Trump Officials Ratchet Up Pressure on Israel and Hamas

Hamas released the bodies of two more Israeli hostages on Tuesday as the group and Israel came under increasing pressure from the U.S. to avoid escalation that could collapse  the cease-fire in Gaza, according to Israeli and Arab officials.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in law, Jared Kushner, delivered a strong message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting on Monday: Israel must avoid escalation by ensuring responses to any alleged cease-fire violations by Hamas are proportional. 

The warnings come amid violent clashes between the two sides that have erupted in recent days. Israel struck dozens of Hamas targets on Sunday following what it said was a Hamas attack that left two soldiers dead. Hamas denied any involvement in the attack and said it was carried out by a rogue cell. Arab mediators have put significant pressure on Hamas’s leadership to ensure that violations of the agreement aren’t repeated.

The current period is crucial, as mediators work to preserve the fragile cease-fire and move deeper into talks that would permanently end the war.