Summary
- Vice President JD Vance to visit Israel on October 20.
- Visit aims to push Trump administration’s Gaza peace plan.
- Vance to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He will travel to Israel on Monday to advocate for the second stage of a shaky peace agreement that the Trump administration mediated to end the fighting in Gaza.
Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, a key negotiator of the White House's 20-point peace proposal, will join Vance.
According to a person familiar with the visit, the two are anticipated to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
With tales of public killings and violence while retaining hostage remains the militant organization had previously committed to turn over, the trip coincides with growing suspicions that Hamas has started to retake control of the enclave.
After Israel threatened to cut the number of aid trucks it would let into Gaza in half, Hamas returned nine of the 28 bodies of the hostages who had died.
How might Vance's visit affect implementation of phase two of the plan?
Vice President JD Vance's journey to Israel is anticipated to have major implications for advancing phase two of the Gaza peace plan, which is focused on disarming Hamas and creating an alternative governing structure in Gaza.
Vance will speak directly with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and senior officials to advocate for the implementation of the next steps of the ceasefire agreement.
His trip reflects the U.S. administration's desire and determination to move past phase one (the hostage releases and humanitarian measures) and incentivize Hamas to comply with the disarmament of Hamas, despite Hamas' clear hesitancy to disarm.