U.S. Troop Presence in Israel and Gaza

Vice President J.D. Vance stated there are no intentions to keep U.S. troops stationed in Israel or Gaza following the initial phase of President Donald Trump’s peace agreement.

The deal involves both Israel and Gaza releasing all prisoners and hostages, along with Israel withdrawing its forces to specific areas within the Gaza Strip. During an appearance on “Meet the Press,” Vance noted that while Trump wouldn’t physically engage, the U.S. would be involved in monitoring the two territories to ensure compliance with the peace terms.

“We’re not going to put our boots on the ground,” Vance explained to NBC’s Kristen Welker. “What we have in place is U.S. Central Command, with personnel already in that region. They will oversee the ceasefire conditions and ensure humanitarian aid is being delivered. They actually confirmed that yesterday,” he added, citing that the first requirement is for Israel to revert to agreed-upon boundaries. He also mentioned that the second condition focuses on the release of hostages.

Welker referenced inquiries made by U.S. officials suggesting that the military was considering sending 200 troops to Israel for stabilization efforts in Gaza. Vance dismissed this as “misinformation” during his Sunday segment on ABC’s “This Week.”

President Trump is expected to visit Israel on Sunday afternoon to commemorate the peace agreement and facilitate the start of the first phase of the deal. Vance noted that hostages in Gaza could potentially be released soon, and the president is anticipated to welcome them.

Currently, there are 48 hostages in Gaza, with Israel estimating that 20 of them are still alive.