US envoys press Israel to move into phase two of Gaza ceasefire, with Rafah reopening as key signal

Top U.S. envoys met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for movement into the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire arrangement. According to officials cited by the Associated Press, the discussions focused on next steps for the agreement, including issues tied to the remaining hostage in Gaza and the broader sequencing required for phase two. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/90e36ca7d2e27ca8a21d1727e9e0119f))

A central indicator of phase-two progress would be reopening the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Gaza’s designated future administrative leader, Ali Shaath, said the crossing would open in both directions in the coming week, while Israel had not publicly confirmed that timeline and was expected to consider the issue in a cabinet meeting. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/90e36ca7d2e27ca8a21d1727e9e0119f))

Egypt has emphasized that phase-two implementation could unlock Gaza’s reconstruction pathway. Officials discussed elements including an international monitoring force, the reopening of Rafah for travel and medical evacuations, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the strip—steps that would require coordination among Israel, Egypt, and international partners. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/90e36ca7d2e27ca8a21d1727e9e0119f))

Despite the ceasefire framework, disputed incidents have continued. The Associated Press reported that an Israeli strike killed two Palestinian teens gathering firewood near a designated safe zone, triggering conflicting narratives about their identities. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 480 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire began, figures the report notes are considered generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts though contested by Israel. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/90e36ca7d2e27ca8a21d1727e9e0119f))

Diplomacy around phase two is aimed at translating a fragile pause into durable changes on the ground—border access, security arrangements, and governance mechanisms—yet it remains exposed to flare-ups and political disputes that could stall implementation. The coming days’ decisions on Rafah and monitoring plans are expected to be a near-term test of whether the parties can shift from a limited deal into a broader settlement sequence. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/90e36ca7d2e27ca8a21d1727e9e0119f))