President Donald Trump is using every diplomatic tool at his disposal to keep the fragile Gaza ceasefire from collapsing. After chief negotiators Jared Kushner and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff settled in Israel, Vice‑President J.D. Vance—along with his wife—traveled to the country for a three‑day visit. They met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, and Vance delivered a scathing critique of the Knesset’s new West‑Bank annexation resolution, calling it “a stupid political stunt” and warning that it would undermine the newly signed peace deal.
During the return journey, Vance crossed paths with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was heading back to Washington to punch the rhythm of the diplomatic effort. Meanwhile, UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East, Ramiz Alakbarov, told the Security Council that while the agreement offers hope, the dynamics remain “exceedingly fragile.”
Only one ceasefire breach has occurred in the last two weeks. A small group of Hamas fighters fired on Israeli troops, prompting a missile response that U.S. officials blamed on “rogue elements” rather than the Hamas leadership. The U.S. has also excused Hamas’ inability to return hostages’ bodies, noting that the wreckage from recent Israeli bombardments still lies on the ground.
At the Security Council, Permanent Representative Mike Waltz praised the peace deal as a historic success but warned that the job is far from finished. The next major challenge is disarming Hamas—a task the vanguard of the U.S. efforts says will be “very, very tough.”
No International Stabilisation Force has yet been formed. It is meant to disarm Hamas and stabilize the region, a task that could be carried out by U.N.‑backed troops. Vance said the U.S. would not deploy ground forces in Gaza but would “supervise and mediate” the peace. About 200 U.S. troops already stand in Israel, prepared for the mission. Indonesia has offered 20,000 troops, and other nations have expressed willingness to join, though the U.S. and Israel remain cautious about a large U.N. contingent.
Reconstruction is a looming priority. Roughly 80 percent of homes in Gaza were destroyed during recent attacks. Vance announced that rebuilding the city of Rafah could start soon, potentially allowing half a million people to return over the next two to three years.
The United States and its Israel ally are keen to secure a U.N. mandate to legitimize a multinational security force, mirroring the success of the Haiti mission led by Kenya. The international community watches closely, aware that any rash move by Hamas or Israel could jeopardize the delicate ceasefire and the broader peace process.
Source: ianslive
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