Vance: ‘Not Here to Babysit’ Gaza Cease-Fire
Vice President JD Vance made his stance clear during a high-stakes visit to Israel on Wednesday: American officials are in the region to support the Gaza cease-fire—but not to “monitor a toddler.”
Speaking after a closed-door meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Vance pushed back against suggestions that the flurry of recent U.S. diplomatic visits amounts to micromanagement. “It’s not about monitoring in the sense of, you know, you monitor a toddler,” he said. “It’s about ensuring that the work on the ground continues with purpose and integrity.”
A Delicate Truce Under Pressure
The current cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, brokered under a framework proposed by President Trump in September, has already shown signs of fraying. Despite the release of 20 hostages from Gaza and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, sporadic violence continues to threaten the fragile peace.
Hamas has returned the bodies of at least 15 captives to Israel, while Israel has repatriated more than 150 Palestinian remains to Gaza—a grim but necessary step in building trust between bitter adversaries.
U.S. Strategy: Keep Netanyahu from Restarting War
According to multiple Trump administration officials speaking anonymously, there is growing concern that Netanyahu may abandon the truce and launch a renewed military offensive. To prevent this, the White House has dispatched a diplomatic “dream team” to Jerusalem, including Vice President Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and senior advisor Jared Kushner.
Their mission? To keep the Israeli leadership committed to the agreement while navigating unresolved issues—chief among them, Hamas’s refusal to disarm.
The Disarmament Dilemma
Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that any lasting peace requires Hamas to lay down its arms. But for the militant group, disarming is seen as ideological surrender. When pressed on how the U.S. plans to bridge this chasm, Vance offered no specifics. “We’re going to keep working on it,” he said.
What Role for the Palestinian Authority?
Another major sticking point is the future governance of Gaza. Netanyahu has flatly rejected any role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) in postwar administration. Yet on Wednesday, two senior PA figures—Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh and Intelligence Chief Majed Faraj—were en route to Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials about precisely that topic.
The U.S. and its allies remain divided on whether the PA can be reformed or replaced to administer Gaza without triggering further instability.
Key Cease-Fire Developments So Far
| Milestone | Status |
|---|---|
| Hostages released by Hamas | 20 (plus 15 bodies returned) |
| Palestinian prisoners released by Israel | Nearly 2,000 |
| Palestinian bodies returned to Gaza | Over 150 |
| Next-phase issues unresolved | Hamas disarmament, PA role, security guarantees |
Vance Remains Optimistic
Despite the challenges, Vance struck a hopeful tone. “I think that we have an opportunity to do something really historic,” he said. “We’re going to keep working at it with all of our friends in the Israeli government.”
