United States Vice President JD Vance visited Israel on Wednesday, warning of the difficult task ahead in disarming Hamas while rebuilding Gaza, as Washington sought to reassure its ally on the next steps of a US-brokered ceasefire deal.
Vance met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the second day of his visit, which aims to support the ceasefire, secure the release of hostages, and eventually assist in Gaza’s reconstruction.
“We have a very, very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza, to make life better for the people of Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel,” Vance said.
On Tuesday, Vance opened the Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in southwest Israel, where US and allied personnel will work with Israeli forces to monitor the truce and oversee humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Vance emphasized that an international security force will be established to maintain peace as Israel withdraws. While some US allies are considering participation, no American troops will be stationed inside Gaza; all coordination will occur from the CMCC in Kiryat Gat.
Reports that Turkey could contribute troops have sparked concern in Israel. Netanyahu said decisions on the security force would be made in consultation with the United States, adding cryptically about Turkey’s potential role: “I have very strong opinions about that.”
Despite a flare-up of violence on Sunday, which left two Israeli soldiers dead and prompted retaliatory airstrikes killing 45 Palestinians, Vance expressed optimism that the ceasefire could hold and the peace plan proceed.
Vance highlighted the ceasefire’s potential role in advancing the Abraham Accords, a Trump-era initiative aimed at strengthening ties between Israel and Arab nations. Netanyahu defended the deal, noting it combined military pressure on Hamas with diplomatic efforts to isolate the group regionally, resulting in the partial release of hostages.
The Israeli military confirmed that two more hostages, Aryeh Zalmanovich and Master Sergeant Tamir Adar, had been identified among remains returned by Hamas. So far, 15 of 28 hostages pledged under the agreement have been returned, though Hamas said the process is complicated by extensive destruction in Gaza.
The ongoing conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has killed at least 68,229 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, which the UN considers credible. The initial Hamas attack resulted in 1,221 Israeli deaths.
