United States envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel continued its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, with fresh casualties reported on Sunday.
In a brief statement, Witkoff said the talks with Netanyahu were “constructive” and focused on progress and implementation planning for Phase 2 of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza. He said the plan was being advanced by Washington and Tel Aviv in close partnership. Witkoff added that broader regional issues were also discussed, amid rising tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued attacks across Gaza despite a ceasefire agreement, with near-daily violations reported since October 10. Medical sources in Gaza City said at least one person was killed and 15 others wounded in Israeli attacks throughout the day.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud reported sustained gunfire and shelling from eastern areas of the Gaza Strip. He said the security situation remained dire and access for emergency responders was severely restricted.
In northern Gaza, local sources reported a drone strike on a medical facility in the Jabalia refugee camp, located near the boundary separating Israeli- and Palestinian-controlled areas. Israeli military vehicles also opened heavy fire east of Jabalia and shelled several locations. Casualty figures from the area were not immediately available.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 484 Palestinians have been killed and 1,321 wounded since October 11. The ministry said Israeli attacks have killed 71,657 people and wounded 171,399 others in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Amid the ongoing assault, Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt is expected to reopen in the coming days. Ali Shaath, head of Gaza’s technocratic committee, said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that reopening the crossing would allow movement in both directions. He said the step signalled that Gaza would no longer remain completely closed amid the war.
The reopening of Rafah would fulfil a key provision of Trump’s 20-point plan, which called for allowing people to move through Gaza’s main border crossing. Palestinians, however, expressed mixed emotions, citing past delays and fears the crossing could be used as a one-way exit.
Israeli officials have said a full reopening of Rafah would depend on the return of a remaining deceased captive and the disarmament of Hamas.