ISTANBUL / JERUSALEM

US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner landed in Israel on Monday to discuss the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire deal, according to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN.

Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, quoting informed sources, said Witkoff and Kushner, who serves as an informal adviser to the Trump administration, are expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials.

The meetings will focus on the issues related to the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, such as the establishment of a multinational task force in the Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the enclave, and the disarmament of Hamas, the paper said.

The discussions, according to Haaretz, are also intended to lay the groundwork for Vice President JD Vance’s forthcoming visit to Israel.

Vance is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday to discuss matters related to the Gaza ceasefire deal, according to Israeli media.

On Sept. 29, Trump publicly presented a 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which included an immediate ceasefire and the phased release of hostages and prisoners.

Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas both agreed to the first phase of the deal, with formal signing on Oct. 9. The deal was brokered with the help of mediators from the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. The ceasefire came into effect on Oct. 10.

Since October 2023, Israel’s genocidal war has killed more than 68,000 people and injured more than 170,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The Israeli military killed dozens of Palestinians in new attacks on Sunday after accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire, which the group has denied.

Trump said the ceasefire in Gaza is still in effect.