October 1, 2026
TEL AVIV, Israel — Two of U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys traveled to Israel Monday to shore up the tenuous ceasefire in Gaza, a day after the fragile deal was tested by a major flareup of violence.
On Sunday, Israel had threatened to halt shipments of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and its forces killed dozens in strikes there after accusing Hamas terrorists of killing two soldiers. Israel said late in the day it had resumed enforcing the ceasefire.
The truce appeared on track Monday as Israel said Palestinian militants handed over the remains of a dead hostage to the Red Cross in Gaza, and Israel allowed the delivery of aid to resume. United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric did not say how much aid was getting in.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about developments in the region, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and the second lady, Usha Vance, are scheduled to visit Tuesday and meet with Netanyahu, the prime minister said in a speech.
Netanyahu also warned Hamas that any attacks against Israeli forces would be met with “a very heavy price.”
Asked about maintaining the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Trump said the U.S. will give the situation a “little chance” in hopes that there will be less violence. He put the blame on Hamas and said the militant group must behave or face consequences.
“They have to be good, and if they’re not good they’ll be eradicated,” he said.
Since the ceasefire started, Hamas security forces have returned to the streets in Gaza, clashing with armed groups and killing alleged gangsters in what the terrorist group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn.
On Sunday, Israel's military said terrorists had fired at troops in areas of Rafah city that are Israeli-controlled according to agreed-upon ceasefire lines.
Retaliatory strikes by Israel killed 45 people in Gaza, according to claims by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, which says a total of 80 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 11.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is still waiting for Hamas to turn over the bodies of 16 remaining hostages. Twelve bodies have already been returned to Israel, and Hamas said it planned to return one more late Monday.
In their Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the war, Hamas-led terrorists killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 people.
The next stage is expected to focus on disarming Hamas, Israeli withdrawal from additional areas it controls in Gaza, and future governance of the devastated territory. The U.S. plan proposes the establishment of an internationally backed authority.
In an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” news program on the weekend, Kushner said the success or failure of the deal would depend on whether Israel and the international mechanism could create a viable alternative to Hamas.
"If they are successful, Hamas will fail, and Gaza will not be a threat to Israel in the future,” he said.
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