US Vice President in Israel: "Difficult Challenges Remain, Including Disarmament of Hamas and Reconstruction of Gaza"

JD Vance, the U.S. Vice President, who is currently visiting Israel, stated that “there are extremely difficult challenges ahead, including the disarmament of Hamas and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.”

JD Vance, U.S. Vice President (left), and Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, are greeting each other on the 22nd (local time) in Jerusalem. Photo by AP Yonhap News

At a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on the 22nd (local time), Vice President Vance said, “We must improve the lives of residents in the Gaza Strip while also ensuring that Hamas no longer poses a threat to Israel.”

He emphasized, “A ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip is a key element in realizing the Abraham Accords,” adding, “Such an agreement will serve as a stepping stone for Israel to build a broad alliance in the Middle East.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu told Vice President Vance, “We discussed our vision for the period after the ceasefire,” explaining, “We are working to create an incredible post-ceasefire reality based on a completely new vision-how to establish a civilian government in the Gaza Strip, how to ensure security, and who will provide that security.”

He continued, “It will not be easy, but I believe it is possible,” and added, “We are actually building the foundations and vision for peace that did not exist even just a week ago.”

Vice President Vance visited Israel the previous day and will remain until the 23rd to secure support for maintaining the ceasefire and for postwar reconstruction plans mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Israeli military announced that on the 19th, two Israeli soldiers were killed in an attack by Palestinian extremists in Rafah, the southernmost area of the Gaza Strip. Following this, Israel carried out approximately 100 airstrikes in southern Gaza and other areas. Ten hours later, Israel halted the airstrikes and declared a return to the ceasefire, but tensions remain high.