Vice President JD Vance downplayed new violence, including an Israeli bombardment that killed nine, as “small skirmishes,” insisting the Trump-brokered peace will hold.
WASHINGTON — The White House affirmed on Tuesday that the ceasefire in Gaza “is holding,” even as Israel conducted “powerful bombings” in the Palestinian territory and accused Hamas of violating the truce.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, in remarks to Fox News, acknowledged recent violence but insisted the core agreement remains intact. “The ceasefire is holding. That doesn’t mean there won’t be small skirmishes,” Vance said. “We know that Hamas or someone else inside Gaza attacked an IDF soldier, but I believe the president’s peace will hold.”
Vance’s comments came shortly after Gaza’s civil defense agency reported at least nine people were killed in Israeli attacks.
The fragile truce, negotiated by President Donald Trump earlier this month, was thrown into further jeopardy over a dispute regarding the return of hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of a “clear violation” of the agreement after the group handed over partial remains of a hostage that Israeli officials said had already been recovered by troops nearly two years ago.
Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting to weigh a response as Hamas claims the slow return of bodies is due to the difficulty of locating them in the rubble of Gaza.
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