US President Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, returned to Israel on Monday, as mediators face a new obstacle in their efforts to advance negotiations on the fragile Gaza ceasefire deal to the next and more complex phase.
Key sticking points remain unresolved, including Hamas's disarmament, the reconstruction and future governance of Gaza, and the deployment of an international security force to the territory.
Without a timeline for the discussions, which are likely to require significant concessions from both Israel and Hamas, there are doubts that any progress can be achieved.
Another challenge has emerged recently, involving scores of Hamas fighters believed to be in tunnels beneath the southern city of Rafah behind the so-called Yellow Line, which marks the area under Israeli control.
Last week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that an amnesty could be offered to fighters willing to disarm, portraying it as a model for broader applications in Gaza. Witkoff cited approximately 200 fighters trapped, although this figure remains unconfirmed.
Despite these offers, Hamas insists that the trapped fighters will not surrender unless granted safe passage, a demand that Israel of late has rejected.
Israeli officials highlighted that efforts to return hostages and achieve disarmament are critical components of the ongoing discussions. As pressure builds from ongoing hostilities, the road ahead seems fraught with uncertainty.
Following the initial phase of the ceasefire, which focused on halting conflict and returning hostages, subsequent stages remain disconcertingly unclear, suggesting a potential partition of Gaza could be forthcoming.
