US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Israel as part of the Trump administration's efforts to strengthen the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
He is expected to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start negotiations on long-term issues for a permanent end to the war with Hamas.
The two special US envoys who helped negotiate the deal, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, also held talks with Netanyahu on Monday.
Their visits come after a flare-up of violence on Sunday that threatened to derail the 12-day-old truce. Israel said a Hamas attack killed two soldiers, triggering Israeli air strikes which killed dozens of Palestinians.
US President Donald Trump insisted on Monday that the ceasefire was still on track but also warned Hamas that it would be 'eradicated' if it violated the deal.
Trump is said to have dispatched his deputy and envoys to Israel to keep up the momentum and push for the start of talks on the second critical phase of his 20-point Gaza peace plan, which involves setting up an interim government, deploying an international stabilization force, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner aim to ensure the ceasefire deal does not collapse. Concerns have been raised about Netanyahu potentially resuming an all-out assault against Hamas.
Amidst the precarious situation, Netanyahu emphasized Israel's strength and commitment to peace, signaling a complex balancing act between military action and diplomatic negotiations.
Hamas's chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya expressed the group's commitment to the ceasefire deal, ensuring that efforts to resolve the conflict continue.
As the international community watches closely, the success of this diplomatic mission remains crucial for the stability of the region.
