Tel Aviv/Washington (dpa) – The USA is insisting on disarming the Islamist Hamas – but has not yet set a time limit for this. During his visit to Israel, US Vice President JD Vance responded to journalists’ questions about how much time the terrorist organization had to lay down its weapons before the US either took action or called on its allies to do so: He would not set an explicit deadline, which the President has also refused to do so far. Many things are unpredictable in the current situation. At the same time, he emphasized that Hamas must stick to agreements.
US President Donald Trump’s peace plan includes the disarmament of terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip. But the Islamists reject this. This is a point of contention.
Vance asks for patience with dead hostages
The focus of his visit was the return of the dead hostages still remaining in the Gaza Strip, said Vance and at the same time asked for patience. The return is difficult and cannot be “done overnight”. Some victims are buried under tons of rock, while it is unclear where others are.
Vance also said that the long-term goal is for Gaza’s population to live in a “prosperous and safe” environment. Trump’s manager and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who was involved in the negotiations for the USA, explained: Money for reconstruction will only flow to areas that are not controlled by Hamas.
Coordination center with 200 Americans
Vance was optimistic that the ceasefire in the region would hold. The USA is currently taking on a coordinator role in the region. A center in Israel called the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) serves this purpose. According to military information, 200 US troops are deployed there. It is intended to serve as a kind of hub with the aim of avoiding conflict in the region. It’s also about organization around goods that get to Gaza. Vance reiterated that the US military would not deploy ground troops in the Gaza Strip.
