US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday affirmed that the ceasefire in Gaza remains in place, even as Israel carried out what officials described as targeted defensive strikes following a fresh attack by Hamas militants.
Speaking on Fox News, Vance said that while “minor skirmishes” have occurred, the broader peace deal brokered by President Donald Trump earlier this month is holding firm.
“The ceasefire is holding. That doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be little skirmishes,” Vance said. “We know that Hamas or somebody else within Gaza attacked an IDF soldier. We expect the Israelis are going to respond — but I think the president’s peace is going to hold.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that air strikes were launched against Hamas positions in Gaza in response to what it called a “provocative attack” on Israeli troops near the border. Israeli officials said the strikes were aimed at neutralizing imminent threats and ensuring that Hamas understands “violations of the ceasefire will not go unanswered.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier directed the military to conduct “powerful and precise strikes”, reaffirming Israel’s right to defend its citizens and soldiers.
“Israel remains committed to peace but will never tolerate attacks on its people,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, several casualties were reported in the strikes. Israeli officials, however, emphasized that the operations were carefully targeted to minimize civilian harm, focusing solely on militant infrastructure and weapons depots.
Vice President Vance, who visited Israel last week alongside other senior US officials, said Washington continues to stand firmly behind Israel’s right to self-defense while encouraging all parties to respect the truce.
President Trump, who personally brokered the ceasefire, visited Israel and Egypt on October 13, hailing it as “a new chapter for peace in the Middle East.”
Despite Hamas’s continued provocations, both Washington and Jerusalem maintain that the ceasefire framework remains intact, contingent on Hamas ceasing hostilities and honoring its commitments.
