JD Vance Addresses Challenges of Hamas Disarmament and Gaza Peace Process During Israel Visit

US Vice President JD Vance expressed concerns about the challenging path ahead for disarming Hamas and creating a peaceful future for Gaza during his diplomatic visit to Israel on Wednesday. His remarks came as Washington sought to provide reassurance to its ally regarding the next phases of the ambitious ceasefire agreement.

During his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the second day of his Israel trip, Vance acknowledged the complexities involved in the peace process. "We have a very, very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza, to make life better for the people of Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel," Vance stated.

The Vice President had begun his three-day visit on Tuesday by inaugurating the Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) in southwest Israel. This facility will serve as a base for US and allied troops to work alongside Israeli forces in monitoring the truce and overseeing humanitarian aid distribution to Gaza.

Following discussions with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Vance highlighted collaborative efforts between American and Israeli officials to facilitate the ceasefire process and establish critical infrastructure. He specifically mentioned an "international security force" as one of the essential components that would need to be established.

Under President Donald Trump's 20-point plan, this military mission would maintain peace in Gaza as Israel withdraws. While several US allies are considering joining the force, no American troops would be deployed inside Gaza. Instead, they would coordinate operations from the CMCC in Kiryat Gat, Israel.

Reports suggesting that Turkey, an outspoken critic and regional rival of Israel, might contribute troops have caused concern among Israelis. When asked about Turkey's potential role, Netanyahu indicated he had strong opinions on the matter, implying opposition without explicitly stating it.

Despite Sunday's violence that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and prompted Israel to respond with deadly airstrikes, Vance expressed "great optimism" that the ceasefire would hold and the plan to end the conflict would move forward.

Netanyahu and his wife Sara welcomed Vance and US Second Lady Usha Vance to his office, where the couples had breakfast followed by a working meeting and a televised news conference.

The Israeli Prime Minister, who has faced criticism from domestic opponents for accepting the US-backed ceasefire before Hamas was completely defeated and before all hostage remains were returned, defended the agreement. He explained that Israel had accomplished two crucial objectives: militarily pressuring Hamas while diplomatically isolating them in the Arab and Muslim world, crediting Trump's team for their diplomatic efforts in improving Israel's relations with neighboring countries.

Vance emphasized the Gaza deal's significance as a "critical piece in unlocking the Abraham Accords" – a Trump administration initiative aimed at normalizing relations between Israel and former adversaries in the Arab world.

Israel's response to Sunday's killing of its soldiers included intensive bombing campaigns that reportedly killed 45 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Hamas has denied involvement in the soldiers' deaths.

Despite the recent violence, Hamas has continued transferring hostage remains in small numbers as part of the ceasefire agreement. Palestinians have welcomed the truce, though their cities lie in ruins.

Imran Skeik, a 34-year-old displaced civilian living in a tent in Gaza City, told AFP: "The situation is much better – the war has stopped, and there are no sounds of bombs and shelling like before. We hope the ceasefire continues and that Israel and Hamas both stick to it. We've started to get some rest, but there are still many problems. Will we have to stay in tents – another kind of suffering?"

The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that the remains of two more hostages returned the previous day had been identified as Aryeh Zalmanovich and Master Sergeant Tamir Adar. Zalmanovich, 85, was abducted from his home in kibbutz Nir Oz and died in captivity on November 17, 2023. Adar, 38, was killed defending Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attack, and his body was taken by militants.

Hamas has now returned 15 of the 28 hostages' bodies promised under the deal but claims that search efforts are hampered by the extensive destruction in Gaza.

The conflict, triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has resulted in at least 68,229 deaths in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-governed territory. The United Nations considers these figures credible. The initial Hamas attack caused 1,221 deaths, primarily civilians, based on an AFP tally derived from official Israeli data.