U.S. JD Vance in Israel in effort to stabilize the Israel-Hams ceasefire [Image by The New York Times]
(The Post News) – U.S. Vice President JD Vance landed in Israel on Tuesday to prop up the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, just days after new violence had threatened the U.S.-brokered peace deal. The visit follows President Donald Trump’s recent trip and highlights the administration’s revived scramble to keep the truce intact and push forward the next phase of the peace plan.
U.S Strengthens Diplomatic Presence in Region
Vance has already sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Reps Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and will be in the area until Thursday. His mission: lock in Israeli commitment to ceasefire, get the Israelis their hostages back, and pressure Hamas to disarm as required under Trump’s 20-point Middle East peace plan.
I couldn’t be more optimistic,” Vance told a press conference in Tel Aviv. “But if Hamas doesn’t cooperate, terrible things are going to occur.”
Hamas said on Tuesday it would return the bodies of two more Israeli hostages. Israel, under the deal, released 15 Palestinian bodies for every Israeli body returned. 165 Palestinian bodies have been returned so far, though only 32 were returned officially identified. Israeli authorities confirmed they received Tal Haimi, a father of four who was killed in Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak.
Despite Sunday’s deadly escalation, in which two Israeli soldiers and dozens of Palestinians were killed, both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to the truce.
The World Food Programme reported that 530 aid trucks entered Gaza in the past 10 days, though that is still far below the pre-war daily average. Hamas security forces cracked down on price gouging in Gaza’s internal markets, closing ten shops and forcing merchants to reduce prices.
Prices of essential commodities soared after Sunday’s bloodshed. A 25-kg flour bag that briefly touched $70 circulated for $30 by Tuesday. However, the majority of residents remain without access to cash due to shut banks and inoperable ATMs.
The Gaza Health Ministry alleged several returned Palestinian bodies had signs of torture. Officials indicated that they discovered bound limbs, burns, and deep abrasions. While Israel denies any misconduct and states it behaved legally.
Peace Plan Faces Key Challenges
The Trump peace plan mandates that Hamas disarm, Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza, and a technocratic government assume authority over the enclave under international oversight. Hamas leaders in Cairo have been open to a technocratic government, provided they can retain indirect influence.
Trump’s representatives have made it obvious that any further violations by Hamas could summon “swift, furious, and ruthless force,” echoing the president’s threat of devastation if Hamas resists the deal.
As talks enter the sensitive second phase, Vance stressed that peace will entail “difficult decisions and hard work.” Israel continues to call for Hamas’ disarmament as a prelude to making progress on reconstruction. American officials, meanwhile, are pursuing regional buy-in from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Gulf countries, some of which are considering normalization with Israel.
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