Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in Israel to reinforce the fragile Gaza ceasefire after weekend violence tested the agreement.

Vance tried to downplay any idea that his visit — his first as vice president — was urgently arranged to keep the ceasefire in place. He said he feels “confident that we’re going to be in a place where this peace lasts,” but warned that if Hamas doesn’t cooperate, it will be “obliterated.”

The vice president was the latest U.S. official to meet with the Israeli PM since a flare-up in violence threatened the truce. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was set to follow Friday.

Late Tuesday, Israel’s military said the remains of two more Gaza hostages had been returned, where they would be identified.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance is seeking to ease concerns in Israel that the Trump administration is dictating terms to its closest ally in the Middle East.

Vice President JD Vance said recent visits by top American officials were to monitor the cease-fire, but not “in the sense of, you know, you monitor a toddler.”

US Vice President JD Vance expressed "great optimism" that the Gaza truce would hold, ahead of a meeting Wednesday in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Vance is to meet Israeli leaders,

Vice President JD Vance traveled to Israel as the U.S. tries to show that it will enforce a Gaza ceasefire deal that is off to a shaky start.

Vice President JD Vance said that he's confident in "durable" peace amid the ceasefire, warning Hamas will be "obliterated" if it doesn't cooperate.

Vice President JD Vance is in Israel to address challenges in the Gaza ceasefire. And, the demolition of the East Wing of the White House has drawn criticism and raised questions about ethics.

Vance also cautioned that “there is currently no existing security infrastructure to guarantee Hamas’s disarmament. ” The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is not in danger of collapsing, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday,