Vance Visits Israel to Strengthen Fragile Gaza Ceasefire and Push for Next Steps

Post by : Saif Nasser

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday to help support the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and move both Israel and Hamas toward the next stage of peace talks. The visit comes as the truce, which began eight days ago, remains shaky with both sides accusing each other of breaking the agreement.

Vance’s visit is part of a wider U.S. effort led by President Donald Trump, who announced a 20-point ceasefire plan aimed at bringing long-term peace and rebuilding Gaza. However, several difficult issues still remain. One major challenge is the disarmament of Hamas and the discussion on creating a Palestinian state — steps that both sides have yet to fully accept.

During his trip, Vance is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. His main goal is to help move the ceasefire into its second phase. According to Israeli officials, this next phase would involve ensuring Hamas gives up its weapons, something the group has not yet agreed to do.

At the same time, Hamas leaders are holding meetings with Egyptian mediators in Cairo. The discussions are being led by Khalil al-Hayya, one of Hamas’s senior leaders who lives in exile. The talks are focused on how to maintain the current truce, plan for Gaza’s future governance, and set the framework for rebuilding the war-torn area.

Egypt, which has been a key mediator since the conflict began, is playing an important role once again. On Tuesday, Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad met with Netanyahu to discuss the next steps in the ceasefire plan. Later, he is expected to meet American envoy Steven Witkoff.

Qatar and Turkey are also helping to mediate the talks. But Qatar on Tuesday accused Israel of “continuous violations” of the ceasefire, showing how fragile the situation remains.

President Trump’s peace plan proposes the creation of a temporary Palestinian committee, made up of neutral technocrats and supervised by an international board. This committee would manage Gaza without Hamas being directly involved in its administration. However, a Palestinian official close to the talks said that Hamas supports this idea, as long as the committee operates with the group’s approval and coordination with the Palestinian Authority and other factions.

Hamas official Mohammed Nazzal recently told Reuters that the group expects to keep a security role in Gaza during a transitional period, even if it does not control the government. This remains one of the key points of debate in the peace process.

Tensions have continued inside Gaza despite the truce. Last week, Hamas forces fought with rival gangs and executed several men accused of collaborating with Israel. President Trump said he supported these actions, calling them necessary for “justice.” However, the U.S. military’s Middle East command urged Hamas to stop all violence immediately.

Vice President Vance is also expected to visit a joint U.S.-led military coordination center in Israel that is working on stabilizing Gaza and ensuring that aid reaches civilians safely.

One of the major tasks under the current phase of the ceasefire is the exchange and return of bodies. Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told Egyptian television that his group remains committed to returning the bodies of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, which triggered the war.

He also called for the return of Palestinian bodies from Israel so that families could bury them respectfully. On Monday, one more body of an Israeli hostage was returned and identified. Israeli officials said they expect five more bodies to be returned soon, while others might take more time due to difficult recovery conditions.

Meanwhile, Israel handed back 15 more Palestinian bodies on Tuesday, bringing the total number returned to 165.

Aid deliveries into Gaza have slightly increased this week. More supplies are entering through two Israeli-controlled crossings, according to U.N. and Palestinian officials. But aid agencies say the help is still far below what is needed.

The U.N. World Food Programme reported that while supplies were improving, they still fell short of the target of 2,000 tons of aid per day. The agency also said no aid had reached northern Gaza yet, where hunger and famine conditions are most severe.

Inside Gaza, the situation for civilians remains dire. Many people are struggling to find food, clean water, and shelter. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, and hospitals are still short of medical supplies.

Israeli troops remain close to what they call the “yellow line,” a zone that marks their pullback position. On Tuesday, Israel’s public broadcaster reported that soldiers shot and killed a man who crossed the line and approached them. Palestinians living near the area say the boundary is not clearly marked, making it dangerous for civilians to move around. Israeli bulldozers have started placing yellow concrete blocks along the border to make it clearer.

As the ceasefire continues to hold, the next few days are expected to be crucial. The United States hopes that Vice President Vance’s visit will help both Israel and Hamas take the necessary steps to move from a temporary pause in fighting toward a more stable peace process.