On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel. The Trump administration is getting more and more worried that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas might not last. The visit is meant to show that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still committed to the ceasefire deal. This deal was one that the US helped negotiate. Senior officials are worried that short-term flare-ups could weaken the fragile truce.
Vance’s visit was seen as a big show of force after President Trump’s recent trip to the area. It shows how determined the administration is to make sure the ceasefire lasts even after inevitable fights. After Israel said that Hamas had killed two IDF soldiers in an attack, things became more urgent. This situation led to Israeli airstrikes. Even though both sides accused each other of breaking the truce, they both said they would stick to it.
Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, are also in Israel. They are two of the main people behind the president’s 20-point Middle East peace plan. Witkoff stressed that Israel’s response to Hamas must be proportional in order to keep the ceasefire. He mentioned that the next 30 days are very important for moving on to the second phase of talks. In the meantime, Israeli officials have told the US that it should insist on Hamas’s demilitarization. This step should happen before the reconstruction phase in Gaza begins.
President Trump has said in public that the recent violence was caused by some Hamas members acting out. It was not by the group’s leadership falling apart. He has also said that Hamas is still committed to the talks. He did say, though, that it might be necessary to get rid of Hamas. Regional allies are ready to act if Hamas keeps destabilizing the region.
This diplomatic push shows that the Trump administration is working hard to keep the Gaza ceasefire in place. They also aim to move its peace plan forward. The next few weeks will be very important in deciding whether this fragile ceasefire can lead to lasting peace in a region. This region has been at war for a long time.
