Vice President JD Vance visits the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during his trip to Israel, calling it an "amazing blessing" and a "very special moment."

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.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance sought Wednesday to ease concerns in Israel that the Trump administration was dictating terms to its closest ally in the Middle East, as he and other top U.S. envoys visit Israel this week to support the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Channel 12 News reports that Defense Minister Katz told VP Vance that over 60% of Hamas tunnels remain. IDF continues demolitions during ceasefire, stressing tunnel removal as vital to Gaza’s demilitarization under Trump’s plan.

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,