The United States has ramped up diplomatic pressure on Hamas to fully comply with the fragile Gaza ceasefire, with President Donald Trump warning that the militant group would face annihilation if it violated the truce.
Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday as part of Washington’s renewed efforts to sustain the peace deal brokered earlier this month.
Ahead of his arrival, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and senior adviser Jared Kushner were already in Tel Aviv, where they met with Israeli hostages recently released after two years in captivity in Gaza.
Vance is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
His visit follows a weekend of renewed tensions after Israel accused Hamas of killing two of its soldiers and delaying the return of hostages’ remains — developments that have threatened the US-brokered truce.
Trump, speaking at the White House, said the ceasefire remains in effect and that Hamas “understands the consequences” of any breach.
The agreement, which came into force on October 10, was designed to facilitate hostage and prisoner exchanges while outlining a postwar roadmap for Gaza.
The truce, now in its eleventh day, has already been tested by incidents of violence. In response to the soldiers’ deaths, Israel launched a series of airstrikes across Gaza that local health officials said killed at least 45 Palestinians.
Despite the escalation, both Israel and Hamas have publicly affirmed their commitment to the ceasefire.
Hamas’s Gaza leader, Khalil al-Hayya, speaking from Cairo after talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, expressed optimism that the truce would hold.
He said Hamas was continuing efforts to locate the bodies of remaining hostages but cited difficulties caused by widespread destruction in Gaza after two years of bombardment.
Meanwhile, Qatar — which played a key role in mediating the deal — accused Israel of repeated violations of the ceasefire. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani condemned Israel’s actions, describing Gaza as having been turned into “an area unfit for human life.”
Under the terms of Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, Israeli forces have withdrawn beyond the so-called “Yellow Line,” which they are currently demarcating with painted concrete barriers. This repositioning gives Israel control over roughly half of Gaza, including border areas but excluding major population centers.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 68,000 people have been killed since the war erupted following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left 1,221 Israelis dead. The UN has described Gaza’s casualty figures as credible, noting that over half of the victims are women and children.
Despite mounting political pressure from hardliners in his coalition to abandon the truce, Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to continue working to recover the bodies of all deceased hostages. His office said Israel “will spare no effort” to ensure their return.
Vance’s visit marks a crucial test of Washington’s ability to maintain stability in the region as both sides weigh the costs of renewing a war that has already devastated Gaza and strained Israel’s political landscape.
AFP
