Washington and Jerusalem coordinate closely, but Rafah signals risk rewarding Hamas before Israel’s fallen hero returns.
A senior US delegation led by Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff met Saturday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to review progress and implementation planning for Phase Two of President Donald Trump’s 20-Point Plan for Gaza.
Joining Witkoff were Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor Aryeh Lightstone, and White House advisor Josh Gruenbaum. Discussions centered on operational steps for Phase Two alongside wider regional issues.
Summarizing the meeting, Witkoff underscored the depth of US-Israel coordination, describing the talks as “constructive and positive” and reaffirming that Washington and Jerusalem are advancing the plan in close partnership, aligned on next steps and shared regional priorities.
Diplomatic assessments following the talks suggest Witkoff hinted that an understanding may be forming around reopening the Rafah Crossing—even as Hamas has yet to return the body of Israel’s last fallen hostage, Ran Gvili, of blessed memory.
The implication has raised concern in Jerusalem: movement on borders before full compliance on hostages risks weakening leverage at a moment when Israel insists that security and accountability must precede concessions.
