Steve Witkoff is expected to press Hamas to release the remaining captives’ bodies, which has proven difficult to the amount of rubble in Gaza [Getty/file photo]
Washington’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Vice President J.D. Vance will reportedly travel to Israel to follow up on the Gaza peace plan, which led to a ceasefire in the devastated enclave last week, US website Axios said.
The two US officials are due to travel to the country on Sunday evening, where they will discuss the transition into the second phase of Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan.
The envoy is expected to press Hamas to release more captives’ bodies during his visit, according to Axios and Israeli media.
Following accusations that the Palestinian group is moving too slow regarding the release of bodies, Hamas has since stressed that it intends to “honour” the condition, but retrieving remains has proved difficult as the Gaza Strip has been pulverised by two years of Israeli war. In addition to the captives, thousands of Palestinians are also believed to be buried under rubble.
In response, mediator Turkey said it will deploy disaster relief experts to help search for bodies buried under rubble.
Nine out of 28 bodies have been retrieved since the start of the ceasefire last week.
Witkoff is also due on the ground in Gaza and in Egypt, according to a source cited by Axios. The envoy is also expected to continue working on establishing the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), due to be deployed in parts of Gaza to allow the further withdrawal of the Israeli army, in accordance with Trump’s plan.
Witkoff was already present in Israel earlier this week, accompanying Trump to deliver a speech at the Knesset, where he mostly praised himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “ending” the war.
Meanwhile, Hamas said in a statement on Friday that it urges mediators “to complete their role by following up on the implementation of the remaining provisions of the agreement,” especially concerning humanitarian aid, the opening of the Rafah crossing and the reconstruction of the Strip, which has been mostly destroyed.
Since the start of the ceasefire, nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees were returned and reunited with their families, while the 20 captives who were still alive were also returned.
Israel and Hamas last week agreed to President Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which entails a halt to fighting, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from certain frontlines and the return of captives in exchange for Palestinian detainees. The deal also encompasses the daily entry of humanitarian aid intended for Gaza’s population, who have endured hunger and malnutrition over the course of the war, which started in October 2023.
The ceasefire’s first phase has been in place since 10 October, but has been violated by Israel a number of times since. On Saturday, multiple members of the same family were killed in an attack on Gaza City’s Zaytoun neighbourhood. At least 28 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since.
