Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A fragile ceasefire in Gaza is holding despite continued limited Israeli operations inside the enclave and a sharp slowdown in humanitarian aid deliveries. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts led by U.S. envoy Jared Kushner have intensified to secure a safe corridor for dozens of Hamas fighters reportedly trapped in underground tunnels in the southern city of Rafah.
Kushner, the former senior White House adviser and son-in-law of former U.S. president Donald Trump, arrived in Israel late Sunday for his second visit in less than three weeks to follow up on the implementation of Trump’s proposed ceasefire framework. His visit comes amid delicate negotiations involving Washington, Cairo, and Doha, aimed at stabilizing the truce and addressing unresolved humanitarian and security issues.
According to reports from Israeli public broadcasting and U.S. media outlets, Washington is pressing for an agreement that would allow around 150 Hamas militants, believed to be holed up inside a heavily fortified tunnel complex under Rafah, to exit the area safely to zones outside Israeli military control. The proposal, intended to prevent renewed large-scale fighting, has drawn mixed reactions within Israel’s political establishment, where some fear it could be perceived as a concession to Hamas.
On Sunday evening, Israel announced it had received the remains of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli army officer killed during the 2014 Gaza war whose body had been held by Hamas for more than a decade. The repatriation marked an emotionally charged moment for many Israelis, though Goldin’s family publicly refused to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing anger at what they described as years of government inaction in securing the return of their son’s body.
The Goldin family’s decision underscored the deep sensitivities surrounding any negotiations with Hamas, even indirect ones. Their criticism also reflects growing frustration among families of other Israeli soldiers and civilians believed to remain in Gaza, as discussions over prisoner exchanges and humanitarian access continue.
Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces have maintained a limited presence inside several areas of Gaza, focusing on tunnel demolition and intelligence-gathering operations. Aid convoys entering the Strip remain scarce, with international organizations warning of severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel for hundreds of thousands of displaced residents.
Kushner’s renewed diplomatic push represents an effort by Washington to prevent the truce from collapsing. Analysts note that his involvement signals a personal commitment from Donald Trump’s political circle to demonstrate results ahead of a potential 2026 U.S. election bid. However, the prospects for success remain uncertain as Israel insists that any safe passage arrangement must not enable Hamas fighters to regroup or rearm.
In the meantime, regional mediators continue to urge restraint and prioritize humanitarian needs. Egypt, which has long played a central role in Gaza ceasefire negotiations, is coordinating with both U.S. and Qatari officials to manage the logistics of any proposed corridor and to ensure that it does not undermine Israel’s security or violate the terms of the current truce.
For now, the situation in Gaza hangs in a precarious balance between diplomatic maneuvering and the risk of renewed conflict. Whether Kushner’s efforts can produce a lasting compromise may depend on how far each side is willing to go to preserve the calm, and whether humanitarian considerations can finally outweigh the politics of vengeance and survival.
