Before boarding a plane for Israel, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that U.N. backing was a potential next step to deploying an international stabilization force to the war-torn enclave.

Vice President JD Vance urged "patience" as Israel waits for the return of all the hostages' remains from Hamas.

As Israel's cease-fire with Hamas comes under growing strain, President Donald Trump dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Israel to ensure it stays on track.

Vance tried to downplay any idea that his visit — his first as vice president — was urgently arranged to keep the ceasefire in place. He said he feels “confident that we’re going to be in a place where this peace lasts,” but warned that if Hamas doesn’t cooperate, it will be “obliterated.”

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.

Eyal Zamir added that the return of the remains of the 13 hostages still held in Gaza "must be a prerequisite before moving to the next phase. ” The IDF considers the disarmament of Hamas a necessary condition for moving to the next stage of the US-brokered Gaza deal,

Speaking from Israel, Vice President JD Vance addressed the delicate issue of disarming Hamas. He said the effort would be led by an international security force, the composition of which is yet to be determined.

Vice President JD Vance declined to be drawn on how long Hamas would have before the US took action to force the Islamist movement to disarm as part of the Gaza cease fire agreement. "If Hamas doesn't comply with the deal,

Speaking to reporters in Tel Aviv before boarding Air Force Two, Vance said the goal is for people to be able to return to Rafah. He added that reconstruction could begin “very quickly” in areas no lo

"We have to be a little bit flexible. I think what you're seeing from our Gulf Arab friends, certainly from our Israeli friends, is a certain amount of impatience with Hamas."