Vance Visits Israel as Gaza Truce Faces Test

U.S. Vice‑President J.D. Vance flew to Israel, joined by Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, to shore up the fragile ceasefire after weekend violence threatened to unravel the Oct. 10 truce. The flare‑up began after an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and prompted Israeli strikes that Palestinian health authorities said killed roughly 28 to 45 people in Gaza; despite this both sides publicly recommitted to the truce, Israel received the remains of another hostage and allowed aid deliveries to resume. Vance visited a newly opened U.S.-Israeli civil‑military coordination centre and said the truce was holding “better than I expected,” as officials reported improved coordination including exchanges of bodies and some hostages. U.S. and Israeli officials warned Hamas it must disarm or face severe military consequences, while humanitarian and U.N. officials and NGOs cautioned that aid flows and reliable delivery mechanisms remain insufficient and the situation is still delicate. Israeli domestic politics have grown more fractious—with parliamentary moves to curb the supreme court and insults toward judicial leaders drawing rebukes from President Isaac Herzog—adding another layer of uncertainty for a lasting settlement. Mediators in Israel, Egypt and Washington continue talks as the durability of the deal and prospects for a broader political resolution remain uncertain.