Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received on Monday Special Envoy and son-in-law of US President Trump, Jared Kushner.
A picture distributed by the Israeli PM’s office showed that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer joined for the Israeli side, while Kushner was accompanied by Aryeh Lightstone, a senior adviser to Trump’s special Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Kushner touched down in Tel Aviv on Sunday night for unannounced meeting to discuss the implementation of Trump’s 20-point ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip, according to a Reuters report.
On Sunday, Israeli Kan News public broadcaster had reported that Kushner was scheduled to visit the Zionist entity alongside Witkoff, who is expected to arrive later on Monday.
Judges in Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial accepted his request to cancel the premier’s testimony on Monday due to “urgent diplomatic meetings.”
Netanyahu met with Witkoff and Kushner just last month to discuss developments and updates in the region.
Israeli media reports said that Kushner’s visit came as Washington presses efforts to ensure that the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza holds.
Hamas Fighters in Rafah Tunnels
Earlier on Sunday, The Jerusalem Post quoted an Israeli official as saying that senior Israeli officials estimate that US pressure will push the Israeli occupation to show flexibility regarding the issue of the Hamas fighters in the Rafah tunnels.
“Outwardly, everyone declares that Israel will not allow those 100–200 terrorists to leave the tunnels, even if they lay down their arms,” the official said, referring to the resistance fighters.
“But behind closed doors, everyone admits: if there is significant American pressure on this issue, Israel will have no choice but to compromise.”
US officials also made it clear in recent days that they want to resolve the issue of Hamas fighters in the tunnels, saying that they “think they should get free passage, after [Hadar] Goldin’s release,” referring to the Israeli soldier whose body was returned on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas stressed that the resistance fighters are defending themselves in an area under Israeli control.
In a statement, the resistance group the Israeli occupation “must take full responsibility for the clashes with its fighters in Rafah, who are defending themselves in an area under Israeli control.”
“The enemy must understand that the Qassam Brigades do not recognize the concept of surrender or handing themselves over to the enemy,” the group’s statement read.
Source: Israeli media (translated and edited by Al-Manar)
