron Gvily. They emphasized that Washington will ensure efforts are made to locate his body.

Yedioth Ahronoth quoted an Israeli official saying that Kushner and Weitkoff objected to Netanyahu's condition of opening the Rafah crossing based on the return of the last Israeli soldier's body.

The Israeli official stated that including Turkey and Qatar in the Peace Council is a form of revenge by Kushner and Weitkoff against Netanyahu, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 in Israel quoted sources stating that Weitkoff and Kushner will discuss with Netanyahu moving to the second phase in Gaza and will also address the Iranian file.

The United States announced last Thursday plans to build a "New Gaza" from scratch, including residential towers, data centers, and resorts on the beach, as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to advance a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

The first phase of the Gaza agreement included a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange involving the release of Israeli prisoners in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while Tel Aviv continues to violate the agreement daily, resulting in the martyrdom of 477 Palestinians.

The Rafah crossing was supposed to be opened last October as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which began on October 10, but Israel did not adhere to this.

The second phase of the agreement stipulates the disarmament of Hamas and other Palestinian factions, the implementation of an additional withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts, which the United Nations estimates will cost around $70 billion.

The agreement ended a genocide that Israel began on October 7, 2023, continuing for two years, resulting in over 71,000 martyrs and more than 171,000 Palestinian injuries, and massive destruction that affected 90% of civilian infrastructure with reconstruction costs estimated by the United Nations at around $70 billion.