Vice President JD Vance left Israel on Thursday with an optimistic assessment that the devastated city of Rafah in southern Gaza could be rebuilt within two to three years, while simultaneously condemning Israeli parliamentary votes to advance annexation of the West Bank. His comments came as the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appeared to be holding, despite minor violations.
Vance told reporters in Tel Aviv before boarding Air Force Two that the reconstruction effort could start “very quickly” in areas not under Hamas control, with the hope that Palestinians could move into a “Hamas free zone” in southern Gaza within the next couple of months. He emphasized that the goal is to eventually have half a million people living in security and comfort in Rafah, without threatening Israeli neighbors. This marks the first time the US administration has detailed a potential timeline for Gaza’s reconstruction after two years of war, highlighting a shift toward post-conflict planning amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The vice president expressed confidence in the fragile ceasefire, noting that both Israel and Hamas are respecting it with only “little exceptions” of violence breaking out, which he described as expected given the prolonged conflict. He stated that the Trump administration’s message to Israel is to “help us build this peace,” and efforts are ongoing to work with Gulf Arab states to sustain the truce. However, Vance acknowledged challenges ahead, particularly in disarming Hamas through an international security force, which will require patience and careful coordination.
In a sharp rebuke, Vance criticized two preliminary votes in Israel’s Knesset that aimed to advance annexation of the occupied West Bank, calling them a “very stupid political stunt” and expressing personal insult. One bill to annex the entire West Bank passed by a narrow 25-24 margin, while another to annex the settlement of Maale Adumim passed 32-9, with more than half of parliament members not voting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office dismissed the bills as unlikely to progress, attributing them to opposition efforts to sow discord during Vance’s visit, though the votes highlighted internal political tensions.
Vance firmly stated US policy against West Bank annexation, asserting that “the West Bank is not going to be annexed by Israel” and that this stance will continue under the Trump administration. This position was reinforced by President Donald Trump in a Time magazine interview, where he bluntly said annexation “will not happen” because he gave his word to Arab countries, warning that Israel would lose all US support if it proceeded. The comments underscore the administration’s commitment to restraining Israeli expansionism while navigating complex regional alliances.
A broad coalition of Arab and Muslim states, led by Saudi Arabia, condemned the Knesset votes as a “blatant violation of international law” and called on Israel to halt settlement activities. The Trump administration has prioritized expanding the Abraham Accords, aiming for normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, but Riyadh has conditioned this on a viable pathway to Palestinian statehood—a prospect rejected by Israel’s right-wing. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated his support for annexation, contrasting with US efforts and highlighting the divergent priorities within the coalition government.
Looking ahead, the success of the ceasefire and reconstruction plans hinges on maintaining the truce and deploying the international security force to oversee Hamas’s disarmament. Vance emphasized that this process will require patience and depend on the force’s composition, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirming upon his arrival in Israel that the ceasefire remains a top priority. Rubio expressed confidence in achieving further diplomatic gains, noting that substantial obstacles remain but the US is committed to building on the current fragile peace to foster long-term stability in the region.