Vance on Hamas disarmament: No timeline set, praises Türkiye's role

During a press briefing in Israel, US Vice President JD Vance stated that he would not establish a specific deadline for the Palestinian group Hamas to lay down its arms, describing the circumstances as highly fluid. He emphasized that while Hamas is required to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, setting a firm timeline is not currently advisable.

On Türkiye's Constructive Involvement

Vance specifically acknowledged the positive and constructive role that Türkiye could perform in the ongoing peace efforts. "We do think that there's a constructive role for the Turks to play," he stated, expressing gratitude for Ankara's regional diplomacy. He made it clear, however, that the US would not force any specific arrangements, including the potential deployment of Turkish troops, on Israel, noting that any foreign troop presence would require Israeli consent.

The US Stance and Regional Coordination

The Vice President firmly ruled out the possibility of American military personnel being deployed on the ground in Gaza. He outlined the US strategy as one focused on coordination, bringing together Gulf states, Israel, Türkiye, and Indonesia to collaborate on achieving a lasting peace. His comments align with a recent statement from former President Donald Trump, who suggested that Middle Eastern nations are prepared to intervene if Hamas fails to comply.

Ceasefire Monitoring and Recent Violations

The implementation of the ceasefire is being monitored from a newly established US-backed Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC). US officials reported that the process is progressing ahead of initial expectations. However, the fragile truce was recently tested by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties. Hamas denied any role in provoking the strikes and reaffirmed its commitment to the agreement, which aims to rebuild Gaza and establish a new governing structure without the group's involvement. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life in the region since it escalated in October 2023.