In brief
During his visit to Israel, US Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism regarding the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, indicating it is performing better than anticipated. However, he warned that failure to cooperate from Hamas could result in severe consequences. The ceasefire, brokered by President Trump, has faced challenges, including recent violence that threatened its stability. Despite these concerns, discussions on long-term peace efforts continue, with a focus on negotiations addressing fundamental issues.
The implementation of a Gaza ceasefire agreement is going better than expected and the truce can hold, US Vice-President JD Vance has said during a visit to Israel.
Vance also warned that if Hamas does not co-operate, it will be obliterated, while refusing to give a deadline for when the Palestinian group must disarm - a part of US proposals yet to be agreed.
US President Donald Trump, who brokered the ceasefire deal earlier this month, said America's great allies in the Middle East would be ready to go into Gaza with a heavy force and 'straighten out Hamas' if Hamas continues to act badly.
Vance's visits come after a flare-up of violence on Sunday that threatened to derail the 12-day-old truce.
Israel said a Hamas attack killed two soldiers, triggering Israeli air strikes which killed dozens of Palestinians.
Trump wrote on social media that there is still hope that Hamas will do what is right, adding: If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!
Vance is expected to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start negotiations on long-term issues for a permanent end to the war with Hamas during his visit.
The vice-president praised Israel for being remarkably helpful in moving towards the deal's main goals, but said that a lot of hard work remained ahead to secure further steps.
The two special US envoys who helped negotiate the ceasefire deal, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, appeared alongside Vance at a news briefing in southern Israel. Witkoff and Kushner held talks with Netanyahu after arriving in Israel on Monday.
Trump is said to have dispatched his deputy and envoys to Israel to keep up the momentum and push for the start of talks on the second critical phase of his 20-point Gaza peace plan.
This would involve setting up an interim government in the Palestinian territory, deploying an international stabilisation force, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Israel has previously said it would not join such talks until Hamas has returned all the deceased hostages it has been holding.
Vance, Witkoff and Kushner are also attempting to ensure the ceasefire deal, which is based on the first phase of the peace plan, does not collapse first.
Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament on Monday that he would discuss security challenges and political opportunities with Vance during his visit.
The Israeli military blamed Hamas for an anti-tank missile attack on Sunday that killed two Israeli soldiers in southern Gaza and then carried out dozens of strikes across the territory which hospitals said killed at least 45 Palestinians.
However, reports indicate that Hamas remains committed to adhering to the ceasefire agreement, as reiterated by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in Cairo.
Despite challenges in recovery operations for hostages' remains, progress has been made with the return of bodies to their families.
The UN's World Food Programme highlighted the critical nature of sustaining the ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, noting that insufficient aid access remains a significant concern.
