Diplomacy, humanitarian aid urged after Gaza truce faces strain

U.S. envoys met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to discuss developments in the region, and efforts to keep the Gaza ceasefire plan on track after recent violence threatened to derail the week-old truce.

Both Israel and Hamas have recommitted to the ceasefire plan brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump since Sunday's flare-up, in which a Palestinian attack that killed two Israeli soldiers prompted retaliatory air strikes in Gaza that left dozens dead.

Talks on next phase of ceasefire plan

During their visit, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner aimed to consolidate the truce and begin discussions on the next phase of the 20-point peace plan.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is also scheduled to visit Israel on Tuesday, with Netanyahu saying they would discuss regional challenges and opportunities.

The diplomatic push, with U.S. representative set to meet Hamas officials in Egypt, highlights Washington's efforts to sustain the ceasefire which Trump hailed as  "the historic dawn of a new Middle East."

On Monday, Palestinian medics said three more people had been killed by Israeli tank fire near the "yellow line" inside Gaza demarcating Israel's initial military pullback from the main populated areas. 

The Israeli military said forces fired on militants who crossed that line, which is being marked with concrete barriers and yellow poles about every 200 meters.

Egypt is scheduled to host talks in Cairo on Monday with senior Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya to discuss the ceasefire's implementation, the group said in a statement.

A Palestinian official close to the talks said discussion would include forming a technocratic body to run Gaza without Hamas representation.

Hamas and allied factions oppose any foreign administration of Gaza, as proposed in the Trump plan, and have resisted calls to disarm –  a potential obstacle to implement the deal.

Countries call for unhindered humanitarian access

After Israel reopened aid access to Gaza, leaders of nine Mediterranean and Southern European Union (MED9) member states on Monday called for the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian assistance to the enclave.

At a summit in Portoroz, Slovenia, attended by France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus and Slovenia, host Prime Minister Robert Golob, said humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach civilians without obstruction.

"There is absolutely no justification for blocking humanitarian aid. We fully expect the reopening of the Rafah and other border crossings to ensure the flow of aid into Gaza," he said.

Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela said that the leaders were "cautiously optimistic" about the peace process, but added that "much more remains to be done to end the humanitarian crisis."

The UN has launched large-scale operations to remove debris from Gaza City's main roads, in an effort to reopen key transportation routes and facilitate access to essential services such as hospitals, schools, and damaged infrastructure following the war.

(With input from agencies)