Jerusalem (Parliament Politics Magazine) – US Vice President JD Vance admits disarming Hamas is a “very, very tough task” while visiting Israel to support the ceasefire and rebuild Gaza.
As reported by The Telegraph, JD Vance warned that disarming Hamas would be a difficult task during his first visit to Israel.
Mr Vance to Israel on Tuesday, 21 October, amid fears that US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire deal could collapse or fall apart following recent clashes in Gaza.
What did JD Vance say about disarming Hamas and rebuilding Gaza?
JD Vance rejected claims he traveled to Israel to salvage the agreement, saying the trip had been planned months ago and expressed “great optimism” over the ceasefire’s stability.
The vice president warned that implementing Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, including disarming Hamas, would face significant challenges.
Mr Vance said,
“We have a very, very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza, to make life better for the people of Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel.”
He stated,
“We don’t want a vassal state, and that’s not what Israel is. We don’t want a client state, and that’s not what Israel is. We want a partnership. We want an ally here.”
Mr Vance suggested President Trump’s peace agreement, which brought a ceasefire in Gaza, might strengthen Israel’s alliances in the Middle East.
The vice-president stated,
“I think this Gaza deal is a critical piece of unlocking the Abraham Accords, but what it could allow is an alliance structure in the Middle East that perseveres, that endures, that allows the good people in this region of the world to step up and take ownership of their own backyard.”
He said an “international security force” would be created to enforce the peace plan and maintain the Gaza ceasefire as Israel withdraws.
Referring to holding a ceasefire, Mr Vance responded,
“It’s not easy. I never said it was easy. But what I am is optimistic that the ceasefire is going to hold and that we can actually build a better future for the entire Middle East … But that’s going to require some work.”
When asked why the US continues to send high-level officials to Israel despite the ceasefire appearing stable, he replied,
“It’s not about monitoring it, in the sense of monitoring a toddler … It’s important for the administration to make sure our people continue to keep doing what we need them to do.”
His arrival in Israel comes after President Trump’s allies Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner helped negotiate the ceasefire, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to visit on Thursday.
The vice president called for Hamas to be given time to recover the bodies, adding,
“The 15 deceased hostages who are still in Gaza … some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble.”
What did Benjamin Netanyahu say about the Gaza ceasefire and US claims?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the ceasefire deal after opponents slammed him for agreeing to it before Hamas was fully defeated and all deceased hostages were recovered.
He said,
“We’ve been able to do two things. Put the knife up to Hamas’s throat. That was the military effort guided by Israel.”
Mr Netanyahu stated,
“And the other effort was to isolate Hamas and the Arab and Muslim world, which I think the president did brilliantly with his team. So those two things produced the hostages.”
When questioned whether Israel had become a “client state,” he insisted the country independently manages its security and is not a protectorate.
The Israeli Prime Minister added,
“I want to put it very clearly. One week they say that Israel controls the United States, a week later they say the United States controls Israel. This is hogwash.”
Mr Netanyahu said decisions on the new security force would be made in consultation with the US, but refused to comment on Turkey’s role, saying, “I have very strong opinions about that. You want to guess what they are?”
What did the UK say about supporting Gaza’s peace plan and reconstruction?
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said,
“We stand determined to seize this opportunity to deliver a lasting peace, and a stable, secure future for the whole region. Today is the first, crucial phase of ending this war and now we must deliver the second phase, in full.”
He added,
“The UK will support the next stage of talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan, so that people on both sides can rebuild their lives in safety and security.”
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated,
“The UK has worked intensively with international partners in recent months to create the momentum that has led to President Trump’s peace initiative, and to support the ceasefire that is now in place, but we now need to work with the same intensity and urgency to develop a plan for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction.”
She said,
“Gaza has been completely devastated. The ceasefire gives us the opportunity not just to urgently scale up humanitarian efforts but also to look to the future of Gaza’s recovery. Rubble must be cleared, infrastructure repaired, healthcare restored and homes rebuilt.”
Ms Cooper said,
“UK support delivered through UNICEF, the WFP and the NRC will help towards immediate humanitarian needs. Long-term recovery must be Palestinian-led but broad public and private investment will be needed to deliver the scale of reconstruction necessary.”
The foreign secretary added,
“The UK will also play a crucial part in that process, convening different parties as we are doing today with Egypt and bringing in expertise, experience and investment from the City of London to support reconstruction.”
Britain has pledged £20m to support Palestinians as part of its £116m aid commitment, with £74m already allocated to food and shelter in Gaza.
How many hostages has Hamas released under the Gaza peace plan?
Under the Gaza peace plan, Hamas released the last 20 living hostages in Gaza on Monday, ending over two years of captivity. Four coffins containing deceased hostages were handed over to Israel for identification.
Israel freed 1,718 Palestinian detainees held without charge and 250 serving long-term sentences.
President Trump’s Gaza peace plan, announced in September 2025, begins with an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, plus full humanitarian aid.
