The United States Vice President, JD Vance, has expressed optimism about the ongoing Gaza ceasefire, saying the truce is “going better than expected” during his official visit to Israel. The ceasefire, brokered by US President Donald Trump earlier this month, aims to end months of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking in southern Israel, Vance warned that if Hamas fails to cooperate with the peace framework, “it will be obliterated.” However, he declined to give a timeline for Hamas’s disarmament, a critical point yet to be settled in Washington’s 20-point Gaza peace plan.
Vance’s visit follows renewed violence that threatened the fragile truce after a Hamas attack killed two Israeli soldiers, prompting retaliatory Israeli air strikes that left dozens of Palestinians dead. Despite the flare-up, both Israel and Hamas have since reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire.
Accompanied by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Vance is expected to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin talks on long-term stability measures. These include setting up an interim Palestinian government, deploying an international stabilization force, and facilitating the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Netanyahu told Israel’s parliament that he would discuss “security challenges and political opportunities” with Vance, emphasizing Israel’s readiness for peace but maintaining a strong military stance. “You make peace with the strong, not the weak,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) underscored the importance of maintaining the ceasefire to allow vital humanitarian aid. Over 530 WFP trucks have entered Gaza with food supplies, though access to northern areas remains limited.
Despite challenges, Vance praised Israel’s cooperation, saying significant progress had been made. “There’s a lot of hard work ahead,” he said, “but for now, the ceasefire is holding better than anyone expected.”