Moscow: US President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have arrived in Israel ahead of a crucial government vote on a Gaza ceasefire agreement. This development comes as part of a broader diplomatic effort to address the ongoing conflict in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the two envoys landed in Tel Aviv after holding discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo. Their visit coincides with the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, which was reached after four days of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The negotiations were mediated by Trkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

The ceasefire plan, unveiled by Trump on September 29, involves the release of all Israeli captives in return for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, and the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip. A subsequent phase of the plan proposes the creation of a new governing body in Gaza without Hamas, a security force comprising Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and the disarmament of Hamas. The plan also includes financial support from Arab and Islamic nations for the new administration and the reconstruction of Gaza, with limited involvement from the Palestinian Authority.

While the ceasefire plan has been welcomed by Arab and Muslim countries, some officials have expressed the need for further discussions and negotiations to address the details of the proposal. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israeli attacks having resulted in the deaths of nearly 67,200 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, since October 2023, rendering the enclave uninhabitable.