U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday for an urgent visit aimed at reinforcing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to The New York Times, Vance’s visit is part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s efforts to preserve the ceasefire reached just days ago as part of a broader White House plan to end the two-year-long war in Gaza.
Egyptian media reported that the visit coincided with the arrival of Egypt’s General Intelligence Chief, Hassan Rashad, in Tel Aviv. Rashad is holding meetings with Israeli officials to discuss stabilizing the ceasefire.
Rashad is also scheduled to meet with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is currently in Israel to coordinate among the involved parties.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a truce that includes a prisoner exchange: Israel released 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in return for 20 Israeli hostages freed by Hamas.