Vice President JD Vance visited Israel on Wednesday to discuss the fragile Gaza ceasefire, emphasizing that the United States views Israel as an equal partner rather than a subordinate state requiring constant supervision.
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Vance expressed cautious confidence about the ceasefire’s durability while acknowledging the challenges ahead.
“I never said it was easy, but what I am is optimistic that the ceasefire is going to hold and that we can actually build a better future in the entire Middle East,” Vance stated.
The vice president’s trip was part of a wave of high-level American visits to Israel following the October 10 ceasefire. Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and senior advisor Jared Kushner had already arrived, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio scheduled to meet Netanyahu on Friday.
These diplomatic missions came as recent violence threatened to destabilize the truce, prompting concerns about its longevity.
Vance took care to clarify America’s role, pushing back against any perception of micromanagement. “We don’t want a vassal state and that’s not what Israel is. We don’t want a client state,” he said. “We want a partnership.”
He explained that American presence in the region was about coordination rather than control, comparing it to overseeing important work rather than supervising children.
Both leaders praised each other’s contributions to achieving the ceasefire deal.
A significant unresolved issue is the proposed international security force for Gaza. President Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday that several Middle Eastern allies had enthusiastically volunteered to deploy substantial forces to Gaza at his request, though he told them “NOT YET.” He warned that Hamas would face swift consequences if the group violated the ceasefire terms.
Vance acknowledged Tuesday that planning for this international stabilization force remained preliminary, noting the complexity of coordinating military units from different nations. He suggested that Gulf Arab states, Turkey, and Indonesia might participate alongside Israeli forces, though Netanyahu expressed strong reservations about Turkish involvement.
The ceasefire has faced multiple challenges. Israel has accused Hamas of attacking its forces in Gaza—claims the militant group denies—leading to Israeli airstrikes. Hamas has also clashed with rival factions while attempting to regain territorial control. Disputes over hostage remains and humanitarian aid access continue to create friction.
On Wednesday, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel must facilitate UN aid operations in Gaza, following last year’s controversial ban on UNRWA, the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees. Despite these obstacles, Vance remained hopeful about the peace process, acknowledging the substantial effort required to build lasting stability where none existed just days earlier.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.
