Several top U.S. officials are in Israel to shore up the Gaza ceasefire and attempt to bring about a permanent end to the war. They acknowledge the next phase poses serious challenges.

Hamas and Fatah, the Palestinian political party that controls the Palestinian Authority (PA), have held talks in Egypt about next steps for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The meeting was part of broader talks to build consensus about the ceasefire among various Palestinian factions.

A US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza appears to have survived its first major test as Israel and Hamas affirmed their commitment to the deal after two Israeli soldiers were killed in the enclave on Sunday,

As a Christian, this region of the world means a great deal to me,' Vance said at the start of whirlwind trip to salvage the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Israeli forces struck Hamas positions in Gaza after the terrorist group allegedly violated ceasefire terms with attacks on IDF forces.

Vice President JD Vance warned Wednesday that the United States and allies face a tough task disarming Hamas and building a peaceful future for Gaza, as Washington sought to reassure Israel over the next steps in its ambitious ceasefire deal.

Through daring exploits and ingenuity, including the stunning targeted pager attacks on Hezbollah operatives, Israel has redefined the Middle East - severely diminishing Hezbollah, smashing Iran’s nuclear program, and contributing to the removal of Syria as a threat.

The vice president said that while he can't have "100% certainty that it's going to work," he has "great optimism the ceasefire is going to hold."