United States Vice President JD Vance has said the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is “going better than expected,” expressing optimism that the truce can hold if all parties remain committed.
Speaking during a visit to Israel on Tuesday, Vance cautioned that the ceasefire’s success depends on Hamas’ cooperation, warning that “if Hamas does not co-operate, it will be obliterated.”
He, however, declined to specify a timeline for the Palestinian group to disarm — a key component of the US-backed ceasefire plan that remains under negotiation.
The visit comes nearly two weeks after US President Donald Trump brokered the ceasefire deal aimed at ending months of deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas.
President Trump, in a statement released earlier this week, praised the progress made under the agreement and reiterated America’s commitment to supporting its “great allies” in the Middle East.
He warned that if Hamas violates the terms of the truce, allied forces in the region are prepared to “go into Gaza with a heavy force and straighten out Hamas if it continues to act badly.”
Vance’s visit follows renewed tension on Sunday when a brief exchange of fire between Israeli forces and militants in Gaza raised fears that the 12-day-old truce could collapse.
Despite the setback, both Israeli and US officials have expressed confidence that the ceasefire remains intact, citing ongoing diplomatic engagement to maintain peace in the region.
