(NewsNation) — Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism Tuesday that the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains “in a very good place,” but warned it will take steady effort to keep everyone accountable.
“Things are going frankly better than I expected,” Vance said, praising the implementation of the U.S.-backed ceasefire plans during a visit to a newly opened Civilian-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel.
He acknowledged tensions but urged patience, adding that disruptions will happen “when you have people who have been fighting each other for a very long time.”
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff added that the process is “exceeding where we thought we would be at this time.”
Still, Vance emphasized that the plan will “require constant effort.”
“I feel very optimistic. Can I say with 100% certainty that it’s going to work? No,” he said. “But you don’t do difficult things by only doing what’s 100% certain. You do difficult things by trying. And that’s what the President of the United States has asked us to do.”
Vance urges patience with return of hostage remains
Vance also called for “a little bit of patience” amid Israeli frustration with Hamas’ slow pace in returning hostages.
“Some of these hostages are buried under thousands of pounds of rubble. Some of the hostages, nobody even knows where they are,” he said. “It’s just a reason to counsel in favor of a little bit of patience.”
He emphasized that progress requires flexibility, adding that “a lot of this work is very hard.”
Vance also praised Israel’s cooperation in carrying out the ceasefire plan.
“The Israeli government has been remarkably helpful in implementing Gaza plan,” he said.
Vance and other U.S. envoys are in Israel to shore up the ceasefire following a burst of deadly violence and questions over the plan for long-term peace.
Asked how long Hamas has to disarm before the U.S. intervenes, Vance declined to set a deadline.
“A lot of this stuff is unpredictable,” he said. “We’ve got to be a little bit flexible.”
Vance also met with families of hostages, both those released last week and those whose bodies are still being held in Gaza.
Vance is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is expected to remain in the region until Thursday.
Trump says he’s giving Mideast peace a chance
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said in a social media post that he’s not ready to give a green light to U.S allies who have “explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm” offered to go into Gaza and “straighten out Hamas” if the militant group continues to “act badly.”
Trump said he told these countries and Israel, ‘NOT YET!’ because, “There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right.”
If they don’t, he said, “An end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!”
Trump also thanked Indonesia for helping out with the Middle East.
Israel identifies another body of a hostage
Israeli officials confirmed Tuesday that Palestinian militants had returned the body of Tal Haimi, 42, who was killed and abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Haimi was a fourth-generation resident of the kibbutz of Nir Yitzhak and a father of four, including a child born after his death.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel is awaiting the remains of 15 deceased hostages. Thirteen bodies have been released since the ceasefire began.
Violence tests Israel ceasefire in Gaza
Israel accused Hamas of violating the deal by firing at troops in southern Gaza over the weekend. The death of two Israeli soldiers led to Israel conducting dozens of airstrikes, which Palestinians said killed more than 25 people.
Trump suggested Hamas leaders were not behind the initial attack, pinning it instead on rebels within the group that he said would be dealt with “toughly but properly.”
Phase 2 of the agreement involves disarming Hamas, withdrawing more Israeli forces from Gaza and organizing a government in the territory.
NewsNation’s Tom Dempsey contributed to this report.