Jerusalem,: U.S. Vice President JD Vance warned on Tuesday that Hamas would be “obliterated” if it refuses to disarm, while affirming that Israel alone will decide whether any foreign troops are deployed in Gaza.
Speaking at a press conference in Kiryat Gat, near Gaza, Vance said Hamas fighters could be spared if the group cooperates. “If it doesn’t cooperate … Hamas is going to be obliterated,” he stated.
He stressed that Washington would not pressure Israel on the issue of foreign forces, calling it “a question for the Israelis to agree to,” and suggested that Turkey could play a constructive role.
As mediators push for a potential second phase of the truce, Vance acknowledged the difficulties ahead. “Can I say with 100 percent certainty that it’s going to work? No … but you do difficult things by trying,” he said.
Addressing frustrations over the slow pace of recovering hostages and bodies, he noted, “Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some, nobody even knows where they are,” urging “a little bit of patience.”
Despite mutual accusations of truce violations, both Israel and Hamas have publicly reaffirmed their commitment, according to Xinhua.
Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump, were already in Israel ahead of his visit.
