On Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Jay Vance expressed in Jerusalem that disarming Hamas and rebuilding the Gaza Strip would be “an extremely difficult task,” while also aiming to reassure Israel regarding the U.S. peace plan for the region.
The administration of President Donald Trump is intensifying diplomatic efforts to support the fragile ceasefire in Gaza that took effect on October 10, while addressing sensitive issues in subsequent phases, such as the management and regeneration of the war-torn territory.
Upon arriving in Israel on Tuesday, Vance met with U.S. regional envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, before having discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday as part of America’s diplomatic pressure on its ally.
After meeting with Netanyahu, Vance remarked, “We face an incredibly challenging mission, which is disarming Hamas and rebuilding Gaza, with the aim of improving the lives of the people and ensuring that Hamas does not pose a threat to our friends in Israel again.”
Thus far, the Palestinian group has refused to consider disarmament, and its fighters have redeployed in parts of Gaza following the ceasefire, clashing with factions accused of “collaborating” with Israel.
A New Vision
The ceasefire agreement has so far facilitated the release of 20 Israeli hostages and numerous Palestinian detainees, as well as allowed humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza.
However, renewed clashes on Sunday, which resulted in the deaths of 45 Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers, along with delays in Hamas handing over the remains of 28 deceased hostages, have raised concerns regarding the stability of the ceasefire.
During a press conference in Jerusalem, Vance noted that “the Gaza agreement is a crucial part of implementing the Abraham Accords, and could also enable the establishment of a sustainable and long-term alliance framework in the Middle East.”
For his part, Netanyahu stated, “We are creating a wonderful new day with a completely new vision” on how to establish a civil government and ensure security in the area.
He added, “It won’t be easy” and “will require a lot of work, but I believe it is possible.”
Trump’s plan calls for the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the deployment of an international security force. Vance stated on Tuesday that the United States would not send troops into Gaza and is looking for countries willing to contribute to this military effort.
The U.S. Vice President also noted, “We do not wish to impose any foreign military presence on our Israeli friends, but we believe that Turkey could play a constructive role.”
However, a segment of Israeli public opinion is wary of the potential deployment of Turkish soldiers, especially as relations between Turkey and Israel have been tense since the onset of the war in Gaza.