US Vice President JD Vance stepped before the press in Jerusalem on Tuesday without grand rhetoric—factual, but with a strikingly hopeful tone in his voice. He is “very optimistic” that the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip can hold. What has been shown in recent days gives him “great reason for confidence.”
The ceasefire had only come back into effect the previous day, after renewed Hamas attacks on Israeli soldiers and subsequent Israeli airstrikes. Yet Vance didn’t want to talk about doubts, but about the chance that this fragile moment could be the beginning of something greater. “If we get this right,” he said, “it’s going to be a domino that will lead to peace all across the region.”
At the same time, he tempered expectations. No one can promise with “100% certainty” that the agreement will work. “But you don’t do difficult things by only doing what’s 100% certain. You do things by trying,” Vance said. He described a process that requires dogged attention, diplomatic pressure, and “constant effort.”
We have made incredible progress in our efforts toward peace in the Middle East.
With the world’s prayers, God’s providence, and the excellent team President Trump has assembled, we will get the job done. pic.twitter.com/5s5sIABX0q
— JD Vance (@JDVance) October 21, 2025
According to his statements, the visit had been planned for months and was not a spontaneous reaction to recent events. He wanted to “see how things are going” and get a personal impression on the ground. The main focus was one thing above all: the fate of the hostages.
The agreement with Hamas obligates the terror organization to release all hostages—alive or dead. Hamas claims it no longer holds any living hostages but has not yet handed over several bodies. “Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble,” Vance said. Their families have a right to certainty and a dignified burial.
The disarmament of Hamas is also part of the agreement, but Vance deliberately avoided naming a timeline. The situation is too unpredictable: In one part of the Gaza Strip, it is relatively calm; just a few kilometers further, it is highly dangerous. To speak of lasting peace, the safe zone must expand step-by-step. An international security force should help with that—but it exists so far only in planning.
The Vice President made it clear: American soldiers will not be deployed on the ground in Gaza. “What we can do is provide some useful coordination.” Israel will ultimately decide which international forces are involved. On the role of Turkey, Vance was reserved: Despite Israeli reservations, Ankara can play a “constructive role”—if Israel agrees.
How Gaza will be governed after the war remains open. Vance spoke of a “flexible” structure that can only emerge once security is guaranteed. He stressed that the important thing is not presenting perfect plans, but making a start.
In closing, Vance spoke about the attitude of those involved: No one can look back on this conflict without feeling pain or contradiction. But, he insisted, “the way that we’re going to get to peace is to focus on the future. Everybody here is very willing to do that.”
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