Vance hails ‘days of destiny’ as he meets Netanyahu in Israel over Gaza plan

“These are fateful days,” Vice President J.D. Vance said Wednesday during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to develop the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking alongside Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Vance said: “We have a very, very difficult task ahead of us; to disarm Hamas, but to rebuild Gaza to make life better for the people of Gaza, but also to ensure that Hamas is no longer a threat to our friends in Israel.” he said.

Vance continued: “It’s not easy. I think the Prime Minister knows that as well as anyone. But it’s something we’re committed to as a Trump administration.” “And I think even in the last 24 hours we’ve had a lot of good conversations with our friends in the Israeli government, but also obviously with our friends in the Arab world who are prominent and willing to play a very positive role in this.”

“As the Prime Minister said, these are fateful days, and we are excited to sit down and work together on the Gaza peace plan,” Vance added.

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Netanyahu told reporters that Israel has a unique alliance and partnership with the United States that creates opportunities for the spread of security and peace in the Middle East.

Vance also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday and told reporters afterward: “We’re here to talk about how to continue the peace agreement that started about a week ago, has moved into phase two and has successfully moved into phase three.”

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Vice President J.D. Vance and Israeli President Isaac Herzog shake hands during a meeting at the presidential residence in Jerusalem on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Leo Correa/AP)

The peace agreement included the release of hostages held by Hamas.

“As the president has said, there will be grinds along the way. It will be difficult, but based on my conversations with our Israeli friends and also our Gulf Arab friends, I am very optimistic that it is possible to make peace last and that we can create the kind of environment in which our Gulf Arab friends and our Israeli friends can build a better Middle East for everyone,” Vance said. he added. “So that’s the administration’s goal. We think it’s in the interest of the United States. We also think it’s in the interest of everyone who lives here.”

Vice President J.D. Vance met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. (Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post/AP)

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“I truly believe that you being here is another brick in building the future for peace,” Herzog said.

“We are all grateful to President Donald Trump for his steadfast insistence on moving forward. We must move forward,” Herzog continued. “We must offer hope to the region, to Israel, to the Palestinians, to our neighbors and to the future of our children.”