US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a speech upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine during the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit on security guarantees for Ukraine, at the Elysee Palace in Paris Tuesday, Jan 6, 2026. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP)JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel has criticized the initiative being promoted by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is pressuring for the opening of the Rafah crossing before the return of the body of Ran Gvili.
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An Israeli official who requested anonymity sharply criticized the move in a conversation with Ynet: “Witkoff pushed to bring our biggest rival, Turkey, to the border. The clock is ticking backward toward a confrontation with Turkey, which would pose a real danger to our security.”
Kan News reported that Israeli officials were surprised by the announcement about opening the Rafah crossing and plan to demand answers from envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The diplomatic-security cabinet is set to convene tomorrow and is expected to approve the opening of the crossing, as well as discuss developments regarding Iran.
The visit by Witkoff and Kushner, who landed in Israel today, was not pre-planned. It was arranged at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the announcement about opening the crossing as part of the launch of President Trump’s “Peace Council.”
During their visit, Witkoff and Kushner are discussing the opening of the Rafah crossing with Netanyahu, ahead of the return of the last kidnapped fallen soldier, Ran Gvili. Gvili’s family stated: “President Trump himself said this week in Davos that Hamas knows where our son is. We wonder why the pressure is being directed to the wrong place.”
“The pressure should not be on the Israeli government to continue fulfilling its part of the agreement while Hamas deceives the entire world and refuses to return the last hostage, in accordance with the deal it signed. We call on the Prime Minister of Israel to tell the respected American envoys that anyone who wants to advance Gaza’s reconstruction and peace in the Middle East would do well to focus efforts first and foremost on bringing Rani home,” the statement said.