Vance Denies US Dictates Israel, Meets Netanyahu Over Gaza Ceasefire

U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday to reaffirm the strength of the bilateral alliance amid fragile progress on the Gaza ceasefire, now less than two weeks old. Vance, accompanied by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, sought to dispel Israeli anxieties that the Trump administration might be imposing directives on its closest Middle Eastern partner. "We don’t want in Israel a vassal state... We want a partnership; we want an ally," Vance declared during a joint appearance, responding to queries about perceptions of U.S. dominance. Netanyahu echoed this, dismissing oscillating narratives of control as "hogwash", and emphasised shared values in advancing the U.S.-brokered truce. The visit, part of a high-level U.S. diplomatic push—including Secretary of State Marco Rubio's scheduled Friday meeting with Netanyahu—signals Washington's commitment to stabilising the region post the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that ignited the conflict.

The ceasefire, initiated on October 10, envisions a phased approach: hostage releases, humanitarian access, and eventual Hamas disarmament alongside Gaza's reconstruction. Yet, uncertainties loom large, particularly over postwar governance and an international security force slated for phase two, which could curtail Israeli operational freedom in the territory. Vance outlined brainstorming on troop contributors, naming Turkey, Indonesia, Germany, Denmark, and Jordan, but an anonymous Israeli official revealed Netanyahu's firm opposition to Turkish involvement due to strained ties. Vance struck an optimistic chord despite the hurdles: "We have a very, very tough task ahead... to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza... I feel very optimistic." He also engaged with families of remaining hostages, underscoring the human stakes as Israel identified remains of two more victims—Arie Zalmanovich and Tamir Adar—from the 2023 assault, bringing returns to 15 since the truce. Gaza's Health Ministry reported Israel repatriating 30 Palestinian bodies, totalling 195, with 57 identified; officials alleged signs of torture on some, demanding probes, while Israel offered no details on origins.

Complicating matters, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Wednesday that Israel must facilitate UNRWA's operations in Gaza, rejecting Tel Aviv's ban on the agency accused by Netanyahu's far-right coalition of Hamas infiltration. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa affirmed Israel's duty under international law to enable U.N. relief, following a U.N. General Assembly referral. Israel, absent from April hearings, decried the proceedings as biased and denied violations. This directive arrives as aid corridors reopen under the ceasefire, yet Netanyahu's government faces domestic pushback: far-right lawmakers advanced a preliminary bill for West Bank annexation—opposed by the U.S.—in a 25-24 Knesset vote, though its passage remains doubtful amid Netanyahu's manoeuvring options.

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The war's toll persists in these exchanges, with Hamas's October 7 onslaught killing 1,200—mostly civilians—and abducting 251, while Gaza's Health Ministry tallies over 68,000 Palestinian deaths, a figure deemed reliable by U.N. experts despite Israel's disputes. Wednesday saw poignant funerals: thousands mourned Israeli hostage Tal Haimi, killed in 2023, and preparations advanced for repatriating Thai farmworker Sonthaya Oakkharasri's remains. In Gaza's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, displaced families huddled in tents amid ruins from Israel's offensive. Vance's buoyant rhetoric masks a labyrinthine path—balancing disarmament, reconstruction, and security guarantees—where missteps could unravel the truce. As envoys shuttle between capitals, the alliance's resilience is tested, with broader implications for Middle East stability and U.S. mediation credibility in a polarised global arena.

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