Vance remains optimistic about the Gaza ceasefire, despite Washington's domestic fears.

WashingtonOne of the major problems with the quick peace deals (or pseudo-pauses, as the case may be) with which Donald Trump hopes to win the Nobel Peace Prize is their fragility. Many analysts had already noted the same thing about other truces mediated by the US president before the agreement to end the war in Gaza was reached. But in this case, it's even more evident: a plan agreed between Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu without the Palestinians, which, however, runs the risk of being scuppered by the Israeli prime minister himself. In this context, US Vice President J.D. Vance traveled to Israel on Tuesday to ensure that the truce doesn't break down. after the crossfire of the weekend.

The evening before, White House officials expressed in the New York Times their fears that Netanyahu could blow up the ceasefire in the wake of the latest outbreaks of violence. On Friday, Israel attacked a group of Palestinians, accusing them of allegedly crossing the line marking where Israeli forces (IDF) have withdrawn into Gaza. Although the army claimed they were militants, on Saturday it reported that several children were among the dead. On Sunday, Hamas militants opened fire on Israeli soldiers protecting other Palestinian militias that have been funded by Tel Aviv against Hamas. The incidents occurred in the southern Strip, and Tel Aviv responded with a wave of bombings that killed 45 Palestinians. Since the start of the truce, Israel has killed at least 100 Palestinians. Although Hamas and Israel say they remain committed to the truce despite the outbreak of violence, Washington cannot ignore the cracks that are appearing in the ceasefire.

Despite the weekend attacks, Vance has expressed optimism about moving forward in the peace negotiations and has ruled out that his trip is a reaction to the events. "My visit has no relation to the events of the last four hours," the vice president said, adding: "Things are going better than I expected, frankly."

Vance also thanked special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, for their role in the negotiations. Both accompanied the vice president on the trip, which is expected to last until Thursday. On Wednesday, Vance will meet with Netanyahu, according to the Israeli prime minister's schedule. According to White House sources, the objective is for the US triad to convince the Israeli not to attack Hamas again, and consequently, Gaza.

Netanyahu has given few details about Wednesday's meeting. "We will discuss two issues: primarily the security challenges and the diplomatic opportunities we face," he said Monday in his Knesset address. "We will overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities."

Just twelve years ago days since the ceasefire was agreed in Gaza amid major questions surrounding essential issues to ensure real peace, Such as, for example, the recognition of Palestine or the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops. Another issue that remains unresolved is the disarmament of Hamas, an issue on which Vance has been unable to provide a deadline for the Islamist group to hand over its weapons, nor has it been clear how they will get the group to accept this part of the agreement.

Trump threatens Hamas again

Just hours before Vance landed in Israel, Trump again threatened Hamas, saying that if it violated the truce, several US allies in the region would "welcome the opportunity" to respond to the group "with heavy force." "There is still hope for Hamas to do the right thing," he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump continues the same old story with Hamas that he has practically all these months: threat after threat. On Monday, the president told reporters that the Islamist group would get along, adding: "If they don't, we will eliminate them. They know it." One of the clauses of the agreement is that if Hamas were to break the pact at any time, Washington would give full support to Tel Aviv so it could "finish the job" in the Strip.

Israel stopped bombing Gaza after Hamas handed over the 20 Israeli hostages it was still holding alive inside the Strip, as stipulated in the plan. The Islamist group also returned the bodies of at least thirteen people and had announced a new return on Tuesday night (local time).

With the start of the truce, one of the most complicated parts of the plan began: the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Strip, as well as the creation of a kind of protectorate over Gaza—led by Trump—which would have its own armed force in charge of controlling the territory, and also of controlling the territory. The Islamist group did not seem entirely convinced by this point of the plan, and neither side showed progress on the key points for defining the future of post-war Gaza.