US Vice-President JD Vance visited Israel to shore up a fragile ceasefire, as Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said implementation is ahead of expectations and the Civilian Military Co-operation Centre could apply in other conflicts. Witkoff and Jared Kushner met 10 Israeli hostages and families, describing strength amid tears. Weekend violence rattled the truce: Israel said a Hamas attack killed two soldiers and it dropped 153 tonnes of bombs; Gaza hospitals reported at least 45 Palestinians dead. Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya affirmed commitment, and President Trump said regional allies offered to intervene but he told them “not yet.”

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.