An aerial view of Beit Hanoun, Gaza, after the ceasefire in Gaza got here into impact, Jan. 28. Months of Israeli shelling brought on heavy harm.
Hasan Eslayeh/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures
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Hasan Eslayeh/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures
TEL AVIV, Israel — President Trump’s Center East envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped dealer the Israel-Hamas ceasefire settlement, visited Gaza on Wednesday, hours earlier than he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
Witkoff’s go to to Gaza was confirmed by a U.S. State Division official who spoke on situation of anonymity. Israeli information organizations reported that the nation’s navy took Witkoff to examine the Netzarim Hall, which it created throughout the struggle to separate the Gaza Strip in two. It partially withdrew from the hall in latest days, permitting tens of hundreds of displaced Palestinians to return to the territory’s north.
An Israeli navy Merkava battle tank takes place as displaced Palestinians cross the Netzarim Hall from the southern Gaza Strip into Gaza Metropolis on Jan. 27, after Israel reopened entry to the territory’s north.
Eyad Baba/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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Eyad Baba/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Massive swaths of Gaza have been destroyed since Israel launched an offensive in response to Oct. 7, 2023, assault by Hamas-led militants who killed practically 1,200 individuals in Israel and took one other 251 hostage. Over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since, in line with Gaza well being officers.
As a part of the primary part of the ceasefire settlement brokered by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, Hamas is scheduled to launch 33 Israeli hostages, together with eight who’re believed to be lifeless, in change for round 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Seven Israeli hostages have been launched thus far, as have practically 300 Palestinian prisoners. Extra exchanges are scheduled to happen this week.
Witkoff’s go to to Gaza is the primary by a high-ranking U.S. official in additional than a decade. Hamas has run Gaza since 2007. The U.S. designated it a terrorist group a decade earlier. Witkoff’s Israel go to comes after a visit to Saudi Arabia, and forward of Netanyahu’s anticipated journey to Washington subsequent week to fulfill Trump.
The Trump administration is urging Israel to increase the ceasefire with Hamas. Netanyahu is beneath stress from his far-right allies to return to combating in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s assembly with Trump subsequent Tuesday would make him the primary world chief to go to the White Home for the reason that U.S. president started his second time period on Jan 20.
