KIRYAT GAT: US Vice President JD Vance expressed great optimism that the Gaza truce would hold during his visit to Israel.
Vance made these remarks ahead of his scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
The vice president is in Israel to strengthen support for the US-brokered ceasefire and post-war reconstruction plans.
Despite Israeli concerns about Hamas reasserting control during the pause, Vance stated Washington would not set a disarmament deadline for the group.
This position followed President Donald Trump’s warning that regional allies would invade Gaza to eliminate Hamas if it violated the truce.
Vance declared that recent developments gave him great optimism about the ceasefire holding during a press conference in Kiryat Gat.
He emphasised that maintaining the truce would require constant effort, monitoring, and supervision from all parties.
Tensions have emerged over ceasefire implementation, particularly regarding Hamas’s ability to locate remaining dead Israeli hostages.
Sunday witnessed the worst violence since the truce began, with two Israeli soldiers killed and retaliatory air strikes following.
Trump issued a stark warning to Hamas before Vance’s arrival, suggesting regional allies would intervene if the group continued problematic behaviour.
Vance endorsed this position while resisting Israeli pressure for firm deadlines during the opening of a US-Israeli coordination centre.
The vice president confirmed US troops would not deploy in Gaza but would participate in useful coordination efforts.
Hamas’s future remains a key point of contention, with the ceasefire agreement excluding the group from Gaza’s governance.
Israel has accused Hamas of breaching ceasefire terms, though the group maintains its commitment to the agreement.
Hamas has resisted disarmament and moved to reassert control in Gaza, clashing with armed clans since the truce began.
The group denied involvement in Sunday’s deadly violence in Rafah that triggered Israeli bombings killing 45 Palestinians.
International Crisis Group analyst Mairav Zonszein described the ceasefire as very, very fragile despite political statements.
Zonszein noted that Hamas’s future remains a significant concern for Israelis despite current diplomatic efforts.
Hamas has continued handing over deceased hostage remains in small numbers as part of the ceasefire agreement.
The Israeli military confirmed identifying two more hostage remains returned on Tuesday under the deal.
Hamas claims the search for remaining hostages is hampered by extensive destruction throughout Gaza territory.
The Red Cross facilitated the transfer of 15 Palestinian bodies from Israel to Gaza on Tuesday, bringing the total to 165.
Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya expressed confidence in Cairo that the truce would hold based on mediator assurances.
Al-Hayya stated that US presidential reassurances indicated the Israeli war on Gaza had effectively ended.
The conflict began with Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,221 people in Israel according to official figures.
Gaza’s health ministry reports at least 68,229 deaths in the territory, with women and children comprising over half the casualties. – AFP
