Vance (Photo: AP)
US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday reaffirmed that the United States will not send “American boots on the ground in Gaza,” reiterating the position repeatedly stated by President Donald Trump.”There are not going to be American boots on the ground in Gaza. The President of the United States has made that very clear. All of our military leadership has made that very clear,” Vance said during a press conference in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, where a US-led mission is overseeing the Gaza ceasefire.He added that the US would limit its role to providing “useful coordination.”Vance arrived in Israel to support ongoing efforts to reinforce the truce, amid concerns within the Trump administration that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may consider pulling back from the agreement, potentially reigniting full-scale conflict. Upon landing, Vance visited the Kiryat Gat headquarters of the fledgling US-led force monitoring the ceasefire, meeting military officials for private briefings. He was accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and was greeted by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.A key focus of Vance’s visit is Wednesday’s meeting with Netanyahu, intended to convey Trump’s message that the US does not want the Gaza peace deal to collapse. There are concerns within the US that Netanyahu might back out of the agreement. Trump noted that 59 countries and entities are acting as ceasefire guarantors, and he is keen to ensure the truce holds, AFP reported.Trump, meanwhile, has urged Middle Eastern allies to intervene if Hamas fails to comply with the peace agreement, warning that “if it doesn’t, their end would be brutal.” In a post on Truth Social, he stated: “There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right. If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!He also singled out Indonesia, thanking its government and leader for their support in the region, stating, “I would like to thank all of those countries that called to help. Also, I would like to thank the great and powerful country of Indonesia, and its wonderful leader, for all of the help they have shown and given to the Middle East, and to the USA. TO EVERYONE, thank you for your attention to this matter!”Indonesia has publicly offered to deploy 20,000 troops for a UN-mandated international force to secure postwar Gaza, while Turkey and Azerbaijan have expressed willingness to contribute privately. Vance’s visit underscores the US commitment to coordinating international efforts without committing American troops to active combat, keeping the focus on diplomacy and multilateral enforcement of the ceasefire.
